Book · 2021 · Psychology
Rationality
What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
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- people
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And then uh you know, Pinker's book rationality, I thought, yeah, a one-word title. And I've noticed many authors are going to one-word titles now.
Michael Shermer · The Rubin Report · Jan 2026 Listen at 4:03 The best things said about it
Pinker in his recent book rationality has this great quote I don't believe in anything you have to believe in.
And right writing books like enlightenment now or better better angels rationality are inherently occurring and they're inherently encouraging.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
"Rationality" by Steven Pinker examines what rationality is, why it seems in short supply, and why it matters for individual and collective decision-making. Joe Rogan expressed his appreciation for the psychologist's work on The Joe Rogan Experience in 2024, noting that he had just started reading the book and was enjoying it immensely. Michael Shermer mentioned the title on The Rubin Report in 2026 while discussing modern publishing trends, specifically pointing out Pinker's use of a striking one-word title. Russ Roberts brought up the book on EconTalk in 2024 to highlight a notable perspective from the text regarding the nature of belief and knowledge, emphasizing that understanding requires evidence rather than mere conviction. Jordan Harbinger also discussed the work on The Jordan Harbinger Show in 2021, praising it alongside Pinker's previous books for being inherently encouraging and offering an uplifting look at human progress. Podcast guests frequently reference the title when exploring cognitive biases, logical thinking, and the ways in which human beings process information in a complex world. Through these discussions, the book is consistently praised for providing readers with the intellectual tools needed to navigate misinformation, sharpen critical thinking skills, and foster a more reasoned approach to contemporary public discourse and personal problem-solving.
Every mention
Joe Rogan i enjoy your books and i just started this one so i'm enjoying it very much as well 1
“i enjoy your books and i just started this one so i'm enjoying it very much as well”
Jordan Harbinger and right writing books like enlightenment now or better better angels rationality are inherently occurring… 1
“and right writing books like enlightenment now or better better angels rationality are inherently occurring and they're inherently encouraging”
Michael Shermer And then uh you know, Pinker's book rationality, I thought, yeah, a one-word title. And I've noticed many a… 1
“And then uh you know, Pinker's book rationality, I thought, yeah, a one-word title. And I've noticed many authors are going to one-word titles now.”
Russ Roberts Pinker in his recent book rationality has this great quote I don't believe in anything you have to believe in 1
“Pinker in his recent book rationality has this great quote I don't believe in anything you have to believe in”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
“In a more recent book, Rationality, I tried to figure out what would seem to be obvious, namely that rationality is a good thing and science is a good thing.”
“And here I I reiterate an idea that I developed in my previous book rationality of why rational species can entertain.”
“that's another chapter in my book rationality it pertains to what sometimes called expected utility theory”
“so this is i mean this is kind of a theme of my last book uh enlightenment now i also go into the psychology in more detail in my new book rationality which is among other things about how our sense of risk and probability and prevalence are driven by images and anecdotes and narratives”
“your book the new book is rationality rationality what it is why it seems scarce why it matters it is kind of scarce”