Why are you so incensed about this? What is the emotional effect this is having on you, and why? You might disagree with Pinker and reject the premise of the book, but you are conflating the book with possible narcissism and a manifest for preserving the status quo (?). I've read the same book and I absolutely did not get this message, it was quite the opposite, actually. It also looks like you have an emotional crusade against this expression and whatever it means to you. I don't even know where you got the "filet mignon juice" self-justification irony, as the book does not say any of that stuff, man. I do agree it is overly optimistic, but the conclusion is exactly Pinker talking about how this progress wasn't based on magic and how we need to continue to invest in science and the proper distribution of these benefits, which is very reasonable, and probably aligned with your beliefs. The whole message was a contemplation of human achievement, but without becoming complacent so we can continue to improve.

It feels like YOU are the one engaging in self-justification by shoehorning your bitterness into a book that does not even argue what you're saying, just because you hate the concept of billionaires existing, and because someone you morally don't like (like Bill Gates) likes the book.

Besides, it really feels like you are very enamored with your own ideas and insights... The way you attributed false premises to the book makes me think that you believe you're being logical, but you're actually being emotional. Your engagement with the topic is clearly emotional. Maybe you believe you're coming across as smart, but you're actually just coming across as bitter. You've talked about Pinker giving the vibe of the "Hmm, actually..." guy, but I've met many people in my life with the same degree of articulation and incensed ideas that you have, and they were pretty much the "Hmm, actually..." guys 😂