Super Short Summary

In an intellectual landscape dominated by bleak takes on human nature, Rutger Bregman's Humankind: A Hopeful History offers a counter-narrative that argues for humanity's inherent kindness and cooperative behavior, using historical accounts, psychological research, and real-world case studies. Bregman critiques widely-accepted experiments and societal structures that paint a pessimistic view of human nature, and he advocates for policies and systems that prioritize trust and collaboration. Sensitive topics such as World War II and atrocities are explored in the book.