If you are interested in how the world is doing -over the long term-, check out 'Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress' by Steven Pinker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_Now
"It argues that the Enlightenment values of reason, science, and humanism have brought progress; shows our progress with data that health, prosperity, safety, peace, and happiness have tended to rise worldwide; and explains the cognitive science of why this progress should be appreciated." It has its detractors, so apply your own grain of salt where needed.