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Modern WisdomJun 8, 2020

#181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for #181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil? on Modern Wisdom.

Guest: Rutger Bregman

Notable books mentioned: Utopia for Realists, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Humankind by Rutger Bregman, Rousseau

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Utopia for Realists cover
Mentioned at 8:13
Utopia for Realists

The host mentioned 'Utopia for Realists' while discussing the serendipitous nature of his research journey. He was promoting this book during a tou…

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Lord of the Flies cover
Mentioned at 11:59
Lord of the Flies
William Golding

The host mentions 'Lord of the Flies' to illustrate the pervasive belief that human nature is inherently selfish, especially during crises. This re…

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Humankind cover
Mentioned at 13:03
Humankind
Rutger Bregman

The host mentions 'Humankind' to highlight a shift in scientific perspectives regarding human nature, moving from cynicism to a more hopeful view o…

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#181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil?
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Episode summary, books & quotes

#181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil? mentions Utopia for Realists, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Humankind by Rutger Bregman, and Rousseau with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Utopia for RealistsLord of the FliesHumankindRousseau
Guest: Rutger Bregman
Episode summary
Rutger Bregman is a historian & an author. It's a common-held view of humanity that humans are adversarial. Shaven chimps competing with each other for resources, held together by a veneer of politeness & society. Rutger disagrees and suggests that deep down humans might actually be quite nice. Expect to learn why soldiers don't fire their weapons in war, what happens when the real world Lord Of The Flies happens, how bombing a city doesn't weaken the inhabitants and much more...
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Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for #181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil? on Modern Wisdom.

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  • The conversation centers on cynical view of human nature.
  • A second recurring theme is definition of bullshit jobs.
  • Referenced books include Utopia for Realists and Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
  • The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in social commentary and real-life stories and Readers interested in psychology and sociology..
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Which books are mentioned in #181 - Rutger Bregman - Humankind: Are We Good Or Evil??

Utopia for Realists, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Humankind by Rutger Bregman are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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cynical view of human nature(2)definition of bullshit jobs(1)human behavior in wars(1)philosophical views on civilization(1)power and leadership dynamics(1)researching shipwrecked kids(1)societal programming and trust(1)violence in warfare(1)
Mention sentiment
Deep Dive(6)Passing Reference(2)Critical Analysis(1)
Audience signals
Readers interested in social commentary and real-life storiesReaders interested in psychology and sociology.Readers interested in psychology, sociology, and philosophyPhilosophy enthusiasts and social theoristsIndividuals interested in psychology, leadership, and political behavior.Military historians and psychology enthusiasts

Books Mentioned

Utopia for Realists cover
Utopia for Realists
Best for Readers interested in social commentary and real-life storiesOften cited around researching shipwrecked kids

“The speaker mentions promoting their new book, 'Utopia for Realists', while discussing a story about kids shipwrecked on an island.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in social commentary and real-life stories
Key quote: “I was about to promote my new book, sort of my previous book, utopia for realists.”
The host mentioned 'Utopia for Realists' while discussing the serendipitous nature of his research journey. He was promoting this book during a tour in Australia, which coincidentally led him to uncover an intriguing story about shipwrecked children.
ASIN: 1408893215
Buy on Amazon
Lord of the Flies cover
Lord of the Flies
William Golding
Best for Readers interested in psychology and sociology.Often cited around cynical view of human nature

“The speaker discusses the fictional 'Lord of the Flies' and its themes, comparing it to a real-life story of kids shipwrecked on an island.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Readers interested in psychology and sociology.
Key quote: “Western culture is just permeated with the idea that people are selfish.”
The host mentions 'Lord of the Flies' to illustrate the pervasive belief that human nature is inherently selfish, especially during crises. This reference serves to contrast with emerging scientific perspectives that emphasize human cooperation and friendliness.
ASIN: 0399501487
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Humankind cover
Humankind
Rutger Bregman
Best for Readers interested in psychology, sociology, and philosophyOften cited around cynical view of human nature

“The speaker mentions their new book 'Humankind', which explores the idea that humans are not as nasty as often thought.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Readers interested in psychology, sociology, and philosophy
Key quote: “So my new book is really about a sort of silent revolution that has taken place in science, right?”
The host mentions 'Humankind' to highlight a shift in scientific perspectives regarding human nature, moving from cynicism to a more hopeful view of humanity's cooperative abilities. This book challenges long-standing beliefs about selfishness and promotes the idea that trust and cooperation can lead to a more egalitarian society.
ASIN: B088JQXX99
Buy on Amazon
Rousseau cover
Rousseau
Best for Philosophy enthusiasts and social theoristsOften cited around philosophical views on civilization

