人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己

What makes this such a fantastic read is that it is equal parts fascinating and informative; many such books can be dry and tedious but Humankind avoids ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof 人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己byRutgerBregman. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己 byRutgerBregman 人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己 by RutgerBregman(GoodreadsAuthor), 唐澄暐(Translator) 4.33  ·  Ratingdetails ·  41,603 ratings  ·  4,873 reviews ——世界遠比我們想像的美好，真正的威脅，是我們對於自己太悲觀二次大戰期間，德軍試圖用轟炸瓦解英國人的抵抗意志，他們認為，一旦恐慌與暴力蔓延開來，人類便會顯露低劣的本性。

然而，德軍的劇本並沒有上演。

接著，英軍採用同樣的轟炸戰略回敬德軍，他們認為，在轟炸之下展現的韌性，是英國人獨有的美德，德國人連他們挨過的一半都挨不住。

英軍的盤算也落空了。

事實上，不只德、英雙方對人性有如此悲觀的看法，而是高達97%的人皆然。

但眾多的歷史事件證明：當危機來襲——不論是炸彈落下或洪水成災，我們展現的都是人類最好的本質。

是時候，換個視角來看待自己了。

——如果你曾對人類感到灰心，這本書將為人性的光明扳回一城有太多以性惡為題的研究與著作，贏得喝采且歷久不衰。

還有那一道我們無法視而不見的歷史傷口：人類可是唯一能打造出集中營的物種啊。

到了近代，更加上新聞、社群媒體的推波 ——世界遠比我們想像的美好，真正的威脅，是我們對於自己太悲觀二次大戰期間，德軍試圖用轟炸瓦解英國人的抵抗意志，他們認為，一旦恐慌與暴力蔓延開來，人類便會顯露低劣的本性。

然而，德軍的劇本並沒有上演。

接著，英軍採用同樣的轟炸戰略回敬德軍，他們認為，在轟炸之下展現的韌性，是英國人獨有的美德，德國人連他們挨過的一半都挨不住。

英軍的盤算也落空了。

事實上，不只德、英雙方對人性有如此悲觀的看法，而是高達97%的人皆然。

但眾多的歷史事件證明：當危機來襲——不論是炸彈落下或洪水成災，我們展現的都是人類最好的本質。

是時候，換個視角來看待自己了。

——如果你曾對人類感到灰心，這本書將為人性的光明扳回一城有太多以性惡為題的研究與著作，贏得喝采且歷久不衰。

還有那一道我們無法視而不見的歷史傷口：人類可是唯一能打造出集中營的物種啊。

到了近代，更加上新聞、社群媒體的推波助瀾，人性醜惡似乎成了我們洗刷不掉的烙印。

然而，人類如果真的嗜血好戰，為何在戰爭中造成最大傷亡的，都不是於前線奮戰的士兵；而是遠離前線、不會與敵人面對面的那一小批人？人類如果真的難以教化，為何挪威將重刑犯送進宛如度假村的監獄，反而造就世界最低的再犯率？羅格將在書中以扎實的論證、生動的敘事，一一為我們平反。

．我們在五萬年前有五種人族兄弟，今日卻只有我們倖存，《人類大歷史》作者推測，是因為我們比較狠：｢當智人遇上尼安德塔人，造成史上第一場也是最大一場的種族清洗行動。

｣賈德．戴蒙也贊同：｢間接的證據判定智人謀殺有罪。

｣但羅格認為，是智人的其他特質占了上風。

．賈德．戴蒙在《大崩壞》中推論，復活節島島民因資源不足而相殘，甚至以人為食，是以殘酷自私的人性為導火線。

但新的人口證據卻有截然不同的解釋。

．《蒼蠅王》作者獲頒諾貝爾獎，被盛讚為「生動刻畫了真實人性」；但是當虛構小說在現實中上演，流落荒島的小男孩卻建立起井然有序的小型社會，為了求救，輪流看顧營火不滅。

．以揭露性惡留名的史丹佛監獄實驗，充當獄卒的學生其實是受實驗人員擺布；而旁觀者效應的犧牲者吉諾維斯，並沒有死於38位路人的冷眼旁觀，而是在朋友的懷抱中離世。

——人類的每一次大躍進，都發生在我們對自己有了新認識的時候 ...more GetACopy AmazonOnlineStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleAbeBooksWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Paperback,576pages Published September1st2021 by時報文化 (firstpublishedSeptember3rd2019) MoreDetails... OriginalTitle DeMeesteMensenDeugen/Humankind ISBN 9571392111 (ISBN13:9789571392110) EditionLanguage Chinese LiteraryAwards PublieksprijsvoorhetNederlandseBoek(2020),GoodreadsChoiceAwardNomineeforHistory&Biography(2020) OtherEditions(82) AllEditions ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout 人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions HasthisbeentranslatedintoEnglish?MysmatteringofGermanprobablywon’tbeanyhelpreadingthis. 2likes · like 2yearsago Seeall5answers Rutger Andit'llbepublishedinGermaninMarch:)…moreAndit'llbepublishedinGermaninMarch:)(less) flag VanuitdebeschrijvingklinkthetboekalseenvariantopdeboekenvanStevenPinker,TheBetterAngelsofOurNatureenwellichtEnlightenmentNow-kloptdatenvoegtditboekietstoe? like 2yearsago Seeall5answers SanneHermans Ikhebhetnognietgelezen,maarineeninterviewmetGeschiedenisMagazineschrijftBregmandathijtegenPinkeringaat:"PsycholoogStevenPinkerv…moreIkhebhetnognietgelezen,maarineeninterviewmetGeschiedenisMagazineschrijftBregmandathijtegenPinkeringaat:"PsycholoogStevenPinkerverkondigtinzijnboekenhetwereldbeelddatwevroegerbeestenwarendieelkaardehersensinsloegen,endathetmetiederstukjebeschaving-destaat,hetschrift,deVerlichting,deIndustriëleRevolutie-steedsietsbeterwerd.Daargaiktegenin.Hetgrootstedeelvandegeschiedenisvandebeschavingwasééngrootfiascovooreengrootdeelvandemensheid."Hijnoemtalsvoorbeeldenhoelandbouwleiddetotslavernij,ziektes,ongelijkheid.Hetwasdusnietzo'npositieveontwikkelingindegeschiedenisvandemensalswordtbeweerd(ditlaatHararimetSapiensnatuurlijkookalzien).Denadrukligtdusopdemenszelfalsgoedaardigwezen,ennietopdevooruitgangdiedemensgoedaardig(er)zoumaken(Pinker).Zohebikhetiniedergevalbegrepen!Hoopdatjeerwataanhebt.(less) flag Seeall13questionsabout人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更好的視角看待自己… ListswithThisBook 台灣出版之精選非小說翻譯書BestTranslatedNonfictionBooksPublishedinTaiwan 187books — 5voters Morelistswiththisbook... 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You knowthatpersonwho'salwayssohappynomatterwhat?Maybeit'sthecolleaguewhoisbrightandcheeryat8:00everyMondaymorningwheneveryoneelseisstrugglingjusttoopentheireyesandgettheirthird cupofcoffeedown? Orthatreallyannoyingpersonwhoalwaysurgesyoutolookonthebright side.Oh,yourarmfelloff?Noworries,youhaveanother!Oh,yoursecondarmfellofftoo?Well,justthinkofallthefunyou'regoingtohavelearninghowtouseyourfeettoopendoors, You knowthatpersonwho'salwayssohappynomatterwhat?Maybeit'sthecolleaguewhoisbrightandcheeryat8:00everyMondaymorningwheneveryoneelseisstrugglingjusttoopentheireyesandgettheirthird cupofcoffeedown? Orthatreallyannoyingpersonwhoalwaysurgesyoutolookonthebright side.Oh,yourarmfelloff?Noworries,youhaveanother!Oh,yoursecondarmfellofftoo?Well,justthinkofallthefunyou'regoingtohavelearninghowtouseyourfeettoopendoors,feedyourself,andwipeyourownass!Idon'tknowaboutyou,butthosekindsofpeoplearejustfartoooptimisticforme.Ifyou'reoneofthosepeople,well,maybeyoucanlearntotoneitdownabitwhenyoufindyourselflivingintherealworldwithotherhumanbeings.Humankind:AHopefulHistoryisthebookequivalentofthatoverlyoptimisticperson.AuthorRutgerBregmaniscertainthehumanspeciesisinherentlygood.Mostpeople,deepdown,arereallygoodpeoplewhocareaboutothersandwanttohelpeveryoneandtreateachotherfairly.Growingup,Ithoughttheexactopposite.Mostpeoplewerebadandnottobetrusted.Then,asanadult,Istartedseeinggoodinpeople.MaybeIdidn'ttrustmostpeople,butIletmyselfbelievethattherearealotofgenuinelygoodpeopleintheworldandmaybeeventherearemoregoodthanbad.ThenalongcametrumpandshowedmehowmistakenIwas.EvensomepeopleIthoughtweregoodwenttohisside, ignoringtheharmhedoestominoritiesandevenrelishinginhishatredandcrueltytowardsthem. Afterthat,alongcameCovid-19.Nowwereallyseehowmanypeoplecareabsolutelynothingabouttheirfellowhumanbeings.Theydonotcareiftheypassthevirusontoothers,someofwhommightdie,becausetheyjustdon'tlikewearingamask.(ThatisatleastmanyAmericans.Thefactthatothercountriesimposesteepfinesfornotwearingamaskmakesmethinkthatit'snotjustAmericanswhoarethatself-centered,andotherswouldgowithouttooifnotforthosefines.)Yes,theyareactuallyokaywithbeinginadvertentlyresponsibleforsomeoneelse'sdeathsothattheydon'thavetobeinconvenienced. Myfaithintheinherentgoodnessofmosthumanbeingshasplummeted. I'meagertoknowwhatMr.Bregmanwouldhavetosaytoday.Wouldhewritethesamebook?Probably. Solet'sgettoit.Mr.Bregmanstartswiththepremisethatpeoplearebasicallygoodandthenpullsupallthesestudiesto"prove"hispoint.MostofthestudieshetalksaboutareonesI'vecomeacrossinotherbooks,butheclaimstheexactoppositeresults.Whoiscorrectintheirconclusions?IwouldliketobelieveMr.Bregmanis,butIrarelydid.Heseemstocherrypickthethingsthatsupporthispremisewhilethrowingouteverythingthatgoesagainstit. Healsomakessomewildassertionssuchas,"Basically,ourancestorswereallergictoinequality". He'stalkingaboutourhuntergathererancestorsandmakestheclaimthatformostofhumanhistory,peoplelivedinaveritableParadise.ThatmythologicalGardenofEden.Everyonegotalong,sharing,anddoingtheirpart,andkissing,andhugging,andsingingKumbaya,andbeingtheverybestoffriends.Heevengoessofarastoclaimthatbabiesinhuntergatherersocietiesweredifferent!Whentalkingaboutastudythatshowshumaninfantshaveaclearpreferenceforthosemostlikethem,hetellsusthatitjustwasn'tsoformostofhumanhistory.Heoffersnotoneiotaofproofforthis,justassuresusthatbabiestodaywhoarebornintobig,anonymouscitiesaredifferentthanbabiesthatwerebornintheforestwithasmalltribeofotherhumanbeings.Attimesitwaslikereadingareligiousapologist. Thatsaid,itwasenjoyabletoreadthisbook.It'sinteresting.It'swrittenwell.EvenifIdisagreewithmostofBregman'sconclusions,thebookencouragedmetothinkaboutthingsinadifferentway.Ithinktheauthoriscorrectinhisassertionthatthemediashowsusthenegativeandleavesoutthepositive.Iaccepthisconclusionthatmostpeoplewouldfinditdifficulttotakethelifeofanotherhumanbeing--IFtheyhadtodoitface-to-face.Weseewiththepandemicthatmany,manypeoplereallydonotcarewhathappenstoanyonebesidesthemselvesoratleastoutsidetheirowncircleofclosefamilyandfriends.Theyareokaywithbeingresponsibleforsomeone'sdeatheveniftheywouldn'tpulloutagunandshootsomeone.Thatdoesn'tmakemefeelveryoptimisticabouthumanity.IbelieveMr.Bregmaniscorrect--thestatssupportit--weliveinthesafestera,withfarfewerpeopledyingfromviolenceinflictedbyanotherthanatanyothertimeduringcivilization.Ijustcan'tsharehisoptimisticconclusionthathumansarebasicallygoodandcaringpeople.Someare,somearen't. It'salmostamusinghowherunsaroundincirclestryingtoexplainawaysuchatrocitiesastheHolocaustinaworldwherejustabouteveryoneisgood.It'slikearguingforabenevolentcreatorwhopurposelycreatedsuchthingsascancerinchildrenandparasiticwaspsthatlaytheireggsinsidecaterpillars,slowlyandhorrificallymurderingthemasthebabywaspseattheirwayout.MaybeI'mcynical,whichBregmanassuresusislazy.Heassertsthat,"Ifyoubelievemostpeoplearerotten,youdon'tneedtogetworkedupaboutinjustice.Theworldisgoingtohellanyway".Idisagree.ThemoreinjusticeIseeintheworld,themoreIrealisehowmuchworkthereistobedoneandthemoreIwishtobeabletodosomethingaboutit.Ifweignorealltheveryrealsufferinghumansinflictuponeachotherandotherlivingcreatures,wedon'tseewherechangeneedstobemadeandwedon'ttakeresponsibilityfortryingtobringaboutchange. Mr.Bregman'sideasseemlazytome.Forinstance....hissolutionforracism?Justletracistshangoutwithpeopleofcolor.Whilenotcomingoutanddirectlysayingthatpeopleofcolorareresponsibleforeliminatingracism,thatiswhatheisimplying.Whyshouldpeopleofcolorhavetohangoutwithpeoplewhohatethem(orLGBQT+withpeoplewhohateus)inordertochangetheirminds?Itisnotminoritieswhoshouldshouldertheresponsibilityforchange. IhadtodeductastarfromtheratingforthatBS.Heblowsoffhatredofminoritiesbysayingitwouldn'texistifwelivedinsmallbandsofpeopleandyetatthesametimeamongpeoplewhoareveryunlikeus. Yeh,Idon'tunderstandthateither.So,myconclusionisthathumansarecapableofbothgoodandbad.Wearecapableofloveandkindnessandcompassionbutalsocapableoftheopposite.Thereisnoneatandtidywaytoaccountforwarandgenocidewhileclaimingpeoplearemostlyallgood.Wearecomplicated.Lifeiscomplicated.It'sabiggreyarea;humannaturedoesn'tcomeinblackandwhite,allgoodorallbad. DoIrecommendthebook?Absolutely.I'mgladIreadit,evenifitdidn'tsucceedinchangingmymind.  ...more flag 384likes · Like  · seereview Viewall62comments Aug11,2021 MaggieStiefvater ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: adult, nonfiction, recommended ThisbookshandlesasubjectI’vealwaysbeeninterestedin:howwebecomethestorieswetellaboutourselves.I’velongbeenintriguedbyBeem’stheoryofpersonality,thatourpersonalityisadecisionwemakeeveryday,andthisbookcontinuesthatconversation.Arehumansactuallybad,Bregmanasks,oraretheyjustbecomingbadbecausewekeeptellingstoriesabouthowhumanstendtowardbadness?Whatifweinsteadtellourselvesstoriesaboutallthetimeshumanscouldhavechosenselfish ThisbookshandlesasubjectI’vealwaysbeeninterestedin:howwebecomethestorieswetellaboutourselves.I’velongbeenintriguedbyBeem’stheoryofpersonality,thatourpersonalityisadecisionwemakeeveryday,andthisbookcontinuesthatconversation.Arehumansactuallybad,Bregmanasks,oraretheyjustbecomingbadbecausewekeeptellingstoriesabouthowhumanstendtowardbadness?Whatifweinsteadtellourselvesstoriesaboutallthetimeshumanscouldhavechosenselfishness&insteadtrendedtowardcommunity?It’saninterestingbooktoreadontheheelsofPopular:ThePowerofLikabilityinaStatus-ObsessedWorld,abookIjustreadonthepsychologyofpopularity.POPULAR’sauthorsaysthatchildhoodpopularitypredictsadulthoodsuccess,baseduponawide-rangingsurveywhereadultswhoreportedbeingpopularaschildrenendeduphappierandmorewell-adjusted.WhenIreadPOPULAR,Ithought:there’stherub!Thatself-reportedstudydoesn’tprovepopularkidsbecomewelladjustedadults.Itprovesthatwelladjustedadultsrememberthemselvesaspopular,whichisnotexactlythesamething.Wedon’tknowiftheyWEREpopular;wejustknowthat’sthestorytheytoldaboutthemselves.Andyeah,itdoesseemlikepeoplewhorememberthepastinapositivelightaremorelikelytoexpect—&thuscreate—apositivefuture.“Believewhatpeopletellyouaboutthemselves,”awomanoncetoldme,aboutadecadeago.Later,shetoldme,“womendon’treallymakefriendswithotherwomen.”Stilllater,shesaid,“Scorpiowomenlikeyou&mearealwaysunhappy,everythingisatooloragrudge.”Atthetime,Iwasyoungandnaive;Idisagreedbecausethosethingsweren’ttrueofme.ButIrealizeknowthatshewastellingmeaboutherself,whetherornotsheknewit.“Believewhatpeopletellyouaboutthemselves,”becausethestoriesmightnotbetrueYET,buttheyaretryingtomakethemso,goodandbad.Later,thatwomankilledherself.Ithinkabouthernearlyeveryweek,iftherewasawayIcouldhaveintervened.Maybeyes,maybeno,butbecauseofherIknowtoask:whatstoriesareyoutellingaboutyourselfandothers?Ihighlyrecommendthisbook.Evenifyoudon'tagreeentirelywithitsthesis(andperhapsespeciallyifyoudon't),Ithinkit'sawildlyengagingentrypointintocrucial,excellentconversations.Popnonficatitsbest. ...more flag 262likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Nov27,2020 Trevor ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: social-theory, psychology IwishIhadn’trecentlyreadCallingBullshit.Accordingtothatbook,Ireallyoughttobeapplyingthesharpestpossiblecriticismtothisbook.Thereasonbeingthatthisbookconfirmssomanyofmyownprejudices.Infact,I’veusedmanyoftheargumentsusedhere(andeventhesameexamples)inmyownlife.Forexample,overthelastfewyearsI’vebeenaskedtogivetheopeninglectureontheimportanceofliteracytoundergradeducationstudentsatwork.Mostly,Ilookathowsocialclas IwishIhadn’trecentlyreadCallingBullshit.Accordingtothatbook,Ireallyoughttobeapplyingthesharpestpossiblecriticismtothisbook.Thereasonbeingthatthisbookconfirmssomanyofmyownprejudices.Infact,I’veusedmanyoftheargumentsusedhere(andeventhesameexamples)inmyownlife.Forexample,overthelastfewyearsI’vebeenaskedtogivetheopeninglectureontheimportanceofliteracytoundergradeducationstudentsatwork.Mostly,Ilookathowsocialclassimpactsstudentliteracyandhowmoreequalsocietieshavebetterliteracyoutcomes.ButpartofthatlecturealsoinvolvesmetellingstudentsaboutPygmalionintheClassroom.Thisbookcoversthatstorytoo,explaininghowRosenthalgaveanewkindofIQtesttosomegroupsofstudentsthatwouldshowwhichofthemwereabouttogothroughsomethingofalearningspurtandthenout-performtheirpeers.Thepsychologistsinvolvedintheexperimentthentoldthestudents’teachersthiswasabouttohappen.Andthen,awhilelater,whenthepsychologistscamebacktochecktheirresults,theyfoundthatthekidsidentifiedhad,indeed,doneextremelywell.ItwasjustthattherehadneverbeenanewkindofIQtest,thewholethinghadbeenatestofteacherexpectationsandtheimpactofthoseontheirstudents.Thekidstheteacherstreatedasifthereweresmart,endedupprovingtobesmart.Rosenthaldidnotbelieveitwouldbeethicaltotesttheoppositehypothesis,youknow,telltheteacherswhichkidswerestupidandseewhathappens–which,giventheotherstoriesfromthetimedocumentedinthisbook(theMilgramshocktestandtheStanfordPrisonGuardextravaganza)hewasclearlyasocialpsychologistaheadofhistime.Allthesame,wehavetheresultsofthoseexperimentsalready–ClaudeSteelediscussesthoseatlengthinhisworkonstereotypethreat.Now,there’sabookyoushouldreadtoo.ThecentralcontentionofthisbookfitswellwithRosenthal’shypothesisthatpeopleoftenrespondinwaysthatwillconfirmourexpectationsofthem.Actually,eventhatistoosoftaversionofwhatthisbookargues.Itactuallyarguesthatpeoplemostlybehavebetterthanweexpectthemto.Hedoesthisbydiscussinghowfewpeopleinwarsactuallyendupshootingtheirguns.Ofcourse,mostprofessionalsoldiersnowshoottokillallofthetime–butthat’sbecausetheyhavebeentrainedtobebasicallyinhumanmachines.Gettinganormalpersontokillanothernormalpersonisaremarkablydifficultthingtodo.Giventhesuicideratesofreturnedsoldiers,weprobablyshouldn’tbetooproudofwhatwedotomakethemkillingmachines.Hispointthroughoutthisbookisthathumansjustdon’tprovetobeanywherenearasbloodthirstyorasnastyasweliketothinkofourselves.TheonlypeoplewhocomeoutofthisbookbadlyareBMWdrivers–Ididstartoffbysayingthisbookgoesoutofitswaytoconfirmallofmyprejudices,didn’tI?TheonlytimeIthoughtIwasdefinitelygoingtodiewhiledrivingmycarwaswhenaBMWdriver(presumablyonewithaverysmallpenis)decidedhecouldracepastatramonthewrongsideoftheroad–asideoftheroadIwasdrivingdownwithmytwodaughtersandtwooftheirfriends.Theonlythoughtsinmyheadatthetimewerethefacesoftheparentsofthechildreninmycaroncetheirparentsweretoldoftheirdeathsinmycarandaseriesofunprintableswearwordsfollowedby‘….BMWdrivers’.Ireallylikedthisbook.ItpresentsinterestingcounterargumentstoJaredDiamond,StevenPinkerandRichardDawkins.Howcanthatbeabadthing?Youmightdecidetoavoidthisbookbecauseyouarealreadycertainitclearlypresentsanall-too-Pollyannavisionofhumannature.Youwouldbewrongtoassumethat.Thisisalovelylittlebookthatislikelytomakeyouquestionsomeofthethingsyouthinkyouknowaboutwhatitmeanstobehuman.Andthatcan’tbeabadthingeither. ...more