Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker

The book presents a comprehensive case for optimism in the modern era, arguing that humanity has made significant progress in various aspects such as health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness, largely due to the values of the Enlightenment—reason, science, humanism, and progress. The author challenges the pervasive sense of pessimism in contemporary discourse and defends the scientific mindset and rational thinking as the driving forces behind improvements in human well-being. By analyzing a wealth of data and trends, the book encourages readers to appreciate the progress achieved and to continue embracing the Enlightenment principles to address current challenges and further advance the human condition.

The 8393rd greatest book of all time

Ranking Details:

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This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.

Total Points: 126

Since this book was first published in 2018, there is a penalty of 70.4%. The age adjusted score is 37.3.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.