The Better Angels of Our Nature

Why Violence Has Declined

By: Steven Pinker

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 36 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

“If I could give each of you a graduation present, it would be this - the most inspiring book I've ever read." - Bill Gates (May, 2017)

Selected by The New York Times Book Review as a Notable Book of the Year

The author of Enlightenment Now and The New York Times bestseller The Stuff of Thought offers a controversial history of violence.

Faced with the ceaseless stream of news about war, crime, and terrorism, one could easily think we live in the most violent age ever seen. Yet as New York Times bestselling author Steven Pinker shows in this startling and engaging new work, just the opposite is true: violence has been diminishing for millennia and we may be living in the most peaceful time in our species's existence. For most of history, war, slavery, infanticide, child abuse, assassinations, programs, gruesome punishments, deadly quarrels, and genocide were ordinary features of life. But today, Pinker shows (with the help of more than a hundred graphs and maps) all these forms of violence have dwindled and are widely condemned. How has this happened?

This groundbreaking book continues Pinker's exploration of the essence of human nature, mixing psychology and history to provide a remarkable picture of an increasingly nonviolent world. The key, he explains, is to understand our intrinsic motives - the inner demons that incline us toward violence and the better angels that steer us away - and how changing circumstances have allowed our better angels to prevail. Exploding fatalist myths about humankind's inherent violence and the curse of modernity, this ambitious and provocative book is sure to be hotly debated in living rooms and the Pentagon alike, and will challenge and change the way we think about our society.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2011 by Steven Pinker. (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

excellent Audio

Its a great experience listening this Audio Book, Now I am hooed with Audio book

Extremely enlightening!

Possibly Dr. Pinker's greatest work of art! His intellectual linguistic capabilities and understanding of human nature is mind blowing! This book was worth every penny. Everyone interested in learning more about why/how humanity has had such a violent history, look no further! Read this book!

The greatest book I’ve ever read.

Every person who questions the whys and how’s of people and society should read this book. Not a dry moment in almost 37 hours, I was captivated from beginning to end.

The story is abundant with interesting facts.

What made the experience of listening to The Better Angels of Our Nature the most enjoyable?

Because it was presented in a manner that made listening to the telling of events that still leave questions in my mind an enjoyable experience. The most interesting thing I learned is that though cataclysmic events in recent history are not comparable to those in early human history.

important, enlightening, well-researched

this is a very important book, and amazingly well-researched.
the breadth and depth of the research is astounding; the arguments are well-grounded in history, logic, and statistics; and the author is always careful not to overstate his conclusions.

Intelligent optimism supported by historical fact

One of my favorite books. Encouraging, with all the violence we see in the news and on TV, to realize that this is one of the least violent periods in history. Incredibly interesting historical facts and anecdotes. Good use of statistical proof without being overly tedious.

Enlightening, hope for mankind... but it's heavy

Listened to it because Bill Gates said it was a great book. It is, but you better be ready to put in the time and the intellect. This isn't an easy book to read or listen to but what is put forth here is worth it.

Important topic covered thoroughly

Like drinking from a fire hose of information on perhaps the most important topic of human history.

Violence, Cruetly, and more than a Spark of Hope

Better Angels asks why violence has decreased over the arch of recent history. It masterfully blends evolution, biology, and psychology to explain why the rates of cruelty and of violence have declined in recent centuries. The work is monumental, covering a wide array of topics. The last chapter neatly brings the various threads together to make the thesis coherent. Probably Pinker's greatest work.

Excellent Research

Another book everyone should read before posting on Facebook again, and certainly before voting. Pinker does an outstanding job expressing and defending his premise: the world is a much less violent place now and we are safer than ever. You would never know it from watching the media and following Facebook.