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.

Very Interesting

Although an optimistic book on the whole, our current government has me shaking my head woth saddness

interesting book, well worth the time

this book seems well sourced an thought out and gives a good view of why and how life is better now thsn ever

Pinker's best book!!

If you could sum up The Better Angels of Our Nature in three words, what would they be?

Change your perceptions.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Pinker wove a powerful history together that shatters the perception that violence is increasing. He also carefully explores what factors lead to violence giving an optimistic view of what has and still can be accomplished to achieve peace. Although you have to commit to a book like this it will be rewarded. There are few new ideas out there and most books tend to add a little new research and reuse and repackage what we have already heard. This book is a bold, fresh, well written and read masterpiece that will not only present a new way of looking at the world, but will make it your new way of looking at the world.

Eye opening

I recommend, if only for a broader perspective of our reality as humans. Terrans. We have so much potential for Great things. Pinker proves that.

Every human being should read this book

Reducing suffering and, thus, violence, should be everyone's primary goal. This book shows why and also that this is possible and happening.

A short history of everything you wanted to know

Would you listen to The Better Angels of Our Nature again? Why?

Yes, this book is so in depth and well researched that reading it once simply wouldn't do it justice. To understand the author's thesis you must understand the evolutionary and modern influences on violence, and that is exactly what Pinker explains in this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Better Angels of Our Nature?

The chapter on the uptick in violence caused by the cultural revolution of the 1960's was told in a way that painted a vivid and nuanced vision of the author's thesis on the subject and was my favorite single moment of the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

If I had to pick another "scene" it would be the chapter on the neuroscience of violence and the picture it painted of the brains wiring for violence.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Your Brain in 36 Hours....

Any additional comments?

This is simply put my new favorite book on evolutionary psychology and human anthropology. If you are on chapter three or four and disagree with something or feel something is not explained, just keep reading because nothing is left out of this book. I'm going to listen to all of Pinker's other books just to see what else could possibly be left to learn and am fully expecting to be pleasantly surprised.

Excellent reading

Looooong book for my short commute, but worthwhile. A real paradigm shifter for me!
Thanks Dr Pinker!

Inspirering

Thought-provoking. How table manners, the ability to postpone own needs and wants, and abstract thinking have changed our lives for the better through the last few hundred years.

Thought-provoking.

A mammoth 40 hours of listening, Pinker leaves no stone untouched. The stories about how violent the world used to be is disturbing and the theories about the decline of violence is fascinating.

Would be better if abridged.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I strongly recommend this book. It is a well defended thesis. Probably too well defended, the book could have used an editor, or an abridged version.