Get Started Now
Book cover of How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker — critical summary review on 12min

How the Mind Works

Steven Pinker

8 mins
Psychology

In “How the Mind Works,” first published in 1997, Steven Pinker tries to explain the mind in evolutionary and computational terms. The human mind is similar to a computer since it processes information and makes decisions based on combining information in certain ways. “How the Mind Works” looks at emotions, vision, and intelligence and attempts to explain how these function.

Get Started

Listen to the intro

Who it is for

Best suited for anyone interested in understanding how their mind works, students of psychology, anyone interested in popular science.

Key Insights

The Mind as an Evolutionary Product

Steven Pinker suggests that to understand the human mind, one must consider it as a product of evolution. The mind, much like physical traits, has been shaped by natural selection to solve problems faced by our ancestors. This evolutionary perspective offers insights into why we think and behave the way we do, shedding light on complex aspects of human behavior such as social interactions, language acquisition, and survival instincts. By viewing mental processes through the lens of evolution, Pinker provides a framework for understanding the underlying reasons behind our cognitive abilities and emotional responses.

The Computational Theory of Mind

In 'How the Mind Works,' Pinker elaborates on the idea that the mind functions similarly to a computer, processing information through a series of computational steps. This theory posits that mental processes can be understood as information processing systems that manipulate symbols to produce outcomes. By likening cognitive functions to software running on hardware (the brain), Pinker provides a compelling model for exploring how thoughts, perceptions, and decisions are formed. This analogy helps to demystify complex mental activities by breaking them down into more comprehensible computational operations.

Decoding Emotions and Vision

Pinker delves into two critical components of the human experience: emotions and vision, providing a detailed analysis of their roles and mechanisms. Emotions are explained as evolutionary adaptations that guide human behavior and decision-making in social and personal contexts. Vision is dissected as a sophisticated information-processing system that transforms light into meaningful perceptions of the world. Pinker's exploration of these topics highlights the intricacy of the mind's ability to interpret and respond to external stimuli, illustrating the precision and adaptability of our cognitive faculties in navigating the environment.

Login

Login to your account

Enter your credentials to access your account

Don't have an account? Sign up

About the Author

Steven Pinker is a Canadian American cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author. His research and practice are related to psycholinguistics, cognitive science, and language-oriented topics. Pinker is a prolific author with many books to his name: “The Language Instinct,” “How the Mind Works,” “Words and Rules,” “The Blank Slate,” “The Stuff of Thought,” “The Sense of Style,” “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” and “Enlightenment Now.”

View author profile

Lessons

  • What watching TV and being on a different planet have in common.
  • Why you are not that different from Mozart or Einstein.
  • Why we fall in love.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand that the human mind functions similarly to a computer by processing and combining information to make decisions, which can enhance how we approach problem-solving and decision-making in daily life.
  • Recognize the evolutionary roots of emotions, vision, and intelligence to better understand human behavior, which can improve interpersonal relationships and self-awareness.
  • Apply the concept of computational thinking to everyday challenges by breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts, leveraging the mind's natural processing abilities.

More knowledge in less time

Listen to the key ideas

We offer various commission schemes from one-time payouts.

Find your next read

12Min is very popular among readers and lifelong learners.

Good Micropaths

12Min's browser-based app works for anyone.

Frequently asked

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about 12min

In the 12min App, we extract the best ideas and insights from the world's best-selling non-fiction books and organize them into unique, self-contained narrative summaries that can be consumed in audio and/or text in about 12 minutes!

You can download our app and start enjoying our library. If for any reason you are not satisfied with our platform, simply contact our support team ([email protected]) within 7 days of purchase and request a refund. You will receive everything you paid for, without questions or bureaucracy.

Yes, but the change will only apply from the next billing period. For example, if you decide to change your monthly subscription to an annual one, after confirming the change to the annual plan, the new plan will only be applied and charged after that month's billing anniversary.

12min Premium is a plan that guarantees you access to our entire library of 2500+ titles available in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) that you can read or listen to at any time through our app available for iOS, Android, and Computer. You can also read or listen to your favorite titles offline and challenge yourself with a quiz to help you retain the content at the end of each microbook.

Yes, if you decide not to renew your 12min subscription, you can cancel at any time and the next billing cycle will not occur.

Feel free to contact us at [email protected].