Page after page, I paused reading to interrupt my friend (who was reading something more important) and rattle off a new fact. She grew tired of it quickly. I wasn't just intrigued by How We Got to Now, but spellbound. As I finished the final chapter late into the night I found myself mouth agape and drooling, in awe of the skillful assemblage of intersecting ideas and unable to put the book down. In a brazen attempt at a victory lap, I even trawled through the citations for a bit. I considered docking a star for the criticism of high frequency trading which was built upon a foundation of sensationalist journalism and falseness, but it's a mere blemish on a very fine book. At its essence, this is a book that has the power to influence how one ponders the world.