Rutger Bregman is one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers. A historian and author, Rutger has published several books on history, philosophy, and economics. His book, History of Progress, was awarded the Belgian Liberales Prize for best nonfiction book of 2013.
In this episode, Eric and Rutger discuss his book Humankind: A Hopeful History, where they d ... Show More
Yesterday
How to Discover Yourself, One Decision at a Time | Sara Kuburic
In this episode, Dr. Sara Kuburic discusses how to discover yourself, one decision at a time. Questions like: Who are you beyond your job, your relationships, and the roles you fill? Drawing from her book, It’s on Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Yourself, and Change Your Life, S ... Show More
1 h
Oct 27
Why Doing More Is Keeping You Stuck and What to Do Instead | David Epstein
In this episode, David Epstein explores why doing more can leave us overwhelmed, and how the right constraints can help us focus and make meaningful progress. Drawing on his book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, David shares why unlimited freedom can be surprising ... Show More
1 h
Oct 23
You Don’t Need More Willpower: Change Is a Skill You Can Learn | Eric on The Happiness Lab with Laurie Santos
In this episode, Eric joins Dr. Laurie Santos on The Happiness Lab to explore why lasting change takes more than willpower—and how to develop the skills that make it easier. Drawing on his recovery from addiction and his book, How a Little Becomes a Lot, Eric shares how manageabl ... Show More
52m 27s
Aug 2023
Conversation with Rutger Bregman — Human Nature, Power Dynamics, and UBI
Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and author, joins Scott to discuss his research from his book, “Humankind: A Hopeful History.” We learn about human nature, power dynamics, and his thoughts on Universal Basic Income. Follow Rutger on Twitter, @rcbregman.
P.S. Scott is on holida ... Show More
42m 57s
Aug 2020
Rutger Bregman on Human Kindness in a Frightened World with Helen Lewis
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared ------ Human beings, we’re taught, are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest. From Hobbes’ theory about the state of nature to Richard Dawkins’ ‘selfish gene’, the roots of this belief are deeply ingrained ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2024
‘Humankind’ Makes the Case That We Are Wired for Happiness
Humans, it turns out, are pretty decent. That's according to Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, whose book "Humankind: A Hopeful History" was praised by our very own Daniel Pink for making a "bold, sweeping argument" — one you'll hear pieces of today — "[that] will make you rethink ... Show More
18m 3s
May 2025
#412 — Better Things & Better People
<p>Sam Harris speaks with Rutger Bregman about Rutger's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4jCwmNN"><em>Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference</em></a>. They discuss why it seems like we are at the hinge of human history, wealth inequality, how alt ... Show More
26m 47s