Bill Gates has long been a huge fan of Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker and his book, “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.” In fact, last year the Microsoft MSFT, -1.24% founder hailed it as the most inspiring book he has ever read, and he urged college grads to read it.

Well, Pinker apparently has managed to top himself with his new book, “Enlightenment Now,” which is “like ‘Better Angels’ on steroids,” according to Gates.

“I read the book slowly since I loved it so much, but I think most people will find it a quick and accessible read,” says Gates. “He manages to share a ton of information in a way that’s compelling, memorable, and easy to digest.

Pinker gathers the research he used in “Better Angels” to track violence throughout history and applies it to 15 different measures of progress, such as quality of life, knowledge and safety. “The result is a holistic picture of how and why the world is getting better,” Gates explains in a blog post.

As a taster of what to expect, here are five facts that Gates listed as his favorite from the book:

1. You’re 37 times less likely to be killed by a bolt of lightning than you were at the turn of the century—and that’s not because there are fewer thunderstorms today. It’s because we have better weather prediction capabilities, improved safety education, and more people living in cities.

2. Time spent doing laundry fell from 11.5 hours a week in 1920 to an hour and a half in 2014. This might sound trivial in the grand scheme of progress. But the rise of the washing machine has improved quality of life by freeing up time for people—mostly women—to enjoy other pursuits. That time represents nearly half a day every week that could be used for everything from binge-watching Ozark or reading a book to starting a new business.

3. You’re way less likely to die on the job. Every year, 5,000 people die from occupational accidents in the U.S. But in 1929—when our population was less than two-fifths the size it is today—20,000 people died on the job. People back then viewed deadly workplace accidents as part of the cost of doing business. Today, we know better, and we’ve engineered ways to build things without putting nearly as many lives at risk.

4. The global average IQ score is rising by about 3 IQ points every decade. Kids’ brains are developing more fully thanks to improved nutrition and a cleaner environment. Pinker also credits more analytical thinking in and out of the classroom. Think about how many symbols you interpret every time you check your phone’s home screen or look at a subway map. Our world today encourages abstract thought from a young age, and it’s making us smarter.

5. War is illegal. This idea seems obvious. But before the creation of the United Nations in 1945, no institution had the power to stop countries from going to war with each other. Although there have been some exceptions, the threat of international sanctions and intervention has proven to be an effective deterrent to wars between nations.

One area—and there weren’t many—that Gates says he disagrees with Pinker is on the prospects of artificial intelligence.

“He’s quick to dismiss the idea of robots overthrowing their human creators,” Gates says. “While I don’t think we’re in danger of a Terminator-style scenario, the question underlying that fear—who exactly controls the robots?—is a valid one.

Watch Gates and Pinker discuss the book in greater detail: