I would have given 5 stars but...

This was an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the author’s hypocrisy. He states that there is good and kindness in everyone and that we need to just look for it. He states you can find good in “murderers, thieves and rapists” but when he speaks of Trump supporters he regards them as lost degenerates. He should practice what he is preaching in this book and look for the good in everyone... including Trump supporters.

15 people found this helpful

Really good, but...

The book is fantastic, though I don't believe that the author could not have read (or if he did he didn't understand), "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins. He references Dawkins' book multiple times and claims that the book concludes with the idea that humans are inherently selfish. This is not the case and is a common misconception of the ideas put forward in the book popularized by media outlets looking for a story that sells - which is ironically something that Mr. Bregman derides in his book. Part of "The Selfish Gene" is about a genetic basis for moral behavior and how the genes themselves are selfish. Not that the genes make the organisms (aka survival machines) they build inherently selfish. This erroneous assumption/conclusion on the part of Bregman doesn't take away from the main drive of "Humankind," but it was like nails on a chalkboard for me to hear the erroneous conclusion throughout the book. I highly reccomend reading both wonderful books for yourself.

12 people found this helpful

Not What We Need

I truly love this concept. How to be kind and how we can rewrite our story.... if you are WHITE. This book does not help me do the work I need to be doing right now. It is from the white perspective. If you come from a place of privilege, you do not have the historical abuse, racism, suppression, injustice, .... As a white woman, I have the luxury to look at the world around me as an opportunity. Doors will open because of the color of my skin. As a woman, I do struggle, but I am still privileged. We need to listen to other voices right now. If you are reading this book, GOOD. But also look at other books that help be ANTI-RACIST. I recommend "My Grandmother's Hands" "How To Be An Antiracist." Mr. Bregman, thank you for your research and hard work, but right now we have other work to do.

8 people found this helpful

An epically important idea casually addressed here

The central premise is huge and defendable. We have built civilization around our weakest links and assume the worst of each other. It could be different. While I like a lot of of the data points the author brings to make this case, I find his style a little whimsical like reading a freshman year college journaling project. Some of the topics deserve more rigorous treatment. This book seems to me like a simple casual outline of the more powerful serious book it could have been and which the subject so richly deserves.

6 people found this helpful

Popper's Open Society meets Nicholas Nassim Taleb

I hate to say it, but if you fail to grasp the concepts being laid out here, you might just be stupid. Rutger Bregmank lays out the evidence (historical and otherwise) for the case that our worst fears about our fellow humans are largely unfounded. Worse, they are mostly made up without data and evidence to support them. With all that is going on in the world, take the time to step back and challenge your negative assumptions of your fellow humans. Bregmank shows us the better Angeles of our nature is the rule not the exception. He lays to waste the notion that humans are innately selfish and greedy. When it comes right down to it, almost all of us choose to help each other when we see someone in need. The myths perpetrated by political, economic, and religious leaders to the contrary serve only to maintain the power they hold over us. To borrow from "A Bug's Life" this is a book written for most of us (the ants) to remind us that, through our natural tendencies towards kindness, we are more powerful than them (the grasshoppers).

6 people found this helpful

Perfect book for an imperfect time

It takes courage to write a book this unabashedly optimistic. It helps that Rutger Bregman backs up his insights with a wealth of research. Maybe it's my own bias, but I feel we are at a tipping point and books like Humankind can help us tip the balance in the right direction.

2 people found this helpful

Philosoph wannabe drops the Ball

Bregman cruises along in several channels with impressive lack of depth, to get to his final Directions for Life, or whatever he calls it. While mentioning them, it is clear that Bregman did not understand Darwinian Evolution, nor Steven Pinker, nor did he probably read The Selfish Gene. Yet he launches his construct of "Homo puppy " as the genuine core of humanity. He mentions Frans DeWaal & other primatologist with such superficial grasp of the deep seated characteristics of animal homophily and the cooperative nature of successful tribes yet fails to incorporate those documented findings. Spend your time elsewhere

1 person found this helpful

Love casts out fear

Homopuppy in a state of nature and in our corrupted ‘civilization’ seeks, gives, and is fulfilled by love. Hobbs says we live in a world where all are against all. Selfishness and greed are good. Bergman looks deeper and finds love at bottom in the human heart and makes a good argument for it. Uplifting book.

Inspiring and uplifting!

Humankind was referenced in a footnote of a daily meditation from Richard Rohr, which I followed and then listened to. Bergman crafts a story from which we can all learn - - we often see what we look for and get what we expect. This has blinded many to the truth that people have a natural affinity for good, and when not corrupted by power or negative expectations, we all tend towards the good. I highly recommend this, especially now, with political tensions so high. Unplug from the news and from social media and experience life with real people. They're just like you!

Changed my worldview

This book turned my assumptions about humanity upside down. Thanks to everyone involved in making it!