The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
Penguin Publishing Group · Print & ebook · September 25, 2012
“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.
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- Who it’s for
- A big historical argument, told with Pinker’s trademark explanatory reach.
- Genres
- Social Theory, Social Psychology, Modern History
- Published
- Penguin Publishing Group, September 25, 2012
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For younger readers: Unstoppable US, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World, Unstoppable US, Volume 2: Why the World Isn't Fair
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Start with this bookAbout this book
“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. Believe it or not, today we may be living in the most peaceful moment in our species' existence.
Continue reading
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.
Why It Works
A big historical argument, told with Pinker’s trademark explanatory reach.
Come here for
- crime, psychology, history
- a large-scale explanation, cleanly argued
Expect
- broad sweep over violence and its decline
- philosophy folded into the social story
Where it sits
| Modern History | 39% |
|---|---|
| Social Psychology | 37% |
| Social Theory | 23% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Personality
- Social Psychology
- Science & Society
- Authors
- Steven Pinker, Arthur Morey, Brilliance Audio
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Published
- September 25, 2012
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Personality