“The excerpt discusses Rousseau's arguments that civilization is a disease and suggests that he was right on many points compared to Hobbes.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Philosophy enthusiasts and social theorists
Key quote: “Now, usually Hobbes has been described as the realist, right? As the smart, rational guy. And Rousseau has been described as the crazy revolutionary as the, uh, romantic idealist.”
The host discusses the contrasting views of Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau regarding human nature and civilization. Rousseau's perspective is highlighted as a radical challenge to the traditional belief that civilization is inherently beneficial.
ASIN: 3836570769
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Chimpanzee Politics cover
Chimpanzee Politics
Frans de Waal
Best for Individuals interested in psychology, leadership, and political behavior.Often cited around power and leadership dynamics

“Frans de Waal, a primatologist, wrote a book called Chimpanzee Politics in which he described the politics of a zoo in the Netherlands and compared it to the US Congress.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in psychology, leadership, and political behavior.
Key quote: “Frans de Waal, you know, he's my fellow Dutchman, he's a primatologist and he's been studying chimpanzees and bonobos now for decades.”
The host mentions 'Chimpanzee Politics' to illustrate how power dynamics in human leadership can mirror those observed in primate behavior. By comparing political behavior to that of chimpanzees, the host emphasizes the corrupting influence of power and the complexities of leadership styles.
ASIN: 0801886562
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Man Against Fire cover
Man Against Fire
SLA Marshall
Best for Military historians and psychology enthusiastsOften cited around violence in warfare

“The excerpt discusses SLA Marshall's book 'Man Against Fire', which explores the reluctance of soldiers to shoot during combat and the psychological factors involved.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Military historians and psychology enthusiasts
Key quote: “His estimate was that only 15 to 25% of soldiers actually shot.”
The host discusses the psychological difficulty soldiers face when it comes to committing acts of violence, referencing SLA Marshall's findings in 'Man Against Fire.' This book highlights the low shooting rates among soldiers during combat and the subsequent implications for military training and PTSD.
ASIN: B082J6S5Q2
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Bullshit Jobs cover
Bullshit Jobs
David Graeber
Best for Academics and students interested in job market studiesOften cited around definition of bullshit jobs

“This term, by the way, bullshit job is an academic term coined by the anthropologist David Graeber. So it's a real academic thing right now.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Academics and students interested in job market studies
Key quote: “This term, by the way, bullshit job is an academic term coined by the anthropologist David Graeber.”
The host briefly explains that the term 'bullshit job' is an academic concept introduced by David Graeber. This mention serves to validate the term's legitimacy in academic discourse.
ASIN: 5100097361
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The Second World War cover
The Second World War
Winston Churchill
Best for Historians and psychology enthusiastsOften cited around human behavior in wars

“I start the book with the example of Great Britain at the eve of the Second World War, where also the elites, including Churchill, believed that people wouldn't be able to handle the bombing war.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Historians and psychology enthusiasts
Key quote: “His estimate was that only 15 to 25% of soldiers actually shot.”
The host discusses the psychological impact of violence on soldiers during wars, referencing the book 'The Second World War' to highlight historical evidence of soldiers' reluctance to kill. This exploration serves to question the nature of human violence and the mechanisms that compel individuals to act against their instincts.
ASIN: B008D5HC1O
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Humankind, a hopeful history cover
Humankind, a hopeful history
Rutger
Best for Individuals seeking to understand societal behavior and promote kindnessOften cited around societal programming and trust

“The book is mentioned as being number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list and is suggested for people to check out.”

View mention details
Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals seeking to understand societal behavior and promote kindness
Key quote: “I think the main challenge people are going to have in swallowing the ideas in humankind is going to be getting past first the societal programming.”
The host discusses the challenges people face in accepting the positive ideas presented in 'Humankind' due to societal negativity and programming. They emphasize the importance of kindness and connection in overcoming these barriers, highlighting the book's hopeful message.
ASIN: B088JQXX99
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Movies & Documentaries Mentioned

Movie

Lord of the Flies

Confidence: 90%

“The real Lord of the Flies is a story of hope and cooperation and resilience and friendship, involving six kids living for 50 months on an uninhabited island.”

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