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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.

"Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters" by Steven Pinker is a fascinating exploration of the concept of rationality, its prevalence in our lives, and its importance in making progress as a society.

Pinker begins by defining rationality as "the ability to think clearly and make good decisions."

He argues that rationality is not simply a matter of logic, but also involves our emotions and our values. He then delves into the reasons why rationality seems scarce, despite its importance.

He identifies several factors that can undermine our ability to think clearly, such as our biases, our emotions, and our limited cognitive resources.

Finally, Pinker discusses why rationality matters. He argues that rationality is essential for progress, both as individuals and as a society.

He shows how rationality has helped us to overcome superstition and prejudice, and how it has led to great advances in science, technology, and medicine.

He concludes by calling for a greater emphasis on rationality in our education system and in our public discourse.

Key Concepts

• Rationality: The ability to think clearly and make good decisions.
• Biases: Cognitive shortcuts that can lead us to make errors in judgment.
• Emotions: Powerful feelings that can cloud our thinking.
• Cognitive resources: The limited amount of mental energy that we have available to process information.
• Progress: The improvement of the human condition through the application of knowledge and technology.

Key Arguments

• Rationality is not simply a matter of logic, but also involves our emotions and our values.
• Rationality is scarce because of a number of factors, including our biases, our emotions, and our limited cognitive resources.
• Rationality is essential for progress, both as individuals and as a society.

Conclusion

Steven Pinker's "Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that makes a strong case for the importance of rationality in our lives. Pinker's clear and engaging writing style makes this book accessible to a wide audience, and his arguments are sure to spark debate and discussion.

Whether you agree with Pinker's conclusions or not, this book is sure to challenge your thinking and give you a new perspective on the importance of rationality.