Left Behind

Paul Collier shows how centralized authority and economic orthodoxy have hollowed out communities and deepened the divide between prosperous and neglected places. Ranging across politics, economics, and moral philosophy, he offers a compelling vision for renewal. This tour de force book points the way to a political economy of shared prosperity and common purpose’

Michael J. Sandel, author of THE TYRANNY OF MERIT

A wide-ranging account of why societies have gone so badly wrong in the early 21st century by emphasizing individualism, and an ambitious – but essential – agenda for tackling some of the problems

Professor Diane Coyle, author of GDP: A BRIEF BUT AFFECTIONATE HISTORY

A MUST READ reminding all of us to hold onto hope, chronicling stories of communities that are progressing against the odds

Sylvana Quader Sinha, Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

Being left behind is a curse on people, places, and even whole countries. Paul Collier brings his astonishing range of global experiences and interdisciplinary knowledge to forge a guidebook for catching up. He challenges the belief that the market is a trustworthy remedy and catalogues the many collective strategies that have worked in the past and can work again. Great wisdom lies herein

Angus Deaton, Nobel Laureate for Economic Sciences

Brilliant, orthodoxy-upending … this book is a compelling and practical manifesto for a better future. It is not only required reading but demands action

Andy Haldane, CEO of the RSA

Paul Collier has written another brilliant, must-read book for anyone interested in human progress. I greatly enjoyed this book, you will too

Baroness Dambisa Moyo, author of DEAD AID

The misleading biology of "Selfish Genes" seemingly vindicated the dash to gross inequality. Collier's book reveals the extent of that damage in a wide variety of countries, and the many ways in which it may be fixed

Denis Noble FRS

Left Behind is a tour de force. Challenging economic orthodoxies and the "one size fits all" solution of market forces, Paul Collier presents us with a fascinating analysis of marginalized communities in rich and poor countries and how they got that way. More importantly, he tells us how they can lift themselves out of poverty and into prosperity through sound leadership and agency following a bottom-up approach. Reading the book left me with a sense of optimism and hope that those who get left behind need not stay that way

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization

In this brilliant, passionate, angry book, Paul Collier makes a completely convincing case for hope. Drawing on a wide range of persuasive case studies from across the world Collier shows that with appropriate support left behind places can "spiral up" – rebuilding their communities and their economies through respect, hard work and good governance. In the process he draws on the latest research to show us what good states look like and how they operate. A manual for the future for all of us.

Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor, Harvard University