Reading Library · Human Nature Tier 2: Supporting Reading

Humankind: A Hopeful History

by Rutger Bregman (2019)

★★★★ 4/5

Evidence that humans are fundamentally decent and cooperative

"Believing in human goodness is not naive but historically accurate."

— Rutger Bregman

My Review

Bregman challenges the cynical view of human nature with evidence that humans are fundamentally cooperative. This optimistic view aligns with biological evidence of cooperation as a successful evolutionary strategy.

Why It Matters

Understanding that cooperation is natural informs organizational design. Systems that assume the worst may create what they expect.

Key Ideas

  • Most people are fundamentally decent
  • Cynicism about human nature is often wrong
  • Cooperation is our evolutionary advantage
  • Institutions shape whether we express our better or worse tendencies

How It Connects to This Framework

The mutualism and cooperation concepts throughout the framework.

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