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The Stuff of Thought

Language as a Window into Human Nature

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, Steven Pinker looks at how the relationship between words and thoughts can help us understand who we are.

Why do so many swear words involve topics like sex, bodily functions or the divine? Why do some children's names thrive while others fall out of favour? Why do we threaten and bribe and seduce in such elaborate, often comical ways? How can a choice of metaphor damn a politician or start a war? And why do we rarely say what we actually mean?

Language, as Steven Pinker shows, is at the heart of our lives, and through the way we use it - whether to inform, persuade, entertain or manipulate - we can glimpse the very essence of what makes us human.

©2008 Steven Pinker (P)2019 Penguin Audio

 Linguistics Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Social Sciences

Critic reviews

Astonishingly readable
Perceptive, amusing and intelligent
No one writes about language as clearly as Steven Pinker, and this is his best book yet
Immensely readable and stimulating. Pinker is a master at making complex ideas palatable
Awesome ... Pinker writes lucidly and elegantly, and leavens the text with scores of perfectly judged anecdotes, jokes, cartoons and illustrations
All stars
Most relevant
Always very informative and insightful book from Steven Pinker, tell deeply about everyday things that people to pay attention but there are meaningful things behind, teşekkürler

Very insightful

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Covers a lot of different topics. Humourous and informative. The argument uncovers very smoothly.

Great for language enthusiasts!

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This book is excellent, but first few chapters are tough to break. Worth making the effort.

Excellent - Once you get into it!

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Exposition of elementary notions in a super boring narration
Lack of knowledge of Ancient Greek, Latin and Asian languages.

Basic

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