Spectacular Progress or Hell in A Handbasket Series by Susan N. Stewart

Inspired by Steven Pinker's book 'Enlightenment Now' that brings a balanced, data driven perspective to the world. He says the world has made spectacular progress in every measure of human well being but nobody knows.  So we know we have the tools to tackle the serious problems ahead of us. War is down, violence is down, poverty and extreme starvation is down, disease is down. Despite these issues there is no better time to live!