A Review of "Steven Pinker's Rationality Why It Is Scarce and Why it Matters"

    In 2022, Steven Pinker is regarded as an acclaimed and influential psychologist. His background in research deals with MRI studies, Visual Psychology and the qualified perception of rational thinking. Pinker works thoroughly with logic to reinforce his studies and distinguish delusion from fact. His latest book tests his readers sharpness with probability puzzles, examples of common fallacies, and examples of P’s and Q’s that can defend against the use of presumption instead of logical hypothesis. 

    The book has a pace and style that can keep your senses perked toward deceptive thought process’s and prepare you for cognitive trickery. One of my favorite examples here is the puzzle with whole numbers regarding the cost of a phone and phone case. Pinker explains how we see 100 more and are tempted to round to include another whole number to add 10. When the actual subtraction has a phone case at $5. He uses several examples of commonly mistaken problems to show just how much large percentages of people can get basic math problems wrong. He also notes famous grammatical errors made by popular public speakers such as William Shatner and Mick Jagger. He cites studies conducted that show that the student populous is also sometimes frequently incorrect with logical problems that require common sense critical thinking. 

    An additionally intelligent instance in this book occurs when Pinker explains the logic of the cerebral cortex is sometimes challenged by fallacy and emotionally charged ideals that reside in our limbic system. Pinker also sends a jolt right to the minds that still believe in superstitious and proven false ideas. Quantifying almost 40% of the populous as subscribing to false belief. Pinker isn’t just going after the common man here either. He takes on the logic of Andrew Yang’s proposal for Universal Basic Income, and challenges the Utopian fantasy of Leibniz a peer to Isaac Newton.

    Have ever experienced what it is like to sit in a leather chair in a room with the heat turned up warm to be listened to by a therapist who can comfort you slowly into a hypnosis that shows you the warmth of your hippocampus? Think of this book as the exact opposite approach to cognitive psychology. Instead of watching Newtown's cradle go back and forth welcome to cognitive logic laser thinking. The book is a great way to refocus and hone your senses into the sharp critical thinking person you know you can be.