The Mystery of Prosperity

How to Create a More Equitable Society That Works for Humanity

Published by BenBella Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Prosperity should not be the preserve of a privileged few, but the birthright of everyone.

New York Times bestselling author Napoleon Gómez Urrutia reveals the steps we need to take now to build a secure economy—and ensure a brighter future for all.

The Mystery of Prosperity is a timely and transformative work that reveals how nations build long-term prosperity across different political, economic, and cultural contexts and why so many fall short. Drawing on international case studies, historical insights, and his own experience in Mexico and beyond, global labor leader, politician, and Oxford-trained economist Napoleon Gómez Urrutia presents a bold and hopeful blueprint for fostering economic growth, expanding opportunity and dignity, and strengthening democratic resilience in the twenty-first century.

While the societies profiled in these pages are not perfect, they are proof that progress is possible when we have the courage to imagine—and fight for—a different kind of economy. At the heart of this book is a powerful expression of hope and possibility, grounded in the conviction that a better future is not only necessary but attainable.

In these pages, Urrutia shares eye-opening findings, including:
  • Evidence-based analysis of how rising inequality and concentrated wealth in the current economic model threaten long-term prosperity and democratic stability.
  • The proven policies and practices behind some of the world's most prosperous, equitable, and happy societies.
  • A practical roadmap for creating stronger economies, healthier democracies, and broader opportunity for all.

As inequality widens, political divisions deepen, and technological and environmental disruptions reshape our world, The Mystery of Prosperity offers a timely and hopeful answer. Rejecting the failed assumptions of both austerity and winner-take-all economics, Urrutia makes the case for a new model of prosperity rooted in trust, democratic institutions, and shared opportunity.

Both a bold call for reform and a practical roadmap for renewal, this book shows how societies can become more equitable, resilient, and prosperous in the decades ahead.

About The Author

Napoleón Gómez Urrutia is a Mexican economist, labor leader, legislator, and author whose career has been defined by a lifelong commitment to social justice and the defense of workers’ rights. A graduate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he earned highest honors, he continued his studies at the University of Oxford, obtaining a master’s degree and pursuing doctoral studies in economics. Since 2002, he has served as Secretary General of the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel, and Related Workers of the Mexican Republic and has forged strategic alliances with international labor organizations, including IndustriALL Global Union, the AFL-CIO, and the United Steelworkers.

Elected to the Mexican Senate in 2018, he chaired the Labor and Social Welfare Committee and championed historic reforms, including the abolition of labor outsourcing and the expansion of paid vacation rights. He currently serves as a federal deputy. Internationally recognized for his humanitarian work and advocacy of workers’ rights, he has received distinctions including the Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award, Georgetown University’s Global Democracy Award, and the Arthur Svensson International Award for Trade Union Rights.

He is the author of The Collapse of Dignity (2014), Before the Next Revolution (2017), The Triumph of Dignity (2021), and A Revolution in Motion (2023).

Product Details

  • Publisher: BenBella Books (November 17, 2026)
  • Length: 224 pages
  • ISBN13: 9798902680918

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