The Better Angels of Our Nature

Steven Pinker’s “The Better Angels of Our Nature” is that rare breed of book that dares to say we, humans, have gotten less violent over time. And not just a little less, but dramatically less. This isn’t some naive optimism or blind cheerleading for humanity’s progress. Pinker backs up his claim with mountains of data spanning centuries, cultures, and disciplines—from history and sociology to psychology and criminology. The takeaway? Violence, from murder and war to slavery and torture, has been on a long, slow retreat.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Pinker’s thesis isn’t that humans suddenly turned into angels. Far from it. He digs into the darker parts of our nature—those “inner demons” like the urge for dominance, revenge, and sadism—that have fueled violence for millennia. Yet, alongside these demons, he highlights “better angels”: empathy, self-control, moral sense, and reason. His argument is that over time, these better angels have gained the upper hand thanks to changes in society.

This shift didn’t happen overnight. Pinker traces several broad historical trends that chipped away at violence. First, the move from wandering hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural societies reduced constant raiding and feuding—a process he calls the pacification process. Then came the civilizing process: as centralized states formed, they monopolized violence through law and order, making personal vendettas less common and dangerous.

The Enlightenment and the humanitarian revolution brought a new wave of progress. Ideas about human rights, dignity, and reason spread, leading to the abolition of slavery, the end of brutal punishments, and a growing distaste for cruelty. This wasn’t just philosophy—these ideals changed laws and social norms.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and Pinker points out what he calls the Long Peace: since World War II, major powers have avoided direct conflict, a sharp contrast to previous centuries. The New Peace after the Cold War saw fewer civil wars and genocides, while rights revolutions have pushed for equality across gender, race, and species lines.

The book is a data nerd’s delight, with statistics showing declines in homicide rates, war deaths, and acceptance of cruel practices. Pinker’s style makes this avalanche of evidence surprisingly digestible, often weaving in psychological insights to explain why violence ebbs and flows.

But fair warning: the book isn’t without its blind spots. Critics argue Pinker sometimes glosses over ongoing systemic violence, inequality, and environmental destruction. His interpretation of data can feel cherry-picked or overly optimistic, and some question whether the societal factors he praises truly cause the decline or just correlate with it.

Still, “The Better Angels of Our Nature” offers a counter-narrative to the doom-and-gloom that dominates media and public discourse. It challenges the idea that violence is our default state and reminds us that civilization, reason, and empathy have real power to tame our worst instincts. Whether you buy all of Pinker’s conclusions or not, the book forces you to rethink how you view human nature and history—and that’s worth the read alone.