HOPE FOR CYNICS: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 5, 2025 · 57 MIN

HOPE FOR CYNICS: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

from The Next Big Idea · host Next Big Idea Club

We think that cynicism protects us from being disappointed by other people. But Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki says the opposite is true. When we expect the worst in people, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy that brings out exactly what we feared. So in his new book, Hope for Cynics, Jamil sets out to prove that hope isn't naive: it's smart. 🎁 Looking for a gift for the graduates in your life? How about a subscription to The Next Big Idea Club? They’ll get the smartest new nonfiction as chosen by our curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Adam Grant. Go to nextbigideaclub.com and use the code GRADUATION to get 20% off a new or gift membership

We think that cynicism protects us from being disappointed by other people. But Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki says the opposite is true. When we expect the worst in people, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy that brings out exactly what we feared. So in his new book, Hope for Cynics, Jamil sets out to prove that hope isn't naive: it's smart. 🎁 Looking for a gift for the graduates in your life? How about a subscription to The Next Big Idea Club? They’ll get the smartest new nonfiction as chosen by our curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Adam Grant. Go to nextbigideaclub.com and use the code GRADUATION to get 20% off a new or gift membership

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HOPE FOR CYNICS: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

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This episode is 57 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 5, 2025.

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We think that cynicism protects us from being disappointed by other people. But Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki says the opposite is true. When we expect the worst in people, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy that brings out exactly what we...

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