If there is one belief that has united the left and the right, psychologists and philosophers, ancient thinkers and modern ones, it is the tacit assumption that humans are bad. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, this notion has sunk deep into Western thought, driving newspaper headlines and guiding the laws that shape our lives. But what if it isn't true? In Humankind, Rutger Bregman demonstrates that we are actually hardwired for kindness and cooperation. In fact, this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis that extends from the origins of Homo sapiens. From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman delivers a taut narrative journey through human history, showing us that a belief in our own generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic-ifs realistic. What's more, believing in humanity's kindness can create true change in society-a case that Bregman makes convincingly with his signature wit, refreshing frankness, and memorable storytelling. Book jacket.