The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
What's it about
What if everything you think about modern violence is wrong? Despite the 24/7 news cycle, we are living in the most peaceful era in history. This summary delivers the eye-opening data and arguments that will completely reframe your perspective on human progress and the world. You'll go beyond the statistics to understand the powerful forces behind this change. Discover the five "better angels" of our nature—like empathy and reason—and the historical shifts that allowed them to flourish, giving you a more optimistic and evidence-based view of our future.
Meet the author
Steven Pinker is a Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and a world-renowned expert on language, the mind, and human nature. Drawing on his unique background as a cognitive scientist, he moves beyond traditional history to explore the psychological mechanisms that drive human behavior. This scientific lens allows him to synthesize vast historical data, revealing the cognitive and social shifts that have steered humanity toward a more peaceful existence and challenging our most pessimistic assumptions about violence.
The Script
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