Humankind cover art

Humankind

A Hopeful History

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Humankind

By: Rutger Bregman
Narrated by: Thomas Judd, Rutger Bregman
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Humankind by Rutger Bregman, read by Thomas Judd and Rutger Bregman.

THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A Guardian, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman and Daily Express Book of the Year

‘Hugely, highly and happily recommended’
Stephen Fry

‘You should read Humankind. You’ll learn a lot (I did) and you’ll have good reason to feel better about the human race’
Tim Harford

‘The book we need right now’
Daily Telegraph

'Made me see humanity from a fresh perspective'
Yuval Noah Harari

It’s a belief that unites the left and right, psychologists and philosophers, writers and historians. It drives the headlines that surround us and the laws that touch our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Dawkins, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we’re taught, are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest.

Humankind makes a new argument: that it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. The instinct to cooperate rather than compete, trust rather than distrust, has an evolutionary basis going right back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. By thinking the worst of others, we bring out the worst in our politics and economics too.

In this major book, internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman takes some of the world’s most famous studies and events and reframes them, providing a new perspective on the last 200,000 years of human history. From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the Blitz, a Siberian fox farm to an infamous New York murder, Stanley Milgram’s Yale shock machine to the Stanford prison experiment, Bregman shows how believing in human kindness and altruism can be a new way to think – and act as the foundation for achieving true change in our society.

It is time for a new view of human nature.©2020 Rutger Bregman (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Economics Ethics & Morality Philosophy Thought-Provoking Inspiring Heartfelt Feel-Good Social justice Capitalism

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All stars
Most relevant  
A much needed injection of realism and optimism. Excellent work and engaging storytelling. I encourage people to read this.

Fantastic book

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Positive, easy-going and well-argued book. A lot to think about, I would like to listen to it again.

enjoyed this book very much!

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fantastic and inspiring book that should be read by everyone, especially business leaders and politicians..

a must read

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Everyone should get this book. Bregman is a sage of our time. This is the future we are working for.

Everyone should get this book.

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As a Psychologist and Psychology teacher, I found this a very informative read. So much so I think it should be required reading for all psych undergraduates. If not to become a full supporter of the ideas in the book but to highlight the importance of being a critical consumer of research and literature. I enjoyed listening to the reader, they were easy to listen to too.

Very worthy read

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This book was excellent and restored my faith in human nature. Should be mandatory reading

I hope you decide to read this

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The last few months, I've avoided most news. It has done wonders for my mental health! This book explained why.
It gives concrete examples of how our perception of human kind isnjuat plain wrong. At least, what MY perception was, which was not positive...
The last year nor so, I've read several books which brings up this phenomenon. The only thing that makes me wonder whether they're right, is that they all use many of the same examples. That also means there's a lot in this book I already knew. However, there's also much I didn't know, and things I haven't really thought much about.

Hope for humanity

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I can’t rate the book highly enough. It is a beautiful and humane look in the mirror. Too often books are called ‘life-changing’, this one is.

Essential

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If we can’t have a basic income then we should consider having a universal basic book. This is it.
It is as a-political as a smile and as valuable as a hug.
The research rivals Yuval Noah Harari’s best.
The arguments are tight and revelatory.
My faith in humanity is well and truly restored.
I can highly recommend to people of all stripes and spots.
Well done Sir.

The most valuable book of our times.

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A truly refreshing view of the evolution of humanity that weighs in favour of our innate capacity for kindness, friendliness and cooperation. The start of a better way to eduacte ourselves for a hopefull future.

Kind Humanity

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