Homo Bonus

Ancient thinkers and modern authors, psychologists and philosophers, politicians of both right and left agree that humans are inherently bad. We are told that we, as people, are selfish and guided primarily by personal interests. But what if this is not the case? Rutger Bregman invites us to look at human history in a new way. He shows that we are programmed for kindness, oriented towards cooperation, and more inclined to trust others than to be suspicious of one another. And this instinct has a solid evolutionary foundation, laid down in the early stages of Homo sapiens' evolution. Bregman presents a real story that refutes the idea of "Lord of the Flies," discusses the fabrication of loud psychological experiments, and tells about two twin brothers who, despite their differing views, helped prevent a civil war... He argues that belief in human generosity and the drive for cooperation is not optimism but an adequate perception of reality, and he proves this by providing convincing arguments and using his storytelling talent.