Matt Ridley is a British rationalist who is economically conservative and socially liberal and who has a telling sense of humor. He has written a number of books - Genome was best selling, I believe - on science, history, and optimism. His blog (Rational Optimist) is one that I follow.

The linked article has a great discussion of how analyzing the DNA from ancient bones has revised how we think world history actually happened. The short version: There are no natives (except African Bushmen - info from a separate source).

Jan