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The Stuff of Thought

Language as a Window into Human Nature

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The Stuff of Thought

By: Steven Pinker
Narrated by: John Chancer
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, Steven Pinker looks at how the relationship between words and thoughts can help us understand who we are.

Why do so many swear words involve topics like sex, bodily functions or the divine? Why do some children's names thrive while others fall out of favour? Why do we threaten and bribe and seduce in such elaborate, often comical ways? How can a choice of metaphor damn a politician or start a war? And why do we rarely say what we actually mean?

Language, as Steven Pinker shows, is at the heart of our lives, and through the way we use it - whether to inform, persuade, entertain or manipulate - we can glimpse the very essence of what makes us human.

©2008 Steven Pinker (P)2019 Penguin Audio Linguistics Social Psychology & Interactions
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Profile Image for Marie Čechová

Great for language enthusiasts!

Covers a lot of different topics. Humourous and informative. The argument uncovers very smoothly.

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Profile Image for Dr. Stephen Gulliver

Excellent - Once you get into it!

This book is excellent, but first few chapters are tough to break. Worth making the effort.

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Basic

Exposition of elementary notions in a super boring narration
Lack of knowledge of Ancient Greek, Latin and Asian languages.

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1 person found this helpful