flag 141likes · Like  · seereview Viewall11comments Jun18,2020 Mehrsa ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Tobehonest,Ipickedupthisbooktohate-readit.IthoughtitwouldbemorePinkerandandthatLarsguysayinghoweverythingisbetternowandwilleveryonejustshutupsortofstuff.ButIactuallyreallylovedthebook--thatis,Ilovedthefirst2/3rdsofthebook.Thelast1/3rdwaswaytoocuteandoptimisticformycoldcynicalheart.ThebookisnotmakingtheclaimthatPinkerismaking.ThebookisapointbypointdebunkingofaHobbsianworldviewandthesham"studies"andstor Tobehonest,Ipickedupthisbooktohate-readit.IthoughtitwouldbemorePinkerandandthatLarsguysayinghoweverythingisbetternowandwilleveryonejustshutupsortofstuff.ButIactuallyreallylovedthebook--thatis,Ilovedthefirst2/3rdsofthebook.Thelast1/3rdwaswaytoocuteandoptimisticformycoldcynicalheart.ThebookisnotmakingtheclaimthatPinkerismaking.ThebookisapointbypointdebunkingofaHobbsianworldviewandthesham"studies"andstoriesthathaveupheldit.Thisisimportantbecausethisbleakworldviewhasledusintobadpoliciesandbehaviorsbecauseweassumethatifthepolicestatewasslackened,therewouldbeabsolutemayhemandmurderinthestreets.Thatisjustnottrue. ...more flag 100likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Jun06,2020 Emma ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: netgalley Somegreatstories,butanecdotesdon'tmakeasustainedargumentandthewholeisn'tentirelyconvincing.Evenso,it'stheperfecttimeforahealthydoseofoptimismandifthere'sanythingthisbookdoeswellit'sshowinghowhopeandpositivitycanbreedmore.Sogoforthandbethegoodyouwanttoseeintheworld.Youmightjustinspireotherstodothesame.ARCviaNetgalley Somegreatstories,butanecdotesdon'tmakeasustainedargumentandthewholeisn'tentirelyconvincing.Evenso,it'stheperfecttimeforahealthydoseofoptimismandifthere'sanythingthisbookdoeswellit'sshowinghowhopeandpositivitycanbreedmore.Sogoforthandbethegoodyouwanttoseeintheworld.Youmightjustinspireotherstodothesame.ARCviaNetgalley ...more flag 99likes · Like  · seereview Apr10,2020 Jan ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: cultuur-kritiek BregmansbookisimmenselypopulairatthismomentinHolland.Thecentralthesisisclearfromthetitle,freelytranslated:MostpeopleareOK.Bregmans,isajournalistandhistoricfromHollandwhogainedfamebyexpliciteringtheneedfortaxreformsatDavos.InthisbookhearguesthatmostpeopleareOKintwodifferentways.1.Bysummarizingstudyresultsthatproofourgoodnature,thatis,anpreferenceforsocialcooperativebehaviourandaversiontoviolence2.Secondlybytrashinge BregmansbookisimmenselypopulairatthismomentinHolland.Thecentralthesisisclearfromthetitle,freelytranslated:MostpeopleareOK.Bregmans,isajournalistandhistoricfromHollandwhogainedfamebyexpliciteringtheneedfortaxreformsatDavos.InthisbookhearguesthatmostpeopleareOKintwodifferentways.1.Bysummarizingstudyresultsthatproofourgoodnature,thatis,anpreferenceforsocialcooperativebehaviourandaversiontoviolence2.SecondlybytrashingexemplaryresearchintothedarkhumannatureandpresentexamplesthatshowthegoodnatureofhumansFormehisthesisisridiculous.InourdailylifeweapproachmostpeopleliketheyareOK.Wedon’tdistrustourcolleagueswhentheyaskedforhelpandtherearealwayspeoplestandingupinpublictransporttofreeaseatforthosewhoneedit.Thesearethekindexampleshegivesofgoodbehaviour.Still,maybethisisnotthekindofbehaviourBregmanswantstotalkabout.Inthebeginningofthebookhestates(fromanpersonalemailofauniversityteacher)that97%ofpeoplebeliefthatweareinclinedtoactfullyinself-interestinpanicsituations.Howeverforthisargumenttheresearchhepresentsislessconvincing.Thisisbecausethe‘proof’ofourgoodnaturefallsmostlyinthecategory‘alacafé’andbecauseheisnotabletoexplicatetheseresultsinansynthesizedframework.Secondlybecausebytrashingtheresearchmethodsofi.e.Zimbardo’sprisonexperiment(wheresplittingupagroupintoprisonersandguardsresultsintoviolence)heclaimstoprovethatpeoplearenotinclinedtoshowbadbehavior.Thishowever,isfalsereasoning,sincetheresultsoftheZimbardoexperimentwherealwaysapresentationofhowthecontextcanmakepeoplebad.Thisisstillstanding,eveniftheresearches(careerdrivenlyingpricks)wherepushingforescalation.Theywherejustapowerstructurewithinthecontext.AsRutgerBregmanstateshehopestofollowBentrandRussel’smaximtonevergetdistractedbywhathebelieves.Itisapitythathedoesn’tliveuptothis.Ashestatesinthepreface,hisgoalinthisbookisnottoprovethatpeopleareangels,morethatwehaveanpreferencefortegood(p.31).Hefailstodothisbecause:-Hefailstomakeproperconclusionsbutmerelysummarizesalotofresearch(whichisinterestingforsure!).Butnotexplicitlyderivetheconclusionthatthismeans‘we’areinclinedtodothegoodinpanicsituations-Thisleaveshimwiththemeaninglesspropositionthatmostpeopleare(mostofthetime)OK.WhatdoyoumeanOK?WhenarewenotOK?WhatdoesthismeanforourOKnessingeneral?(Thisdefectofthebookwas,forme,compensatedbythelastcoupleofchapterswherethequestionisnolongertheproveofthecentralthesis,buthowvitreousbehaviorcanbestimulated)-Thequestionofevilisneveraquestionofquantitybutofquality.Onepersonstartingafightinabarcanruinthenightfor30OK-people.Magnifyingthegoodintentionsoftherestisnotthepointhere.Hedoesnotaddressthisbuttalksasifbadangoodareleveledinequalmeasure.Forexample,thegoodbehaviorof(alot)ofpeopleduringWOIIdoesnotlessenthefactoftheHolocaust.Itisnoteworthythatthisbookissopopular.Whyso?Demeestemensendeugeniswritteninawaythatmakesyoufeellikeamarathonrunner.Youjustkillthethinginafewhours,andthismademefeelgoodindeed.Butthiscannotbetheonlyreason.Whatgotmyattentionisthedualismcreatedinthebookbetweenwe(the99%)andtheleaders,scientistandpoliticians(the1%).ThemostpeopleareOK,butleaders…oef,thechancesarehighthattheyarepsychopaths.Inthiswaythisbookisawarmblanketthatworksasasedative.Wedon’thavetofeelguilty,becauseweareinclinedtothegood.[1]So,shouldyoureadthisbook?Ithinkso.RutgerBermanisagreatcollectorofresearchandisabletosummarizetheinformationsoyoucanreaditwithease.Ontheotherhand,beawarethatthisbookisanideologicalpamphletandtheresultsofmostresearchcanbeinterpretedinmultipleways.So,practicebenevolence,butnoteverythingisOKandnotonlythepowerfulareevil._________[1]Thisisideologyandfalsewithourdirectexperience.ThoughwethinkmostpeopleareOKweallnowsomeexampleswheresomebodyis(aswesayinHolland)‘lickingup,andkickingdown’.Orformegrowingupwithbrothers.Ishowedvirtuousbehavior,aswellasevilsadisticbehaviourtomyyoungerbrothers(notsomethingiamproudabout). ...more flag 86likes · Like  · seereview Viewall16comments Jan08,2021 ClifHostetler ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: philosophy, history Ifyouwishtobelievethatpeoplearenaturallygoodbutyoucan’tbecauseofthecounterexamplesinthenewsandyou’vebeentaughtotherwiseinhistory,sociology,andpsychologyschoolclasses,thenyouneedtoreadthisbook.Thisbookmakesaconvincingcasethathumansarebynaturefriendlyandpeacefulcreatures,andmostofthecounterexamplesarecausedbypressuresofcivilizationforwhichevolutionofthehumanbrainhasleftusill-prepared.Bregmanmakesthecasethataprobabl Ifyouwishtobelievethatpeoplearenaturallygoodbutyoucan’tbecauseofthecounterexamplesinthenewsandyou’vebeentaughtotherwiseinhistory,sociology,andpsychologyschoolclasses,thenyouneedtoreadthisbook.Thisbookmakesaconvincingcasethathumansarebynaturefriendlyandpeacefulcreatures,andmostofthecounterexamplesarecausedbypressuresofcivilizationforwhichevolutionofthehumanbrainhasleftusill-prepared.BregmanmakesthecasethataprobablereasonHomosapiensprevailedduringtheprehistoryeraoverNeanderthals,Denisovans,andHomoerectusisbecausewewerehard-wiredtobesocial,workingroups,andconsiderwhat’sbestforthecollectivecommunity.Thispredispositionworkedwellovermanyyearswhilehumanslivedashunter-gatherers.Butthesesametendenciesledtoviolentbehaviorwhensubjectedtotheterritorialconcernsandconcentratedpopulationsofthecivilizedworld.Thepredispositionforprotectingthecollectivecommunityinthehunter-gathererworldtransformedintoxenophobiainthecivilizedworld.Thebookattacksthecommonlyacceptedtruthsabouthumannaturedescribedinthenovel LordoftheFlies ,andpresentsasacounterexampleatruehistoricalinstanceofyoungboysmaroonedonanislandinwhichsuccessfulcooperationwasexhibited.Also,areinterpretationofthetruefactssurroundingthefamous1964murderofKittyGenoveseisprovidedthatdemonstratesthetendencyofnewsarticlestoexaggerateandfalsifysensationalaspectsofastory.Bregmanalsodeconstructsthebadscienceand/orlazyreportagecontainedinmanyfamoussociologicalcasestudiesthathaveclaimedthatcivilizationisbutathinfragilecoatingprotectingusfromdangeroushumannature.SomeofthebetterknowndebunkedstudiesaretheStanfordPrisonexperimentandtheMilgramexperiment.Thebookalsomakesthecasethatthechiefmotivationforsoldierstofightinwaristhespiritofcamaraderie,notideology.Thesecondpartofthebookisdevotedtoproposingwaystostructurework,school,andorganizationsthatcanutilizetruehumannatureforoptimumbeneficialresults.Manyoftheseexamplearguethatwhenweexpectbetter,weveryoftengetbetter.ExamplesgivenincludeanexemplaryNorwegianprison,NelsonMandelaandtheendofApartheidinSouthAfrica,challengingplaygroundsforchildren,andunstructuredschools.Bregmanrepeatedlynotesthateventhoughcivilizationhasbredintothehumanbrainasuspicionofpeopleoutsideofourowngroup,ourprejudicestendtofallawayoncewecometoknowthose“others.”“Contactengendersmoretrust,moresolidarity,andmoremutualkindness.Ithelpsyouseetheworldthroughotherpeople’seyes.”Healsonotesthat,“It’swhenacrisishits…thatwehumansbecomeourbestselves.” ...more flag 58likes · Like  · seereview Viewall15comments Aug24,2020 MichaelPerkins ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition TheauthortotallyoutwittedTuckerCarlson,wholosthiscool,andrefusedtoairtheepisode.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nFI...================Whatweareseeingrightnow..."Thenoceboeffectisthatideasarenevermerelyideas.Wearewhatwebelieve.Wefindwhatwegolookingfor.Andwhatwepredict,comestopass.Ifwebelievemostpeoplecan’tbetrusted,that’showwe’lltreateachother,toeveryone’sdetriment.Fewideashaveasmuchpowertoshapetheworldasourviewofot TheauthortotallyoutwittedTuckerCarlson,wholosthiscool,andrefusedtoairtheepisode.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_nFI...================Whatweareseeingrightnow..."Thenoceboeffectisthatideasarenevermerelyideas.Wearewhatwebelieve.Wefindwhatwegolookingfor.Andwhatwepredict,comestopass.Ifwebelievemostpeoplecan’tbetrusted,that’showwe’lltreateachother,toeveryone’sdetriment.Fewideashaveasmuchpowertoshapetheworldasourviewofotherpeople.Becauseultimately,yougetwhatyouexpecttoget.It’sameanworldsyndrome,whoseclinicalsymptomsarecynicism,misanthropyandpessimism.""Imagineforamomentthatanewdrugcomesonthemarket.It’ssuper-addictive,andinnotimeeveryone’shooked.Scientistsinvestigateandsoonconcludethatthedrugcauses,Iquote,‘amisperceptionofrisk,anxiety,lowermoodlevels,learnedhelplessness,contemptandhostilitytowardsothers,anddesensitization'......Thatdrugisthenews."===========Humanbeings,itturnsout,areultra-sociallearningmachines.We’reborntolearn,tobondandtoplay.Thisisourtruesuperpower,becausesociablepeoplearen’tonlymorefuntobearound,intheendthey’resmarter,too.==========="Don'tbetrappedbydogma-whichislivingwiththeresultsofotherpeople'sthinking."(SteveJobs)Manyofusareresistanttoreligiousdogma.Perhapsthereareothersourcesofdogmaweshouldquestion,aswell,includingsomethatcamefrommyBoomergeneration."TheSelfishGene?Itfitrightinwith1970s-erathinking–atimehailedasthe‘MeDecade’bytheNewYorkmagazine.Inthelate1990s,anavidRichardDawkinsfandecidedtoputhistakeonDawkinsideasintopractice.Ratherthanmakinghimfeelpessimistic,thebookinspiredCEOJeffreySkillingtorunanentirecorporation–theenergygiantEnron–onthemechanismofgreed.Skillingsetupa‘Rank&Yank’systemforperformancereviewsatEnron.Ascoreof1placedyouamongthecompany’stopperformersandgaveyouafatbonus.Ascoreof5putyouatthebottom,agroup‘senttoSiberia’–besidesbeinghumiliated,ifyoucouldn’tfindanotherpositionwithintwoweeksyouwerefired.TheresultwasaHobbesianbusinessculturewithcut-throatcompetitionbetweenemployees.Inlate2001thenewsbrokethatEnronhadbeenengaginginmassiveaccountingfraud.Whenthedustfinallysettled,Skillingwasinprison.Sciencehasadvancedconsiderablysincethe1970s.InsubsequenteditionsofTheSelfishGene,RichardDawkinsscrappedhisassertionsabouthumans’innateselfishness,andthetheoryhaslostcredencewithbiologists."