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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 Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Social justice Capitalism
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Most relevant  
Motivated and moved to do more for humanity. To share this wisdom with others and to ‘be more realistic’ about Human Kind.

Absolutely fantastic book, well-researched, beautifully written and truly captivating.

INSPIRED BY OUR COLLECTIVE GENEROSITY

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This is an incredibly thought provoking piece of writing. Evidence based, thoughtful analysis and challenging of preconditioned concepts about who we are as humans... this is well worth the time investment. highly recommend

Brilliant... Simply brilliant

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Well written and narrated.
Interesting perspective.
Thought provoking. Insight into how humans behave in different circumstances.

Interesting Read

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This book has radically changed my outlook on the human race. It has given me, a self proclaimed cynic some hope for the future. Now we need everyone else to read/listen to it.

This book could change the world

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This book is truly inspirational. Reinforced many of my beliefs and gave me some scaffolding to hold those beliefs up high. I will never again be shy to do good, I’ll be proud and loud. Thank you Rutger.

Know thyself - never look back

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Loved this. If you want to believe people are good or if you wonder how evil happens or even if you just like a good well-researched myth-buster, you'll love this too.
Only flaw is, as a teacher, I think the short section on education is overly simplistic and situation specific. Otherwise, a both thought-provoking and entertaining listen.

Even better than Sapiens!

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so good
buy
won't regret 👍

seriously really good listen and learned so much and re-learend so much I thought I already knew. awesome

amazing

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This is an extremely well researched and uplifting book on the nature of humanity which aims to debunk one of the most pervasive myths about humanity. That we're intrinsically bad and selfish. Listening to this will change how you view the world and how you live your life. It's kind of a big deal.

Allow yourself to be happy.

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everyone should listen to this.
it's factual, rewarding and fun.
we've been a little misguided over the years and this greatly helps to rectify it!

everyone should listen

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Really enjoyed this book with some interesting historical anecdotes. Leaves me more positive about humans in general.

Positive and inspiring

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