Follow Steven Pinker on a psychological journey that unearths truths behind our own complex minds and shatters established fallacies that often bear the burden of controversy. In this chapter, Steven delves into the history of psychological experiments and reveals new findings that help further shape our understanding of the world around us.

Solidify your understanding of auditory scene analysis, a proposed model coined by psychologist Albert Bregman, for the basis of auditory perception. In this chapter, Steven talks about how the brain makes sense of the auditory world, the principles of auditory scene analysis and its close relationship to visual scene analysis, the physics of sound, and much more.

Gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the human mind. In this chapter, Steven delves into the concept of mental imagery and explains how this phenomenon appears in one's mind.

Learn how human vision works. In this chapter, Steven explains the concept of human visual attention and its limitations, including the laws of optics and projection, and the notion of the mind’s eye.

Humans use language to convey meaning, to share ideas, and to win friends and influence people. In this chapter, Steven explores how children acquire language at a young age, the intelligence gap between children and artificial intelligence and Noam Chomsky’s controversial theory of language.

Learn about the critical periods in life that accelerate growth and learning. In this chapter, Steven delves into the findings of why children and teenagers grasp the syntax and semantics of language more easily than adults.

Learn about the psychological phenomenon called word magic. In this chapter, Steven explains the impact of language, the evolution of absurdities and taboo language as well as the difference between monolingual and bilingual children.

Explore the essence of language and how meaning is generated from the spoken word. In this chapter, Steven explores the concept of meaning in relation to language, the nature of semantics and the elements of meaning that matter when choosing the right words to say.

Learn about how the algorithms of the brain and our neurological structures form rules for language. In this chapter, Steven delves into memorization, mental grammar, and the circuitry of our brain that drives both the rules and irregularities of language.

Discover the main components of language that work together to create meaningful communication between people. In this chapter, Steven talks about the different components of language and where to find these distinctions in the human brain and how Broca's aphasia and other impairments affect one’s ability to speak.

The most intricate and interesting aspect of language is a human being’s ability to read between the lines. In this chapter, Stephen talks about the advantages and disadvantages of using innuendo and the psychology behind it.

The role of common knowledge in an individual’s social life. In this chapter, Steven explains the concept of common knowledge and how it alters the relationship model between humans, common knowledge in relation to seduction, innuendos and euphemism, and the ability of language to generate common knowledge.

Gain a deeper understanding of the notion of generosity. In this chapter, Steven speaks about the great medieval Jewish philosopher, Moses Maimonides and his concept of the eight levels of charitable giving, common knowledge and its impact on charitable judgement, as well as the benefit of anonymity in charitable donations.

Understand the psychological premise of bystander apathy. In this chapter, Steven talks about how common knowledge procures lethal inaction among humans, which serves as a key to many mysteries of social life.

The totality of all of our physical and psychological traits can be attributed to evolution. In this chapter, Steven dives into our own adaptabilities throughout evolution as well as the evolutionary psychology, or lack thereof, behind sociality, dreams, and music.

Music is the labyrinth that connects all cultures. In this chapter, Steven delves into the history of music and explains how it can be mathematically divided between monotony and chaos to sound harmonious and pleasurable to our ears.

The great debate of Nature Vs. Nurture has been at the forefront of psychological debate since the Ancient Greeks discussed the root of personality traits. In this chapter, Steven talks about how genetics plays a strong role in the personality and make up of a person and deconstructs the fallacy that nurture is more impactful in how we act.

The ultimate hindrance to scientific and psychological research are moral expectations. In this chapter, Steven talks about his controversial book, The Blank Slate, and the many facets of human nature including fear, morality, and finding meaning in life.

Learn about the history of violence and how its trajectory has changed over the past two millennia. In this chapter, Steven delves into good and evil aspects of human nature and how civil and societal advancements have impacted the frequency of violence.

The last 50 years have seen unprecedented improvements in poverty, hunger, violence, medicine, and literacy. In this chapter. Steven talks about not only why this news flies under the radar, but more importantly, how we have progressed to this point as a species.