Humans Are Actually Good
Humankind: A Hopeful History
by Rutger Bregman
History/Social Science
TL;DR
This book is basically a massive mic drop on the idea that humans are inherently selfish jerks. It flips the script on centuries of cynical thinking, arguing that cooperation and kindness are our default settings. Bregman doesn't just say "be nice," he shows you the receipts, digging into history, psychology, and real-world examples to prove that when given the chance, people are surprisingly decent. It's less about a specific "method" and more about a mindset shift: stop assuming the worst, design systems that trust people, and watch how much better things get. Think less "survival of the fittest" and more "thrive by being chill."
Action Items
Today, let someone take the lead on a small task without micromanaging them, or assume your friend will pay you back without sending five reminders.
When you see a dramatic news story about human awfulness, take 5 minutes to Google it and see if there's another side or more context. Don't just swallow the drama.
Look for a small way to make a shared space (your desk, a common room, a group chat) more inviting for connection. Maybe leave a snack out, or start a non-work-related chat.
Catch yourself when you're about to make a cynical comment or assume the worst about someone's intentions. Instead, try to frame it positively or give them the benefit of the doubt, even if it feels weird.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - When the Ship Hits the Fan, Are We Savages or Squad Goals?
This chapter absolutely shreds the whole "Lord of the Flies" vibe that society loves to push. You know, the one where if you leave a bunch of people alone, they'll immediately start eating each other and forming cults. Bregman drops the actual historical tea on real-life shipwrecks and disasters, showing how, more often than not, people band together, help each other out, and create surprisingly functional mini-societies. It's a total reality check, proving that our default isn't chaos, but collective problem-solving. So next time someone says "humans are evil," just remember: we're more likely to share the last granola bar than stab you for it.
Key Methods and Approaches
The "Trust Fall" Approach to Society
(AKA: The Power of Default Goodness)
Description:
Stop assuming everyone's a sneaky snake waiting to screw you over.
Explanation:
Imagine society as a giant group project. Most people think you gotta micromanage everyone because they'll slack off. Bregman's like, "Nah, fam, if you just trust people to do their part, they usually will." It's like giving your friend the Netflix password without expecting them to change your profile pic to a potato.
Examples:
Giving homeless people homes without preconditions (turns out, they get their lives together).
Companies letting employees work from home without constant surveillance (productivity often goes up).
Designing public spaces that encourage interaction instead of isolation (less crime, more community).
Today's Action:
Today, let someone take the lead on a small task without micromanaging them, or assume your friend will pay you back without sending five reminders.
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