Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

By: Steven Pinker

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

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)

Tremendous insights but highly biased

Pinker makes a cogent case for why these are the best of times, and makes logical arguments for why limited government, capitalism, and reason are how that came to be. His analysis of the appeal of Trump is truly brilliant and eye-opening. However, he is inconsistent in providing logical support for political practices he views as self-evidently correct--such as heavy spending social welfare statism--often gushing at how much better life is in European countries than the United States. Further, his lack of understanding of the foundations of intellectual libertarianism, and what libertarians really believe calls into question whether he has done his research in other areas. He ignores entirely, for example, that libertarians believe what they believe based on a consistent set of principles. Whether you agree with those principles or not, Pinker ignores them for instead his own intuitive sense of a misguided psychological motivation. It taints the book that his bias leads him to tee up false targets and then swing at them. He should have done more homework on what those he disagrees with actually think.

In one word : Uplifting!

Brilliant summary of the status of humanity augmented with an inspiring case for the enlightenment values that brought us in this place.. a better place.
Mr Steven Pinker dismantles the fallacies that led to the common belief that things are bad (and worse) and instead of falling into naive positivism, he reminds us about the forces that made the world a better place and call upon us to renew our commitment to them.
Outstanding plea for science and humanism.

It's a great book, but lengthy/wordy

It's a great book, but lengthy/wordy.

It has a positive outlook in life. It lets you know how much better we're doing as a society than in the past.

Must Read

Everyone should read this book. It really helps to put all of human life into perspective and will give you an optimistic outlook on our progress as a species.

Best book for any one who thinks

This is a fantastic book that enlightened my thinking on many subjects. So dense that I listened twice!

A well reasoned argument for the real world benefits of science and reason.

Inspired, well researched and with a mindblowingly wide scope across time, space and subject matter this book upholds the benefits of enlightenment ideals using solid empirical and often surpricing data as evidence.

Food for thought

Always great hearing from someone i can respect regardless of disagreeing with certain points. The narrative style of the book along with the facts, figures, statistical analysis and charts and graphs provide for fantastic visual representation of the concepts and flow. A breath of fresh air from the doom and gloom. Thank you.

A must read/hear for anyone alive today

Would you listen to Enlightenment Now again? Why?

I would definitely listen to this book again and think its a must for anyone living today. The most important issues of today are covered in factual data driven perspectives rather than emotional ones. Steven is neither fear mongering and unreasonably pessimistic nor blind to the dangers or unfairness we face. The picture of progress he presents is undeniable and important to remember when so much negativity dominates daily discourse on almost all issues.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Enlightenment Now?

The chapter on the environment is especially important as its the most important issue we face as a planet. Steven Pinker covers many aspects of the environment including climate change with rational and data driven perspectives.

Any additional comments?

The book is well worth the time spent. Bravo and well done

Needed in these days

Excellent overview of past ideas , and weaving of better ideas for modern enlightened people, with a great view of progress to propel sapiens forward

Convincing Case for Cautious Optimism

Like the thorough defense of reason, science & enlightenment ideas vs religious or fascist or political expediency ideas. Builds well on his prior book about Better Angels of Our Nature. Sorry to say it is easy to overlook how much amazing success has come from steady reliance on science, reason and rationality vs other ways of guiding conduct. Thankfully, Pinker’s case is put together with copious evidence, like one might see assembled by a top-level college debater who has put years into research and explanation of a thesis. My only concerns had to do with a cognitive scientist opining on things like who is a credible expert about things like AI risks or possible use of extreme measures to reverse global warming. Can see why Bill Gates listed this as one of Bill’s favorite books.