The Blank Slate

The Modern Denial of Human Nature

By: Steven Pinker

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading experts on language and the mind, explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits - a doctrine held by many intellectuals during the past century - denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts.

Injecting calm and rationality into debates that are notorious for ax-grinding and mud-slinging, Pinker shows the importance of an honest acknowledgment of human nature based on science and common sense.

NOTE: Some changes to the original text have been made with the author's approval.

©2003 Steven Pinker (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[P]ersuasive and illuminating." ( Publishers Weekly)

Unbelievably brilliant

One of the best books I've ever read. Pinker covers so much ground intellectually it's astonishing. Aside from the elucidation of complex psychological and sociological concepts, the book succeeds so strongly at carving through the presumptions of political and cultural factions of all types like cutting a cake. A must read for anyone, no matter your views. It will assist in that most elusive of intellectual tasks: self-examination.

Unique and fascinating look at genetics

What did you love best about The Blank Slate?

Pinker cites a lot of research on various personality and character traits, many of which turn the nature/nurture discussion on its ear. I really have a better appreciation for how different some people around me are and how it may really be even more out of their control than I ever suspected. So much else is in here, I really wouldn't know where to start...

What did you like best about this story?

His presentation is very balanced...I think he took risks in presenting his information without bias

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was hard to get out of the car.

Interesting concepts, good narration

I found the narration in this audiobook quite acceptable. Nothing amazing, but not bad either. I mean, how can you be amazing when reading a book like this, anyway?

In The Blank Slate, Pinker outlines three dogmas that he says are the prevailing views of human nature in modern philosophy:

1) The blank slate, in which the mind has no innate (genetic) properties and, as John Watson boasted, through conditioning you could train a child to become anybody you want her to become.

2) The noble savage, in which people are born good, and society forms them into deviants. Pinker suggested that Rousseau was a strong proponent of this theory, but according to Wikipedia (which is always accurate), Rousseau never used this term.

3) The ghost in the machine, in which people's choices are solely dependent upon their soul.

Pinker provides evidence that these three dogmas are false, and that there is a strong genetic drive in human behavior. He covers diverse topics including racism, violence, rape, and feminism (among many others).

Overall, I found this book fascinating. I didn't think I was going to agree with Pinker...especially when I first started the book. But he presented some pretty good arguments that convinced me to waffle, if not to change my mind. I was a bit put off by Pinker's arrogance (like when he says that he's "proven" something when he's only provided evidence), but I guess that's to be expected in many well-respected intellectuals.

Fascinating insight into the politics of science

Literally laughed out loud several times, was horrified and fascinated by the insight into the "politically correct" intellectual currents in psychology, anthropology, sociology and other fields during the last century (which I remember from university), plus was an interesting and convincing theory on human nature and development. Probably not the last word but very definitely food for thought, and highly entertaining.

Pinker is truly a Master

This book explains...

... beautiful insights into the mind.
... indispensable tools for ethics.
... scientifically backed arguments for both politics and economics.
... the most common and serious misconceptions of human nature.

There are some tedious chapters. They can easily be skipped without disturbance occurring later.

Mr Pinker, Yo da man

Good medicine

I’ve been meaning to read this for years. The audible book presented a good opportunity.

This is an excellent critique of the way we approach our collective discussions and decisions, and the science behind it (and often not behind it).

His personal affront/indulgences are few, though I suspect the narrator does imply a few that weren’t actually there.

Honestly this is a must read even still to help navigate some of the bizarre social prejudices we have on all sides of the questions.

Should I do it again?

Whoa what a monster of a book, very overwhelming. I would say every 1to 3 the chapters could have been it's own book, Pinker fills the book with so many facts it hard to dispute, yet how can one believe that co-dependency or self abuse is not the direct result of the parents. Well other than the conclusion, the book is very thought provoking, it does speak of other issues and is great for pondering. My main issue with the book is not the content but the structure, the information is great and needs eminence thought but I doubt I would read it again because of the structure. He doesn`t start off with a topic sentence so your hit with facts before you even know what the argument is. I`m really not telling the truth I will do the Blank Slate again because after the book is done I got a good concept of the argument. So overall great information but overwhelming, but I suppose Pinker is overwhelmed with information he wants to portray.

Nature or Nurture?

Nature or Nurture? It turns out it is both, but the reason you are like your mom or dad, or grandparents likely has a lot more to due with how you are prewired from birth than how these people influenced you as you grew up. Your temperament, openness to new ideas, things you are interested in all likely have more to due with your innate wiring than the people or cultural influences you were exposed to.
Steven Pinker is an excellent author. His books are well researched and his ideas are well thought out. He's also a good story teller. I'd recommend his books to anyone who wants to better understand the world around them.

Amazing book, bad narrator

The book is excellent. However, it is sometimes difficult to understand because the narrator puts emphasis on the wrong words.

An informative read

Helps me understand how human nature works and wgy accepting it is not a bad thing and why denying it has real life consequences.