What non-fiction book did you read in 2013 that you most recommend?

[bhikkhu]

26. "The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Steven Pinker

One of the best science writers of our time (he reminds me of Carl Sagan in some ways), a book about how, from top to bottom, the culture of violence worldwide has changed over the last 60 years. Its a definite eye-opener, and full of studies and research results ("mere facts", as the RW condescendingly might say) - not the view of things one would ever get from watching the media.

I especially like how he looks at studies in a way as to assess their possible weaknesses, and often argues possible alternative explanations to his own points, carefully weighing things to come up with a most likely result rather than a pre-determined result. Letting the evidence lead the argument is a simple way to put it, but his professorial experience is also on display - if one is constantly challenged with opposing points that must be fairly and openly met, one becomes accustomed to seeking out and working through weaknesses in ones own arguments as one goes along. He puts it all on the page, and it is refreshing to see.