audio cd, 1 pages
Published June 2, 2020 by Hachette B and Blackstone Publishing.
If there is one belief that has united the left and the right, psychologists and philosophers, ancient thinkers and modern ones, it is the tacit assumption that humans are bad. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought, driving newspaper headlines and guiding the laws that shape our lives. But what if it isn't true? In Humankind, Rutger Bregman demonstrates that we are hardwired for kindness, geared toward cooperation. In fact this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens.
From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman shows us that believing in human generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic—it's realistic. Moreover, it has huge implications for how …
If there is one belief that has united the left and the right, psychologists and philosophers, ancient thinkers and modern ones, it is the tacit assumption that humans are bad. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought, driving newspaper headlines and guiding the laws that shape our lives. But what if it isn't true? In Humankind, Rutger Bregman demonstrates that we are hardwired for kindness, geared toward cooperation. In fact this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens.
From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman shows us that believing in human generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic—it's realistic. Moreover, it has huge implications for how society functions. When we think the worst of people, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics. But if we believe in the reality of humanity's kindness and altruism, it will form the foundation for achieving true change in society, a case that Bregman makes convincingly with his signature wit, refreshing frankness, and memorable storytelling.
Costa creure en la Humanitat quan veus segons què i tot sembla anar a pitjor dia rere dia, sense esperança en què un món millor sigui possible. Sort de llibres com aquest que ens hi reconcilien. La gent és bona per naturalesa i, encara que et titllin de ridícul o d'ingenu, cal actuar en conseqüència. La ingenuïtat d'avui pot ser el sentit comú de demà.
This well-written work debunks negative stereotypes and psychological studies with excellent evidence, revealing that on the whole, humans are good. As a bonus, the author also explains the motivation of Nazis, terrorists, nationalists and racists. Believing in human generosity and kindness isn't merely optimistic, it's realistic.
Dig behind the fictional Lord of the Flies and you find a real incident which was far more hopeful. Behind the Stanford prison experiment and the Milgram shock machine you find lies and coaching, designed to attract viewers the same way sensationalist news does today. The research and facts this author has put together provide both a debunking of the cynical view and a breath of fresh air. Speaking of the news, "turn it off" is one of the suggestions in the epilogue "Ten Rules to Live By".
This book is an excellent counterpart to [a:Hans Rosling|2790706|Hans Rosling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486521286p2/2790706.jpg]'s Factfulness, which tells how the world …
This well-written work debunks negative stereotypes and psychological studies with excellent evidence, revealing that on the whole, humans are good. As a bonus, the author also explains the motivation of Nazis, terrorists, nationalists and racists. Believing in human generosity and kindness isn't merely optimistic, it's realistic.
Dig behind the fictional Lord of the Flies and you find a real incident which was far more hopeful. Behind the Stanford prison experiment and the Milgram shock machine you find lies and coaching, designed to attract viewers the same way sensationalist news does today. The research and facts this author has put together provide both a debunking of the cynical view and a breath of fresh air. Speaking of the news, "turn it off" is one of the suggestions in the epilogue "Ten Rules to Live By".
This book is an excellent counterpart to [a:Hans Rosling|2790706|Hans Rosling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486521286p2/2790706.jpg]'s Factfulness, which tells how the world is better off than you might think. Neither of these glosses over the problems that occur, but both put them in context and suggest ways to deal with them. I plan to reread Humankind in the future, and also want to read more from this author - though not in the original Dutch.
Highly recommended - and a relatively quick read, despite being more than 450 pages.
Prachtig boek :)
Een goed boek met een geweldig sentiment. De auteur heeft uitbundig onderzoek gedaan en neemt de lezer aan de hand door diepe discussies over het menselijke bestaan. Ik was onder de indruk van de nauwkeurige bronvermelding. Soms voelt het echter alsof het boek als schoolboek bedoeld is en wordt er niet alleen terugverwezen, maar ook een hoop herhaald. Hierdoor voelen sommige hoofdstukken wat langdradig en duurt het voor mijn gevoel soms wat lang voor de auteur bij de kern van het hoofdstuk aankomt. Al met al is het toch zeker het lezen waard!
