I don&#x27;t really agree with the author&#x27;s method of measuring progress. &quot;Progress&quot; is not measured by how surprising today&#x27;s world is compared with a world, say 100 years ago.<p>Despite the frenzy around technology and startups today, I do sincerely believe that we are making a lot of &quot;scientific progress&quot;. We have more people than ever before doing scientific research and publishing papers. We have more physicists, doctors, more engineers etc. and I would argue that having so many skilled people in itself is &quot;progress&quot;. Also, we have come a long way with society: normalizing gay marriage, stripping down racist laws etc.<p>Anyways, point being: scientific and social progress does not always manifest itself as glitzy gizmos.