Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

De: Steven Pinker

Narrado por: Arthur Morey

Brought to you by Penguin.

Is modernity really failing? Or have we failed to appreciate progress and the ideals that make it possible?

If you follow the headlines, the world in the 21st century appears to be sinking into chaos, hatred and irrationality. Yet, as Steven Pinker shows, if you follow the trendlines, you discover that our lives have become longer, healthier, safer and more prosperous - not just in the West but worldwide.

Such progress is no accident: it's the gift of a coherent value system that many of us embrace without even realising it. These are the values of the Enlightenment: of reason, science, humanism and progress. The challenges we face today are formidable. But the way to deal with them is not to sink into despair or try to lurch back to a mythical idyllic past; it's to treat them as problems we can solve, as we have solved other problems in the past. This is the case for an Enlightenment newly recharged for the 21st century.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio on our desktop site.

©2018 Steven Pinker (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Probably the best

It’s the book definitely worth reading. Maybe the best book I’ve read. It’s about hope and peace.

Excellent

I enjoyed this story of humans authored by Pinker. Morey did an excellent job narrating - he seemed passionate / knowledgeable on the subject that several times I had to remind myself that this production was not read by the author.

An important and timely work

Thank goodness for voices of reason like Steven Pinker's. It saddens me that he endures so much criticism from people who should really be applauding the direction he is steering the public discussion. This book is huge in scope and he takes up positions of guarded optimism (on the whole) that are generally well argued and sensible, while avoiding glibly cataclysmic assessments. I never write reviews. But this book has prompted me to break this habit. Listen to it, stay calm and let's do what we need to do.

Does this book ever end

At nearly 20 hours this book seems to be as fulfilling as bottomless coffee. Enlightening but eventually, getting bored of it.

Interesting but tedious

The concepts and facts were magnificent and Mr Pinker made his point beautifully as alway. However, sometimes the book dragged itself out. It could have had the same impact with a lot less words.