From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

Steven Pinker

Start date: January 1, 2014

Finish date: January 31, 2014

Discussion: Book Club 2014

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Book Club 2014

March 2014 - Epigenetics Revolution
By Betsy , co-mod · 13 posts · 147 views

last updated Nov 06, 2019 03:45AM

September 2014 - Sixth Extinction
By Betsy , co-mod · 62 posts · 168 views

last updated Jan 06, 2016 01:48AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 25, 2012 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biology, ethics, psychology, sociology, history

In this book, Steven Pinker explores a very controversial thesis, that is, violence is declining. Different types of violence are declining on multiple time scales. It would seem like the twentieth century had some major wars and plenty of genocide to make his thesis sound rather foolish. But in the first seven chapters he shows lots and lots of statistics to back up his thesis. In the eighth and ninth chapters he also explores the scientific reasons for violence and the reasons for increasingly ...more

72 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2018 Cassandra Kay Silva rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology-sociology, history

Steven Pinker is fast becoming a favorite author of mine. Everything he writes is so interesting. He really knows how to pick a topic and provide relevant research and feedback for that topic. As a non fiction lover he is straight to the point but still interesting and relevant. Perfect voice for his audience. I think his topic of violence is facinating. We are very easily influenced by this idea that the world is less safe and less secure because of the media and our own warped perceptions. Ste ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2021 bup rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, science, 2020

I know people advise taking Pinker with a grain of salt, and I'm not, to tell the truth, up on all the reasons he's not supposed to be paid attention to, but this book is amazing.

Pretend that the book is anonymous, and just critically examine the arguments and evidence presented.

This book cheered me up in Covid pandemic world. As the worse angels of America's nature got a lot of attention and traction, Pinker's examination of the long view shows that we are headed to a better place.

The twentieth ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2016 Silvio rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Old times no better than today

Pinker review of past history reveals what you know if you remember some of your high school history: the past of human race has been more violent than today world. The message of the book is not about unrealistic optimism, it is just trying to figure out what things has push this decline in violence. However you need to read several times to be able to get convince that the wars of 20th century and genocides, during and after, are outliers however not as bad as the ...more

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