The Better Angels of our Nature

A History of Violence and Humanity

Steven Pinker

Book Synopsis

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Steven Pinker is a groundbreaking exploration of violence and peace throughout human history. Pinker argues that despite the perception of an increasingly violent world, we are actually living in the most peaceful era of our species' existence.

Using an extensive range of data, Pinker demonstrates the decline in violence across different time periods and geographical regions. He presents evidence that supports the notion of a "civilizing process" which has gradually led humans to adopt more peaceful behaviors and institutions.

Pinker examines some of the root causes of violence, including the role of biology, culture, and psychology. He delves into the effects of political ideologies, economic development, and technological advancements on the reduction of violence in society.

In addition, Pinker explores the impact of societal institutions such as democracy, human rights, and gender equality on the decline of violence. He emphasizes the importance of empathy, reason, and moral progress in fostering a more peaceful world.

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" challenges common misconceptions about human nature and highlights the potential for further progress in reducing violence. Pinker's comprehensive analysis provides readers with a deeper understanding of the factors that have contributed to the astonishing decline of violence in our world, offering a hopeful perspective for a more peaceful future.

Explore More Books

See All
Deep Value
The Storm of Steel
Fundamentals of Plasma Physics
The Power Of Productivity
Polio
Tools and Weapons
Leading Without Authority
Secrets of Sand Hill Road
The Creature from Jekyll Island
The Company
Competing Against Time
Naked Statistics
Portfolios of the Poor
How Big Things Get Done
The Rise and Fall of the British Empire
English Culture and the Decline of the Industrial Spirit, 1850-1980
Hillbilly Elegy
The End of History and the Last Man
Hagakure
Other People's Money
Defending Beef
The Letters of William Godwin
Ignition!
Where Good Ideas Come From
The Spiritual Brain
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Power of Myth
Beyond Entrepreneurship
In Other Words
A Spy Among Friends
Follow The Money
The Feynman Lectures on Physics
The Invention of Air
The Fifth Season
Don't Make Me Think
The Diversity Myth
The Seventh Sense
Albert Einstein
Antifragile
The Soul of the World
Shantaram
Leonardo Da Vinci
A History of the Mind
Save The Cat!
I'd Like To Play Alone, Please
The Ethics of Money Production
How Trump Is Making Black America Great Again
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
My Brother Ron
Daughter of the Heartland
Powernomics
Empire
The Book of Why
Grass Farmers
Out of Many, One
American Buffalo
Democracy: The God That Failed
Blood and Thunder
Search Inside Yourself
Managing Oneself
Thinking In Bets
Take Back The Game
Beat the Wealth Management Hustle
Human Compatible
The Unquiet Grave
The Ride of a Lifetime
When Money Dies
Troubled
Bet The Farm
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
The Social Photo
The Light Of Other Days
The Jungle
Eisenhower in War and Peace
The Eden Project
The Road to Character
Founding Brothers
Free The Animal
In Defense of Food
Rise of the Dungeon Master
Outlive
The Civil Rights Era
Demons
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Facing Codependence
Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment
We Are The Nerds
Work Rules!
Insanely Simple
Blitzscaling
The River of Doubt
Tuxedo Park
The Silk Roads
A History of Knowledge
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Total Freedom
Hopping Over The Rabbit Hole
Code
The Master Switch
Surface Detail