Rutger Bregman

You're trying to step into the footsteps of the great moral pioneers who came before you, the abolitionists, the suffragettes, the civil rights campaigners.

You're trying to step into the footsteps of the great moral pioneers who came before you, the abolitionists, the suffragettes, the civil rights campaigners.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, well... Look, I mean, he meditated for 60,000 hours, and then researchers put him in a brain scanner and declared him the happiest man alive, you know, because he had so much positive things going on there. And I read about that story, and I was really angry. It was like, 60,000 hours in your own head, and the world is burning? I mean, come on. There are problems to solve here.

Yeah, well... Look, I mean, he meditated for 60,000 hours, and then researchers put him in a brain scanner and declared him the happiest man alive, you know, because he had so much positive things going on there. And I read about that story, and I was really angry. It was like, 60,000 hours in your own head, and the world is burning? I mean, come on. There are problems to solve here.

And look, I mean, Mathieu Ricard, that's the Buddhist monk's name. He's actually a fantastic guy, pretty morally ambitious. So people got to read the epilogue as well. But...

And look, I mean, Mathieu Ricard, that's the Buddhist monk's name. He's actually a fantastic guy, pretty morally ambitious. So people got to read the epilogue as well. But...

Anyway, the point is, I mean, there are a huge amount of self-help books out there that will teach you how to be more mindful, more relaxed, you know, be more happy. My previous book, Humankind, was an attempt to restore people's faith in humanity. And at some point, I saw these pictures on Instagram of people reading the book saying, you know, life is wonderful. Don't worry.

Anyway, the point is, I mean, there are a huge amount of self-help books out there that will teach you how to be more mindful, more relaxed, you know, be more happy. My previous book, Humankind, was an attempt to restore people's faith in humanity. And at some point, I saw these pictures on Instagram of people reading the book saying, you know, life is wonderful. Don't worry.

You know, stop following the news and just relax. And I was like, oh, I've created a monster. Right. This is not. So if my previous book was like a warm hug, then this is a cold shower. Refreshing cold shower.

You know, stop following the news and just relax. And I was like, oh, I've created a monster. Right. This is not. So if my previous book was like a warm hug, then this is a cold shower. Refreshing cold shower.

So look, a couple of things.

So look, a couple of things.

Oh, you people are just f***ing up. Okay, so a lot of people will know me for saying some nasty things about billionaires. You know, I went to Davos. You went to Davos?

Oh, you people are just f***ing up. Okay, so a lot of people will know me for saying some nasty things about billionaires. You know, I went to Davos. You went to Davos?

Basically, you know, stop talking about your BS philanthropy and pay your taxes instead. Which was... Wait, by the way, wait over break. You get invited back every year now, right? Is that? Not really. Not really. But that was obviously, you know, nice to experience. But you got to ask yourself, like, does this make a difference?

Basically, you know, stop talking about your BS philanthropy and pay your taxes instead. Which was... Wait, by the way, wait over break. You get invited back every year now, right? Is that? Not really. Not really. But that was obviously, you know, nice to experience. But you got to ask yourself, like, does this make a difference?

In the book, I come to the conclusion that awareness is vastly overrated, right? It's easy to go viral shouting tax the rich or, you know, destroy capitalism, kill the patriarchy. But the point is to actually do something about it, right? To really translate your ideas into actual action and then results.

In the book, I come to the conclusion that awareness is vastly overrated, right? It's easy to go viral shouting tax the rich or, you know, destroy capitalism, kill the patriarchy. But the point is to actually do something about it, right? To really translate your ideas into actual action and then results.