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Humankind
- A Hopeful History
- Narrated by: Rutger Bregman, Thomas Judd
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Sociology
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Utopia for Realists is one of those rare books that takes you by surprise and challenges what you think can happen. From a Canadian city that once completely eradicated poverty to Richard Nixon's near implementation of a basic income for millions of Americans, Bregman takes us on a journey through history and beyond the traditional left-right divides as he champions ideas whose time has come.
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Caste (Oprah's Book Club)
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Very good, but some unnecessary chapters
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Publisher's Summary
Instant New York Times best seller
"The Sapiens of 2020." (The Guardian)
From the author of the New York Times best seller Utopia for Realists comes "the riveting pick-me-up we all need right now" (People), the number one Dutch best seller Humankind, which offers a "bold" (Daniel H. Pink), "extraordinary" (Susan Cain) argument that humans thrive in a crisis and that our innate kindness and cooperation have been the greatest factors in our long-term success on the planet.
"Humankind made me see humanity from a fresh perspective." (Yuval Noah Harari, author of the number one best seller Sapiens)
One of Washington Post's 50 Notable Works in 2020
If there is one belief that has united the left and the right, psychologists and philosophers, ancient thinkers and modern ones, it is the tacit assumption that humans are bad. It's a notion that drives newspaper headlines and guides the laws that shape our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we're taught, are by nature selfish and governed primarily by self-interest.
But what if it isn't true? International best seller Rutger Bregman provides new perspective on the past 200,000 years of human history, setting out to prove that we are hardwired for kindness, geared toward cooperation rather than competition, and more inclined to trust rather than distrust one another. In fact this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens.
From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the solidarity in the aftermath of the Blitz, the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman shows us that believing in human generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic - it's realistic. Moreover, it has huge implications for how society functions. When we think the worst of people, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics. But if we believe in the reality of humanity's kindness and altruism, it will form the foundation for achieving true change in society, a case that Bregman makes convincingly with his signature wit, refreshing frankness, and memorable storytelling.
What the critics say
"Rutger Bregman's extraordinary new book is a revelation. Although Humankind is masterful in its grasp of history, both ancient and modern, the real achievement is Bregman's application of history to a new understanding of human nature. Humankind changes the conversation and lights the path to a brighter future. We need it now more than ever." (Susan Cain, author of the number one New York Times best seller Quiet)
"This stunning book will change how you see the world and your fellow humans. Humankind is mind-expanding and, more important, heart-expanding. We have never needed its message more than now." (Johann Hari, New York Times best-selling author of Lost Connections and Chasing the Scream
"An extraordinarily powerful declaration of faith in the innate goodness and natural decency of human beings. Never dewy-eyed, wistful or naive, Rutger Bregman makes a wholly robust and convincing case for believing - despite so much apparent evidence to the contrary - that we are not the savage, irredeemably greedy, violent, and rapacious species we can be led into thinking ourselves to be. Hugely, highly, and happily recommended." (Stephen Fry, author of Mythos and The Ode Less Travelled)
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What listeners say about Humankind
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sarah
- 2021-03-09
Interesting
I would have preferred to hear the author’s own voice. I don’t want to put people out of work, but when you’ve heard the person speak, there is a disconnect and a different cadence and tone than expected.
The book had so salient points and I found the re analysis of past studies very interesting.
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- Josh Ruberg
- 2021-03-01
Compelling, perhaps unconvincing.
Delves into many of the primary counter-arguments to what he is proposing; certainly changes my perspective on the possibility of humans actually being more geared towards connection and decency. Includes information I had not known before about some famous psychology experiments. Wish he had expanded on how our tendency towards connection can result in violence/cruelty to others. Unfortunately, the focus on narrative form ("I learned ____ then looked into ____ only to discover ____") and at times single-story evidence is not convincing for me. Also the author takes many opportunities to denounce belief in God, which I cannot see in any way contribute to his argument. In fact, I would say this is what primarily puts me at odds with his view since it seems selfish to add this in without it contributing, and actually detracting for me, to his argument. You don't need to affirm theism to be decent, but at least you can address your own biases. Additional to this is often strawman arguments made, not allowing for the strongest form of counter-argument to inform his theory. Still very much worth listening to and presents a cohesive presentation of something more people could put into practice to make our society better. Edit: After some consideration, the part about "Don't punch nazis" convinced me to boost my rating.