=============Humankindisawonderfullyiconoclasticbook.ThebookisfluidlywrittenandIhavelearnedaton.Myfavoritebookoftheyearsofar.Podcastinterviewwiththeauthor.WhatIfindpersuasivehereisthatothercountriesareoperatingondifferentassumptions,betterassumptionsthanweareintheU.S.,andgettingmuchbetterresults.Wealwaysmakeexcusesforwhywecan'tchange,saytoimplementtruegunsafety.Weclingtooreadilytoourcynicism,whenmaybewearelookingattheworldallwrong.ThiscapturesbesttheflavorofthebookthanIcouldinawrittenreview.https://pitchforkeconomics.com/episod...---------------“TOBEHOPEFULinbadtimesisnotjustfoolishlyromantic.Itisbasedonthefactthathumanhistoryisahistorynotonlyofcruelty,butalsoofcompassion,sacrifice,courage,kindness.Whatwechoosetoemphasizeinthiscomplexhistorywilldetermineourlives.Ifweseeonlytheworst,itdestroysourcapacitytodosomething.Ifwerememberthosetimesandplaces—andtherearesomany—wherepeoplehavebehavedmagnificently,thisgivesustheenergytoact,andatleastthepossibilityofsendingthisspinningtopofaworldinadifferentdirection.Andifwedoact,inhoweversmallaway,wedon’thavetowaitforsomegrandutopianfuture.Thefutureisaninfinitesuccessionofpresents,andtolivenowaswethinkhumanbeingsshouldlive,indefianceofallthatisbadaroundus,isitselfamarvelousvictory.”―HowardZinn ...more flag 51likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jun12,2021 Todd ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: social-science Well,wegavehimashot.IreallywantedtolikeBregmanandhishopefulhistory.Whilethebookwashighlyentertaining,ultimatelyhisapproachistoosimplistic,cherry-picked,andoptimisticformyskepticalcriticalheart.Ontheupside,Bregmanisafantasticwriter;youcaneasilygetlostinhisstoriesandhisabilitytoweavehispopsocialsciencenarrativetogether.Atthesametime,youhavetoappreciatehisambitionsandintentions.Inthiswork,Bregmanstartedoutpromisingeno Well,wegavehimashot.IreallywantedtolikeBregmanandhishopefulhistory.Whilethebookwashighlyentertaining,ultimatelyhisapproachistoosimplistic,cherry-picked,andoptimisticformyskepticalcriticalheart.Ontheupside,Bregmanisafantasticwriter;youcaneasilygetlostinhisstoriesandhisabilitytoweavehispopsocialsciencenarrativetogether.Atthesametime,youhavetoappreciatehisambitionsandintentions.Inthiswork,Bregmanstartedoutpromisingenough,chartingacoursebetweenHobbesandRousseau,inlightofthefindingsofmodernsocialscience.Atfirst,hisformulaisenticing;hetakesawell-knowndoctrineorawell-establishedstoryinourcollectivepsyche,picksapartitsflawsandshortcomings,andattemptstorevisethenarrativeinlightofacounterexampleoranecdoteofhisown.Infact,someofhisconclusionshaveindependentlybeengeneratingsupportfordecades,suchasthebenefitsoftheScandanaviancorrectionsmodeloverthemodernAmericanprisonmodel.However,afterthethirdorfourthpassthroughtheformula,itbecomesclearthatBregmanisgoingfull-onGladwellwithhistreatmentanduseoftheformula.Weshouldbecautiouswiththisapproachtopopsocialscience.Justbecausetheoriginalconclusionhasbeendiscredited,thisdoesnotmeantheoppositeconclusionisnecessarilytrue;inreality,thereareacontinuumofpossibilitiesinbetweenandanarrayofotherpossibilitiesonentirelyotherplanes.Forinstance,itwasreallyentertainingrevisitingtheLordoftheFlies,anditisundoubtedlytruethatGoldingdrewupthenarrativeandallegorytosupportaparticularinterpretationofthehumanexperience.However,Bregmanbringingforthasingleexampleofseveralrealboysgettingstuckonanislandandhavingabyandlargemorefavorableexperiencedoesnotsupportasweepinggeneralizationintheoppositedirection.Thereareallsortsofotherfactorsthatcouldhaveledtoacooperativeexperienceinreallifefortherealtrappedboys,andnothingistosaythatotherboysorgirlstrappedonadifferentdesertedislandwouldnothaveanentirelydifferentexperience.Asarule,sweepingconclusionsarenotgenerallysupportedbyasinglecasestudyorhistoricalanecdote.OneoftheoverridingargumentsinthebookcomesacrossasanattempttoknockoverastrawmanthatBregmanlabels“veneertheory”followingprimatologistFransdeWaal.Thebiggestproblemisthathumansandtheirbehavior,intheircomplexity,fallsomewhereinbetweenHobbesandRousseau.Sowhile"veneertheory"inmanycircumstancesisuntruethatthereisjustathinveneerofcivilizationseparatingusandastateofanarchy,thisdoesnotmeanthatpeopleonthecontraryhaveatendencytobandtogetherinatimeofcrisis.Infact,therecentpublichealthcrisisprovidedampleammunitiontoremainskepticalinthatregard.Despitetruebraverybymanyinthefront-linehealthcareworkforce,theAmericanexperienceoftheglobalpandemicin2020showshowpeoplecanfailtocometogetherasanationinjustsuchatimeofcrisis.Ingeneral,peoplebehavedastheybehavedbeforethecrisis;theydidnotshowmoreregardfortheirfellowcitizensdyinginnursinghomesandhospitals,buttheyalsodidnotnecessarilyshowlessregardthanpriortothepandemic.Intalkingaboutabookonhopeandoptimism,itwouldseemfittingtoendonanupbeatnote.Forthemostpart,Bregmanprovidedanentertainingandattimesedifyingwork.Whilewedoneedtotakehisrevisionisthistorywithmanygrainsofsalt,wecanenjoytherideandbeentertainedbyhisgiftsforstorytellingandhisskillsandfacilitywithwritingandoratory. ...more flag 44likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Jun04,2020 Krista ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: nonfiction, 2020, arc, netgalley Anidealistcanberightherwholelife,andstillbedismissedasnaive.Thisbookisintendedtochangethat.Becausewhatseemsunreasonable,unrealistic,andimpossibletoday,canturnouttobeinevitabletomorrow.Itistimeforanewrealism.Itistimeforanewviewofhumankind. Withthesubtitle“AHopefulHistory”,HumankindisexactlythekindofoptimisticreadIthinkIneededrightnow.Withsomuchnegativegoingon,Ikeephearing,“Whatdoyouexpect?Peoplearetheworst, Anidealistcanberightherwholelife,andstillbedismissedasnaive.Thisbookisintendedtochangethat.Becausewhatseemsunreasonable,unrealistic,andimpossibletoday,canturnouttobeinevitabletomorrow.Itistimeforanewrealism.Itistimeforanewviewofhumankind. Withthesubtitle“AHopefulHistory”,HumankindisexactlythekindofoptimisticreadIthinkIneededrightnow.Withsomuchnegativegoingon,Ikeephearing,“Whatdoyouexpect?Peoplearetheworst,aplagueontheEarth!”Andnotonlydoesthatnotsolveanything,butit'ssofatalisticastosuggestthatnothingshortoftotalhumanextinctioncouldsolveanything.Withthisnewreviewofhumanhistory,RutgerBregmannotonlybustsabunchofmyths(andespeciallythosebasedonsocialscienceexperiments)abouthowrottenwehumansareatthecore,butbyaddinginstoriesofhumandecencyandexploringsomebetterwaysofsettingupentrenchedinstitutions,Bregmanshinesalightonamorehopefulwayforward.Ifthe“noceboeffect”(Ifwebelievemostpeoplecan'tbetrusted,that'showwe'lltreateachother,toeveryone'sdetriment)isaspowerfulasBregmansuggests,thenabooklikethisthatprovesthathumansarenotbasicallyevilisthefirststeptowardsbuildingthesocietythatworksbetterforeveryone.JustwhatIneeded.(Note:IreadanARCfromNetGalleyandpassagesquotedmaynotbeintheirfinalforms.) Thereisapersistentmyththatbytheirverynature,humansareselfish,aggressive,andquicktopanic.It'swhatDutchbiologistFransdeWaallikestocall“Veneertheory”:thenotionthatcivilizationisnothingmorethanathinveneerthatwillcrackatthemerestprovocation.Inactuality,theoppositeistrue.It'swhencrisishits–whenthebombsfallorthefloodwatersrise–thatwehumansbecomeourbestselves. Formostofthisstudy,Bregmanreviewswhatfamousthinkers,philosophers,socialpsychologyresearchers,andrecentpophistorianshavewritten;oftenfindingsourcematerialthatcontradictswhatwe'vebeenledtobelievetheirevidenceshows.BregmanstartswiththeoppositephilosophicalpolesofHobbes(“Themanwhoassertedthatcivilsocietyalonecouldsaveusfromourbaserinstincts”)andRousseau(“Whodeclaredthatinourheartofheartswe'reallgood”andthat“'civilization'iswhatruinsus”).BregmandecidedlycomesoutonthesideofRousseau(andfrommorerecenttimes,onthesideofYuvalNoahHarariofSapiensfame),whoallbelievethatthedawnofagriculturewasthedownfallofhappyhumanco-existence(andBregmaneventakesissuewithStevenPinkerandhishopefulbooksabouthowviolencehasdecreasedovertimebecause,accordingtoBregman,there'szeroevidencetosupportthewidelyacceptedideathatnomadic/hunter-gatherersocietieswereanythingbutpeaceful).Tocounterthedim,butpopular,viewofuncontrolledhumanityinWilliamGolding'sLordoftheFlies,BregmanrecountsthetruestoryofagroupofsixTonganboyswhosurvivedonadesertedislandforoverayearbycreatingatotallyegalitariansociety;todisputethenotionthatmenarejingoisticwarmongers,hesharestheincrediblestatsabouthowfewsoldiersinthemajorwarsactuallyfiredtheirweapons;totryandexplainwhyitwasthecomparativelyweakandsmallerbrainedHomosapienswhosurvivedoutofseveralcompetinghominidsinprehistory,Bregmanusesarecentstudyonthedomesticationoffoxestosuggestthatitcamedownto“survivalofthefriendliest”.Ifnothingelse,Humankindisafascinatingandwide-rangingcollectionofstories. I'mgoingtobehonest.Originally,IwantedtobringMilgram'sexperimentscrashingdown.Whenyou'rewritingabookthatchampionsthegoodinpeople,thereareseveralbigchallengersonyourlist.WilliamGoldingandhisdarkimagination.RichardDawkinsandhisselfishgene.JaredDiamondandhisdemoralizingtaleofEasterIsland.AndofcoursePhilipZimbardo,theworld'smostwell-knownpsychologist.ButtoppingmylistwasStanleyMilgram.Iknowofnootherstudyascynical,asdepressing,andatthesametimeasfamousashisexperimentsattheshockmachine. So,notonlydoesBregmanconfrontGolding,Diamond,andDawkins(actually,althoughIhadneverheardthis,apparentlyDawkinshasdisavowedhisearlynotionofthe“selfishgene”),butBregmanalsospendsalotofthebookwritingaboutZimbardo'sStanfordPrisonExperimentandMilgram'sshockexperiments.IrememberlearningaboutZimbardoandMilgraminmorethanonePsychcourse–astheybothdemonstratedsomethingfundamentallyawfulandimportantaboutushumans–butIdon'tremembereverbeingtoldthatZimbardowasbasicallyafraudwhomanipulatedhisprocessandhisresults(butsurelovedthefamethatfollowed)andithasn'tbecomecommonlyknownthatwhile,yes,testsubjectsunderMilgramwereconvincedtoadministerever-increasinglevelsofpainfulshockstounseenconfederatesoftheexperimenter,theresultsaremuchmorenuancedthanthat(forexample,subjectsuniformlyrefusedtocontinueiftheywereorderedtoadministertheshockinsteadofbeingencouragedtodoitforthegoodoftheexperiment;believingthattheywerebeinghelpfulcausedmosttocontinue,againsttheirownbetternatures,inthenameofdoingsomethinggoodforsocietyatlarge).Apparently,theseexperimentsarestillbeingtaughtbecausetheyseemtoconfirmwhatweallknow–thatpeoplearejustthisthinveneerofcivilisationawayfrombrutality–andthat'swhywedon'ttrusteachother,andthat'swhyweallowourgovernmentstouselethalforceagainstothercountriesandourownfellowcitizens.Mythsaresoinsidious.Irememberreadingsomewhererecentlysomethinglike,“WhatdoyouthinkthatdudeonEasterIslandwasthinkingashecutdownhisisland'slasttree?Couldhenotseethathewasliterallycuttingdownhisowncivilisation?”Thiswaswritteninthecontextofclimatechange–andwhyarehumanssoself-interestedastocontinuetodothosespecificthingsthatwillleadtoourowndoom–soitwasfascinatingtometoreadherethat,althoughdeforestationistheacceptedexplanationforthecollapseoftheEasterIslandsociety,Bregmandidn'tneedtodigtoodeeplyintotheevidencetodiscoverthattheislandersdidn'tcutdowntheirvastforests(asMalcolmGladwellreportedandwhicheveryonethenacceptedasfact)totheverylasttree,butthataninvasivetreeratwascarriedtoEasterIslandonPeruvianslaveships:slaverstookthehealthiestpeopleandunknowinglylefttherats(whichhadnonaturalpredatorontheisland)andofcoursetheircivilisationcollapsed.Othermythsthatdeservetobebroken:The“bystandereffect”.We'veprobablyallheardaboutthemurderofKittyGenovese–killedonthedoorstepofherNYCapartmentbuildingwhilethirty-somepeoplewatchedandfiguredsomeoneelsewouldcallthecops–butitturnsoutthathermurderdidn'thappenthatway(andwhensomeonetriedtocorrecttheofficialaccount,theleadingarticle'swriteratTheNewYorkTimesrefused,sayingthatpositivedetailswouldruinthestory).Also,the“brokenwindows”theoryofcrimecontrol:Sure,thestatsforseriouscrimewentdownwhenthispractisewasadoptedinNYC,butitturnsoutthatunduepressurewasputonbeatcopstomakemassivearrestsforsmallmisdemeanorsandtodiscouragethereportingofmajorcrimes(andapparentlyitwasZimbardo,onceagain,whodidtheoneflawedexperimentthatservedasthebasisforthistheory?)Andalsothenotionthatmassincarcerationistheonlywaytodealwithcriminalsbecausesofterrehaboptionsdon'twork(thesociologistwhoinspiredthispractise,RobertMartinson,eventuallykilledhimselfwhenhesawhowhisconclusionswereapplied;apparently,thisformercivilrightsactivistwantedtoprovethatallpunishmentwasineffectiveand“everyonewouldrealizeprisonswerepointlessplacesandshouldallbeshutdown”.)Andwhythesemythsmattertoday:AsBregmannotes,thebrokenwindowstrategyforpolicingisaracistsystem: Datashowthatamere10percentofpeoplepickedupformisdemeanorsarewhite.Meanwhile,thereareblackteensthatgetstoppedandfriskedonamonthlybasis–foryears–despiteneverhavingcommittedanoffense.Brokenwindowshaspoisonedrelationsbetweenlawenforcementandminorities,saddleduntoldpoorwithfinestheycan'tpay,andalsohadfatalconsequences,asinthecaseofEricGarner,whodiedin2014whilebeingarrestedforallegedlysellingloosecigarettes. Inanearlierstory,BregmanrecountstheimmediateaftermathofHurricaneKatrina–when,despiteterriblenewstoriesofopportunisticmurders,rape,andlooting–itturnsoutthatmostresidentsactedwith“courageandcharity”.Evenso,firstresponderswerealsohearingthestoriesofacityinchaos–thethinveneerhadbeenbreachedand72,000troopswerecalledin–and“onDanzigerBridgeonthecity'seastside,policeopenedfireonsixinnocent,unarmedAfricanAmericans,killingaseventeen-year-oldboyandamentallydisabledmanofforty”.Themythswetellourselvesabouthumannaturematter,andmoreinsidiously,weshouldn'tallowthemythsperpetuatedbytrauma-hungrymedia(orotherentrenchedinstitutions)formtheentiretyofourperceivedreality. CouldthisbethethingthattheEnlightenment–and,byextension,ourmodernsociety–getswrong?Thatwecontinuallyoperateonamistakenmodelofhumannature?Wesawthatsomethingscanbecometruemerelybecausewebelieveinthem–thatpessimismbecomesaself-fulfillingprophecy.Whenmoderneconomistsassumedthatpeopleareinnatelyselfish,theyadvocatedpoliciesthatfosteredself-servingbehavior.Whenpoliticiansconvincedthemselvesthatpoliticsisacynicalgame,that'sexactlywhatitbecame.Sonowwehavetoask:Couldthingsbedifferent?Canweuseourheadsandharnessrationalitytodesignnewinstitutions?Institutionsthatoperateonawhollydifferentviewofhumannature?Whatifschoolsandbusinesses,citiesandnationsexpectthebestofpeopleinsteadofpresumingtheworst? InthelastsectionofHumankind,Bregmantellsthestoriesofvariousinstitutions(afactory,aschool,ahealthcareservice,aprison,amunicipalgovernment)thatfoundwaystodoawaywithbureaucracyandmiddlemanagers,andinstead,empoweredindividualstofollowinthedirectionoftheirowninstinctsandmotivation.HisexamplessoundUtopian–ifyoutreatpeoplelikethey'regoodandsmartenoughtodothingsright,theywill–buttheydon'tsounduniversallyapplicable;still,itwashopefultoendonsuchanoptimisticnote.Maybewe'llgetthere.Iwroteaboutalothere,butthebookcontainsevenmorestories,experiments,andbustedmyths.Isupposebecauseitcontainssomuch,Bregmancouldn'tfolloweverystrandouttomyfullsatisfaction,andIfoundsomeofhisquirksannoying(andespecially,aftersuggestingwethrivedthroughsurvivalofthefriendliest,Bregmancontinuallyreferstohumanityas“Homopuppy”;dumb),butthegoodfaroutweighsthequibblesome;fourstarsisaroundingup. ...more