The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
“If I could give each of you a graduation present, it would be this—the most inspiring book I've ever read." —Bill Gates
A provocative history of violence—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Stuff of Thought, The Blank Slate, and Enlightenment Now.
A provocative history of violence—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Stuff of Thought, The Blank Slate, and Enlightenment Now.
Believe it or not, today we may be living in the most peaceful moment in our species' existence. In his gripping and controversial new work, New York Times bestselling author Steven Pinker shows that despite the ceaseless news about war, crime, and terrorism, violence has actually been in decline over long stretches of history. Exploding myths about humankind's inherent violence and the curse of modernity, this ambitious book continues Pinker's exploration of the essence of human nature, mixing psychology and history to provide a remarkable picture of an increasingly enlightened world.
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Community Reviews
Where do I start?. This book is very long. I felt that I wasted most of my time on this book. I will never get this time back.
I am not sure Pinker really proved his point. Much of his evidence revolves around his own biases. I am pretty liberal (and I mean really, very liberal), but I think he shouldn't have said that conservatives were more stupid than liberals unless he could prove it.
When he got to vegetarianism, a subject I know quite a bit about, I thought many of his comments were off the mark. While discussing vegetarianism, he also also made a swipe at Hinduism that was not warranted. Once again he states his opinion as fact.
This is a long, rambling book. If I had it to do over again, I would only read certain chapters in the book. I would totally skip the mathematical "proofs" he offers on violence.
I am not sure Pinker really proved his point. Much of his evidence revolves around his own biases. I am pretty liberal (and I mean really, very liberal), but I think he shouldn't have said that conservatives were more stupid than liberals unless he could prove it.
When he got to vegetarianism, a subject I know quite a bit about, I thought many of his comments were off the mark. While discussing vegetarianism, he also also made a swipe at Hinduism that was not warranted. Once again he states his opinion as fact.
This is a long, rambling book. If I had it to do over again, I would only read certain chapters in the book. I would totally skip the mathematical "proofs" he offers on violence.
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