Author(s): Rutger Bregman

History

A Guardian Book to Look Out For in 2020'Humankind challenged me and made me see humanity from a fresh perspective' Yuval Noah HarariFrom 'the folk hero of Davos', Fox News antagonist and author of the international bestseller Utopia for Realists comes a radical history of our innate capacity for kindness.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 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.Providing a new historical perspective on the last 200,000 years of human history, Humankind makes a new argument: that it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. When we think the worst of others, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics too.In this major book, internationally bestselling author Rutger 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.'The topic is vital, the sweep immense, and the storytelling is spellbinding. This is a fabulous book' Tim Harford 'An extraordinarily powerful declaration of faith in the innate goodness and natural decency of human beings' Stephen Fry 'Make a note of Humankind. It's an exceptional read' Matt Haig 'In a sea of cynicism, this book is the sturdy, unsinkable lifeboat the world needs' Daniel H. Pink