flag 42likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Jun01,2020 RhianPritchard ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: favorites, non-fic, uplifting Thisbookhastakenmenearlytwomonthstoread,notbecauseitwasdifficulttoread(it’snot,it’sbeautifullywrittenandtranslated)butbecausetheideasrequiredquitesolongtoprocessfully.Idon’tknowifanyonehasspokentomeinthelasttwomonthsandNOThadmerecommendthisbooktothemwholeheartedly,evenwhenIwasonlyaboutahundredpagesin.Itislikereadingabookthatconfirmsandreinforces,throughmeticulousresearch,discussionandsourcing,asecrettruthIha Thisbookhastakenmenearlytwomonthstoread,notbecauseitwasdifficulttoread(it’snot,it’sbeautifullywrittenandtranslated)butbecausetheideasrequiredquitesolongtoprocessfully.Idon’tknowifanyonehasspokentomeinthelasttwomonthsandNOThadmerecommendthisbooktothemwholeheartedly,evenwhenIwasonlyaboutahundredpagesin.Itislikereadingabookthatconfirmsandreinforces,throughmeticulousresearch,discussionandsourcing,asecrettruthIhavewantedtobelieve,deepdown,allalong.Butittookthesetwomonths,andIimaginemuchlongerstill,tobegindismantlingtheideassocietyhasingrainedinme.Ican’twriteagoodreviewofthisbookbecauseitwouldessentiallymeanrewritingthebook.Ihavenothingtoadd,nothingfurthertodiscuss.Ijustwanttoputitinpeople’shandsandletitchangetheirlives.AndIbelieveRutgerBregmanisright-itiseasytobeacynic,toscoffandscornkindness.It’shardtobekindbecauseitmeanstakingresponsibility-itmeansbelievingthatyouractionsareworthwhile,whenitiseasiertobelievethatthereisnopointintrying,theworld’sfuckedanyway.Idareyoutobelievethatit’snottrue.Idareyoutobeanoptimist-orasRutgerBregmanwouldhaveit,arealist.Thisisachallengingbooktoread.Itdoesnotshyawayfromthedarkersidesofhumanity.Butitisultimatelyhopeful,andthemorepeoplebegintochangetheirmindsandbelievethathumansarenotinherentlybad,thebetter. ...more flag 41likes · Like  · seereview May20,2020 Lou(nonfictionfiend) ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition RutgerBregmanreturnswithoneofthemostanticipatednonfictiontitlesoftheyear.Whatmakesthissuchafantasticreadisthatitisequalpartsfascinatingandinformative;manysuchbookscanbedryandtediousbutHumankindavoidsthosepitfallsbyemployingahighlyreadablewritingstyletoenticeyoutocarryonturningthepageswellintothenight.Atitsheart,thisisabookabouthumannatureandonthewholeisoptimisticaboutlife.IfounditdifferentfromwhatIwouldusual RutgerBregmanreturnswithoneofthemostanticipatednonfictiontitlesoftheyear.Whatmakesthissuchafantasticreadisthatitisequalpartsfascinatingandinformative;manysuchbookscanbedryandtediousbutHumankindavoidsthosepitfallsbyemployingahighlyreadablewritingstyletoenticeyoutocarryonturningthepageswellintothenight.Atitsheart,thisisabookabouthumannatureandonthewholeisoptimisticaboutlife.IfounditdifferentfromwhatIwouldusuallyreadasIamquitethecynicandithastaughtmeinterestinganecdotaltidbitsIwillremember.Highlyrecommended.ManythankstoBloomsburyPublishingforanARC. ...more flag 41likes · Like  · seereview May18,2020 Susy ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: audio-finished 1.5starsNeverbeenhappiertofinishabook!"Whatwelookforiswhatwe'llfind",saysBregman.Hmm,couldthatbethecasewithhisbookandhis"research"?Heseemstowanttosellhisideaso(too)badlythatheforegoesanyscrutinyornuance.TherearealotmorepointsofcriticismandIdidstarttowritethemalldown,butmylistwasgettingtoolongsoIstopped.Besides,therearesomeexcellentreviewsalready(beitinDutch):Bou'sreviewLieke'sreviewDaniëlle'sreviewAmber'srev 1.5starsNeverbeenhappiertofinishabook!"Whatwelookforiswhatwe'llfind",saysBregman.Hmm,couldthatbethecasewithhisbookandhis"research"?Heseemstowanttosellhisideaso(too)badlythatheforegoesanyscrutinyornuance.TherearealotmorepointsofcriticismandIdidstarttowritethemalldown,butmylistwasgettingtoolongsoIstopped.Besides,therearesomeexcellentreviewsalready(beitinDutch):Bou'sreviewLieke'sreviewDaniëlle'sreviewAmber'sreviewImean,Icanunderstandthatpeoplelikethisbook,theoptimisticmessageandIhopethatsomewillbepositivelyinfluenced(sothereforeIgiveit1.5stars,roundingitupto2).Isuspectthoughthatthiswillbethecasemainlyforthepeoplewhoalreadyhaveapositiveviewoftheworldandpeople.Itisjusttoopositiveandnotenoughnuancedtobeconvincingforthosewhoaren'tconvincedalready. ...more flag 36likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Jan29,2020 Tzu ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: sociology Thenarrativeiscontradictory,theopinionstooblackandwhite,andthebookalazyattemptattryingtomakeeverythingfitintothisblackandwhitenarrative.Lifeiswaymorenuanced,andallthathetriestodenyisjustfact.Faceit,don'ttrytoblamethemostridiculousstuff,whichmostofthetimewascontradictinghisownpremise;thatmostpeoplearegood. Thenarrativeiscontradictory,theopinionstooblackandwhite,andthebookalazyattemptattryingtomakeeverythingfitintothisblackandwhitenarrative.Lifeiswaymorenuanced,andallthathetriestodenyisjustfact.Faceit,don'ttrytoblamethemostridiculousstuff,whichmostofthetimewascontradictinghisownpremise;thatmostpeoplearegood. ...more flag 32likes · Like  · seereview Jan25,2020 Leonie ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: non-fiction must-read! flag 32likes · Like  · seereview Aug16,2020 t. ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: history, 20booksfor2020, reviewed, non-fiction, owned-books Somebooksreachyouattherighttimeandthisbookdidexactlythat.Tobefair,therighttimeforabookofferingahopeful,optimisticviewofhumankindtoreachmewasn’tthatsmallofawindow–I’vebeennoticinghowI,anusuallyoptimisticpersoninmyday-to-day-life,havebecomeincreasinglycynicalwhenitcomestomyfellowhumans.And…canyoublameme,inthiseconomy,thispandemic,thisglobalclimatecrisis,thispoliticalturmoil,etc.etc.etc.?JustlikeIknowyoucan’tbla Somebooksreachyouattherighttimeandthisbookdidexactlythat.Tobefair,therighttimeforabookofferingahopeful,optimisticviewofhumankindtoreachmewasn’tthatsmallofawindow–I’vebeennoticinghowI,anusuallyoptimisticpersoninmyday-to-day-life,havebecomeincreasinglycynicalwhenitcomestomyfellowhumans.And…canyoublameme,inthiseconomy,thispandemic,thisglobalclimatecrisis,thispoliticalturmoil,etc.etc.etc.?JustlikeIknowyoucan’tblamemeforlosinghopeinhumanity,Ialsoknowtherearemanywhofeelthesame,soIcan’tbethankfulenoughforBregmanandhis(almostsuspicious)optimismtocomearoundthecornerwiththisbookandthemanyreceiptsthatshowthat,yes,humanityhasaquestionablerecord,noreasonindenyingthatbut,contrarytowhathassadlybecomepopularbelief,mostofusareactuallyprettyok–evenmorethanok.Therearegoodpeople–andthey’renottheexception.Andthere’sdefinitelyenoughofareasontokeephopealive. "Rememberthatcynicismisjustanotherwordforlaziness.It'sanexcusenottotakeresponsibility.Becauseifyoubelievemostpeoplearerotten,youdon'tneedtogetworkedupaboutinjustice.Theworldisgoingtohelleitherway." InHumankind:AHopefulHistory,Bregmandiscussesmanyofthestudiesinpsychologythatseemedtohavecementedtheideathathumanityisprettymuchalostcause.That,ifbrieflylefttoourowndevices,weturnuglyandmean.Asitturnsout,manyofthesestudieswereriggedorforgedtosuitacertainpreferrednarrative.Ifastudyprovesthatpeoplearekindofok,where’sthecontroversyinthat?Where’stheexposure,thefame,therenown?Ah,butprovethatpeoplearejustonestepawayfromturningintosavages–there’saheadline.Butit’snotonlyscholarsandtheirriggedstudiesthatBregmandiscusses.Healsomentionsreal-lifeeventsthatcorroboratedthispessimisticviewofpeople.Turnsout,whatthemediahadreportedwasn’tallthatclosetothetruth.Andnotnecessarilybecausetheydidn’thaveallthefacts,butratherbecausesomefactsgotinthewayofthenarrativethathasbecomethemostsuitablenarrative,thatwiththehighestshockvalue,andwerequicklydismissedandforgotten. “ButthepeoplebehindFacebook,TwitterandGoogleknowyouwell.Theyknowwhatshocksandhorrifiesyou,theyknowwhatmakesyouclick.Theyknowhowtograbyourattentionandholditsotheycanserveyouthemostlucrativehelpingofpersonalisedads.” ButmorethanBregman’sargumentabouttherebeinghopeforhumankind,whatIappreciatemostofthisbookisthewayhisoptimismanddrivetoseethingsinabetterlightrubbedoffonme.AsImentionedearlier,I’vebecomemoreandmorecynicaland,whilesomepeoplemayhavecometotermswithorevenlikebeingthatway,Idon’t.Ididn’tknowjusthowmuchIwantedtofightthatgrowingcynicismuntilIstartedreadingthisbookandcouldfeelthatdesiretobelieveinabetter,kinderworldrekindle.PerhapsmyeagernesstobelieveBregman’sargumentshascloudedmyjudgement,andIknowthiswholereviewmaysoundtoosugary,butwhatchagonnado.Bregmanstartshisbookbysayingthat,atitscore,thisisaboutaradicalidea.Thatideaisn’tjustthatpeopleareprettydecent.Becauseifhisradicalideaholdstrueandifweallowustobelieveit,ifweapproachotherstryingtobelievethebestinsteadoftheworst,ifourdefaultshiftsfromdistrusttotrust,ifwebehavetowardsthosearoundusasifweexpectedthemtobedecent,evengood,evennice,theymayinturnstarttobehaveinadecent,evengood,evenniceway.ThisisaformofthePygmalionEffect,aphenomenonwhereinhighexpectationsleadtoimprovedperformance.Unsurprisingly,thecontraryalsoholdstrue.Expecttheworstofsomeone,andyoumaybeunknowinglyhelpingtomaketheworstbecometrue. "It'salsooneoftheinsidiousmechanismsbehindracism,becausewhenyou'resubjectedtolowexpectations,youwon'tperformatyourbest,whichfurtherdiminishesother'sexpectationsandfurtherdiminishesyourperformance." Sure,noteveryonewillprovetobeasweetheartorageniusindisguise,andonepersonexpectingthebestofotherswon'tturnourworldintoaDisneymusical.ButBregmansays,andIwanttobelievehim,thatthere’smoretogainthantoloseinadoptingamorepositivesetofmind.Andwouldn'titbenicetogoaroundexpectingnotascowlbutasmileandgivingoneinturn? ...more flag 29likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jul30,2022 TomQuinn ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition 3.5stars.Soothingbalmforcynicalbastards.Lookforthebadandthat'sallyou'llsee.Lookforthegoodandyou'llfindit. 3.5stars.Soothingbalmforcynicalbastards.Lookforthebadandthat'sallyou'llsee.Lookforthegoodandyou'llfindit. ...more flag 27likes · Like  · seereview Viewall6comments Feb29,2020 TinePutzeys ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Onceagain,I'mindoubtaboutthenumberofstarstogivethisbook.Iwantedtogiveitmanymanystars,Ireallydid,becauseIlikethepremisethatmostpeopleareinherentlygood.Thishasbeenmygutfeelingforalongtime,evenifIgetallkindsofoppositesignalsfromthemediaandthef*ckersstealingmyphoneandbreakingintomyhouse.Bergmandoesgiveussomegreatexamplesofpeoplebeingawesomeandlovelyanecdotesformetocasuallythrowintorandomconversations.AndifI Onceagain,I'mindoubtaboutthenumberofstarstogivethisbook.Iwantedtogiveitmanymanystars,Ireallydid,becauseIlikethepremisethatmostpeopleareinherentlygood.Thishasbeenmygutfeelingforalongtime,evenifIgetallkindsofoppositesignalsfromthemediaandthef*ckersstealingmyphoneandbreakingintomyhouse.Bergmandoesgiveussomegreatexamplesofpeoplebeingawesomeandlovelyanecdotesformetocasuallythrowintorandomconversations.AndifIlookatthereviewsit'sgetting,Iseemanypeoplearelovingitandsayingithelped"restoretheirfaithinhumanity"orthatit'sagoodantidotetotheircynicism.WhichisgreatandIthinkthiswastheexplicitaimoftheauthor.Sointhatsense,goodbook.Youcanargueaboutstyle.Yesit'swrittenlikeanirritatingclick-baityinternetpiece,butthenagain,theauthorwritesmainlyforadigitalaudience,sothat'sprobablywhathe'susedto.Ifyourtargetisthegeneralpopulation,theworstthingyoucoulddoiswriteinadustyacademicstyle.Itwon'twintprizesforitsliteraryprose,butdoesthatmatterifeveryoneisreadingit?However,themainflawisthesameasmostofthesefeelgoodbooks:whatthef*ckdoIdonow.Bregmangetsasmallamountofbonuspoints,becausehehasthe10rulesepilogue,whichgivesyousomeguidanceonhowtousethecontent,butitseemstobetoosmall-scaletomatter.Assumingthepremiseiscorrectandmostpeopleareinherentlygood,westillfallvictimtoourcircumstancesandthesystemswelivein.Hebrieflytouchesonthissometimes,likereferringtohowthewonderfulAgoraschoolcouldbeshutdownifitdoesn'tperformuptotheeducationalstandardsinthecountry.Andthenhegoesontothenexttopic.SamefortherebelsintheColumbianjungle.NowthattheyhavereturnedtocelebrateChristmaswiththeirmother,thejungleisnowtakenoverbydruglordsandextremerightgroups.Justleavingthathangingthereandontothenexttopic.SOWHATNOW,mybrainkeepsscreamingatme.Intheend,Ithinkstarsshouldrepresenthowvaluablethebookwastome,nothegeneralpopulation.HowmuchIlikedreadingitandhowmuchIgotfromitandIcan'tinearnestgiveitfourstarswithmybrainstillscreamingatme.Thankyoumr.Bregmanforthelovelyanecdotesandfor'proving'mygutfeelingaboutpeopleisright,butIcanonlygiveyou3stars. ...more flag 22likes · Like  · seereview Jul15,2021 Rosh ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 4-5-stars, audiobook What’syouranswertothissimplequestion?Humansareinnately______.A. selfishB. goodManyofuswillendupchoosingoptionAasouranswer.RutgerBregmanseekstoconvinceusthatwehavebeenbrainwashedanditis,infact,optionBthatisright.Humansareessentiallygood.