{"product_id":"rationality-steven-pinker-9780525561996","title":"Rationality | Steven Pinker","description":"\u003csection class=\"product-description\" style=\"color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003ch2 style=\"color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 2px solid #8B0000; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eRationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \n  \u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 0.95em; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000; width: 30%;\"\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e9780525561996\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e0525561994\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003eAuthor\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eSteven Pinker\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003eEdition\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eFirst Edition\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003eFormat\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eHardcover (with Dust Jacket)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003ePublisher\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eViking (Penguin Random House)\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eSeptember 28, 2021\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003ePage Count\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003e432\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n        \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #8B0000;\"\u003eSubjects\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a;\"\u003eCognitive Psychology, Logic, Critical Thinking\u003c\/td\u003e\n      \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eRationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters\u003c\/em\u003e, bestselling author Steven Pinker tackles the perplexing paradox of our age: how a species capable of scientific breakthroughs like rapid vaccine development can simultaneously succumb to widespread misinformation, medical quackery, and conspiracy theories. Rejecting the cynical view that humans are inherently irrational \"cavemen\" destined to fail, Pinker argues that our minds are built for sensible decision-making in low-tech environments, yet we often neglect the powerful tools of reason we have painstakingly refined over millennia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003ePinker presents a masterclass in the essential mechanics of clear thought—including logic, probability, correlation, causation, and critical thinking. He explains that these tools are not merely academic concepts but vital equipment for navigating the complexities of modern life. Furthermore, the book examines the dangerous flip side of rationality: how the individual pursuit of self-interest, group solidarity, and tribal mythology can aggregate into crippling social irrationality. By promoting norms designed to value objectivity and truth, Pinker demonstrates that rationality is not just a personal intellectual exercise—it is the ultimate driver of moral progress and social justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eReaders seeking to improve their critical thinking, logic, and decision-making skills in an era of fake news.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eFans of Steven Pinker's previous works, such as \u003cem\u003eEnlightenment Now\u003c\/em\u003e, and enthusiasts of cognitive psychology.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAcademics, students, and citizens concerned with the impact of rationality on public discourse and social progress.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Awards\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eA \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e Bestseller celebrated for its keen insight and sharp, accessible prose.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteven Pinker\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He is one of the world's leading experts on language, the mind, and human nature. His extensive bibliography includes influential titles such as \u003cem\u003eThe Better Angels of Our Nature\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEnlightenment Now\u003c\/em\u003e, the latter of which was famously cited by Bill Gates as his \"new favorite book of all time.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"Book\",\n    \"name\": \"Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters\",\n    \"author\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Person\",\n      \"name\": \"Steven Pinker\"\n    },\n    \"isbn\": \"9780525561996\",\n    \"numberOfPages\": \"432\",\n    \"bookEdition\": \"First Edition\",\n    \"publisher\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n      \"name\": \"Viking\"\n    },\n    \"datePublished\": \"2021-09-28\",\n    \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Hardcover\",\n    \"inLanguage\": \"English\",\n    \"description\": \"Steven Pinker explains the vital importance of rationality and provides a toolkit of logic and critical thinking to navigate an increasingly irrational world.\",\n    \"about\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n        \"name\": \"Rationality\",\n        \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rationality\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n        \"name\": \"Critical thinking\",\n        \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Critical_thinking\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n        \"name\": \"Cognitive psychology\",\n        \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cognitive_psychology\"\n      }\n    ]\n  }\n  \u003c\/script\u003e\n\n  \u003chr style=\"border: 0; height: 1px; background: #8B0000; margin: 30px 0;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: #8B0000; font-size: 1.1em; letter-spacing: 0.5px;\"\u003eBust-Down Books: Armed With Education\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51336079049019,"sku":"0525561994","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780525561996.jpg?v=1781790205","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/rationality-steven-pinker-9780525561996","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}