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The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature
Modern · Psychology, Science, Nonfiction

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature

by Steven Pinker
2002 · 704 pages · Nonfiction
42 Modern ★ 4.09 on Goodreads · 26K ratings
Critics' pick
≈ 18 hours to read · about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day

Is it worth reading?

Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) finalist (2003). 4.09★ from 26K Goodreads ratings.

By the numbers

42Must-Read Score
  • Readers63 out of 100 · counts 40%+28
  • Critics32 out of 100 · counts 32% (its stronger lane)+12
  • Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%+2
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 15%+0

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero.

Where it ranks

Shortlisted

Reads as

Thought-provoking, True story

How we rank

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More by Steven Pinker

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has DeclinedSteven Pinker
How the Mind Works
How the Mind WorksSteven Pinker

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