The Better Angels of Our Nature

Why Violence Has Declined

This historical and psychological study argues that violence has steadily declined over the course of human history, making modern society the most peaceful period in human existence. The author examines long-term trends across various scales, from warfare and genocide to domestic abuse and capital punishment, utilizing historical data and quantitative charts. The text explores the underlying psychological motives and civilizing processes that have allowed cooperative impulses to gradually override violent tendencies over millennia.

by Steven Pinker

Viking · First published 2011 · 802 pages