This lecture will provide an overview of the forthcoming book, ‘Advancing Human Development: Theory and Practice’ by Frances Stewart, Gustav Ranis and Emma Samman. It will discuss the origin and justification of the concept; its relationship with economic growth; why some countries have been more successful than others in advancing human development over the past forty years; some critical issues including the role of social institutions and of political economy; and major contemporary challenges for the analysis and sustainability of Human Development.