Philip Wicksteed wrote that "Progress and Poverty" had opened "a new heaven and a new earth" and that it was “by far the most important work in its social consequences that our generation or century has seen.” Alfred Russel Wallace later echoed this opinion when hailing "Progress and Poverty" as "undoubtedly the most remarkable and important book of the present century," placing it even above Darwin's "On the Origin of Species". Nobel laureate Gary Becker said that "Progress and Poverty" was the first economics book he read, because Henry George "was famous in those days" and "influenced a lot of us in economics." Becker also said that the book was wonderful and had a lasting impact on his thinking. Ilya Tolstoy said that the book was a revelation to his father.