Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker

Another book that enlightens!

"Enlightenment Now" by Steven Pinker is a must-read. It's almost as complex and hard to get through as "Thinking, Fast And Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. Pinkster often refers to Kahnemen, his research and this book. Bill Gates' quote on the cover gives you enough reason to read it: "My new favourite book of all time". Pinkster argues the case for reason, science, humanism and progress. Like Yuval Noah Harari he puts history in perspective and builds his case with statistics and facts. He argues for true objective research, facts and truths! 

[Spoiler Alert] Stop reading this message if want to read it yourself. Pinker ends his 450+ pages with the following: "Remember your math: an anecdote is not a trend. Remember your history: the fact that something is bad today doesn't mean it was better in the past. Remember your philosophy: one cannot reason that there's no such thing as reason, or that something is true or good because G-d said it is. And, remember your psychology: much of what we know isn't so, especially when our comrades know it too. 

Keep some perspective. Not every problem is a Crisis, Plague, Epidemic, or Existential Threat, and not every change is the End of This, the Death of That, or the Dawn of a Post-Something Era. Don't confuse pessimism with profundity: problems are inevitable, but problems are solvable, and diagnosing every setback as a symptom of a sick society is a cheap grab for gravitas. Finally, drop the Nietsche. His ideas may swam edgy, authentic, baaad, while humanism seems sappy, unhip, uncool. But, what's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?"

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