Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters

Written by:
Steven Pinker
Narrated by:
Arthur Morey

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
14
Narrator
3
Release Date
September 2021
Duration
11 hours 19 minutes
Summary
Can reading a book make you more rational? Can it help us understand why there is so much irrationality in the world? Steven Pinker, author of  Enlightenment Now (Bill Gates’s 'new favorite book of all time”) answers all the questions here
 

Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding--and also appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and conspiracy theorizing?
 
Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply irrational--cavemen out of time saddled with biases, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set out the benchmarks for rationality itself.  We actually think in ways that are sensible in the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we’ve discovered over the millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation and causation, and optimal ways to update beliefs and commit to choices individually and with others. These tools are not a standard part of our education, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book--until now.
  
Rationality also explores its opposite: how the rational pursuit of self-interest, sectarian solidarity, and uplifting mythology can add up to crippling irrationality in a society. Collective rationality depends on norms that are explicitly designed to promote objectivity and truth.
  
Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with Pinker’s customary insight and humor, Rationality will enlighten, inspire, and empower.


* This audiobook includes a PDF of charts and graphs.
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Anonymous

As the author recognizes, most listeners came for the "why it is scarce?" and "why it matters?" sections of the book. The first 3rd was like listening to a textbook from my freshman general logic class. Some may enjoy, but I struggled to pay attention. I've enjoyed other Pinker titles, especially Enlightenment Now, but I'm not sure this book provided any new insight or revelations.

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