“If you are comfortable, if you enjoy your life, maybe you’re part of the problem. If your ideals do not make you uncomfortable—if you do not pay a price—what are they worth anyway?”
– Rutger Bregman, episode 198 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Dutch historian and philosopher Rutger Bregman joins us this week to unpack his latest book, “Humankind: A Hopeful History”. We discuss his radical idea that “most people are decent” (4:30), the trickle-down cynicism created by capitalism (7:51), why evil is more powerful than good (15:30), the toxicity of cable news (19:00), the failures of American policing and prisons (23:22), his infamous Davos takedown (29:04), the historic (and scientific) case for human generosity (37:43), his ungenerous public spat with Tucker Carlson (42:00), a new wave of progressivism on the left (50:20) and the cost of comfort (53:14). Then, with the election around the corner, we walk through his Ten Rules to Live By (59:02).
Show-notes:
- His viral monologue at Davos in 2019.
- A subsequent spat with Tucker Carlson of Fox News.
- Read his work at de Correspondent.
- To purchase Humankind click here.
- Visit Rutger’s personal website.
Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.
Music by: Dylan Peck
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