What a wonderful premise. Would love to think its true........
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
From the warlords of Africa to the drug gangs of Mexico, the world is getting ever more murderous. At least, that’s what we’ve been led to think, not least by the focus of the media on the world’s troublespots. But, says Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, the hard facts tell a different story. Statistics on deaths in wars, as well as the decline and abolition of practices such as torture, slavery and capital punishment, point to the growing dominance of “the better angels of our nature”. Pinker argues that these angels, including empathy, sympathy and self-control, are triumphing over rage and lust – and as a result, the world is now a safer, less violent place than at any time in history.
Using his renowned combination of unparalleled mastery of statistical evidence and brilliant style, Pinker has written perhaps his greatest book to date. The question is, will the relatively low density of hard science content rob him of the prize?
About the author: Shortlisted for this award three times before – a record – Professor Pinker is arguably the best writer never to have won the top accolade in science writing.
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (Penguin, £12.99)
Who are you Mr Life Through Art?
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