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How the Mind Works

Los Angeles Times Book Prize

How the Mind Works

Steven Pinker

"Presented with extraordinary lucidity, cogency and panache.

cognitive scienceevolutionary psychologytheory of mind

Work Information

"Presented with extraordinary lucidity, cogency and panache.

"Presented with extraordinary lucidity, cogency and panache...Powerful and gripping...To have read [the book] is to have consulted a first draft of the structural plan of the human psyche...a glittering tour de force" - Spectator "Why do memories fade? Why do we lose our tempers? Why do fools fall in love? Pinker's objective in this erudite account is to explore the nature and history of the human mind...He explores computations and evolutions, and then considers how the mind lets us "see, think, feel, interact, and pursue higher callings like art, religion and philosophy"" - Sunday Times

Book Information

Publisher
Penguin Books Ltd
Published
1999-02-04
Pages
672 pages
Language
英語
Size
12.9 x 2.9 x 19.8 cm
ISBN-13
9780140244915
ISBN-10
0140244913
Price
738 JPY
Category
洋書/Self-Help/Personal Transformation

From bestselling author Stephen Pinker, How the Mind Works draws on the latest scientific research to present a blueprint for the most sophisticated machine on Earth: the human brain. Why do we laugh? What makes memories fade? Why do fools fall in love? Why do people believe in ghosts? How do we recognize a face? How the Mind Works explores every aspect of our brains, showing that our minds are not a mystery, but rather a system designed by natural selection over years of human evolution. Whether looking at optical illusions or religion, Mozart or films, Stephen Pinker offers us a new way of understating ourselves. 'Witty, lucid and ultimately enthralling' Observer 'Powerful and gripping ... To have read it is to have consulted a first draft of the structural plan of the human psyche ... a glittering tour de force' Spectator 'Witty popular science that you enjoy reading fro the writing as well as for the science ... He is a top-rate writer, and deserves the superlatives that are lavished on him' The New York Times 'Pinker has a remarkable capacity to explain difficult ideas and he writes with the comic verve of Martin Amis or Woody Allen ... How the Mind Works will change the way your mind works' The Times Steven Pinker is a best-selling author and Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for cognitive Neuroscience at MIT. Pinker has been awarded research prizes from the National Academy of Sciences and the American Psychological Association, graduate and undergraduate teaching prizes from MIT, and book prizes from the American Psychological Association, the Linguistics Society of America and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature, and The Language Instinct.

Steven Pinker is one of the world's most influential thinkers and writers on the human condition. His popular and highly praised books include The Better Angels of Our Nature , The Sense of Style , The Stuff of Thought , The Blank Slate , How the Mind Works , and The Language Instinct . The recipient of several major awards for his teaching, books, and scientific research, Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He also writes frequently for The New York Times , the Guardian and other publications. He has been named Humanist of the Year, Prospect magazine's "The World's Top 100 Public Intellectuals," Foreign Policy's "100 Global Thinkers," and Time magazine's "The 100 Most Influential People in the World Today."

Reviews

  • チョムスキーから受け継がれる思想

    作者の思想を理解したいと、英語で努力して読んでいます

  • 網羅的に心(意識)が深層から現れ出るのかを探求

    網羅的に掛かれているので、興味を持って読み進められる部分と、頁が進まない部分とがあった。 自分の英語力の足りなさを思い知らされた大著だったが、kindleの辞書にも出てこない単語が非常に多く困惑することも多かった。 どうして、もっと簡単な単語を使わないのかと恨めしくさえ思ったことも。 脳科学の本を色々読んできた興味から手に取ったが、その思いは満たされた。 理解できぬまま読む進んだ部分もあるので、日本語でもう一度読んでみようかと思う、稀有な一冊だ。

  • Second time reading this book

    Pinker advocates "Evolutionary Psychology" as the new wave of the future. True, while the criticisms of past psychologists, such as Skinner, compared to more recent research needs a new framework, the book does make a pioneering attempt to move many down the new road. It is like one famous scientist mentioned about Quantum physics: "If you are not confused by learning it, you won't be able to get it."

  • Just buy it, read it slowly... do not rush it... sometimes need to go back and read again to get the deeeeeeeep content... I decided to buy the audio version also and I did it... I believe the is among those purchases I did not WASTE my money on... Go ahead,,, buy the book and instead of wasting your time on Social Media , read the book and drink from this syrup of knowledge sip by sip ....Simply Perfect and Greaaaat

  • I was really surprised to see how controversial Steven Pinker is for some people. Apparently, there is a lot of anger by some scientists. I'm not sure why. I'm not a scientist, but, I read a lot of science. It may be that he has very strong opinions that he defends well on controversial subjects. Maybe it is professional jealousy. He is free in his criticism of scientists he feels let politics influence them and it might be that this upsets some people who like them. What you get here is a survey of the psychology of the mind, and it is a pyrotechnical feat. The range of subjects, quotations and examples is astonishing. Will you learn how the mind works? Not really, because no one knows yet. But, you will get many insights into it, you will get myths shattered, suspicions gratified and more explanations than you can probably absorb. At least, I can't absorb it all. It is not in my opinion as good a book as The Language Instinct, nor as good as The Blank Slate, which it resembles in some ways (I am reading them simultaneously, though I read TBS years ago for the first time, and you can't help but notice the cross-over). So, I considered giving it four stars. But, then I decided, it is such a powerful performance, and so well written, that it shouldn't get less than five stars just because he didn't surpass himself. I have another book of his on tap and I'm going to get right to it. I will offer this minor criticism. Have you ever sat through a fireworks display that just never ended? It might have benefitted from a little tighter editing, but it seems like he just doesn't want to leave anything out. If he knows it, he want us to know it too.

  • How the Mind Works" by Steven Pinker is a captivating exploration of the inner workings of the human mind that left me thoroughly impressed. As my first foray into Pinker's literary world, this book acted as a gateway to his thought-provoking ideas and insightful analyses. The depth of knowledge he brings to the subject is nothing short of remarkable, and it's evident that Pinker is a master at distilling complex concepts into digestible and engaging narratives. While delving into the intricacies of the mind, Pinker's writing style occasionally teeters on the verge of being overly detailed, making certain sections feel a tad laborious. However, this is a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things, especially when considering the wealth of information and insight he provides. From evolutionary psychology to cognitive processes, Pinker traverses diverse domains with eloquence, offering readers a profound understanding of the brain's inner workings. Pinker's ability to synthesize various disciplines and present them in an accessible manner is a testament to his prowess as a communicator. Through his writing, complex topics become approachable, and readers are rewarded with "aha" moments that illuminate the mysteries of human behavior and cognition. "How the Mind Works" not only satiates intellectual curiosity but also inspires a thirst for further exploration into the realms of psychology and neuroscience. In conclusion, "How the Mind Works" is a must-read for anyone seeking to unravel the enigma of human cognition. While some passages might demand more attention, the overarching value of the book is undeniable. Steven Pinker's ability to ignite curiosity and promote deeper understanding makes this book an enriching experience. Having been spurred by this book, I eagerly anticipate delving into Pinker's other works, confident that they will deliver equally insightful perspectives on the complexities of the human mind.

  • Mejor libro de introducción al tema. Si te interesa psicología, empezar aca

  • Le style "Pinker" : érudit,drôle,clair,riche en explications,bien ordonné dans ses idées,tout,absolument tout pour adorer son livre! On ressort après sa lecture enrichis mentalement,avec des vues plus claires sur notre fonctionnement cerebral!!

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