Steven Pinker
Born: September 18, 1954 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Steven Pinker is a Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, linguist, and public intellectual best known for his research on language, mind, and human nature. Notable for works such as "The Language Instinct," "How the Mind Works," and "Enlightenment Now," his books have received critical acclaim and advanced public understanding of psychology, cognition, and rational thought.
Biography & Author's Journey
Steven Arthur Pinker was born on September 18, 1954, in Montreal, Quebec, to an upper-middle-class, secular Jewish family that valued intellectual curiosity and debate. His parents—a lawyer and a high-school vice-principal—nurtured an environment of critical thinking, which Pinker credits with shaping his appetite for rigorous argument and exploration. He attended Dawson College before earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from McGill University in 1976, then pursued doctoral studies at Harvard University, completing his PhD in experimental psychology in 1979. From early on, Pinker’s academic focus was split between visual cognition—how humans perceive and imagine objects, faces, and spatial relations—and language acquisition. His doctoral work and early years as a professor at Stanford, MIT, and Harvard saw him grappling with foundational questions about the mind, eventually leading him to shift his focus decisively toward the science of language and cognitive development.
Quotes
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Popular Books
The better angels of our nature
Steven Pinker
How violence has declined over human history.
The Language Instinct
Steven Pinker
A captivating exploration of language as an innate human ability, challenging common misconceptions about its nature and acquisition.
Enlightenment Now
Steven Pinker
The case for reason, science, and human progress.
Sense of Style
Steven Pinker
A cognitive scientist's witty guide to clear writing, blending linguistics and psychology to improve your prose.
The Blank Slate
Steven Pinker
Pinker challenges prevailing views on human nature, arguing that genetics significantly shape behavior, cognition, and personality traits.
Rationality
Steven Pinker
Pinker explores the power of reason, arguing humans are rational beings capable of overcoming biases to make better decisions.
The Stuff of Thought
Steven Pinker
A fascinating exploration of how language reveals the inner workings of the human mind and shapes our understanding of reality.
The better angels of our nature
Steven Pinker
How violence has declined over human history.
The Language Instinct
Steven Pinker
A captivating exploration of language as an innate human ability, challenging common misconceptions about its nature and acquisition.
Enlightenment Now
Steven Pinker
The case for reason, science, and human progress.
Sense of Style
Steven Pinker
A cognitive scientist's witty guide to clear writing, blending linguistics and psychology to improve your prose.
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Community Voices
"Steven Pinker is a Canadian cognitive psychologist, psycholinguist, and public intellectual known for his advocacy of evolutionary psychology"
— Wikipedia
"Steven Pinker was listed among Foreign Policy’s '100 Global Thinkers' in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011"
— Foreign Policy
"Steven Pinker has been described as one of the world’s most celebrated intellectuals"
— Simon & Schuster
"Steven Pinker was included in Prospect Magazine's list of top 10 'World Thinkers' in 2013"
— Wikipedia
"Steven Pinker specializes in visual cognition and developmental linguistics, with influential theories on language acquisition"
— Wikipedia
"Steven Pinker won prizes from the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Institution, and the American Psychological Association"
— Harvard Department of Psychology
"Steven Pinker’s research and books have received numerous prizes, including eight honorary doctorates and several teaching awards"
— Harvard Department of Psychology
"Steven Pinker was named by Time as one of 'The 100 Most Influential People in the World Today' in 2004"
— Time
"Steven Pinker is Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and Chair of the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary"
— Harvard Department of Psychology
"Steven Pinker is a popular writer on language, mind, and human nature, earning wide recognition for his contributions"
— Harvard Department of Psychology
