Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

This is a balm in book form; it’s a remedy for the culture of negativity, distrust, and cynicism, all of which plague society today. Zaki (psychology, Stanford Univ.; The War for Kindness) is the director of Stanford’s Social Neuroscience Lab. He studies human connection and is open to assessing his own experiences with trust and cynicism. Sharing the example of a friend, rival, and hero in his life, his book presents strategies to help readers develop more hope. This work includes compelling and incredibly well-reviewed research to demonstrate that hope is better than cynicism. He makes an important distinction between Greek Cynicism, which was ultimately based on hope, and the negative cynicism of this modern age, when some people feel more intelligent when they are distrustful. Ultimately, the book shows, this outlook is detrimental to one’s relationships, health, and even potential earnings. He teaches readers to lay aside cynicism for hopeful skepticism.