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The Better Angels of Our Nature book club questions
Here are 12 book club questions for The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, ordered to open easily and end somewhere worth arguing about. Copy them, print them, or bring them up one at a time.
The Better Angels of Our Nature is Steven Pinker's argument, supported by extensive historical and statistical data, that human violence has declined dramatically over long time periods and that this decline is real, not an artifact of reporting or perception.
Steven Pinker · 2011 · 18h 45m
Full summary and key takeaways →The 12 questions
- 1.
Pinker's central claim is surprising: most people believe the world is getting more violent but the data suggest otherwise. Why do you think the intuition and the data diverge so strongly?
- 2.
He uses per-capita rates rather than absolute numbers to measure violence. Is that methodologically right, or do absolute deaths matter independently of population size?
- 3.
Does the fact that hunter-gatherer societies had higher per-capita violence rates change how you romanticize or demonize pre-modern life?
- 4.
Pinker credits literacy and novel-reading with expanding empathy. Is there evidence for or against that causal claim?
- 5.
The long peace among great powers since 1945 is historically remarkable. What do you think is the most important cause — nuclear deterrence, institutions, norms, or something else?
- 6.
Critics of the book argue that the twentieth century's wars killed hundreds of millions in absolute terms and deserve different moral weight. How do you evaluate the per-capita versus absolute distinction?
- 7.
The decline of torture and public execution is presented as moral progress. Is it possible to be more certain about that than about other moral claims?
- 8.
Pinker argues that reason is a force for declining violence because it enables people to take other perspectives and recognize the arbitrariness of their own tribal interests. Is reason actually that powerful a pacifying force?
- 9.
How does the book's thesis hold up in light of events since its 2011 publication?
- 10.
He identifies feminization — the increasing social and political power of women — as a cause of declining violence. What mechanisms might explain that correlation?
- 11.
The better angels and inner demons framework treats violence as a product of internal psychological forces shaped by environment. Does that framing leave room for moral responsibility?
- 12.
What is the single most important thing that could reverse the declining trend in violence, and how likely is it?
How to run the discussion
- Pick six to eight, not all of them. An hour of real discussion covers fewer questions than anyone expects, and racing the list is what makes a book club feel like homework.
- Open with what people noticed, not what they concluded. Asking for a verdict first hardens opinions before anyone has heard each other.
- Let the disagreement run. The questions below that split a room are the ones worth the time; the ones everyone answers the same way can be skipped.
- Ask the quiet person a specific question. A direct, narrow question is far easier to answer than an open invitation to contribute.
Themes worth steering toward
If the conversation stalls, these are the threads that usually restart it.
Common questions
What are good book club questions for The Better Angels of Our Nature?
Here are 12 book club questions for The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, ordered to open easily and end somewhere worth arguing about. The strongest openers ask what each reader noticed rather than what they concluded, and the discussion usually turns on violence, history, human progress.
How long should a book club discussion of The Better Angels of Our Nature last?
Most groups run 60 to 90 minutes of actual discussion. That is roughly six to eight questions, not all of them, so pick the ones that suit your group rather than working down the list in order.
What are the main themes in The Better Angels of Our Nature?
Violence, History, Human progress, Psychology, Peace. Those are the threads most likely to divide a room, which makes them the useful places to steer a discussion that has gone quiet.
Picking the next one? See books like The Better Angels of Our Nature or questions for other book club picks.
