Yeah that&#x27;s a fair criticism, although as someone who has spent 10 years teaching social science, I have to say that was at the forefront pf my mind when reading it.<p>I was still mightily impressed with their data.<p>The range of studies is extremely broad (into the hundreds), and there is a very wide range of experimental procedures in use. Not all are correlations.<p>&gt;inequality is immaterial but does tend to be correlated with poverty<p>This point, they explicitly refute with a vast array of data. In cases where there is both poverty an inequality, there is a problem. When poverty alone, the problems are massively reduced.<p>I read the book with a critical eye. I&#x27;ve taught social science for the best part of 10 years and this was not lacking in statistical rigour. Other academics in the field who I&#x27;ve discussed it with agree.<p>I think you&#x27;ll enjoy the book. It challenged a lot of my preconceptions to the point where I changed my mind, which is was unexpectedly refreshing.