{"title":"Steven Pinker","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteven Pinker\u003c\/strong\u003e explores the frontiers of human thought, language, and morality with a unique blend of scientific rigour and eloquent prose. His works delve into the workings of the mind, the evolution of society, and the principles of rationality, offering readers insightful perspectives on what shapes human nature and behaviour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom analysing the psychology behind language to championing the progress of enlightenment ideals, Pinker’s books engage with philosophy, psychology, and current affairs. They invite readers to consider complex ideas with clarity, making challenging concepts accessible without sacrificing depth.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"enlightenment-now","title":"Enlightenment Now","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eEnlightenment Now\u003c\/em\u003e by Steven Pinker, one of the world's foremost thinkers and cognitive scientists embarks on a compelling exploration of human progress, arguing that despite the seemingly chaotic headlines dominating today’s media landscape, humanity has experienced dramatic advancements. Pinker confronts the widespread belief that the modern world is heading towards disaster by presenting a fact-driven narrative that showcases the remarkable progress we’ve made in various facets of human life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePinker meticulously examines key areas such as life expectancy, health, safety, prosperity, and knowledge, demonstrating that our lives have indeed improved significantly. The author attributes this progress to the enduring principles of the Enlightenment - reason, science, humanism, and progress - which have collectively given rise to a value system that benefits humanity even if we often take it for granted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy evaluating historical data and trendlines rather than sensationalist headlines, Pinker reveals a more optimistic perspective: humanity is progressing towards a better future. He provides an encouraging message that rather than succumbing to despair or nostalgia for a supposedly idyllic past, we should continue to apply the problem-solving strategies that have proven effective over the centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book goes beyond mere historical analysis and explores the practical implications of Enlightenment values in addressing present-day challenges. Pinker argues convincingly that these values are not only relevant but essential for overcoming the contemporary issues we face, such as climate change, global health crises, and political instability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis comprehensive and thought-provoking work is laden with evidence and offers a refreshing perspective amid the prevalent pessimism. \u003cem\u003eEnlightenment Now\u003c\/em\u003e makes a robust case for optimism, reason, and incremental progress, urging us to embrace the Enlightenment’s legacy as we strive to solve the pressing problems of today and build a brighter future for tomorrow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSteven Pinker's eloquent prose and rigorous analysis make this book an enlightening read for anyone interested in understanding the true state of our world and the principles that can help sustain human progress in the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45657911394540,"sku":"9780141979090","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141979090.jpg?v=1724846200"},{"product_id":"the-better-angels-of-our-nature","title":"The Better Angels of Our Nature","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Better Angels of Our Nature\u003c\/em\u003e by Steven Pinker is a compelling exploration into the history of human violence and the influence of modernity on our social behaviours. Without giving away any spoilers, this thought-provoking book makes a robust argument that, despite the prevalent images of conflict and war we see today, humankind has been on a gradual path towards less violence over the millennia and decades. The book dives deep into various forms of violence, including murder and warfare, comparing the frequency and severity of these acts from prehistoric times to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSteven Pinker meticulously debunks the myth of the 'noble savage' — the idea that primitive humans lived in a peaceful utopia — and also challenges a simplistic Hobbesian view that early human life was “nasty, brutish, and short.” Instead, Pinker presents a nuanced analysis showing how advances in civilisation, the development of governance, democracy, and cultural institutions have collectively contributed to making us less inclined toward violence and more cooperative as a species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough careful examination of historical data, Pinker illustrates that you are much less likely to die at someone else's hands now than at any previous time in history. Even the horrific carnage of the last century, when placed in a historical context, can be seen as part of a broader trend toward reduced violence. The author intertwines psychology, history, and behavioural science to explain why and how this transformation has occurred, making a persuasive case for the positive impact of modernity on human nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis book also discusses the various 'better angels' of our nature — empathy, self-control, moral sense, and reason — and how nurturing these elements drives societal progress. Pinker uses scientific research and statistical evidence to support his claims, providing a rich, in-depth narrative that is both informative and enlightening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Runciman of the Guardian praises \u003cem\u003eThe Better Angels of Our Nature\u003c\/em\u003e as \"brilliant\" and \"mind-altering,\" recommending that everyone reads this astonishing book. Whether you are a fan of history, psychology, or social science, Steven Pinker’s work is bound to challenge preconceived notions