(Orsohesays!)Andthroughoutthisbook,heprovidesanampleamountofevidencetosupporthisclaim.Whetheritisfromevolutionaryhistoryorresearch-basedfindings,hypotheticalsituationstoactualincident What’syouranswertothissimplequestion?Humansareinnately______.A. selfishB. goodManyofuswillendupchoosingoptionAasouranswer.RutgerBregmanseekstoconvinceusthatwehavebeenbrainwashedanditis,infact,optionBthatisright.Humansareessentiallygood.(Orsohesays!)Andthroughoutthisbook,heprovidesanampleamountofevidencetosupporthisclaim.Whetheritisfromevolutionaryhistoryorresearch-basedfindings,hypotheticalsituationstoactualincidents,historicaltocontemporarythinkers,hedoesn’tleaveanystoneunturnedininducingyoutochangeyourviewpoint.Someoftheresearcheshedebunksarewidelypopularwhileothers,youmaynothaveheardofatall.Butevensingleexampleheuseshitshardandshocksyouattheextentofcultishbrain-feedingresultingviathemediaandhigh-flyingpoliticos.Bregmanreiteratesonestraightforwardadvicethroughoutthebook:stayawayfromthenewsifyouwishtostaymentallyhealthy.Toquotehim,“Newsistothemindwhatsugaristothebody.”Anotherpointhedrillstimeandagainisovercomingwhathecallsthe“nocebo”effect.(Justasaplacebodoesnothingbutmakesyoubelievethesituationisgettingbetter,a‘nocebo’doesnothingbutmakesyoubelievethatthesituationisgettingworse.)BreakingNews!Theprimeculpritforthis“nocebo”is,onceagain,the“breakingnews”media.Whiletheentirebookisadelighttothemind(andtheheart),Iespeciallylovedhowhebackedhisclaimswithconcreteexamplesanddata.Nohalf-bakedassumptions(Hearthat,Prof.Harari?),nobiaseddeclarations,noattacksonanyoneoranyidealogy.Bregman’svoiceisasintelligentandreassuringastheideasheespousesaremind-blowing.Attheendofthebook,heprovidestentipsonhowtoviewhumanitywithhopethandread.Eachofthosepointsispracticalandimplementable,theicingonthecake.Thewayhewritesisanotherbonus.Helaceshiscontentwithplentyofcomprehensiblefacts,providesaconcreterebuttalofurbanfactoids,andslipsinenoughofhumourtokeeptheproceedingsinterestingevenforthosenotmuchintononfiction.Afewpointsinthecontentremindedmeofanotherfabulousbook,Factfulness:TenReasonsWe'reWrongAbouttheWorld–andWhyThingsAreBetterThanYouThinkbyHansRosling.Thisisnaturalastheessenceofboththebooksisthesame:theworldhasimprovedbutwedon’tknow/realiseit.Atthesametime,boththebookshavesimilaritiesintheirsubjectmatterbutaredifferentintheirapproach,Factfulnessismoredata/stat-orientedwhileHumankindismoreanecdotalandresearch-based.AsfarasI’mconcerned,bothareexcellentlywritten,andmust-reads.(ClickHEREformyreviewonFactfulness.)HasthisRutgerBregmanofferingchangedmyworldview?AmInowanoptimistabouthumanity?Notreally.Itwilltakemorethanonebooktoclearoutdecadesofindoctrination(andaninherenttendencytowardspessimism.)ThereweresomanyplaceswhereIwasn’tsureifthebookwasbecomingtooidealisticinitsespousalsorIwasbeingtooscepticalinimbibingthesame.Atthesametime,itshowedmesomanyvaried,positiveperspectivesofhumanbehaviourthatIcan’thelpwantingtobelieveitentirely.Andthathope,thatoptimism,thatawarenessthatthiscynicalmireweseemtobestuckinmightjustbeanillusion…that’sthebiggesttakeawayfromthisbookforme.ToborrowBregman’scoinedword,Ineedn’tbeanoptimistoranidealist,butIcancertainlyaimtobea“possibilist”.Ifyouarefedupofallthenegativityaroundyou,iftheonlypositivenewsyouseeisaboutcovid&youwantabreakfromthat,ifyouwantabookthatshowsyouthatthingsarenotasbadaseveryoneproclaims,…basicallyifyouwantafeel-goodnonfictionthatgivesyousomesolaceaboutbeinghuman,goforthisbookwithoutanyhesitation.Thisbookischoc-a-blocwithinsightfullines.Here’soneofmyfavourites:“Beliefinhumankind'ssinfulnaturealsoprovidesatidyexplanationfortheexistenceofevil.Whenconfrontedwithhatredorselfishness,youcantellyourself,'Oh,well,that'sjusthumannature.'Butifyoubelievethatpeopleareessentiallygood,youhavetoquestionwhyevilexistsatall.Itimpliesthatengagementandresistanceareworthwhile,anditimposesanobligationtoact.”***********************JoinmeontheFacebookgroup, ReadersForever! ,formorereviews,book-relateddiscussionsandfun.FollowmeonInstagram: RoshReviews ...more flag 21likes · Like  · seereview View2comments May16,2020 EddieClarke ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: non-fiction, psychology, waterstones Fourstars.Inthephilosophicalstand-offbetweenHobbes(humanlifeisawarofallagainstall,paperedoverwiththethinnestveneerofcivilisation)andRousseau(wewerebornnoblesavagesandcivilisationhascorruptedus)BregmancomesdowndecisivelyinfavourofRousseau.Suchaflatteringpremisemakesthebookveryenjoyabletoread,atleastinthefirsthalf.Theweaknessofthebookisthatitisastringofnicelywrittenandpresentedanecdotes/episodes/debunkingsandthenlikea Fourstars.Inthephilosophicalstand-offbetweenHobbes(humanlifeisawarofallagainstall,paperedoverwiththethinnestveneerofcivilisation)andRousseau(wewerebornnoblesavagesandcivilisationhascorruptedus)BregmancomesdowndecisivelyinfavourofRousseau.Suchaflatteringpremisemakesthebookveryenjoyabletoread,atleastinthefirsthalf.Theweaknessofthebookisthatitisastringofnicelywrittenandpresentedanecdotes/episodes/debunkingsandthenlikeabutterflyBregmanwaftsontothenextflowerinthefieldwithoutreallydevelopingacoherentargument.Intheend,despitedisclaimingthe‘self-help’genreheneverthelessendswith10rulesforindividualliving.Heisclearlyahighlyintelligentacademicandthroughoutthebookappearscompletelyawareofthepoliticalimplicationsofwhatheisupto(notably,hementionsconflictswithhisGermanpublishersoverthemessageofthisbook).Thesecondhalfcoverscontemporarysocietalissues-schools,prisons,countriesinconflict-wherehisavoidanceofpoliticalengagementbecomesalarminglyapparent(andhisengagementineachissuethereforefeelssuperficial).Heresolutelydrawsbackfromdrawinganyfundamentalpoliticalconclusions,whichleavesasyrupyaftertaste.(HedoesmentionhelikesRichardCurtisfilms.)Butthereisatremendousamountofinterestingandoriginalresearchentertaininglypresented.Thereismorethanenoughheretoinspireyourownthinking.Recommended. ...more flag 21likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jan21,2021 BoyBlue ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: phil-anth-soc, psuedo-pop-sci, pile-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed Atonicforacynicalworldviewunfortunatelyjustslightlytooeffervescent.There'ssomeawesomestuffinhere,mostofallitsattacksonthesamebullshitsocialpsychologyexperimentsandtheoriesthatturnedthisreaderoffacareerintheprofessionadecadeago.Hetakesthesledgehammerto:-TheStandfordPrisonExperiment-TheMilgramShockExperiment-KittyGenoveseCaseandtheBystanderEffect-BrokenWindowstheoryofcrimeInhisattacksontheseBregmanisathisabsolutebestandt Atonicforacynicalworldviewunfortunatelyjustslightlytooeffervescent.There'ssomeawesomestuffinhere,mostofallitsattacksonthesamebullshitsocialpsychologyexperimentsandtheoriesthatturnedthisreaderoffacareerintheprofessionadecadeago.Hetakesthesledgehammerto:-TheStandfordPrisonExperiment-TheMilgramShockExperiment-KittyGenoveseCaseandtheBystanderEffect-BrokenWindowstheoryofcrimeInhisattacksontheseBregmanisathisabsolutebestandthebookisworthreadingforthisalone.TheprosestyleisreminiscentoftheoneGladwellpopularisedafewdecadesago,andhisconsistentreferencestoGladwellisanotablehomage.JustlikeaGladwellbook,HumankindisladenwithanecdotestoldinthatSocraticstyleof;youknowthisstudyright,wellyouactuallydon'tknowitaswellasyouthink,youwon'tbelievewhathappensnextetc(exceptyouwillbecauseyou'veseentheformulaamilliontimes).BregmanlikeGladwellbeforehimrecogniseshownarrativecansellanythingtohumankind.InsomewaysthisstyleisnowrefreshingincontrasttothenewstyleofpostulateheavyworkswithlittletonoevidencethatbookslikeSapiens:ABriefHistoryofHumankindtout.YoucanactuallygetatasterforHumankindwiththisbrilliantextractfromearlyoninthebookaboutwhathappenswhenboysgetstrandedonanisland.TheREALLordoftheFlies:Whathappenedwhensixboyswereshipwreckedfor15months.It'saseriouslygoodreadandBregmanatclosetohisbest.Unfortunately,Ifoundthreefaultswiththebookwhichwon'tstopmerecommendingittopeoplebutdefinitelystopmefrommakingitessentialreadingforallmyfriends. Theyareasfollows1.Sayingallactsofkindnessare'everydaycommunism'2.DodgingAuschwitz  3. Denyingtheantecedenttoproveapoint1.Thiswasthelargestproblemwiththebookforme.I'lluseaquoteheresoyoucanexperiencethepainwithme."Simpleexample:you'resittingatthedinnertableandcan'treachthesalt.Yousay,'Pleasepassthesalt'and,justlikethatsomeonehandsyouthesalt-forfree.Humansarecrazyaboutthiskindof'everydaycommunism',asanthropologistscallit,sharingourparksandplazas,ourmusicandstories,ourbeachesandbeds."That'srightthepassingofsaltisapoliticalact,andspecificallyacommunistone.NowIturnBregman'sdebunkingtacticsontohimself.YouseeIcouldn'timaginethereweremanycardcarryinganthropologistsouttherecallingactslikepassingthesalt'everydaycommunism'soIdidabitofresearch.Turnsoutthisphrase'everydaycommunism'wascoinedin2011byDavidGraeberwhoyoumayknowfromDebt:TheFirst5,000Years,TheUtopiaofRules:OnTechnology,Stupidity,andtheSecretJoysofBureaucracyormostrecentlyBullshitJobs:ATheorywhichwasthisshortessay OnthePhenomenonofBullshitJobs:AWorkRant (worthreadingrightnow)turnedintoabook.Thistheoryof'everydaycommunism'istenuousatbestanddefinitelydoesn'tincludepassingthesalt.BregmanlaterbacktracksandheadstowardscommunityandthecommonssoI'mnotsurewhyhehadtomakeaforayintocommunismatall.Here'sanotherextractwhereBregmantriestowranglethetwistingturningsnakeoflanguagetofithispurpose."ThewordcommunismcomesfromtheLatincommunis,meaningcommunal.Youcouldseecommunismasthebedrockonwhicheverythingelse-markets,states,bereaucracy-isbuilt.Thismayhelptoexplaintheexplosionofcooperationandaltruismthathappeninthewakeofdisasters,suchasinNewOrleansin2005.Inacatastrophe,wegobacktoourroots."Hangonaminuteherethelatinwordcommunismeaningcommunalisnotclosesttocommunism,it'sclosesttocommunity.Whatyou'redoinghereislabellingcommunityascommunismandtryingtosellittous.Notgoingtowork.Peoplehelpingeachotherisnotcommunism,that'scommunity,generosityorasyouyourselfnotedcooperationandaltruism.Communismisdefinedbythisphrasewhichyouusemultipletimes;'Fromeachaccordingtohisability,toeachaccordingtohisneeds.'ThisismygreatestannoyancewiththisbookbecauseafterBregmanconvincesuswe'regoodathearthethenhastocomeupwithapoliticalsubstanceandfabricforwhy.HemanagestolightlyskipovertheatrocitiesofStalin,MaoandPolPotasiftheyweresignificantlylesscommunistthanpassingthesaltandattemptstoframeeverykindactsomeonedoesasapoliticallydrivenone.2.Whichbringsmetopointnumbertwo.DodgingAuschwitz.SeeBregmanusestheoldbaitandswitchhere.Hetellsushe'snotgoingtolookaway,usingthesameformulahe'susedthroughthebook,weknowhe'sgoingtodetailallthecrimesandthentelluswhywerewrongaboutthemassacreof6millionJewsbeingevil.Buthedoesn't.InsteadhesubsinAdolfEichmannandleansheavilyonArendt'stheoriestodealwithhim,thenjumpstowhytheWermachtarmywastwiceaseffectiveaseveryotherfightingforceinWorldWarII,andtheninthecoupdegracehelabelsthechapterAfterAuschwitzasifwe'vejustpolisheditoff.What'sworseisthatAuschwitzisn'ttheonlytragedyyouneedtoaddress.Stalin,PolPot,Rwanda,TheSlaveTrade.Therebedragonsoutthere,muchlargerthanthefewloungelizardbunksocialpsychologystudiesyou'veblownapart.I'lllethimpastonthisonethoughbecausedealingwitheachofthoseissuesisabookinitselfandthiswasn'ttheforumforthatbutjustdon'ttellusyou'regoingtotackleit,ifyou'renot. 3.DenyingtheantecedentWhileIbelieveinthedebunkingofseveralfoundationalstudiesinSocialpsychologywhatIdon'tbelieveisthe"logical"leapsBregmanmakesfromthem. Herepeatedlyusesareallysimplebuteffectivelogicalfallacy.DenyingtheAntecedent,InverseError,FallacyoftheInverse. Itgoes If P,then Q.Therefore,ifnot P,thennot Q.Ifsomeoneshocksyouwhentheythinkyou'reunconsciousthentheyareevil. Theydidn'tshockyouwhenyou'reunconsciousthereforethey'renotevil. BregmantakesthisfallacyevenfurtherIfsomeoneshocksyouwhentheythinkyou'reunconsciousthentheyareevil. Theydidn'tshockyouwhenyou'reunconsciousthereforethey'regoodandcompassionate.Didyoureyesglazeover.Letmere-phrase.Justbecausethestudiesaren'ttruedoesn'tmeanwe'reintheclear.Wereallyneedstudiestheotherwayshowinghowfriendlyweare.Andtherearesomebuttheyaren'treallyusedatall.Bregmanspendstoomuchtimeontheattack,whichisinterestingbecauseitappealstoourmorecynical,pessimisticminds,theveryoneswedon'tsupposedlyhave.Enoughofallthecriticismbecauseinthisbookarenotonlysomegreatstoriesyou'lltellandre-tellagainbutthere'salsosomebuoyantmessagesthatmightpullyououtoftheexistentialfunkyou'rein.Thisbookabsolutelyconvincesmewearen'tevilatheart,butI'mnotsureitconvincesmeweallhaveaheartofgold.I'mgivingit4starsnotbecauseIthinkit'sof4starqualitybutbecauseIthinkitneedstobereadbymorepeople.It'sthebalancingoftheledger.ConsideringHumankind:AHopefulHistoryisessentiallyamodernadaptationofRosseauIfeelitpertinenttosignoffwiththequotethatsumsthewholethingup.“Thefirstpersonwho,havingenclosedaplotofland,tookitintohisheadtosaythisismineandfoundpeoplesimpleenoughtobelievehimwasthetruefounderofcivilsociety.Whatcrimes,wars,murders,whatmiseriesandhorrorswouldthehumanracehavebeenspared,hadsomeonepulledupthestakesorfilledintheditchandcriedouttohisfellowmen:"Donotlistentothisimposter.Youarelostifyouforgetthatthefruitsoftheearthbelongtoallandtheearthtonoone!”