There is a belief that unites left and right, psychologists and philosophers, writers and historians. From Machiavelli to Hobbes and from Freud to Dawkins, this belief is deeply rooted in Western thought. We learn that people are inherently selfish and self-serving.

In "Humanity," a new argument is proposed: that it is realistic and simultaneously revolutionary to consider that people are good. The instinct for cooperation instead of competition, for trust instead of distrust, has an evolutionary basis that goes back to the dawn of our species. Believing the worst about others not only affects how we view our fellow human beings but also impacts politics and economics.

Rutger Bregman, author of several international bestsellers, takes some of the most well-known studies and the most famous facts in the world and redefines them, offering a fresh perspective on the last 200,000 years of human history, showing us how believing in human goodness and altruism can change the way we think – and serve as a foundation for genuinely transforming our society.

It is time for a new view of human nature.

Writers have said about the book:

“The book that was a challenge for me and made me see humanity with fresh eyes.” –Yuval Noah Harari

“Some books challenge our ideas. However, 'Humanity' questions the very assumptions on which those ideas are based. The bold, sweeping argument of the book will make you reconsider everything you believe about society, democracy, and human nature itself. In a sea of cynicism, this book is the sturdy, unsinkable lifeboat the world needs.” –Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us

“An excellent read.” –Matt Haig

“This is the book we need now… Fun, uplifting… If Bregman is right, this book could make the world a kinder place.” –Telegraph

“In a world of refined pessimism, this book is a refreshing change… 21st-century readers lack prophets, especially optimistic ones.” –Economist

Rutger Bregman is one of the leading young historians in Europe. "Utopia for Realists" was a bestseller on the Sunday Times and New York Times lists and has been translated from Dutch into thirty-two languages. He has been nominated twice for the prestigious European Press Prize for his writings in The Correspondent, while his articles have been published in the Washington Post and The Guardian. Bregman's TED talk, titled "Poverty isn't a Character Flaw, It's a Lack of Cash," has over three million views. He was ranked tenth on the Big Issue's list of the top one hundred people bringing change for 2020.