The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

Faced with an endless stream of news about wars, crime and terrorism, it is easy to believe that we are living in the worst period in human history. But Steven Pinker is remarkably accurate in telling us that, in fact, the opposite is true: over the millennia, violence has been declining, and we are probably living in the most peaceful time in the history of our species. In the past, wars, slavery, infanticide, child abuse, murder, pogroms, mutilation, violent confrontations and genocide were commonplace. In our reality, Pinker shows that all of these types of violence have declined considerably and are increasingly condemned by society everywhere. How did this happen? In this groundbreaking work, Pinker explores the depths of human nature and, combining history with psychology, paints an amazing picture of a world that increasingly rejects violence. The author helps us understand our tangled motives--the inner demons that incline us toward violence and the good angels that point the opposite way, and traces how changing conditions have helped our good angels take over. Debunking the fatalistic myths that violence is inherent in human civilization and that the times in which we live are cursed. This bold and touching book is sure to provoke heated debate in the offices of politicians and scientists, as well as in the homes of ordinary readers, as it questions and changes the way we view society.