-JeanJacquesRousseaup.s.Tellmethesetwoaren'tthesameperson ...more flag 16likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Jun23,2021 UditNair ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 5-stars, non-fiction, mankind Iwouldliketoratethisbook5starsbecauseIsurelybelievethatitsanessentialandabsolutelycriticalread.IhavebeenagreatadmirerofSapiensbyYuvalNoahHarariforwhatitstandsfor.HumankindchallengedmealongthelinesofSapiensandIthinkitsimportantthatweashumanskeepchallengingourworldviewsoften.Thebasicpremiseofthebookwhichtheauthorthinksisaradicalideaisquitesimple.Itsaysthatmostpeople,deepdown,areprettydecent.Itsetsouttodebunk Iwouldliketoratethisbook5starsbecauseIsurelybelievethatitsanessentialandabsolutelycriticalread.IhavebeenagreatadmirerofSapiensbyYuvalNoahHarariforwhatitstandsfor.HumankindchallengedmealongthelinesofSapiensandIthinkitsimportantthatweashumanskeepchallengingourworldviewsoften.Thebasicpremiseofthebookwhichtheauthorthinksisaradicalideaisquitesimple.Itsaysthatmostpeople,deepdown,areprettydecent.Itsetsouttodebunktheveneertheorywhichsaysthathumansbynatureareselfish,aggressiveandquicktopanic.Hesaysthatwehumanssufferfromnegativitybiasandalsoavailabilitybiasofnews.Hestartsthebookwiththediscussionoflordoffliesnovel.Hesetsouttoclaimthatifhumansactuallygetstrandedonanislandthenthethingswontspiraldownasitdidinthefictionalworld.Tobackuptheclaimheactuallypresentsareallifeincidentwheregroupofboysgetstrandedandtheyactuallyendupcreatingahappyandpeacefulcommune.Icompletelyagreewiththeauthorwhenheexplainsabouttheevolutionaryhistoryofmankind.Itstruethathumanbeingsareultrasociallearningmachines.Weareborntolearn,tobondandtoplay.Henceitsnotsostrangethatblushingistheonlyexpressionthat’suniquelyhuman.Blushingafterallisquintessentiallysocial.It’speopleshowingtheycarewhatothersthinkandthisfosterstrustandenablescooperation.Butit’sapainfulfactthatthemechanismwhichmakeshumansthekindestspeciesalsointurnmakesusthecruelestspecies.Themostimportantlessonswereinthecurseofthecivilizationchapterofthebook.Inthistheauthorpointsouthowthesettledlifehasbroughtsomuchmiseryforcivilization.Alsoitsimportanttotakenoteofthefactthatcivilizationasanideaisstillverynewwhencomparedtothewholeexistenceofhumankind.Theverythingswhichweholdupasmilestonesofcivilizationsuchasinventionofmoney,developmentofwriting,birthofinstitutions,startedoutasinstrumentsofoppression.InthesubsequentchapterstheauthorbreaksdowntherelevanceofthemostfamouspsychologicalexperimentssuchasStandfordprisonexperimentandStanleyMilgramexperiment.Theauthorstartswithresultsoftheoriginalexperiment.Hethenpointbypointdebunksthescientificinconsistenciesandgoesontodefendhisassertionthattheseexperimentsweremanipulatedbytheresearchers.Hedoesn’tstoptherebutalsocitesresultsofotherexperimentswheretheresultswerecompletelyoppositetowhatoriginalexperimentslikeStanfordprisonorStanleyclaimedtobe.Theauthoralsopointsoutthathumansinnatelyareaversivetoviolence.Tosupportthisclaimthereareamplecasestudiescitedinthebook.Theauthorthinksthatmostofviolencewhichoccursisbecauseofthepowerdynamics.Hecontendsthatthepeoplewhoarefarawayfromactualactionaremostpronetoorderforviolence.Theauthorunderlinesthepowerofintrinsicmotivation.Therearesomefascinatingexamplesinthebookwhichkindofhelpsusunderstanditmore.Thequestionshouldnolongerbehowtomotivateothers,buthowweshapeasocietysothatpeoplemotivatethemselves.Becausenothingismorepowerfulthanpeoplewhodosomethingbecausetheywantto.ThereisachaptercalledHomoludens(playinghuman)inthebookwhichisveryfascinating,Itsaysthathumanshavethisincrediblypowerfultoolwhichisplaying.Yesbyplayingtheauthormeansinthebroadestsensewhichisthefreedomtonavigatewherevercuriosityleads.Tosearchandtodiscover,toexperimentandtocreate.Notalongthelinesofwhatsocietysetsout,butjustbecauseforthefunofit.Thenextchapterunderlinesabouttheimportanceofcommuneandhowthathashelpedinmanycases.Forthelongesttimeincivilisationcommunesystemshaveworkedbeautifullyuntilwedecidedtosettledowninoneplace.Incurrentscenarioweneedinstitutionaldiversitywhichrecognizesthatmarketsworkbestinsomecasesandandstatecontrolisbetterinothers.Thelastfewchaptersarebasedonreformingourwholejusticesystem.Italsodiscussesthisideathatifwetreatpeoplerightthenyoucanonlyhopethattheytreatyouright.Wheneveranyextremistactgetscommittedourresponseshouldbemoredemocracy,moreopennessandmorehumanity.Becausetoughtalk,retaliation,shuttingdownborders,droppingbombsetciseasybutnotthesolution.Thewholecruxofthebookcanbesummedupinthis.Tobelievepeoplearehardwiredtobekindisn’tsentimentalornaïve.Onthecontrary,itscourageousandrealistictobelieveinpeaceandforgiveness.IstillbelievethathumansaremuchmorenuancedthanwhatauthorwantsustobelieveandthisiswhyIdon’tcompletelyagreewiththeauthor.Butyetitsimportanttoreaddiversepointofviewstounderstandthingsbetterandnotsubmitourselvestoourownbubblesandpreconceivednotions. ...more flag 16likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Dec24,2020 Rachel ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: sociology-anthropology-ethics, philosophy-religion, favorites, books-i-recommend, philanthropy-service-social-justice “whatseemsunreasonable,unrealisticandimpossibletodaycanturnouttobeinevitabletomorrow.It’stimeforanewrealism.It’stimeforanewviewofhumankind.”AlasIfearattimesIhavesomuchexcitement,somanythoughts,andfeelingsaboutsomethingthatratherthanflowingforthaseloquentmusingstheykindofjamuporjointogetherbecomingonetersephraselike"READTHIS!".Wellthat'sthecasehere,nevertheless,Isayenthusiastically"readthis",Idobelieveyourlifewill “whatseemsunreasonable,unrealisticandimpossibletodaycanturnouttobeinevitabletomorrow.It’stimeforanewrealism.It’stimeforanewviewofhumankind.”AlasIfearattimesIhavesomuchexcitement,somanythoughts,andfeelingsaboutsomethingthatratherthanflowingforthaseloquentmusingstheykindofjamuporjointogetherbecomingonetersephraselike"READTHIS!".Wellthat'sthecasehere,nevertheless,Isayenthusiastically"readthis",Idobelieveyourlifewillbemuchricherforit. ...more flag 15likes · Like  · seereview Jul11,2020 MatthewHickey ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2020 ThemostprofoundbookI’vereadinrecentmemory.Irecommendeverybodyreadthisandthinkdeeplyaboutwhat’sbetweenitscovers.Lifeaffirmingandencouraging. flag 14likes · Like  · seereview Apr15,2020 DavidWineberg ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition RutgerBregmansethimselfareallyhigh-barriertaskinhisbookHumankind.HewantstoprovethatManisactuallynotviolent,orbellicose,butpeaceful,helpfulandkind.Todoit,hewentbacktoallthosefamous,landmarksocialsciencestudieswe’veallgrownupbelieving.TheyshowunequivocallythatManisselfish,self-centered,violentandwallowinginit.Bregmanshowsthemtobefaulty,false,stagedorjustplainbogus.Itmakesforaneye-openingjourneyreaderswillnotsoonforg RutgerBregmansethimselfareallyhigh-barriertaskinhisbookHumankind.HewantstoprovethatManisactuallynotviolent,orbellicose,butpeaceful,helpfulandkind.Todoit,hewentbacktoallthosefamous,landmarksocialsciencestudieswe’veallgrownupbelieving.TheyshowunequivocallythatManisselfish,self-centered,violentandwallowinginit.Bregmanshowsthemtobefaulty,false,stagedorjustplainbogus.Itmakesforaneye-openingjourneyreaderswillnotsoonforget.Andhedoesitwithstyle.Readerswillrecognizethestudies,liketheStanleyMilgramelectricshockstudyandtheStanfordPrisonstudy.HeevengoesaftertheKittyGenovesemurdercaseandLordoftheFlies.Bregmangoesbacktoresearchnotjustthestudyorthebook,buttheauthorandtheauthor’sownnotes.Heusesanabsolutelydelightfulstructure.Hedescribesthestudy,bookorstory,givingitallthecreditithasalwaysclaimed,seeminglycaseclosed,noargumentpossible.Thenhestartsresearching,goingbacktooriginaldocuments,andwherepossible,originalparticipants.Thestorystartstocrumble,andheendsupshamingtheoriginatorsofthebogusfindings.ItmakesaforalivelyreadofaveryseriousproblemwithMan:notviolence,butfraud.Manbitesdogdoesn’tsellaswellasdogbitesman.Sonewspapersfocusonthesensationalnegatives,anddon’tbothercorrectingstorieswhentheyprovefalse.Hollywoodisalloversensationalism,mostlyintheformofviolenceandgore.Everyoneisalwaysatwar,alwaysinapersonalfight.Doesn’tmatterifit’sGenghisKhan,Vikingsorpilgrims.Soviewerscometobelievethattheyareaccurate,thatitisreality.That’sthewayitalwayshasbeen.That’sthewayManis.Forexample,BregmancitestheEasterIslandstory.Forcenturies,ithasbeen“known”thatEasterIslandersrapedtheislandandwenttowarwitheachother,finallyeatingeachotherascannibalswhentheislandcouldnolongersupportthemall.It’saclassicthatisinconstantusetodemonstrateMan’sselfishinhumanitytoManandtotaldisregardfornature,nottomentionthetragedyofthecommons(whichBregmandismantlesseparately).Onlyitneverhappened.Goingbacktotheoriginalshipcaptain’slogs,heshowsthatEasterIslanderswerenotjustpeaceful,theywerethriving:joyouslyopenandhealthy.Notonlydidtheynotfight,theydidn’tevenknowwhatweaponswere.(TheDutchsailorsshowedthem,mowingthemdown,thenlaterenslavedthemandleftthemwithPlague.)InthefamousStanleyMilgramexperiment,volunteerselectrocutedpeople,almosttodeath.ItwassupposedlytheanswertowhyNaziscouldexterminatepeoplesoreadily.ButMilgramhidthefactthatmorethanhalfthesubjectsbelievedhisshockmachinewasfake,soitdidn’tmatterhowhighashocktheyadministered.AnditonlycameoutmuchlaterthatMilgram’sassistantcontinuallyharassedthesubjectsintoshockingthevictim.Theresultswerethereforenotdefinitiveinanyway.Orevenvalid.Butthestudylivesonasafoundationaldocumentandseminalmomentinsocialscience.Similarly,theStanfordPrisonStudyprovedthatjailersplusprisonerswillalwaysleadtoviolence,causingtheentirejusticesystemtoapplystricterrulesthatcaused(andcontinuetocause)totallyunnecessaryviolenceinprisons.Thetruthistheresearcherforcedtheviolencebymakingitawe/themsetup(withhimleadingtheweasthewarden),forcingtheguardstobeaggressivelyobnoxious,andimposingodiousarbitraryandhumiliatingrulesontheprisonerstogetthemtorebel.LiterallymillionsofAmericanshavesufferedasaresultofthislandmarkstudy.Meanwhile,inmodernprisonsinNorway,prisonersandguardslive,workandplaytogether,helpeachotherintasks,andprisonersleavereadytorejoinsocietyatahigherlevel.Itcoststhestateless,andrecidivismisafractionoftheAmericanrate.TheauthoroftheStanfordstudylivedoffithisentirelife,risingtothehighestlevelsinpsychology,neveradmittingwhathisnotesshowedwasbogusscience.IntheinfamousKittyGenovesemurder,aNewYorkwomanscreamedforhelpasshewasbeingstabbedtodeath,while38witnessesdidnothing.ShediedinthehallwayofherapartmentbuildinginQueens,alone.Thisstorywentglobal,anddemonstratedhowinhumanhumanshadbecomeinbigcities,revertingtosavageanimalswhocouldn’tbothereventoliftaphonetohelp.Bregmanwentbackandfoundthattwopeoplehadcalledthepoliceimmediately,beforethesecondattacktookplace,butthepoliceneversentanyone.TheydecidedGenovesemustbedrunk(itwas3:30am).Andshedidn’tdiealone.Awomaninherbuildingimmediatelyrushedtoherandcradledherinherarmsuntilshedied.Lastly,twomenstoppedarobbercarryingatvoutofahouseinbroaddaylightshortlythereafter,disablinghistrucksohecouldn’tgetaway.ThesetwogoodneighborsturnedouttohavecaughttheGenovesemurderer,butthatwasneverreportedeither.No,itwaspreferabletoleavethesensationalstoryofuncaringNewYorkersandanunsolvedmurderfillthemediaforeverafter.Citiesbreeduncaring,leeringanimalsremainsthetakeaway,despitethefacts.EvenLordoftheFlies,whichhaslongprovenhowbeastlyhumanchildrenwillbewhenleftontheirown,turnsouttobebogus.Thisnovel,readbyeveryschoolchildinthecountryfor60years,waswrittenbyWilliamGolding,amanwhoprofessedNazisympathies,andhadaworldviewofviolenceandhatred.Hemadenopretenseofitbeingscientific,butithasbecomekeytothecanonofinnateviolenceinManregardless.Itfitsourworldview,soithasbecometruth.BregmanfoundarealcaseofLordoftheFlies,inwhichhalfadozenkidsonTongastoleaboatandendedupshipwreckedonanislandcalled‘Atainthe1960s.Ittookharddigging,buthetrackeddownthecaptain(now90)oftheboatthatrescuedthemandgotthewholestory.Afteryear,theboyswereinexcellentshape,finelytoned,wellorganized,andnowlifelongfriends.Anytimetherewasadisagreementontheisland,theantagonistshadtogotodifferentendstocooloff,andhadtoshakehandsandapologizewhentheycameback.Wouldn’tmakenearlyasgoodafilmasLordoftheFlies.AndnoonehaseverheardofitoutsideAustralia,whereithasbeenforgotten.Meanwhile,LordoftheFliesismandatoryreading.It’snotthecommonman,it’shisleadersthatembodythisevilnature.“Dictatorsanddespots,governorsandgenerals—theyalltoooftenresorttobruteforcetopreventscenariosthatexistonlyintheirownheads,ontheassumptionthattheaveragejoeisruledbyself-interest,justlikethem.”Bregmanfindsthefartheroneisfromthefrontline,theeasieritistoespouseviolence.Therearelovelystoriesofhowmenfindwaysnottofight.NinetypercentofthemusketscollectedaftertheBattleofGettysburgwereloaded,oftenwithtwoormoreballs,asmenusedanyexcusenottofiretheirweapons,pretendingtobereloadingratherthanrushingintobattle.AtChristmasin1914,GermansandBritscelebratedtogether,singingcarolstoeachotherfromtheirtrenchesandthenmeetingtoexchangegifts,playfootball,andcarouse.Tothepointwherethegeneralshadtoreinforceordersnottofraternizewiththeenemy.Whatenemy?