If You're Curious About These Questions...
You should listen to this audiobook
- Have you ever wondered why we’re often told humans are naturally selfish, when science suggests our true evolutionary superpower is actually empathy?
- Did you know that the secret to our survival as a species might not be 'survival of the fittest,' but rather an innate biological drive to cooperate?
- What if the key to building a more peaceful society isn't about changing human nature, but finally understanding its hidden, cooperative roots?
Listen to The Age of Empathy — Free Audiobook
Key Takeaways from The Age of Empathy
- Discover why the popular belief that human nature is inherently selfish is a dangerous myth that ultimately destroys cutthroat organizations like ENRON.
- Learn how modern research debunks the idea of unending human warfare, revealing that our ancient ancestors actually enjoyed long stretches of peace and harmony.
- Understand the true power of the herd instinct, which motivates soldiers to march into battle out of a deep desire to belong rather than a natural thirst for bloodshed.
- Find out how unconscious synchrony and subtle mimicry serve as vital biological survival tools that can also help you build stronger relationships and improve daily interactions.
- Realize that society was not formed as a reluctant social contract, but stems from humanity's deep-rooted biological need to bond, connect, and thrive together.
The Age of Empathy — Full Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Recommendation
Chapter 2: There is a widespread but mistaken belief that human nature is inherently selfish.
Chapter 3: History shows that war and violence were not always central to human life.
Chapter 4: The herd instinct is crucial to bonding in both humans and animals.
Chapter 5: It is natural for humans to connect with others, since it brings longer and happier lives.
Chapter 6: When we suppress our natural caring instincts, the results can be tragic.
Chapter 7: Empathy is innate, because it plays a vital role in our survival.
The Age of Empathy Summary & Overview
The Age of Empathy (2009) debunks popular theories which suggest that human nature is inherently selfish, cut-throat and prone to violence. Evidence provided by biology, history and science makes clear that cooperation, peace and empathy are qualities that are as natural and innate to us as our less desirable traits.
Who Should Listen to The Age of Empathy?
- Anthropologists curious about human nature
- Sociologists interested in our innate biological ability to bond with others
- Students interested in how social science, politics, evolution and biology intersect
Books Similar to The Age of Empathy
Readers who enjoyed this also liked these titles.
What if the truest story about humanity isn’t that people are selfish and cruel, but that—especially in moments of crisis—we tend to reach for one another, guided by empathy, belonging, and a deep instinct to care?
The Case for Rational Compassion
The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society
The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From, and What Makes Us Happy