For years, I was misguided by the idea of geography and climate contributing to the success and decline of a nation/civilization. Yes, those factors are vital. However, ignoring the political and economic aspects of a nation's leadership and its people is short-sightedness. The interplay of different reasons causes the rise and fall of countries, but this book focuses on the reasons that are under our control and that we can fix (or at least try to). The authors do an excellent job of taking examples from every continent and different historical empires to express their stellar points. Regardless of whether you agree with it, this book is a must-read for anyone with a background in political sciences. Even regular folks who want to understand the world can enjoy this book as it presents science in a captivating manner that you'll surely be spellbound. Plus, I have not found many books that talk about the importance of inclusive institutions for the success of a nation, so this book will give you a different, albeit essential, reason to think about. Hats off to the author's effort and a solid, concise read. My next book will be Gun, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.