Episode · People I (Mostly) Admire · 2023-04-21
Books mentioned on Steven Pinker: “I Manage My Controversy Portfolio Carefully” | People I (Mostly) Admire | Episode 1
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Enlightenment Now
Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker is a nonfiction work that uses data and quantitative charts to argue that humanity, reason, science, and humanism have driven unprecedented progress in global health, prosperity, and safety.
Discussed“so let's just take example your latest book is Enlightenment now the case for reason science humanism and progress could you guys give us the one minute version of that book for people who haven't read it”
Where to get it
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The Better Angels of Our Nature
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker is a comprehensive historical study arguing that violence has steadily declined over the course of human history.
Discussed“I think a great example comes from another one of your books called the better angels of our nature which argues that violence has greatly decreased over time and that doesn't strike me as being a very funny topic”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Own book The Blank Slate
“and in the case of Larry Summers part of it was that he based some of his arguments on a chapter in one of my books called gender in the blank slate the modern denial of human nature so I felt I already had a dog in that fight”