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- Darren Stamos
- 2021-01-26
Great book, truly eye opening.
I really enjoyed this book, and the way Rutger Bregman uses research and history to make his points. Very enlightening read.
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- JDub
- 2021-01-06
truth
a much needed truth of human history and how we humans really behave. the author does an excellent job of relating and proving his points.
the narration is also excellently performed; as if the author himself was reading it to you. a must read for every human.
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- Brendan Vaughan
- 2021-01-03
Antidote for pandemic panic - hope!
Excellent overview of humanity’s oft-neglected goodness, and why we should lean in to it. Not saccharine or naive, a sober and practical call to compassion. An appropriate sign off to this challenging year.
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- FEREYDOUN SAFA
- 2020-12-31
A great read
this is a must listen audio book . I enjoyed it very much and I intend to listen to this once more
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- Patricia Smith
- 2020-12-19
Uplifting and reassuring
This book provides evidence for what I have always believed but had no proof for outside of my own personal experience. Should be required reading for ethics classes in high school. Bravo monsieur!
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- Padraig O'Huard
- 2020-12-06
Transformative
This is a rare book that comes along at just the time it is most needed. It should be required reading and on everyone’s list. Bregman should be lauded for a well researched, nuanced, “realistic” and balanced re-framing of the destructive tropes we as members of the human family deeply believe about ourselves and our other human family members. I will be sharing this book with everyone I know. I am deeply grateful it was translated into English.
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- Haider Mehdi
- 2020-11-09
A must read seminal amazing insight on humans
A must read seminal amazing insight on human society. Dispels and destroys many still ongoing myths about the Stanford Prison experiment, the electric shock experiment, Lord of the Flies, Kitty Genovese murder, and especially Malcolm Gladwell's superficial myth peddling. with painstaking details destroys highly suspect behavioral experiments and creates great hope in the kindness and nicer aspects of human nature. Superb narration! A book which will change how we look at human and societal behaviour!
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- Rafael P. Fernandes
- 2020-10-20
Just Amazing!!!
Best society book ever! If you are tired of failing your family, team and or company, please read this book and stop the nonsense.
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- Joey Caster
- 2020-06-08
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.
18 people found this helpful
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- Adam S McConnell
- 2020-06-19
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.
17 people found this helpful
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- trishH2O
- 2020-06-07
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.
12 people found this helpful
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- J.Michael Campbell
- 2020-06-11
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.
7 people found this helpful
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- Alex Horovitz
- 2020-06-10
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).
7 people found this helpful
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- Clyde M. Boyer
- 2020-06-21
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.
3 people found this helpful
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- Trebla
- 2020-07-27
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
2 people found this helpful
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- Andrea Allen
- 2021-02-09
He’s correct but he misrepresented the data
At first I loved this book. I share the author’s view of human nature and loved reading about the evidence in support of it. Unfortunately, once he got to research I know, I realized he was cherry picking and distorting the data. I then realized he was demonizing the researchers who he presented as having opposing viewpoints (not all really did). He fell into what he was criticizing the media and others for: make a dramatic story with terrible humans because that will attract viewers. I ended up not believing the data in other areas, research I was unfamiliar with, because I don’t trust him. I still believe his thesis but am disappointed that I don’t trust the support he provided.
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- Kindle Customer
- 2020-10-31
That's Not What "Selfish Gene" Means.
Throughout the book the author constantly juxtaposes his ideas about humans being selfish with the book the selfish gene by Richard Dawkins. The problem is he either didn't read this book or didn't understand it. As the author seems to labor under the false assumption that a selfish gene means a gene that makes you selfish, but that's not what it means a selfish gene is a gene that is itself selfish so it wants to produce as many copies of itself as possible including copies in other bodies. The selfish gene is about where morality comes from. It doesn't exist in opposition to this idea rather it's a more refined form of it. To that end I recommend the selfish gene over this book if you're interested in this subject matter.
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- Jennifer Sanger
- 2020-08-05
Exactly the book we need right now
While a timeless (literally) book, this interdisciplinary look at humans and humanity is thought provoking, compelling, uplifting and inspiring. Highly recommend.
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