The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human NatureNew York Timesbestselling author Steven Pinker possesses that rare combination of scientific aptitude and verbal eloquence that enables him to provide lucid explanations of deep and powerful ideas. His previous books—including the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Blank Slate—have catapulted him into the limelight as one of today’s most important and popular science writers. Now, in The Stuff of Thought, Pinker marries two of the subjects he knows best: language and human nature. The result is a fascinating look at how our words explain our nature. What does swearing reveal about our emotions? Why does innuendo disclose something about relationships? Pinker reveals how our use of prepositions and tenses taps into peculiarly human concepts of space and time, and how our nouns and verbs speak to our notions of matter. Even the names we give our babies have important things to say about our relations to our children and to society. With his signature wit and style, Pinker takes on scientific questions like whether language affects thought, as well as forays into everyday life—why is bulk e-mail called spam and how do romantic comedies get such mileage out of the ambiguities of dating? The Stuff of Thoughtis a brilliantly crafted and highly readable work that will appeal to fans of readers of everything from The Selfish Geneand Blinkto Eats, Shoots & Leaves. |
Other editions - View all
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature Steven Pinker No preview available - 2008 |
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature Steven Pinker No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract action allows American apply asked brain called Cambridge causal cause chapter cognitive comes concepts constructions count course culture direct distinction don't effect emotional English entity event example experience express face fact feel force frame fuck future give hand happens human idea it's keep kind knowledge language linguistic logic look Mass matter meaning mental metaphor mind motion move nature never nouns object original past person physical Pinker play politeness possible present problem psychology reason refer relations relationship rule semantics sense sentence sexual shape similar single social someone sound space spatial speak speakers speech substance taboo tense theory things thought tion turn understanding University Press verbs words York
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Inside the Soviet Alternate Universe: The Cold War's End and the Soviet ... Dick Combs Limited preview - 2010 |
Mindful Leadership: A Brain-Based Framework Michael H. Dickmann,Nancy Stanford-Blair No preview available - 2008 |