The Importance of Relativity

Quoted on p. 447 of Losing:

Life expectancy is up, from a world average of less than 30 years in the mid-18th century to over 70 years today; and the increases are seen by all age groups and all continents. Child mortality and maternal mortality in particular have been drastically reduced: “for an American woman, being pregnant a century ago was almost as dangerous as having breast cancer today.”

And published here before because it can't be said enough:

Martha Washington was born into a wealthy family and married a wealthy man as her first husband. She buried him and married another rich and powerful man (George). Yet with every possible advantage of the age, she buried every single one of her children, and every single one of her grandkids, too.

How effing horrible is that?

I know many people in every generation think they live in the worst possible time. But it really is hard to imagine what it would be like to have your spouse(s), kids, and grandkids likely to drop dead at any moment.