Humankind debunks some dangerous myths about human nature
Rutger Bregman’s Hopeful History is a guiding light for changing society for the better.
The review for this book has been unfolding in my mind for some time. The inspiration to hit the keyboard struck after reading Jillian Amatt – Artistic Voyages’ latest piece I Refuse to Write About Negative Things Even Though That is What Makes Money. She’s right about negative things generally making more money, but Bregman’s book defies this trend as an international bestseller.
Bregman takes the reader through 200 000 years of human history but spends significant time in the last 200 years focused on sociological studies and concepts and their viability. Some of these concepts have become so embedded in our culture that they have become accepted mythology to explain human behaviour.
Bregman takes the time to comprehensively study methodologies, the behaviour of the sociologists and “exceptions” to the rules. More often than not, the myths are debunked and the kindness of human nature shines through.
The most pertinent example of this for me was his deconstruction of the famous incident in New York where a woman was murdered in the street while people simply watched from their apartment windows without taking any action. Rather than spoil the experience of others I’ll not stay any more about that.
Heard of the bystander effect? Bregman’s inquiry into the viability of this theory is strengthened by real-life examples and a convincing set of conclusions.
The book has been released in more than 30 languages and as an audiobook. The latter gave me a sprightly step for every day that it was the soundtrack for my commute to work. By the end, I was seeing my fellow humans through new lenses that were not rose-coloured or dingy grey, but with a pleasant realism backed by evidence and historical examples.
In fact, as I reflect on it, I think this book gave me the access to gratitude which has given me hope in recent years.
Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely!
It challenges preconceptions that are dangerous both in their tendency to reinforce negativity and division, and in their contribution to despair for the future. For some reason, many of us seem to be scared to hope. This book gives you a reason to try.
Always do what you are afraid to do
-Emerson-
Title — Humankind: A Hopeful History
Author — Rutger Bregman
Year of publication — 2020;London, England;Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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