Oddbean

Are you in search of uplifting ideas? Rutger Bregman’s *Humankind: A Hopeful History* is a fantastic starting point to escape the doom and gloom mindset. https://image.nostr.build/295784ec8d1f3a1218c223b93fae0aa74000cef75f15a8b6d7cfce10ebe90fa7.jpg He argues that humans are inherently kind and cooperative, challenging the belief in our selfish nature. Isn't that a breath of fresh air? And you can trust him, because Bregman supports his claims with scientific evidence, philosophical insights, and compelling historical anecdotes. He also critiques several famous psychological experiments, like the Milgram study, revealing design flaws that undermine their conclusions about human behavior. He suggests that kindness is contagious, much like fear, and that expecting the best in others inspires positive actions. Bregman emphasizes that our ability to learn from one another's kindness is vital for societal progress. If he had integrated in his thesis an analysis of how different monetary systems shape our incentives, his arguments could have been even more powerful, and that's why we pick up on this when we continue our own journey of creating new books. Anyway, I highly recommend ordering *Humankind* now, it will definitely give you a very positive boost!