Book Club Morning Meetings

Book Club Morning Meetings take place on the third Thursday of the month in November, February, and May, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM.

Humankind a Hopeful History
by Rutger Bregman

“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.”

AVACA members will receive a copy of the book at the beginning of the program year.

Previous books covered in AVACA Book Club include:

  1. Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald
  2. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
  3. 365 Ideas for Recruiting, Retaining, Motivating, and Rewarding Your Volunteers by Sunny Fader
  4. 101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make And How You Can Avoid Them by Andrew Olsen
  5. The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer by Jonathan and Thomas McKee
  6. Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything by Alexandra Carter
  7. The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People by Gary Champman and Paul White