Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

By: Steven Pinker

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 19 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Instant New York Times best-seller. A New York Times notable book of 2018. One of The Economist's books of the year.

"My new favorite book of all time." (Bill Gates)

If you think the world is coming to an end, think again: People are living longer, healthier, freer, and happier lives, and while our problems are formidable, the solutions lie in the Enlightenment ideal of using reason and science.

Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? In this elegant assessment of the human condition in the third millennium, cognitive scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases. Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five jaw-dropping graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing.

Far from being a naïve hope, the Enlightenment, we now know, has worked. But more than ever, it needs a vigorous defense. The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature--tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking--which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation.

With intellectual depth and literary flair, Enlightenment Now makes the case for reason, science, and humanism: the ideals we need to confront our problems and continue our progress.

Includes a Bonus PDF with charts and graphs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Steven Pinker (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Arthur Morey hits the sweet spot with a balanced delivery pairing clarity and judicious pace to make Pinker's timely and uplifting message accessible to the thoughtful listener.... Listeners who enjoy a challenge will find this beautifully written, masterfully presented audiobook rewarding." (AudioFile)

Credit where credit is due

Would you listen to Enlightenment Now again? Why?

Very important information is contained within it and review of good books is always good for the soul.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Logical conclusions based on substantive research and study of applicable information.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

for the most part

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I could have

Any additional comments?

I perceive an unfair and biased antagonism (bordering on self-denial) by this author against the very considerable contributions of religious thinkers to the development of Enlightenment Era thinking upon the western culture and especially upon many of the most influential writers and most notably, the American Founding Fathers.

Most assuredly men of far less appreciation for spiritual resources like Thomas Paine were a great part of the building of the nation we call the land of the free but he seems almost entirely blind to the fact that religious minds held by the great majority of the people and cultures of the west is what ultimately made freedom's headquarters not only won and established but survived and prospered after all manner of threats against it continuing because (and by virtue of) of the degree of goodness of the English culture of America and their more innate inclination and devotion to freedom and sense of righteousness before their God.

Outside of those concerns I was impressed by his stubborn tough love application of facts to dispute the anti western civ doctrine of most college academics and anti-religious ideologues against America's contributions to the great improvements to life for men of all nations and people.

Good book although a bit political skewed

Overall a good book demonstrating that we have reasons to believe in Human Progress based on Humanism, Reason and Science. Nevertheless lacks much of historical rigour, attacks all religions as if they had the same historical role and makes the terrible mistake of judging other historical epoques with the ethical and scientific eyes of today, which is a common mistake of leftist intelectuals and the Globalist fanatics that forget to analyse the perils and the negative impact in modern societies of the desregulation of Capitalism to encompass countries that dont respect the Human Rights such as China, Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, just to name the most important!

changed my perspective

challenged ideas I had that I didn't know needed to be challenge. Broadened my perspective and ultimately I am happier for it. Important read!

I love this book!

Listening to this book just made me feel better anytime it was on. I'm going to buy a hard copy of it and highlight the parts I like so I can look at it when people get me down.

Truth through data

Very uplifting and greatly enjoyed! Whether you agree or disagree that we are living in the best time in human history to be a random human, the numbers and statistics provided in this book will give you a lot to consider.

Tempered optimizum

Pinker invites an adjustment in your world view, framing it in relative historical progress and an overhead tour of the contemporary existence we have developed.

Excellent. Level sets your perspective

In a sea of clickbait, propaganda and dramatic headlines, Mr. Pinker presents a compelling narrative on the true state of affairs in the world. Presented with a mountain of data-driven arguments, you're almost compelled to agree. Also, a passionate plea for reason, peace and humanism.

An important book for our time.

A wide-ranging and intelligently argued recounting of the heroic journey of Western Civilization powered by the tools provided by the Enlightenment. Pinker argues that we must continue to progress in this struggle using Reason, Science and Humanism in the face of ignorance, superstition and barbarism.

Long and difficult at times but well worth the effort.

I needed to hear this.

Too many opinions are motivated by self serving aims in public spheres like politics, religion, science, and markets. This book is a call to reason, balancing justifiable claims for optimism regarding societies accomplishments with honest acknowledgements of our shortcomings. There is plenty of opinion offered by the author, who’s perspective seems broadly inclusive, but the backbone of the work is a massive collection of data points collected from all over the world. It seems the goal was to create something honest, and to fight against the fear mongering that seems to be an inescapable facet of human behavior. I’m left feeling more gratitude for the time and place that I was born into. I think the everyone could use a little more of that in their life.

An Important Message For All

Steven Pinker has nailed it again. His systematic analysis of the effects of enlightened reasoning on the wellbeing of humankind is impressive and the conclusion is clear. Enlightenment is not only dramatically benefitting all, it is being embraced by more an more people. I highly recommend this as a healthy antidote to the seductive arguments of negative crisismongering with their "doom and gloom" messages. Recognizing that enlightened reasoning is working is critically important because if we don't understand how successful it is we are tempted to despair and revert to abitrary, ideologically driven approaches to confronting the challenges we face. Thank you Steven Pinker!