AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The “lively” (The New Yorker), “convincing” (Forbes), and “riveting pick-me-up we all need right now” (People) that proves humanity thrives in a crisis and that our innate kindness and cooperation have been the greatest factors in our long-term success as a species. 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. It's a notion that drives newspaper headlines and guides the laws that shape our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we're taught, are by nature selfish and governed primarily by self-interest. But what if it isn't true? International bestseller Rutger Bregman provides new perspective on the past 200,000 years of human history, setting out to prove that we are hardwired for kindness, geared toward cooperation rather than competition, and more inclined to trust rather than distrust one another. In fact this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the solidarity in the aftermath of the Blitz, the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman shows us that believing in human generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic—it's realistic. Moreover, it has huge implications for how society functions. When we think the worst of people, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics. But if we believe in the reality of humanity's kindness and altruism, it will form the foundation for achieving true change in society, a case that Bregman makes convincingly with his signature wit, refreshing frankness, and memorable storytelling. "The Sapiens of 2020." —The Guardian "Humankind made me see humanity from a fresh perspective." —Yuval Noah Harari, author of the #1 bestseller Sapiens Longlisted for the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction One of the Washington Post's 50 Notable Nonfiction Works in 2020

Humankind. At the same time, it's best friend and its worst enemy. We're capable of the Declaration of Human Rights and Genocide, sending a man to the moon and polluting our oceans. Why are we inhabited by such extreme objectives? What is the origin of such a paradoxical humankind? Humans can be angels, Mother Teresa, Schindler, and Dr. Jekyll. The Bible calls this righteousness. Humans can be demons, Saddam Hussein, Stalin, and Mr. Hyde. The Bible calls this sin. We want humans to be loving, kind, peaceful, and happy. But… Are we human angels or human demons? We need to figure out what makes humans tick. Are we subject to our consciousness and mind pulsations? Do we have any choice in the matter? The clock is ticking. When it stops, will it be heaven or hell? "I commend anyone who takes measures to look beyond the surface meaning of scriptures since there's so much hidden in Biblical text. People who take it at surface value often miss precious gems of wisdom." D. Robinson. This commentary on Genesis 2 is an eye-opening solution to the human paradox. Learn the origin of consciousness and the mind. Join all the dots as we delve into the Biblical Hebrew, the original language of the Bible. Read the clear answers to these pressing questions in Origin of Humankind, available now.

The Common Concern of Humankind today is central to efforts to bring about enhanced international cooperation in fields including, but not limited to, climate change. This book explores the expression's potential as a future legal principle. It sets out the origins of Common Concern, its differences to other common interest legal principles, and expounds the potential normative structure and effects of the principle, applying an approach of carrots and sticks in realizing goals defined as a Common Concern. Individual chapters test the principle in different legal fields, including climate technology diffusion, marine plastic pollution, human rights enforcement, economic inequality, migration, and monetary and financial stability. They confirm that basic obligations under the principle of 'Common Concern of Humankind' comprise not only that of international cooperation and duties to negotiate, but also of unilateral duties to act to enhance the potential of public international law to produce appropriate public goods.

Biological and philosophical anthropologies of the 20th century keep emphasising the "Sonderstellung" of humans among the realm of living beings. However, it is not clear how this particular role should be characterised, how it should be reconciled with biological findings, and which theoretical and practical conclusions should be drawn from it. Partly in opposition to these anthropological views on humankind biological disciplines underline the extensive similarities and common characteristics between humans and other species. Apparently, these biological findings concur with the criticism of anthropocentrism, which is expressed in Western philosophy of nature and by ethicists. To discuss these issues the Europäische Akademie organized the conference "The Uniqueness of Humankind – Über die Sonderstellung des Menschen". The proceedings of the conference documented in this volume approached the theoretical and practical concept of the "Sonderstellung" against the background of present day knowledge in biosciences. Furthermore, by interdisciplinary efforts, an attempt was made to clarify those conceptual problems that arise with the idea of the uniqueness of humankind. The present volume partly takes up and further develops topics that have been raised by volume 15, On Human Nature, that was published in this series in 2002.

A radical call for solidarity between humans and non-humans What is it that makes humans human? As science and technology challenge the boundaries between life and non-life, between organic and inorganic, this ancient question is more timely than ever. Acclaimed object-oriented philosopher Timothy Morton invites us to consider this philosophical issue as eminently political. In our relationship with nonhumans, we decide the fate of our humanity. Becoming human, claims Morton, actually means creating a network of kindness and solidarity with nonhuman beings, in the name of a broader understanding of reality that both includes and overcomes the notion of species. Negotiating the politics of humanity is the first crucial step in reclaiming the upper scales of ecological coexistence and resisting corporations like Monsanto and the technophilic billionaires who would rob us of our kinship with people beyond our species.

Our world is in agony. What's the antidote and how do we inject it? There are billions of good people with a desire to do what's right and thousands of proposed solutions to the dilemmas that assail our planet. Why can't humankind make more progress toward stable prosperity and peace of mind for all peoples? Somehow, something is holding us back, putting a damper on initiatives and good will. The Bible refers to a Serpent as the culprit behind human mind manipulation and sorrow. But who wants to take the Bible at face value, especially when it refers to a talking animal and the myth of a tree with forbidden fruit?! The narrative appears as whimsical nonsense, an affront to critical thinking. Sam Kneller takes you behind the scene. English, or any other translation, cannot do justice to the original scriptures. He reveals a unique method to unlock Bible meaning with his acclaimed study course, 7 Keys to master Biblical Hebrew. You can easily grasp the deep meaning behind the reality of a malevolent spirit being. A conquering tyrant wielding awesome powers. Discover the Serpent's strategy as the all-time best influencer of human consciousness. It broadcasts fake news and counterfeit wisdom directly into the human mind. Our worst nightmares don't hold a candle to the corruption and confusion it disseminates with uncanny ease. We unsuspecting, naïve humans lap it up like a pack of thirsty jack-asses as the lions crouch, ready to pounce on a mentally abused prey. On the bright side, the life-saving antidote is readily available, but humanity is blind to its presence, wisdom and potency. Learn how to take the blinders off, see the obstacles and overcome the fiery dragon. It can be done, but will we have the insight, stamina and fortitude to exercise our free will and follow that positive pathway? Now you can explore the original significance of Biblical Hebrew, like Sheli, "It is something I have been searching for, a way to get past the translations and get to the deeper meaning of God's word." Don't settle for just any “How to Fix Humankind” books that invade the bookstores. This straightforward, no-holds barred, deep-dive into the why and what of the spiritual disintegration behind our planet's turmoil is a must read. Journey from the dark of deceit and despair, to the light of truth and peace of mind with honest, attainable how-to solutions. Engage in understanding the Agony of Humankind and identifying the Antidote to save our nation and answer the big questions in life.

Debates on historical and contemporary racism have recently become the subject of increasing public interest. The Black Lives Matter movement as well as the Covid-19 pandemic have underlined the importance and urgent necessity of examining racism in society from a multidisciplinary angle. The many facets of racism in the past and present also challenge the way we deal with history ("historical culture") in a globalized world. Rather than focusing on the history of ideas and its discursive development, this volume will focus on the practices of actors. It examines how and which practices, especially practices of comparing, are constitutive in the construction of 'race' and manifestations of racism. This edited volume brings together interdisciplinary contributions from history, sociology, political science, American studies, literary studies, and media studies. An important focus lies on the social asymmetries created by racialization, including inequalities and violence. The chapters foreground historical and contemporary practices of racism and discuss their appearance in different epochs and locations.