Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

Cynicism is making us sick; 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 na?ve, 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.

Author: Jamil Zaki
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 09/03/2024
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781538743065


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/20/2024
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2024

About the Author
Dr. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. He trained at Columbia and Harvard, studying empathy and kindness in the human brain. He is interested in human connection and how we can learn to connect better.