Enlightenment Now
Enlightenment Now
Steven Pinker
Michael Mauboussin
[One of the] books that helped me think better in 2018. - Michael Mauboussin
Jordan Peterson
Recommended on Jordan Peterson's website.
Richard Dawkins
A truly brilliant book, elegantly written, sparkling with wit, driving nails hard home on every page. - Richard Dawkins
David Friedberg
A great book. - David Friedberg
A.J. Jacobs
We should be thrilled to be alive now. - A.J. Jacobs
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Enlightenment Now

Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
By
Steven Pinker
4.2
3361
ratings on Goodreads

In "Enlightenment Now," Steven Pinker champions the bold thesis that the world is not spiraling into chaos but is, in fact, improving on nearly all fronts, thanks to the enduring values of the Enlightenment. Through a compelling array of data, Pinker dismantles the pervasive gloom dominating today's discourse, revealing an uplifting narrative of progress. This progress spans longevity, health, prosperity, peace, and happiness, and is not confined to the Western world but is a global phenomenon. Pinker's work is not just an account of human advancement but a passionate defense of the Enlightenment principles of reason, science, and humanism that have catalyzed this progress. At a time when pessimism seems fashionable, Pinker provides a much-needed counterpoint, arguing that the Enlightenment's project of fostering human flourishing through rational inquiry and scientific discovery is far from outdated. Yet, this project faces challenges from both old and new enemies of progress—tribalism, authoritarianism, and irrationalism. "Enlightenment Now" is more than a book; it's a call to arms to protect the ideals of liberal democracy and global cooperation against the forces that threaten them. With a blend of intellectual rigor and accessible writing, Pinker crafts a persuasive case for optimism, grounded in the conviction that with reason and science, humanity can continue to thrive.

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Released
2018
27 Feb
Length
576
Pages

9

recommendations

recommendation

A truly brilliant book, elegantly written, sparkling with wit, driving nails hard home on every page. - Richard Dawkins
A great book. - David Friedberg
It is the most optimistic book I’ve read in a long time. - Yuval Noah Harari
We should be thrilled to be alive now. - A.J. Jacobs
Sam Harris picked this as the first book in his Book Club.
[One of the] books that helped me think better in 2018. - Michael Mauboussin
There are a few philosophical errors and poor arguments in [this] otherwise excellent book. - David Deutsch
Recommended on Jordan Peterson's website.
My new favorite book of all time. - Bill Gates
One student asks: Why should I live?Steven Pinker answers: In the very act of asking that question, you are seeking reasons for your convictions, and so you are committed to reason as the means to discover and justify what is important to you. And there are so many reasons to live! As a sentient being, you have the potential to flourish. You can refine your faculty of reason itself by learning and debating. You can seek explanations of the natural world through science, and insight into the human condition through the arts and humanities. You can make the most of your capacity for pleasure and satisfaction, which allowed your ancestors to thrive and thereby allowed you to exist. You can appreciate the beauty and richness of the natural and cultural world. As the heir to billions of years of life perpetuating itself, you can perpetuate life in turn. You have been endowed with a sense of sympathy—the ability to like, love, respect, help, and show kindness—and you can enjoy the gift of mutual benevolence with friends, family, and colleagues. And because reason tells you that none of this is particular to you, you have the responsibility to provide to others what you expect for yourself. You can foster the welfare of other sentient beings by enhancing life, health, knowledge, freedom, abundance, safety, beauty, and peace. History shows that when we sympathize with others and apply our ingenuity to improving the human condition, we can make progress in doing so, and you can help to continue that progress.
— Steven Pinker, Enlightenment Now

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