Rutger Burgman's Humankind A Hopeful history - review

Review: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman

Conceptually, this book is quite similar to Hans Rosling’s Factfulness. While Factfulness compares humanity’s progress through history, Humankind analyzes the perspective that the majority of humans have been kind and decent, even in the most adverse situations. The author quotes everything from real-life examples to case studies from the front lines of war. At times, the book feels like a collection of Reader’s Digest special feature articles; otherwise, it is a gem of a work written from a refreshing and hopeful point of view. I recommend this book to anyone holding a cynical view of the world who wants to see a completely different perspective.

The Core Argument

The crux of this book is the statement that humans are inherently kind and lovable. Contrary to popular belief, most people react with decency and civility during a crisis.

Admittedly, the book begins to feel like a collection of anecdotes after a certain point. The author’s arguments for positivity seem to run out of steam midway through, at which point he piles on pages of various experiments conducted across the Western world. However, size aside, the book is worth reading for the positive outlook it presents.

While Hans Rosling’s work is essentially a statistical presentation used to buttress a positive worldview by comparing 200 years of human progress, Rutger Bregman uses real-life incidents and studies to argue that humans are good-natured, well-behaved, and compassionate. This stands in stark contrast to the pessimistic "popular" opinions on human behavior.

Why I Wrote This Review

What prompted me to review this book was its extreme level of positivism. As an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, I could relate the author’s views to those of the Mahatma. Interestingly, Bregman quotes both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. in the text.

According to the author, the news (both electronic and print) is a mental health hazard and a major source of negative perception. Is the world getting worse or better? Most believe it is worse now than in earlier periods, but in Bregman’s view, the opposite is true. As I noted earlier, this outlook mirrors Rosling’s views in Factfulness. While Rosling proves this through statistics, Bregman uses the following points to support his ultra-positive opinion of humanity:

Challenging "Original Sin": The belief that humans are born sinful—the Christian notion of "original sin"—has long fostered the idea of an evil human nature.

Philosophical Cynicism: Enlightenment philosophers often held the same view. John Adams suggested all men would be tyrants if they could, and Freud claimed we are descendants of an endless series of murderers.

Standing up for human goodness is a challenge because powerful entities fear this view. Many consider a positive outlook to be naive or obtuse. It is easy to be a cynic or a prophet of doom, but Bregman argues that this age-old cynical view must change. It is time for a "new realism"—to be hopeful for a better tomorrow.

Connections to Jeyamohan

The Tamil writer Jeyamohan speaks along similar lines regarding human positivity. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeyamohan did not abandon his positive views on humanity. In fact, I decided to buy this book after seeing it referenced on Jeyamohan’s website. Like Dr. Hans Rosling, Jeyamohan is a strong advocate for positive action and maintains a firm belief in his fellow humans—a theme he explores frequently in his writing, speeches, and discussion forums.

Key Takeaways from the Book

Everyday Communism: The author argues that most of us practice "everyday communism." In public places, hotels, and homes, we share and take only our due. These normal civil acts are presented as a form of communal living that happens every day. While this might be unacceptable to a die-hard political communist, it is a fascinating point to ponder.

Non-Violence: Studies show that non-violent campaigns are more successful than violent ones (50% vs. 26%). On average, non-violent struggles are eleven times more likely to succeed.

The "Homo Puppy": Over the last 50,000 years, humans have become physically weaker and more vulnerable. Yet, "Homo puppy" conquered the world. The reason? Human sociability.

The Motivation of Soldiers: Why did Nazi soldiers continue to fight despite a losing battle or a horrible ideology? A study of German POWs suggests that "friendship" was the main reason. They didn't want to let down their mates. This suggests that even "monsters" can be motivated by a distorted sense of camaraderie and goodness.

Inherent Morality: A 2007 Yale study on infants concluded that six-month-olds can differentiate between good and evil. In puppet shows, infants favored the "good" toys. We are not born as "blank slates"; there is an inherent goodness in us.

Systemic Reform: The author highlights "Dynamic Security" in Norwegian prison reforms, which is the opposite of the American system. By using friendly, human-centric methods, Norway reduced crime, while the "hard" methods in the US saw crime rates increase. As George Bernard Shaw said: "Men don't improve by injuries."

Final Thoughts

Bregman highlights the Christmas Truce of 1914 as a moment where the First World War almost ended because soldiers developed a mutual understanding. It was the leaders and generals—not the people—who prevented peace.

His conclusion is clear: Power corrupts, but humans are hard-wired for kindness. While Machiavellian "survival of the shameless" often defines the world of politics, the average person is remarkably decent.

The author’s final advice:

Assume the best when in doubt.

Choose compassion over empathy. Feel for them, not with them. Compassion provides energy to act, whereas empathy can often sap your energy.