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mkremer's review
1.0
I really thought I would enjoy this book. I didn’t.
My objective with this book was to read something positive, something to remind me that when we see the big picture, the world is in fact a better place than it was in the past. That’s fairly obvious but I wanted to be reminded of it and explore it during these troubled times.
That’s not what happened. This book just made me frustrated and I’ve given up on it after 10 chapters. Here’s why:
First, the book manages to be too long and too short at the same time. Too many topics that are not well developed.
Now, I know knowledge and science are good and I absolutely agree with that but some of the ideas presented here were just bizarre.
He suggests that people concerned about the environment are advocating for humanity to go back to living in caves. Funny, I’ve never heard of anyone relevant in politics say anything remotely close to that.
Also, trying to equate Sanders to Trump made me feel I was reading a sad Facebook post by another internet lunatic.
There’s also a chapter saying sweatshops in third world countries are great and inequality is totally fine. Just look at J.K. Rowling (?!).
My objective with this book was to read something positive, something to remind me that when we see the big picture, the world is in fact a better place than it was in the past. That’s fairly obvious but I wanted to be reminded of it and explore it during these troubled times.
That’s not what happened. This book just made me frustrated and I’ve given up on it after 10 chapters. Here’s why:
First, the book manages to be too long and too short at the same time. Too many topics that are not well developed.
Now, I know knowledge and science are good and I absolutely agree with that but some of the ideas presented here were just bizarre.
He suggests that people concerned about the environment are advocating for humanity to go back to living in caves. Funny, I’ve never heard of anyone relevant in politics say anything remotely close to that.
Also, trying to equate Sanders to Trump made me feel I was reading a sad Facebook post by another internet lunatic.
There’s also a chapter saying sweatshops in third world countries are great and inequality is totally fine. Just look at J.K. Rowling (?!).
jenmangler's review
1.0
Underwhelming. I've rarely read a book that made me so angry and yet had so little impact.
roguetomato's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
kitkat962's review
4.0
I suppose this book was intended for American readers, as there are many references on the Trump government and affairs. Regardless, it was a delightful read. The confirmation bias may lead us to believe the world is in decay, but Steven Pinker showed us a fact-proof celebration of humanity. History and science are interwoven.
I especially like the writing style (very useful for SAT or GRE test takers). But seriously, intricate words are strung seamlessly together. Some of my highlight sentences:
"By wrestling fire from the gods, we have only given our species the means to end its own existence"
"A modicum of anxiety may be the price we pay for the uncertainty of freedom. It is another word for the vigilance, deliberation and heart-search that freedom demands"
I especially like the writing style (very useful for SAT or GRE test takers). But seriously, intricate words are strung seamlessly together. Some of my highlight sentences:
"By wrestling fire from the gods, we have only given our species the means to end its own existence"
"A modicum of anxiety may be the price we pay for the uncertainty of freedom. It is another word for the vigilance, deliberation and heart-search that freedom demands"
chuyita2000's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Great book. Good one to read after Sapiens by Harari. This book is a little more complex and scientific that Sapiens, but just as informative.
lucyismyname's review
4.0
Ultimately I was convinced that the world is getting better by Pinker’s thorough overview of recent and historical trends. However, Pinker makes what are most likely calculated omissions of phenomena that do not fit into his thesis; for example, there is an entire chapter on inequality with no mention of how inequality negatively effects democracy in the US, and little mention of its effects on class mobility. He also spends half a chapter making snarky comments about how appeasement of ‘justice warriors’ has taken over American universities without any evaluation of the benefits of an education system that reconciles the differences in background and culture of their students and provides leniency for the personal struggles of students.
teokajlibroj's review
4.0
I'm very impressed with how positive and factual this book is. Usually books are either one or the other, using facts to document a crisis or offering bland optimistic generalities. The world really is improving and we should celebrate this.
However, the chapters on inequality and the environment were flawed. Pinker should have acknowledged that most things are getting better, but not everything. Instead, by defending everything, he cast doubt over the whole book. He seemed willing to cherry-pick statistics to make the environmental situation look better, leaving himself open to the criticism of blind optimism he otherwise avoided.
I did notice that although Pinker strongly promotes the ideas of rationality and debate, he seems unwilling to take criticism. While his argument is made in precise detail, he generalises his critics as hysterical, irrational and foolish, without presenting their argument for us to judge.
A final note is that like other Pinker books, he presents his argument in exhaustive detail and I felt exhausted by the end of it and started skimming. His point was hammered home long before the end of the book. I skipped the bland final argument for enlightenment values because it had already been said.
Overall, an excellent book with only a blemish or two to stop it from being 5 stars.
However, the chapters on inequality and the environment were flawed. Pinker should have acknowledged that most things are getting better, but not everything. Instead, by defending everything, he cast doubt over the whole book. He seemed willing to cherry-pick statistics to make the environmental situation look better, leaving himself open to the criticism of blind optimism he otherwise avoided.
I did notice that although Pinker strongly promotes the ideas of rationality and debate, he seems unwilling to take criticism. While his argument is made in precise detail, he generalises his critics as hysterical, irrational and foolish, without presenting their argument for us to judge.
A final note is that like other Pinker books, he presents his argument in exhaustive detail and I felt exhausted by the end of it and started skimming. His point was hammered home long before the end of the book. I skipped the bland final argument for enlightenment values because it had already been said.
Overall, an excellent book with only a blemish or two to stop it from being 5 stars.