60 pages • 2 hours read
How The Mind Works
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
660
Book • Nonfiction
1990s
1997
W. W. Norton & Company
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
How The Mind Works by Steven Pinker is a 1997 non-fiction book that explores the development and functions of the human mind, including everyday activities like talking and making friends, through the lens of cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and computational theory. Pinker explains basic brain processes before delving into complex concepts such as emotions, intelligence, and consciousness, ultimately reflecting on human traits like art and humor and their evolutionary purposes.
Informative
Challenging
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
21,649 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Steven Pinker's How The Mind Works combines cognitive science and evolutionary psychology, offering an engaging and accessible examination of human thought processes. Readers praise its insightful and thought-provoking arguments. However, some critics note dense sections and controversial evolutionary perspectives. Overall, it's a compelling read for those curious about the mind.
Who Should Read How The Mind Works?
Readers who relish exploring cognitive science, psychology, and evolutionary theory will find Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works captivating. Fans of Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained and Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene are likely to appreciate Pinker's insightful and engaging prose.
21,649 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
In How The Mind Works, Steven Pinker delves into the intricacies of human cognition, drawing from a diverse range of fields including psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology to explore how mental processes have evolved.
The book discusses the concept of "reverse engineering" the brain by understanding its functions based on their evolutionary purposes, offering insights into why certain cognitive features exist.
Pinker also addresses the interplay between nature and nurture, presenting arguments that challenge traditional views on innate versus learned behaviors with an engaging and analytical approach.
In How The Mind Works, Steven Pinker delves into the intricacies of human cognition, drawing from a diverse range of fields including psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology to explore how mental processes have evolved.
The book discusses the concept of "reverse engineering" the brain by understanding its functions based on their evolutionary purposes, offering insights into why certain cognitive features exist.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Pinker also addresses the interplay between nature and nurture, presenting arguments that challenge traditional views on innate versus learned behaviors with an engaging and analytical approach.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
660
Book • Nonfiction
1990s
1997
W. W. Norton & Company
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.