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

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 5, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

HOPE FOR CYNICS: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

0:00 57:21

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Next Big Idea?

This episode is 57 minutes long.

When was this The Next Big Idea episode published?

This episode was published on June 5, 2025.

Can I download this The Next Big Idea episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!