Dr. Jamil Zaki

in support of communist rule, for instance, in Czechoslovakia, then what other people will think, their neighbors, is that, oh, this person is not going to support me. If I want to take part in a movement to make things better, this person is not on my side, right? Even though they're being forced to put the sign up, right?

in support of communist rule, for instance, in Czechoslovakia, then what other people will think, their neighbors, is that, oh, this person is not going to support me. If I want to take part in a movement to make things better, this person is not on my side, right? Even though they're being forced to put the sign up, right?

in support of communist rule, for instance, in Czechoslovakia, then what other people will think, their neighbors, is that, oh, this person is not going to support me. If I want to take part in a movement to make things better, this person is not on my side, right? Even though they're being forced to put the sign up, right?

So there's these authoritarian states and really, I think these movements to take power away from people thrive, right? by getting people to trust each other less.

So there's these authoritarian states and really, I think these movements to take power away from people thrive, right? by getting people to trust each other less.

So there's these authoritarian states and really, I think these movements to take power away from people thrive, right? by getting people to trust each other less.

I think there's something really powerful, though, that people need to know, which is that, in fact, and Amanda, this gets to your point, the more that we're able to move past those representations, whether it's a sign in the window or what we see in the news, and actually get to know the people around us, the more we realize that those negative beliefs are wrong.

I think there's something really powerful, though, that people need to know, which is that, in fact, and Amanda, this gets to your point, the more that we're able to move past those representations, whether it's a sign in the window or what we see in the news, and actually get to know the people around us, the more we realize that those negative beliefs are wrong.

I think there's something really powerful, though, that people need to know, which is that, in fact, and Amanda, this gets to your point, the more that we're able to move past those representations, whether it's a sign in the window or what we see in the news, and actually get to know the people around us, the more we realize that those negative beliefs are wrong.

The more we realize that people actually do generally want what we want. that they want greater peace, for instance, that they want more egalitarianism. And this is one thing that just struck me over and over again when I was doing the research for this book is that cynicism really lives more on our screens, right?

The more we realize that people actually do generally want what we want. that they want greater peace, for instance, that they want more egalitarianism. And this is one thing that just struck me over and over again when I was doing the research for this book is that cynicism really lives more on our screens, right?

The more we realize that people actually do generally want what we want. that they want greater peace, for instance, that they want more egalitarianism. And this is one thing that just struck me over and over again when I was doing the research for this book is that cynicism really lives more on our screens, right?

When we're taking in cable news or social media, we are much more likely to mistrust people, to think that people are extreme and dangerous and violent and that we should really stay the hell away from them. When we are actually out in the world, with our communities, that cynicism naturally dissipates.

When we're taking in cable news or social media, we are much more likely to mistrust people, to think that people are extreme and dangerous and violent and that we should really stay the hell away from them. When we are actually out in the world, with our communities, that cynicism naturally dissipates.

When we're taking in cable news or social media, we are much more likely to mistrust people, to think that people are extreme and dangerous and violent and that we should really stay the hell away from them. When we are actually out in the world, with our communities, that cynicism naturally dissipates.

So one of the crucial things that I learned is that in order to defeat cynicism, we don't need to ignore the truth. We actually need to get closer to the truth. We actually need to be more accurate and learn more deeply about what people are really like.

So one of the crucial things that I learned is that in order to defeat cynicism, we don't need to ignore the truth. We actually need to get closer to the truth. We actually need to be more accurate and learn more deeply about what people are really like.

So one of the crucial things that I learned is that in order to defeat cynicism, we don't need to ignore the truth. We actually need to get closer to the truth. We actually need to be more accurate and learn more deeply about what people are really like.

Exactly. I mean, I know you all had Malcolm Gladwell on talking about tipping points and how epidemics, for instance, you reach this point and then all of a sudden everything moves really rapidly, right? It's bit by bit and then all at once. And that can be true of virtuous social movements as well. And that's exactly what happened.

Exactly. I mean, I know you all had Malcolm Gladwell on talking about tipping points and how epidemics, for instance, you reach this point and then all of a sudden everything moves really rapidly, right? It's bit by bit and then all at once. And that can be true of virtuous social movements as well. And that's exactly what happened.