I have been a fan of Steven Pinker since I read his book "How the mind works" years ago. I think he is right to be optimistic rather then pessimistic and I wholeheartedly agree that the The European enlightenment was the greatest intellectual achievement ever.
Overall the population is better off than they were but there have been some losers eg the Aboriginals in Australia and the San people in the Kalahari who have seen their way of life totally destroyed.
As for the future ?, Well that is entirely up to us isn't it.

I usually take statistics to heart, but I do not believe that is the whole picture! I judge how I find the climate of the people around me. If people are having to shield themselves from the suffering happening around the globe, because it leaves them with a kind of worry...how is that making people happier? I am not a believer!

Pinker is probably right about the trend up to now. Things have been getting better over all. But they are about to get a hell of a lot worse. Global warming + feedback loops + ocean acidification + overpopulation = mass extinction.

Regardless of one impression on world view, we have only one life to live. How do we make the most out of it, that is a personal choice. I am not even saying what my personal view is, that's not even relevant.

I've seen this before. he's kind of The Optimists Optimist. probably a Styx fan.

If he doesn't mention things like Fukushima, I would think he's using a somewhat myopic template. Our company's "miracle workers" (efficiency experts)`liked to say, "If it can't be quantified, it can't be measured," which in some respects seems a bit of a tautology.