'The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined' by Steven Pinker
In "Better Angels," Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker branches out into the history of the most contentious of subjects: violence.
Gates says it's one of the most important books he's ever read.
"Pinker presents a tremendous amount of evidence that humans have gradually become much less violent and much more humane," he says, in a trend that started thousands of years ago and continued until this day.
This isn't just ivory-tower theory. Gates says the book has affected his humanitarian work.
"As I'm someone who's fairly optimistic in general," he says, "the book struck a chord with me and got me to thinking about some of our foundation's strategies."
In "Better Angels," Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker branches out into the history of the most contentious of subjects: violence.
Gates says it's one of the most important books he's ever read.
"Pinker presents a tremendous amount of evidence that humans have gradually become much less violent and much more humane," he says, in a trend that started thousands of years ago and continued until this day.
This isn't just ivory-tower theory. Gates says the book has affected his humanitarian work.
"As I'm someone who's fairly optimistic in general," he says, "the book struck a chord with me and got me to thinking about some of our foundation's strategies."
