Hope for Cynics
The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
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4.1 • 8 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Cynicism is making us sick, but Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki has the cure—a “ray of light for dark days” (Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
In 1972, half of Americans agreed that most people can be trusted; by 2018, only a third did. Different generations, genders, religions, and political parties all think human virtue is evaporating. Cynicism is an understandable response to a world full of injustice and inequality. But in many cases, it is misplaced. Dozens of studies find that people fail to realize how kind, generous, and open-minded others really are. Cynical thinking deepens social problems: when we expect the worst in people, we often bring it out of them.
We don’t have to remain stuck in this cynicism trap. Through science and storytelling, Jamil Zaki imparts the secret for beating back cynicism: hopeful skepticism—thinking critically about people and our problems, while honoring and encouraging our strengths. Far from being naïve, hopeful skepticism is a precise way of understanding others that can rebalance our view of human nature and help us build the world we truly want.
Amazon Editors' Pick for Best Nonfiction Books of 2024
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
While the average person's trust in others might be at an all-time low, "people are probably better than you think," according to this illuminating analysis from Stanford psychology professor Zaki (The War for Kindness). Though a cynical outlook is often cast as smart and self-protective, it erodes the "psychological glue that binds us" and prevents cooperation, Zaki contends. On the flip side, a more hopeful attitude recognizes and encourages positive behavior. Corralling a wealth of research, Zaki cautions against falling prey to "negativity bias" by citing a study of 17,000 lost wallets across 40 countries that found most were returned, with rates in some countries reaching 80%. Elsewhere, he discusses a study in which Americans on opposite sides of controversial topics (gun control, abortion) had productive, exploratory conversations that led to a more than 20 point decrease in participants' "dislike of rivals" compared to before the interaction. Championing a "hopeful skepticism" that mixes healthy curiosity with a generally positive view of humanity, Zaki is optimistic about where things stand but doesn't paper over the obstacles to building trust in increasingly divided societies. This will convince readers they don't need to bury their heads in the sand to envision a more hopeful future.
