Summary, Analysis, and Review of Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature

Why Violence Has Declined

By: Start Publishing Notes

Narrated by: Michael Gilboe

Length: 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Please note: This is an analysis and key takeaways of the book and is not the original book.

Start Publishing Notes' Summary, Analysis, and Review of Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined includes:

• Summary of the book
• A review
• Analysis and key takeaways
• A detailed "About the Author" section

Preview:

Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature argues that violence has been decreasing over most of human history. People have innate tendencies towards violence, but they also have innate tendencies towards peace. Historical developments, especially the consolidation of state power and the Enlightenment, have allowed humans to move away from violence, murder, and war, and move towards more peaceful ways of living.

The Better Angels of Our Nature is a daring, provocative, and important book. As Pinker himself notes, journalists and pundits generally argue that the world is getting worse and that we live in uniquely dangerous or violent times. The September 11 attacks, the threat of terrorism, and the ongoing wars in the Middle East are presented as evidence of increasing violence, chaos, and instability. Pessimism is seen as realism, and policymakers declare that unprecedented effort is required to avert crises.

©2017 Start Publishing Notes (P)2017 Start Publishing Notes LLC

Clear, concise summary and critique

Narration: clear and professional

Content: appears to cover most prominent of Pinker’s ideas and arguments. As well, it is a thoughtful, critical critique of this material, including writing style and excessive book length.

Highly recommend{

Why do I feel like the narrator is talking down to me?

The narrator has a posh, condescending tone that makes this feel more like an attack than a review. With that said, i have already read the original work by Pinker and it is very dry and information-dense. Nevertheless it is still a compelling case that this is a great period of time to be alive, despite present day challenges.