So this book straight up made me a better and happier person.

That's not an exaggeration. One thing I love about Bregman's writing is that it presents conflicting data and ideas, supporting dialectics as well as synthesis. The central thesis of this book isn't just "most humans are actually decent" but also "most humans are actually decent, but also do awful things - why?". The author clearly has his own ideas and agenda but encourages independent thought. I never feel preached to; instead, I feel invited to examine the evidence, question why I think a certain way, and see if that changes after I examine things from different angles. In short, he's a delight to read.

Humankind leaves the reader with a more hopeful outlook on our lives and I genuinely think it made me happier. It's a book that encourages connection and dialogue and I recommend it widely.

More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/ph6RGiTwc18