Humankind: A Hopeful History

Humankind: A Hopeful History (Dutch: De Meeste Mensen Deugen) is a 2019 non-fiction book by historian Rutger Bregman. It was published by Bloomsbury in May 2021.[1] It advocates for the decency of most people and proposes a new outlook on life in spite of prominent ideas deeming man egotistical and malevolent. It contains multi-disciplinary studies, historical events and scientific evidence to justify this optimistic view. It has been translated in over 30 languages.[2]

Humankind: A Hopeful History
First edition
AuthorRutger Bregman
Original titleDe Meeste Mensen Deugen
CountryNetherlands
LanguageEnglish
Subject
GenreNon-fiction, history
PublisherBloomsbury
Publication date
September, 2019
Published in English
May 13, 2021
Media typeHardcover
Pages496
ISBN9781408898932

Reception

Critics stated that it seems misleading to "offer the false choice of Rousseau and Hobbes when, clearly, humanity encompasses both".[3] The book follows Rousseau's idea, stating man was inherently virtuous prior to the corruption civilization brought.

Ideas

Civilian resilience after bombing

Before the London Blitz and the Allied counterbombings over important German cities, it was thought aerial bombardments would sow panic and chaos among the population, breaking their will. World leaders had read Psychologie des foule (Mass psychology) by Gustave Le Bon, which argues extreme hardship would make people return to their uncivilized and selfish nature.

Contrary to their expectations, high command found no sign of mass panic after the bombings. Life went on and psychiatrists could later find no traumatic cases and even reported an increase in mental health, with alcoholic consumption and suicides going down. Civilians of both nations became more altruistic in dire times.[2]

References
  1. Bloomsbury (13 May 2021). "Humankind". Bloomsbury.
  2. Bregman, R. (2019). De meeste mensen deugen: een nieuwe geschiedenis van de mens (Dutch Edition) (01 ed.). De Correspondent BV.
  3. Anthony, A. (12 May 2020). "'Humankind: A Hopeful History' by Rutger Bregman: Review – a tribute to our better nature". The Guardian.

See also
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