about human violence and leave you with a more optimistic view of our potential for peace and cooperation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45658096763116,"sku":"9780141034645","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141034645.jpg?v=1724849237"},{"product_id":"the-blank-slate","title":"The Blank Slate","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Blank Slate\u003c\/em\u003e by Steven Pinker delves into the age-old debate on human nature, challenging the widely held notion that humans are born as a blank slate upon which experience writes, shaping who we are. Pinker, a renowned cognitive scientist, presents a compelling argument that human behaviour is significantly influenced by genetic factors and an inherited human nature, rather than being solely the product of environmental factors and upbringing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith eloquent prose and thorough research, \u003cem\u003eThe Blank Slate\u003c\/em\u003e explores a variety of human behaviours and tendencies, questioning the traditional explanations provided by psychology, ethics, and politics. Pinker asserts that many of our personality traits, individual achievements, and behavioural differences among races, ethnic groups, and sexes, cannot be dismissed as mere consequences of upbringing or cultural context. Instead, he argues these variations are rooted in our biology and evolutionary history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePinker's work is not only an exploration of nature versus nurture but also a profound inquiry into the essence of humanity. He meticulously examines various aspects of human nature, including the implications of denying innate differences and how such denial can impact society. Through detailed analysis and engaging narrative, Pinker provides readers with a deeper understanding of themselves and the factors that shape human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Blank Slate\u003c\/em\u003e is not merely an academic treatise; it is a thought-provoking read that challenges the conventional wisdom held by many in the fields of social science and humanities. Pinker's insights have far-reaching implications on how we perceive human nature and identity, making this book a crucial addition to discussions on psychology, sociology, and anthropology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45658100695276,"sku":"9780140276053","price":28.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780140276053.jpg?v=1724849300"},{"product_id":"rationality","title":"Rationality","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA user's guide to rationality during an epidemic of unreason\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding—and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures, and conspiracy theorising?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eRationality\u003c\/em\u003e, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia—logic, critical thinking, probability, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book—until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRationality\u003c\/em\u003e matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, \u003cem\u003eRationality\u003c\/em\u003e will enlighten, inspire, and empower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692334211308,"sku":"9780141989860","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141989860.jpg?v=1725557857"},{"product_id":"how-the-mind-works","title":"How the Mind Works","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHow the Mind Works\u003c\/em\u003e by Steven Pinker delves into the intricate workings of the human mind, presenting a comprehensive exploration of mental life. Pinker, a renowned cognitive scientist, argues that our minds are not enigmatic but rather intricate systems of computational organs shaped by natural selection. This thought-provoking book examines key aspects of human cognition, including vision, emotion, language, and social relations. By blending psychology, cognitive science, and evolutionary biology, Pinker provides remarkable insights into how our minds allow us to see, think, feel, interact, and engage in higher pursuits such as art, religion, and philosophy.\n\n\u003cp\u003ePresented with extraordinary lucidity, cogency, and panache, \u003cem\u003eHow the Mind Works\u003c\/em\u003e offers a powerful and gripping analysis of the human psyche. To read this book is akin to consulting a first draft of the structural blueprint of the human mind. Pinker's meticulously researched arguments and evocative explanations make this work a glittering tour de force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Presented with extraordinary lucidity, cogency and panache... Powerful and gripping... To have read the book is to have consulted a first draft of the structural plan of the human psyche... a glittering tour de force\" - \u003cem\u003eSpectator\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhy do memories fade? Why do we lose our tempers? Why do fools fall in love? In this erudite account, Pinker explores the nature and history of the human mind, addressing such questions by examining the computations and evolutionary processes that shape mental functions. He considers the mind's ability to let us perceive the world, reason, experience emotions, interact socially, and pursue higher callings like art, religion, and philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Why do memories fade? Why do we lose our tempers? Why do fools fall in love? Pinker's objective in this erudite account is to explore the nature and history of the human mind... He explores computations and evolutions, and then considers how the mind lets us 'see, think, feel, interact, and pursue higher callings like art, religion and philosophy'\" - \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a student of psychology, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about the workings of the human mind, \u003cem\u003eHow the Mind Works\u003c\/em\u003e provides a compelling and accessible guide to understanding the marvels of our cognitive abilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45693315383532,"sku":"9780141980782","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141980782.jpg?v=1725597393"},{"product_id":"the-sense-of-style-by-steven-pinker-9780241957714","title":"The Sense of Style","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Language Instinct\u003c\/i\u003e deploys his gift for explaining difficult ideas in a short and entertaining writing guide for the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBad writing can't be blamed on the Internet, or on 'the kids today'. Good writing has always been hard — a performance requiring pretense, empathy, and a drive for coherence. In \u003ci\u003eThe Sense of Style\u003c\/i\u003e, cognitive scientist and linguist Steven Pinker uses the latest scientific insights to bring us a style and usage guide for the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCan we distinguish the myths about language from rules that enhance clarity and grace? As Pinker shows, everyone can improve their mastery of writing and their appreciation of the art (yes, 'their').\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46355207651564,"sku":"9780241957714","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3290683482274.jpg?v=1744301634"},{"product_id":"the-language-instinct-by-steven-pinker-9780141980775","title":"The Language Instinct","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow do babies learn to speak? Why are there so many languages? Do we think in our mother tongue? Who decides what's correct English? How did language evolve?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this landmark book, \u003cem\u003eThe Language Instinct\u003c\/em\u003e, Steven Pinker explains the mysteries of language within a coherent theory—that language is an adaptation for communication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Dazzling... Pinker's big idea is that language is an instinct... as innate to us as flying is to geese... Words can hardly do justice to the superlative range and liveliness of Pinker's investigations'\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eIndependent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A marvellously readable book... illuminates every facet of human language—its biological origin, its uniqueness to humanity, its acquisition by children, its grammatical structure, the production and perception of speech, the pathology of language disorders and the unstoppable evolution of languages and dialects'\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eNature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46504449442028,"sku":"9780141980775","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14609733482238.jpg?v=1748648571"},{"product_id":"when-everyone-knows-that-everyone-knows-by-steven-pinker-9780241618837","title":"When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows...","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the world's greatest thinkers investigates the logic and psychology of common knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs a cognitive scientist, the ultimate subject of Steven Pinker's fascination is how we think about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness, which we experience as something that is public or \"out there,\" is called common knowledge, and it has a momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCommon knowledge, Pinker shows, can make sense of many of life's enigmas - financial bubbles and crashes, revolutions that come out of nowhere, the posturing and pretence of diplomacy, the eruption of social media shaming mobs and academic cancel culture, the awkwardness of a first date. But people also go to great lengths to avoid common knowledge - to ensure that even if everyone knows something, they can't know that everyone else knows they know it. And so we get rituals like benign hypocrisy, veiled bribes and threats, sexual innuendo, and pretending not to see the elephant in the room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn exploring the paradoxes of human behaviour, \u003cem\u003eWhen Everyone Knows that Everyone Knows...\u003c\/em\u003e invites us to understand the ways we try to get into each other's heads, and the harmonies, hypocrisies, and outrages that result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46629147541740,"sku":"9780241618837","price":35.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241618837.jpg?v=1751943275"},{"product_id":"when-everyone-knows-that-everyone-knows-by-steven-pinker-9780241618820","title":"When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows...","description":"One of the world's greatest thinkers investigates the logic and psychology of common knowledge\n\nAs a cognitive scientist, the ultimate subject of Steven Pinker's fascination is how we think about each other's thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness, which we experience as something that is public or \\\"out there,\\\" is called common knowledge, and it has a momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives.\n\nCommon knowledge, Pinker shows, can make sense of many of life's enigmas- financial bubbles and crashes, revolutions that come out of nowhere, the posturing and pretence of diplomacy, the eruption of social media shaming mobs and academic cancel culture, the awkwardness of a first date. But people also go to great lengths to avoid common knowledge-to ensure that even if everyone knows something, they can't know that everyone else knows they know it. And so we get rituals like benign hypocrisy, veiled bribes and threats, sexual innuendo, and pretending not to see the elephant in the room.\n\nIn exploring the paradoxes of human behaviour, When Everyone Knows that Everyone Knows... invites us to understand the ways we try to get into each other's heads, and the harmonies, hypocrisies, and outrages that result.","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47406342602988,"sku":"9780241618820","price":70.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/71jXiv_0YyL._SL1500.jpg?v=1773963306"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/steven-pinker.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}