The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence In History And Its Causes

Name: The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence In History And Its Causes
Rating: 4.447368621826172 (38 reviews)

Steven Pinker

Oct 2011 · Penguin UK

38 reviews

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'The most inspiring book I've ever read' Bill Gates, 2017

'A brilliant, mind-altering book ... Everyone should read this astonishing book' Guardian

'Will change the way you see the world' Daily Mail

Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2012

Wasn't the twentieth century the most violent in history? In his extraordinary, epic book Steven Pinker shows us that this is wrong, telling the story of humanity in a completely new and unfamiliar way. From why cities make us safer to how books bring about peace, Pinker weaves together history, philosophy and science to examine why we are less likely to die at another's hand than ever before, how it happened and what it tells us about our very natures.

'May prove to be one of the great books of our time ... he writes like an angel' Economist

'Masterly, a supremely important book ... For anyone interested in human nature, it is engrossing' The New York Times

'Marvellous ... riveting and myth-destroying' New Statesman

'A marvellous synthesis of science, history and storytelling, written in Pinker's distinctively entertaining and clear personal style ... I was astonished by the extent to which violence has declined in every shape, form and scale' Financial Times

'An outstandingly fruitful read, with fascinating nuggets on almost every page' Sunday Times, Books of the Year

'The most inspiring book I've ever read' Bill Gates, 2017 'A brilliant, mind-altering book ... Everyone should read this astonishing book' Guardian 'Will change the way you see the world' Daily Mail Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2012 Wasn't the twentieth century the most violent in his...

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38 reviews

Anas Ahamed

July 3, 2025

Steven Pinker’s Better Angels makes valid points on violence declining through biology, psychology, and some historical insight. His critique of religious and medieval brutality is sharp. But his cheerleading for Western liberalism reeks of Westrocentrism, glossing over violence from imperialism, capitalism, and anti-communism. He sidelines peaceful non-Western societies, and his ancient data is too vague to be conclusive. Often, it reads like a loud TED Talk dressed as history.

Flavio Sordoni

September 3, 2018

A book easy to read and supported by analytical data properly referenced, demostrating how violence has been declining in the world.

3 people found this review helpful

Sean O'Shannessy

March 20, 2018

Demonstrates that those of us dedicated to a peaceful, just & prosperous future are not on the fringes of civilisation swimming against the tide of history but are in fact civilisation's core & are buoyed along by the currents. Inspiring, uplifting & eye opening. Read it now!

3 people found this review helpful

About the author

Steven Pinker is one of the world's most influential thinkers and writers on the human condition. His popular and highly praised books include The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, The Stuff of Thought, The Blank Slate, How the Mind Works, and The Language Instinct. The recipient of several major awards for his teaching, books, and scientific research, Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He also writes frequently for The New York Times, the Guardian and other publications. He has been named Humanist of the Year, Prospect magazine's "The World's Top 100 Public Intellectuals," Foreign Policy's "100 Global Thinkers," and Time magazine's "The 100 Most Influential People in the World Today."

Steven Pinker is one of the world's most influential thinkers and writers on the human condition. His popular and highly praised books include The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, The Stuff of Thought, The Blank Slate, How the Mind Works, and The Language Instinct. The recipient o...

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