The Best of Us: Why Violence in the World Has Declined
29.99 €
23.99 €
In stock
The Best of Us: Why Violence in the World Has Declined
29.99 €
23.99 €
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 shows in his amazing and fascinating book that the opposite is true: violence has been declining for millennia, and we are in all likelihood living in the most peaceful time in the history of our species. In the past, wars, slavery, infanticide, child abuse, murder, pogroms, mutilation, bloody confrontations, and genocide were commonplace. But in our reality, Pinker shows (including through a hundred-plus graphs and maps) that all of these types of violence have declined significantly and are increasingly condemned by society everywhere. How did this happen? In this groundbreaking work, Pinker explores the depths of human nature and, by combining history with psychology, paints a remarkable picture of a world that is increasingly nonviolent. The author helps us understand our confused motivations - the inner demons that incline us toward violence and the good angels who point the opposite way - and traces how changing living conditions have helped our good angels gain the upper hand. Debunking the fatalistic myths that violence is inherent in human civilization and that the times in which we live are cursed, this bold and affecting book is sure to stir heated debate in the offices of politicians and academics, as well as in the homes of ordinary readers, as it challenges and changes the way we view society.
See also:
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