Award-winning writer and psychologist Steven Pinker has continually shown that provocative, complex ideas can be translated into bestsellers. In this extract from How the Mind Works he takes us deep into the human psyche as he considers people's desire for happiness, the power of the emotions and how love can come to conquer all.  

Author Biography

Steven Pinker is one of the world's leading authorities on language and the mind. His popular and highly praised books include The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate. He is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at MIT.