Blank Slate, The: Modern Denial Of Human Nature, The

Description:
'In a work of outstanding clarity and sheer brilliance Steven Pinker banishes forever fears that a biological understanding of human nature threatens humane values' - Helena Cronin, author of 'The Ant and the Peacock'. 'A mind blowing, mind opening expose. Pinker's profoundly positive arguments for the compatibility of biology and humanism are unrivaled for their scope and depth and should be mandatory, if disquieting, reading' - Patricia Goldman-Rakic, Past President of the Society for Neuroscience.

Review:
'A magnificent and timely work' Fay Weldon, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year; 'A passionate defence of the enduring power of human nature... both life-affirming and deeply satisfying' Tim Lott, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year; 'Reading Pinker is one of the biggest favours I've ever done my brain' Richard Dawkins

Table of Contents:
The blank slate, the noble savage and the ghost in the machine: the official theory; silly putty; the last wall to fall; culture vultures; the slate's last stand. Fear and loathing: political scientists; the Holy Trinity. Human nature with a human face: the fear of inequality; the fear of imperfectability; the fear of determinism; the fear of nihilism. Know thyself: in touch with reality; out of our depths; the many roots of our suffering; the sanctimonious animal. Hot buttons: politics; violence; gender; children; the arts. The voice of the species. Appendix: Donald E. Brown's list of human universals.

Prizes:
Shortlisted for Aventis Prize for Science Books 2003.

Author Biography:
Steven Pinker is the best selling author of THE LANGUAGE INSTINCT and HOW THE MIND WORKS. He is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at MIT.