Interesting idea made into a longish book

The key insight of "Why Nations Fail" is: Good political (ie inclusive and participatory institutions) and correspondingly good economic system enter into a symbiotic relationship, Resulting in progress, Increasing wealth and more equitable societies. Bad (ie exploitative and extractive) institutions do not. Good and bad institution enter Their virtuous or vicious circles respectivement so if you're poor you're likely to stay poor and disenfranchised unless something fundmental can be made to change.

I admire the authors' erudition and scope of learning. Examples from Ancient Mayas and Rome, 17th century Britain and Congo, post-bellum US South, modern-day South Africa, Sierra Leone or Ethiopia are given to support the central argument of the book. But as much as I enjoyed the various "histories" my feeling after about Page 50 what: Yes ok, I got the point. "Why Nations Fail" Seems to me in essence to essay built up into a longish book. Yet: I probably would not have read in article in a scientific journal whereas I read this book and am Certainly neither the Poorer not the dumber for it.