“FromTroytoWaterlooandfromKoreatoVietnam,fewarmieshavefoughtwithouttheaidofintoxicants,andscholarsnoweventhinkParismightnothavefallenin1940hadtheGermanarmynotbeenstokedonthirty-fivemillionmethamphetaminepills(a.k.a.crystalmeth,adrugthatcancauseextremeaggression),”Bregmansays.Asforguerillaorganizations.hecitesEricaChenowethwhofoundthatmorethan50percentofnonviolentcampaignsweresuccessful,asopposedto26percentofthemilitantones.Theprimaryreason,Chenowethestablished,isthatmorepeoplejoinnonviolentcampaigns.Onaverageovereleventimesmore.Turnsoutviolenceiswaylessappealingtoordinarypeople,evenunderduress.Manisadomesticatedanimal,thefindingofRichardWrangham,fromhisexcellent,groundbreakingbookcalledtheGoodnessParadoxwhichIreviewedhere:https://medium.com/the-straight-dope/...Aswithothersuchbeasts,fromdogstocattle,ManissmallerthanhiswildversiontheNeanderthal,andhasmuchgentlerfeatures.Mostly,heismorepeaceableandfriendlythanthewildspecies,justlikewithalldomesticatedanimals.Forustohavebuiltthisfalsecollectionofviolentattributes,Bregmansays,mustsimplybewrong.Beforemoderntimes,tribesraisedchildrentogether,partiedwithothertribes,sharedfood,andownednothing.Itwastheriseofagriculture,theownershipoflandandtoolsthatstartedtheroutetowealth,inequality,protectionofassets,selfishnessandconstantwarring,Bregmansays.Heextendstheargumenttocapitalism,whichhesayswasimposedfromabove.HesaystheAdamSmithversioniswrong:“Nowitturnsoutthatthisviewiscompletelyupsidedown.Ournaturalinclinationisforsolidarity,whereasthemarketisimposedfromonhigh.Takethebillionsofdollarspumpedinrecentdecadesintofrenziedeffortstoturnhealthcareintoanartificialmarketplace.Why?Becausewehavetobetaughttobeselfish.”Bregman’squestherewasrecognizedthreethousandyearsagobyAesop.Oneofhisfableswasaboutthesunandthewind.Theyspottedamaninacloak,walkingalong.Thewindbetthesunhecouldgetthecloakofftheman.Heblewandblewashardashecould,andwitheverygust,themanclutchedhiscloaktohimeventighter.Thenthesuntookhisturn.Withthewinddyingdown,thesuncameout,thebirdswentbacktosinging,andtheairbecamewelcomingandpleasant.Themantookhiscloakoffhimself.Notmuchhaschangedin3000years.Co-operationworksbetterthanforce,nomatterwhatbinge-tvseriespresent.Andthat’showpeopleactuallyoperate.WeoweRutgerBregmanadebtofthanksforunearthingthetruthbehindtheselong-heldfrauds,andforstartingtocleartheairabouthumannature.It’salovely,lively,upliftingandscientificallyimportantbook.DavidWineberg ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Apr01,2021 JuhoPohjalainen ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition We'realltoocynical.Weallthinktheworldisfullofbadpeople,weallreadtoomanyawfulnewsontheinternet,wealllovetopickfightswithsomebodythatwehate-thinkingwe'reintherightandthatwe'rejustified,notrealizingthey'refeelingtheexactsame.Thisisabookthatweallshouldread.Itopensourminds,withexamplesandideasandgoodphilosophy,byanauthorwho'sdonehisbesttolookthingsfromeverypointofviewandclearlyisn'tafraidtobeprovenwrong.Itw We'realltoocynical.Weallthinktheworldisfullofbadpeople,weallreadtoomanyawfulnewsontheinternet,wealllovetopickfightswithsomebodythatwehate-thinkingwe'reintherightandthatwe'rejustified,notrealizingthey'refeelingtheexactsame.Thisisabookthatweallshouldread.Itopensourminds,withexamplesandideasandgoodphilosophy,byanauthorwho'sdonehisbesttolookthingsfromeverypointofviewandclearlyisn'tafraidtobeprovenwrong.Itwillgiveusallbettertoolstoimprovetheworldandourselves.Youshouldallreadit.Andifyoustillfeelcynical,ifyouthinkBregmaniswrong,ifyouthinkhumansarenotalwaysgood,andifyouthinkyou'reactuallyjustifiedinhatingsomebody...remember,hatredisaveryeasyandattractiveandcatharticemotion.It'ssomuchsimplertojustthinksomeoneisabadpersonandthatyouyourselfdonotneedtochange.Itfeelsgoodtomakehatefulcommentsontheinternetandputsomebodydown-givesyouthisfeelingofstandinguptoacause.Butnoneofthatmakesitright.Afterall,theyalsofeeltheexactsameway,andyoudon'tlikeitwhentheydoit,doyou? ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Feb23,2020 LisaWright ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: loved-it, recommending, great-non-fiction HUMANKINDisacall-to-arms!Wearenotsavageshiddenbeneathathinveneerofcivilizationascynicsandcontrollerswouldhaveusbelieve.Bregmanmakesanexcellentcasethathumansareactuallyratheramiablecreatureswhohavebeenmanipulatedintobelievingwearewicked.No,wearenoangels.Wehaveastrongpreferenceforthosewhoarelikeusandareeasilyturnedagainstthe"other."Butwearealsoquicktohelpwhengiventhechance.Bregmanrefutesthestudiesandmostfamousincid HUMANKINDisacall-to-arms!Wearenotsavageshiddenbeneathathinveneerofcivilizationascynicsandcontrollerswouldhaveusbelieve.Bregmanmakesanexcellentcasethathumansareactuallyratheramiablecreatureswhohavebeenmanipulatedintobelievingwearewicked.No,wearenoangels.Wehaveastrongpreferenceforthosewhoarelikeusandareeasilyturnedagainstthe"other."Butwearealsoquicktohelpwhengiventhechance.Bregmanrefutesthestudiesandmostfamousincidentsofevilinclear,logicalproseexplaininghowweareabletodohorrendousthingstoeachotherandwhytheseeventsareaberrationsratherthanthenorm.Toooftenthescandalousnewsgetstheheadlinesandthecorrectionsareneverreported.Itisacompellingreadthatisabreathoffreshairamidstthedoomandgloomallaroundus. ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview Nov26,2021 Kawai ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: geek, non-fiction, politicking, 2021-favorites LordoftheFlies?Inreallife,theoppositeiswhathappens.StanfordPrisonExperiment?Totalhoax.NeighborslettingawomaninNewYorkdieatknifepointinplainsight,asshescreamsforhelp?Notthewayitwentdownatall.Humansaregood.Betterthanwebelieveourselvestobe.Thisbookisacompelling,convincingclapbacktoalltheself-perpetuating,harmful,negativenewsoutthere.It’sabitthinonbroadscientificconsensustobackconclusionsmadeinsomesections,asmanyboo LordoftheFlies?Inreallife,theoppositeiswhathappens.StanfordPrisonExperiment?Totalhoax.NeighborslettingawomaninNewYorkdieatknifepointinplainsight,asshescreamsforhelp?Notthewayitwentdownatall.Humansaregood.Betterthanwebelieveourselvestobe.Thisbookisacompelling,convincingclapbacktoalltheself-perpetuating,harmful,negativenewsoutthere.It’sabitthinonbroadscientificconsensustobackconclusionsmadeinsomesections,asmanybooksinthisgenreare,butIlovedallthewaysitoverturnedthestandardnarrativeofhumanityindecline.Itoftendidsowithconvincingauthority.Ilovedit. ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jan11,2021 SohamChakraborty ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Thisbookinfuriatedme,formorereasonsthanone.Thisfurywascompoundedbytherealizationthatthisit'sconclusionswillsuccessfullyappealtothewoolly-mammothsizedprejudicesoftheaveragecollege-educatedperson.Bergman'ssanitizednarrativeofaidyllicprehistoricalutopiaisnotjustinaccurateandsimplistic-itsisanactivelyharmfuloutlookforunderstandinghumannature.Bergman'scoreargumentisthathumanbeingsarefundamentally‘good’(thatis,egalitarian,cosmopolit Thisbookinfuriatedme,formorereasonsthanone.Thisfurywascompoundedbytherealizationthatthisit'sconclusionswillsuccessfullyappealtothewoolly-mammothsizedprejudicesoftheaveragecollege-educatedperson.Bergman'ssanitizednarrativeofaidyllicprehistoricalutopiaisnotjustinaccurateandsimplistic-itsisanactivelyharmfuloutlookforunderstandinghumannature.Bergman'scoreargumentisthathumanbeingsarefundamentally‘good’(thatis,egalitarian,cosmopolitan,feminist,andopposedtoviolence)—unlessoruntiltheirmindshappenedtobepoisonedbypropertyownershiporcorruptleaders,whichBregmanclaimswerelackingformostofhumanhistorysincehumanslivedinhunter-gatherersocieties.TobackthiscorethesisBergmanpresentshistoricalandanthropological'evidence'thatcomesbadlyundoneafterthemostbasicamountoftopicalresearchonthesubject.Followingisanexampleofwhyselectivelyreadingyourpreferredvaluesandrationalizationsintohistoryisbad:Bergmanclaimsthat“inprehistorywomenhadbeenfreetocomeandgoastheypleased,”andthatitwasonlywiththeriseofagriculturethatwebegantoseearrangedmarriagesandmalecontroloverfemalesexuality,butthisispurefiction.Amongthe!Kunghunter-gatherersoftheKalahari,anthropologistRichardLee—asourceBregmanselectivelyreferencesforhisclaimsabouthunter-gatherer’sinherentpeacefulness--notesthat“Allfirstmarriagesarearrangedbyparents,andthegirlshavelittlesayinthematter.”AmongtheKaskanomadicforagersofBritishColombia,anthropologistJohnHonigmannwritesthat,“Ideallyamanfeelsentitledtobeathiswifeifhesuspectsthatshehasbeenuntruetohim,”although“notallmenavailthemselvesofthispermittedbehavior.”Arrangedmarriagesarecustomaryacrossthemajorityofhunter-gatherersocieties,andviolence,directedtowardsone’swifeand/oranotherman,isacommonmaleresponsetoactualorsuspectedinfidelity."Speakingof“waragainsttheenemy”,Bregmanclaimsthatitwasthebeginningsofsedentismandpropertyownershipthatledtotheoriginsofwarfare,“Scholarsthinktherewereatleasttwocauses.One,wenowhadbelongingstofightover,startingwithland.Andtwo,settledlifemadeusmoredistrustfulofstrangers.Foragingnomadshadafairlylaid-backmembershippolicy:youcrossedpathswithnewpeopleallthetimeandcouldeasilyjoinupwithanothergroup.”Infact,however,ineveryregionoftheworldwherethereisevidenceofdifferentnomadicforagergroupsneighboringeachother,therearecasesofintergroupviolence.Thispatternisthoroughlyreviewedina2012paperbyanthropologistsRichardWranghamandLukeGlowacki,whowritethat,“Externalwarhasbeendescribedineachoftheareaswereviewedbasedonevidenceofintergroupkilling,explicitfearofstrangers,and/oravoidanceofborderzones,”andaddingthatthe“casesofhunter-gathererslivingwithdifferentsocietiesofhunter-gatherersasneighborsshowthatthethreatofviolencewasneverfaraway.”Keepinmindthereareahundredsuchclaimsthatareeasilyfalsifiable,scatteredthroughoutthebook.Moreovertheyhavebeencarelesslypresentedforanaudienceuninterestedinprobingtheoppositecase-makingthetextamammothdisservicetosociety. ...more flag 10likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Nov09,2020 CalebLoh ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition IftherewasabookthatIthinkmorepeopleshouldread,Iwouldrecommendthisone.Thebookonlyhasonesimpleidea,whichisthathumankindisfundamentallygood,notevil.Itmaysoundnaïveandjejune,butourinnatekindnessinfactgroundedinevolutionandscience,andcongruentwithmanyofourdailyexperiences.Thebookarguesthatthereasonweareoftensuspiciousordistrustfulofothersisbecausewearebombardedofstoriesofcrime,treason,andmalice,whichreallyconstitute IftherewasabookthatIthinkmorepeopleshouldread,Iwouldrecommendthisone.Thebookonlyhasonesimpleidea,whichisthathumankindisfundamentallygood,notevil.Itmaysoundnaïveandjejune,butourinnatekindnessinfactgroundedinevolutionandscience,andcongruentwithmanyofourdailyexperiences.Thebookarguesthatthereasonweareoftensuspiciousordistrustfulofothersisbecausewearebombardedofstoriesofcrime,treason,andmalice,whichreallyconstituteonlyatinyfractionofhumaninteractions.AnotherinterestingpartofthebookisthatBregmanarguesthatanyclaimaboutwhetherornothumansaregoodorevilisself-reinforcing.IfwecollectivelybelievedthatManwasbornevil,ourinstitutionsandattitudeswillbeshapedaroundthoseideas,andwebecomenaturallydistastefulofothers,mistrustfuloftheirintentions,andcynicalofthosewhomayseemgoodtous,whichthenperpetuatesthepurportedevilnessofhumankind.Incontrast,ifweallbelievedthatpeoplewerenaturallygood,wewilltreatotherswithgreaterconfidenceandconsideration,andthenthecyclevirtuouslygoeson.Thebookisnotwithoutitsflaws.Ifeltpersonallythattheauthorfocusedmostlyonrefutingandrebuttingparadigmaticexamplesofhumankind'sevilness,suchastheStanfordPrisonExperiment,theEichmannTrial,andtheMilgramExperiment-allofwhichisquiteinteresting,butslightlylimitingtothebook'sambit.Heraisesmanyexamplesofhumankindnessandcooperationthatalreadyexist-forinstance,theZakatsysteminmanyMuslimcountries,theWikipediacommons,andtheexistenceofthenation-state-allofwhichcouldbeexploredingreaterdetail.Nonetheless,Igavethis5starsbecausethetextwasveryeasytoreadandthecentralideawasreallyrefreshing. ...more flag 11likes · Like  · seereview View2comments «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    GoodreadsLibrari...: Humanidade-kindleeditionnumberofpage 3 12 Feb26,202203:49PM   GoodreadsLibrari...: Combinelanguageeditions 4 19 Dec22,202105:08PM   GoodreadsLibrari...: Addbookcover 2 19 Jan03,202109:58PM   FanatiekeNederla...: Maandboekmei:Demeestemensendeugen 100 162 Jun18,202012:24AM   Mt.LebanonPubli...: Humankind:AHopefulHistory 1 10 Jun09,202009:54PM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Nonfiction 1,651users History 714users Psychology 327users Philosophy 304users Science 173users Politics 152users Sociology 126users Audiobook 99users Culture> Society 66users Anthropology 66users Seetopshelves… AboutRutgerBregman RutgerBregman 3,711 followers RutgerBregmanisaDutchhistorian,authorandjournalist.HestudiedatUtrechtUniversityandtheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngelesandisknownforpopularizingtopicsrelatedtosocialandeconomicinnovationmeasuresandtheirhistorythrough,amongothers,universalbasicincomeandshorterworkweeks.RutgerBregmanisajournalistatTheCorrespondent,andoneofEurope'smostprominen RutgerBregmanisaDutchhistorian,authorandjournalist.HestudiedatUtrechtUniversityandtheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngelesandisknownforpopularizingtopicsrelatedtosocialandeconomicinnovationmeasuresandtheirhistorythrough,amongothers,universalbasicincomeandshorterworkweeks.RutgerBregmanisajournalistatTheCorrespondent,andoneofEurope'smostprominentyoungthinkers.Hehaspublishedfourbooksonhistory,philosophy,andeconomics.---------------------------------------------------------RutgerBregmanstudeerdeaandeuniversiteitvanUtrechtenLosAngeles,endoceerdeaandeUniversiteitvanUtrecht.Hijschrijftvoornrc.next,HetParool,deVolkskrant,TrouwenDeGroeneAmsterdammer. ...more BooksbyRutgerBregman More… News&InterviewsReaders'MostAnticipatedBooksofSeptember Summeriswindingdown,butthat’sOK,aslongastherearegoodbookstoread.Asithappens,therearesomegreatnewbookscomingin...Readmore...69likes·40comments Quotesfrom人慈：橫跨二十萬年的人性旅程，用更... “Anoldmansaystohisgrandson:‘There’safightgoingoninsideme.It’saterriblefightbetweentwowolves.Oneisevil–angry,greedy,jealous,arrogant,andcowardly.Theotherisgood–peaceful,loving,modest,generous,honest,andtrustworthy.Thesetwowolvesarealsofightingwithinyou,andinsideeveryotherpersontoo.’Afteramoment,theboyasks,‘Whichwolfwillwin?’Theoldmansmiles.‘Theoneyoufeed.’3” — 22likes “Sowhatisthisradicalidea?Thatmostpeople,deepdown,areprettydecent.” — 20likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.