Virginia Postrel On Gifts Of Athena

Virginia Postrel’s Economic Scene column in today’s New York Times highlights some of the arguments in Joel Mokyr’s new book, The Gifts of Athena. Virginia’s treatment captures the book’s focus on transmission and distribution of “useful knowledge” as the source of the dramatic shift toward increasing economic performance in the 19th century. It’s a wonderful column. She’s also got additional thoughts posted on her website.