Humankind: A Hopeful History

This is an uplifting and hopeful book which has arrived at just the right time to lift spirits and to increase solidarity. It picks interesting and varied case studies to make its points, arguing the central thesis that even in what appear to be the worse situations, humans kind nature always bobs to the surface. I am enjoying reading it, however it is not really an academic text, more a text written for the popular market. It is painted in broad brushstrokes and there is a lack of nuance. Each case study seems to follow the same story arc of an incident of human cruelty being subverted to reveal an underlying human kindness in quite an artificial way in places. For instance in introducing the horror of the German concentration camps it asks how this could have happened in one of the most wealthy and advanced countries of the world. This is inaccurate though. Germany immediately before the war was in the grip of a worldwide depression and poor through paying war reparations in the aftermath of WW1. This was part of the socio-economic situation that allowed the National Socialists to rise to power. Rutger is a great storty-teller, though not a historian. A good book, though not wholly as nuanced as it could be.

An interesting read but the author didn't convince me of mankind's goodness. My own experience tells me that Homo puppy (author's terminology) is anything but. He also left out of his book the sorry tale of the mutineers of the Bounty who sailed to Pitcairn island. Within a few years half of the men had been murdered by the other half, the remainder murdered by the women who sailed to Pitcairn with them, only one of the mutineers survived. And yes, this remaining mutineer did influence in a positive way the children of the mutineers born on the island who by all accounts were found living peacefully with each other 17 years after the mutineers landed there. But the mutineers did not revert to 'homo puppy' there, despite no longer being 'under the lash', no pooling resources, no co-operation, just suspicion, hatred and jealousy and finally murder most foul.Perhaps they were just a bad lot and they are the exception to the rule as espoused by the author but my experience of 70 years of other peoples selfish nature is at odds with his research.

Arrived today. I've only read three chapters and its a joy. Humanity really is good, its lovely to read it in black and white! Obviously I need to finish this ASAP and complete the review however, go buy it, you won't regret it. Cogent, powerful argument backed up with meticulous research. Best buy this year.

A truly wide-ranging book on the true nature of human nature. I read his previous book; 'Utopia for Realists', in a few days, simply because Bregman's writing style is so inviting. This is no exception, a true joy to read and with double the pages of his previous.wholeheartedly recommended,PS. there's a missing word on page 253, - Bloomsbury should probably get that fixed.

I loved Utopia for Realists - Bregman's first book to be translated into English. Humankind takes up the same themes and develops them into more into a more developed philosophy of utopianism. The book is a very easy read and worth every page. Bregman urges everyone to believe in the good, do good, and promote good things as the best way to achieve a better world. The less attention given to the darker side of humanity the better.