Steven Pinker

The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker delves into the age-old debate on human nature, challenging the widely held notion that humans are born as a blank slate upon which experience writes, shaping who we are. Pinker, a renowned cognitive scientist, presents a compelling argument that human behaviour is significantly influenced by genetic factors and an inherited human nature, rather than...

One of the world's greatest thinkers investigates the logic and psychology of common knowledge. As a cognitive scientist, the ultimate subject of Steven Pinker's fascination is how we think about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness, which we experience as something that is public or...

A user's guide to rationality during an epidemic of unreason In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding—and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures, and conspiracy theorising? In Rationality, Pinker rejects...

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker is a compelling exploration into the history of human violence and the influence of modernity on our social behaviours. Without giving away any spoilers, this thought-provoking book makes a robust argument that, despite the prevalent images of conflict and war we see today, humankind has been on a gradual path towards...

In Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker, one of the world's foremost thinkers and cognitive scientists embarks on a compelling exploration of human progress, arguing that despite the seemingly chaotic headlines dominating today’s media landscape, humanity has experienced dramatic advancements. Pinker confronts the widespread belief that the modern world is heading towards disaster by presenting a fact-driven narrative that showcases the...

How do babies learn to speak? Why are there so many languages? Do we think in our mother tongue? Who decides what's correct English? How did language evolve? In this landmark book, The Language Instinct, Steven Pinker explains the mysteries of language within a coherent theory—that language is an adaptation for communication. 'Dazzling... Pinker's big idea is that language is...

How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker delves into the intricate workings of the human mind, presenting a comprehensive exploration of mental life. Pinker, a renowned cognitive scientist, argues that our minds are not enigmatic but rather intricate systems of computational organs shaped by natural selection. This thought-provoking book examines key aspects of human cognition, including vision, emotion, language, and...

The bestselling author of The Language Instinct deploys his gift for explaining difficult ideas in a short and entertaining writing guide for the 21st century. Bad writing can't be blamed on the Internet, or on 'the kids today'. Good writing has always been hard — a performance requiring pretense, empathy, and a drive for coherence. In The Sense of Style,...

One of the world's greatest thinkers investigates the logic and psychology of common knowledge As a cognitive scientist, the ultimate subject of Steven Pinker's fascination is how we think about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness, which we experience as something that is public or...