New Scientist recommends: Rutger Bregman's Humankind

I was given Rutger Bregman’s Humankind: A hopeful history for my birthday when I was feeling down about the world, and it became my new favourite book. At a time when optimism can seem naive, it’s good to hear strong arguments for why thinking the best of people is realistic.

Bregman re-examines key moments in history, from the London blitz to the Stanford Prison experiment, questioning what we thought we knew about them. It’s a refreshing view, particularly now, when it is most needed.

I also recently visited London’s Hoopla Impro (pictured above) – and I was impressed at the…