Steven Pinker

Discover how your gut instinct might not always be right in "Don't Trust Your Gut" by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. The bestselling author and former Google data scientist explains how our instincts can be biased and unreliable, while data reveals the best strategies for self-improvement. With fascinating insights from enormous datasets on topics like dating, careers, and happiness, this book redefines how we approach big decisions and teaches us to make smarter choices based on hard facts and figures. Don't miss out on this provocative and engrossing read that opens up a new world of self-improvement made possible with massive troves of data.

The Bias That Divides Us is a thought-provoking analysis by psychologist Keith Stanovich that challenges the idea of a post-truth society and instead offers insights into the myside bias that corrupts our politics. Rather than being unable to value truth and facts, the problem is we cannot agree on commonly accepted ones. This leads to polarization, with each side believing their truth is the right one. Stanovich delves into what science can tell us about myside bias, how common it is, and how to avoid it. He argues that even those who are high in intelligence and cognitive dispositions are just as biased as everyone else. Discover how this bias contributes to our polarized politics and the decline of trust in university research as a mediator.

"The Constitution of Knowledge" by Jonathan Rauch is a timely and essential book that explores the multi-front challenge America is facing in distinguishing fact from fiction and elevating truth above falsehood. From disinformation and trolling to conspiracies and cancel culture, Rauch examines the epistemic crisis that is threatening society's grip on truth. Through a thought-provoking analysis of the Constitution of Knowledge, Rauch arms readers with a clearer understanding of how they can defend objective truth and free inquiry against threats, both foreign and domestic.

Discover the fascinating history of mankind's battles with infectious disease in The Plague Cycle. This gripping read explores how plagues have influenced the size and vitality of cities, economies, and empires for over four thousand years. From exclusion methods like quarantining the sick to modern medicine, author Charles Kenny charts humanity's remarkable progress through history, economics, and public health. With climate and population fluctuations making us more vulnerable than ever to newly emerging plagues, urgent global cooperation is needed. This timely and vividly written book is perfect for fans of Yuval Harari's Sapiens and John Barry's The Great Influenza.

Discover a bold call to action in Close the Pentagon. This book questions the relevance of traditional warfare in an era defined by new, non-military global security threats. Author Charles Kenny argues that it's time to close the door on a bureaucratic and inefficient military infrastructure, diverting attention to global diplomacy and economic engagement to tackle complex issues such as pandemics, climate change, and financial crises.

Discover the good news about global progress with this book! Economist Charles Kenny's "Getting Better" challenges development naysayers by highlighting how technology and political rights have led to widespread improvements in health, education, peace, liberty, and even happiness. Gain a new perspective on the world's transformation and how we can continue to make it an even better place - despite the income gap between developed and developing nations.

Discover how the way we speak can create social barriers, and learn how to break them down in this groundbreaking book from a renowned psychologist. Explore the power of language and gain insights on how it can help us bridge the divide in our society.

[SUBJECTS] The Failure of Modern Revolutions and Lessons for Today's World [DESCRIPTION] This insightful book examines the reasons behind the failures of many of the modern world's most renowned revolutions, including the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the Iranian Revolution. Author Daniel Chirot delves into why radical ideologies often overshadowed moderate solutions, leading to violent and bloody outcomes. However, he also explains why some revolutions, such as the American Revolution and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, were able to achieve peaceful reform. With extremism on the rise worldwide, this book provides critical lessons for liberal democracies everywhere.

Explore the cognitive phenomenon behind the artistic developments of Modernism in this thought-provoking book. Rather than attributing the shift to cultural factors, Samuel Jay Keyser argues that it reflects a natural cognitive limitation of the brain. Discover how the abandonment of traditional aesthetic rules led to the emergence of a new art form, forcing audiences to catch up with artists who used a different part of the brain to create. This book offers a unique perspective on the transformation of poetry, music, and painting, shedding new light on their history and evolution.

"36 Arguments for the Existence of God" tackles the great philosophical debate between faith and reason through the story of Cass Seltzer, a bestselling atheist author who unexpectedly finds love with the "goddess of game theory" Lucinda Mandelbaum. But as he navigates his own personal journey, he's haunted by two figures from his past: a literary scholar with a fascination for messianism and a child prodigy from a Hasidic sect. With humor, heartbreak, and intellectual depth, this novel explores the complexities and contradictions of religious experience."