The underlying research of this book is actually impressive and there are some nuggets of interesting thought in here. However, the book could have immensely profited off some actual data presented in some scientific fashion, or illustrations. Not even a list of the countries of the lowest billion is included anywhere. Only stylised facts and cherry-picked anecdotes scatter the text. This level of incidental evidence is too flimsy for the sweeping arguments presented. Thus, the book remains too superficial, while simultaneously incredibly dismissive of alternative schools of thought. Also, recommendations are just incredibly out-there without the necessary data to back them up ("as many military interventions in poor countries as possible!") and sometimes, the language is patronising (poor countries keep getting compared to stupid children).