Grand Central Publishing
Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
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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
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781538743065
EAN:
9781538743065
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
288
Authors:
Jamil Zaki
Publisher:
Grand Central Publishing
Nearing the end, after fighting through each chapter, there are a few insights. I was hoping it could maintain some momentum. I wanted to be more hopeful which i am normally, but the author made me more cynical. The confirmation bias, one sided perspective ignored reality. We will pullout of this, it’s a cycle that repeats every 4th generation. This book capitalizes on the current state we are in, but contributes nothing of substance. Reminds me of the Grumpy Old Men movie quote, wish in one hand, and….
Everyone should read this book. Great lessons and important mindset reminders.
There's not enough material for an entire book. You can get all the info in the first few pages. Good information but not worth buying the book to get. Basically a cynic functions with no hope. Things are absolute and there is no room for change. The person with the rosy colored glasses sees everything as super. Both are not able to evoke change. They are bound by their view of the world. Be an optimist. They are realistic enough to know that not everything is wonderful. And unlike the cynic, the optimist holds out hope and the possibly for change that the cynic doesn't have. The optimist is a happier person and can evoke change if possible because he/she believes in the possibility. End of story!
Given the news stories reported every night, it is easy to become ever more cynical and just shut down. This book provides strategies and examples of hope in processing the deluge of disheartening information in a positive way. It is not the end of democracy or the world. Data show that we are more alike than not, and that traditional values are still the norm. Just harder to see the good in all but an open mind and effort bear fruit.
A welcome and much-needed book that provides the science and backbone to support those of us bearing the banners of hope and positive possibilities.Bad news sells and negativity is contagious but this book offers inspiration and support for optimism and hope.
