The Stuff of Thought

Ever wonder why we say "time is money" or curse when we stub a toe? Your everyday language reveals more about your mind than you think. This summary unlocks the hidden connections between your words and the deepest structures of human thought, showing you how language shapes reality. You'll discover how simple verbs and prepositions expose our concepts of space, time, and causality. Pinker explains why we use metaphors, how swearing provides a window into our emotions, and what the words we choose say about our social relationships. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about language.

Steven Pinker is a Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and a world-renowned experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist, and linguist. His groundbreaking research into language acquisition and visual cognition provides the foundation for his work. By exploring the common, often humorous, quirks of everyday speech—from innuendo to swearing—Pinker reveals the deep connections between the words we use and the fundamental nature of our thoughts, emotions, and social relationships, offering a unique window into the human mind.