The Better Angels of Our Nature
The Better Angels of Our Nature is a work by the psychologist Steven Pinker, published in 2011. Drawing on extensive historical and statistical evidence, Pinker argues that violence has declined dramatically over the long span of human history, from prehistoric tribal warfare to modern times. He traces several broad trends, including the rise of states, commerce, literacy, reason, and expanding circles of empathy, and connects them to forces he calls our better angels, such as self-control and morality, set against darker impulses. The book covers war, homicide, slavery, torture, and the treatment of women, children, and minorities. Pinker's thesis sparked wide debate among historians and social scientists about the data and its interpretation. Sweeping and detailed, the book remains a prominent and contested statement of long-term human progress.
Also by Steven Pinker
What you might want to know about The Better Angels of Our Nature
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
A psychologist marshals data to argue that violence has declined over the course of human history.
Pinker argues that violence has declined over the course of human history, driven by forces such as the rise of states, commerce, and reason.
It was published in 2011.
The Better Angels of Our Nature was written by Steven Pinker, published in 2011 by Viking.
The Better Angels of Our Nature is 802 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Better Angels of Our Nature takes most readers 12 to 17 hours to finish.
The Better Angels of Our Nature is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
