Harvard Cognitive Psychologist and Author
by Judith Rich Harris
“A grandmother from New Jersey uses genetics, ethnography, and child psychology to refute the dogma that parents shape their children's intelligence and personality.”
— 16 Steven Pinker Recommended Books (2026)
by Rebecca Goldstein
“A moving, hilarious, and intellectually deep novel about religion and atheism. Disclosure: I like this author’s fiction so much that I married her.”
— 16 Steven Pinker Recommended Books (2026)
by Richard Dawkins
“Who would have thought that a style manual could make you laugh?”
— Book Recommendations by Steven Pinker for The Books Project — a community-created list from msalipson | Boston Public Library
by Matthew White
“A good way to settle bets (who was worse, Genghis Khan or Hitler?), brush up your history, and marvel at the cruelty and stupidity of our species.”
— 16 Steven Pinker Recommended Books (2026)
by Robert Plomin
“This book explores the genetic foundation of human behaviour, arguing that DNA plays a greater role in shaping our lives than upbringing or social influences.”
— 15 Life-Changing Books Recommended by Steven Pinker | Features
by Isaac Bashevis Singer
“A novel about a Holocaust survivor with three wives. Every scene is filled with insight about human nature.”
— Book Recommendations by Steven Pinker for The Books Project — a community-created list from msalipson | Boston Public Library
by Steven Pinker
“If you only read one book on progress, make it this one.”
— Bibliography
by George Gamow
“A delightful introduction to number theory, Einstein’s theory of relativity, higher dimensions, and other mathematical and scientific concepts.”
— 10 Books That Shaped Steven Pinker - Radical Reads
by George Gamow
“A delightful introduction to number theory, Einstein’s theory of relativity, higher dimensions, and other mathematical and scientific topics. I read it as a young adult, but it’s informative for old adults too.”
— Steven Pinker's 10 Favorite Books - Vulture
by Jessica Tracy
“Jessica Tracy examines the powerful role of pride in shaping human motivation and achievement.”
— 15 Life-Changing Books Recommended by Steven Pinker | Features
by David Deutsch
“This 21st-century statement of the ideals of the Enlightenment offers fresh insight on a vast number of topics, including the workings of human cognition, the ways of science, and the drivers of progress”
— Steven Pinker Recommended Books – Best List to Read
by Richard Dawkins
“Perhaps the best display of expository scientific prose of the twentieth century”
— Steven Pinker Recommended Books – Best List to Read
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
“The story of cancer is a human one-a tale of chance discoveries, seized opportunities and human endurance.”
— Book Extract
by Donald Symons
“The founding document of evolutionary psychology, filled with insights about sex and the sexes, and more relevant than ever with #MeToo. A major inspiration for the discussions of evolution and sexuality in my own 'How the Mind Works.'”
— Steven Pinker's 10 Favorite Books - Vulture
by Francis-Noël Thomas & Mark Turner
by Yuval Noah Harari
by Steven Pinker
by Steven Pinker
by Jonathan Rauch
by Richard Dawkins
by Joseph Henrich
by Daniel Kahneman
by John Brockman
by Stewart Brand