I've read from your suggestion as well! Planning to read a few from that day's sci-fi suggestions.
I think, 50+ is quite a large number, considering the average.
Jared Diamond makes a compelling case in that book. or a few cases I should say. The sheer volume of statistics blew me away. Have you read Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu yet? If you haven't I think you'll love it.