Humankind Audiobook By Rutger Bregman, Erica Moore, Elizabeth Manton cover art

Humankind

A Hopeful History

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Humankind

By: Rutger Bregman, Erica Moore, Elizabeth Manton
Narrated by: Rutger Bregman, Thomas Judd
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About this listen

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The “lively” (The New Yorker), “convincing” (Forbes), and “riveting pick-me-up we all need right now” (People) that proves humanity thrives in a crisis and that our innate kindness and cooperation have been the greatest factors in our long-term success as a species.

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 bestseller 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.

"The Sapiens of 2020."—The Guardian

"Humankind made me see humanity from a fresh perspective."—Yuval Noah Harari, author of the #1 bestseller Sapiens

Longlisted for the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction

One of the Washington Post's 50 Notable Nonfiction Works in 2020

©2020 Rutger Bregman (P)2020 Little, Brown & Company
Anthropology Civilization History Social Psychology & Interactions Sociology Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"Rutger Bregman is one of the most provocative thinkers of our time... This book demolishes the cynical view that humans are inherently nasty and selfish, and paints a portrait of human nature that's not only more uplifting—it's also more accurate... by taking us on a guided tour of the past, he reveals how we can build a world with more givers than takers in the future."—Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals

"I greatly enjoyed reading Humankind. It made me see humanity from a fresh perspective and challenged me to rethink many long-held beliefs. I warmly recommend it to others, and I trust it will stir a lot of fruitful discussions."—Yuval Noah Harari, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sapiens and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

"Some books challenge our ideas. But Humankind challenges the very premises on which those ideas are based. Its bold, sweeping argument will make you rethink what you believe about society, democracy, and human nature itself. In a sea of cynicism, this book is the sturdy, unsinkable lifeboat the world needs."—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When and A Whole New Mind

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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.

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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).

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I couldn’t get enough of this book!

It’s like a warm blanket on a cold winter day! During a time of such high drama in the US and around the world, this book gives us hope that what we hear on the news and in social media is the focus on the exception not the rule. What Rutger Bregman teaches is what I've felt all my life, but haven't had the scientific evidence to prove ... but now I do.

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Of 170 books I read in the last 3 years this may be the best

This book provides strong and compelling evidence that people are more sociable and good than we often think they are.

I recommend you read it. If you do then I feel certain it will make your life and the lives of the people around you genuinely better.

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A book for the ages

I am truly convinced that in order to move forward as a society and to understand why we are the way we are, where we come from, and the pure GOODNESS inside each and every one of us, this book should be in every household. Such a well written, in depth, thorough book. I loved every single word.

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Words to live by.

So glad I was able to listen to this book. Kindness is key. Keep in mind to always to assume the best of others and just do good, period.

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must-read

Minor nitpick: we have sequenced our genome and found out that a portion of our DNA comes from the Neanderthals. They are not alive as a distinct species today, in the sense that the distinct species of wolf that is the ancestors to our dogs is no longer alive, but their descendants live on. Because we selected the friendliest Neanderthals :)

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Much Needed in our Current Climate

A glimmer of hope for an anxiety riddled adult in 2021. Fascinating read. Easy to follow audio. Thoroughly enjoyed.

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Imagine a calmly rational world

Truly inspiring. I would like to create study groups at our yoga center. Thank you 🙏

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Uplifting and refreshing

Wonderful to hear the proof and reinforce what so many of us optimists believe !

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