The Blank Slate cover art

The Blank Slate

The Modern Denial of Human Nature

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The Blank Slate

Written by: Steven Pinker
Narrated by: Victor Bevine
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Recently many people have assumed that we are blank slates shaped by our environment. But this denies the heart of our being: human nature. Violence is not just a product of society; male and female minds are different; the genes we give our children shape them more than our parenting practices. To acknowledge our innate abilities, Pinker shows, is not to condone inequality, but to understand the very foundations of humanity.

'A passionate defence of the enduring power of human nature ... both life-affirming and deeply satisfying' Daily Telegraph

'Brilliant ... enjoyable, informative, clear, humane' New Scientist

'Startling ... This is a breath of air for a topic that has been politicized for too long' Economist

©2003 Steven Pinker (P)2019 Penguin Audio

 Consciousness & Thought Movements Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Sociology

Critic Reviews

A passionate defence of the enduring power of human nature ... both life-affirming and deeply satisfying (Tim Lott)
Brilliant ... enjoyable, informative, clear, humane
If you think the nature-nurture debate has been resolved, you are wrong ... this book is required reading
An original and vital contribution to science and also a rattling good read (Matt Ridley)
All stars
Most relevant
A Fascinating look at a wide range of topics regarding human evolution and cognition. Makes a convincing case for understanding human reasoning, intuition and social behaviour as partially determined by evolutionary pressures. However it is important to read Henrich's "The Secret of our Success" as a counter balance to the ideas presented here. Would've preferred a more engaging Narrator.

Thought provoking.

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