Search

Home > Science Talk > Are You Tired of Feeling Cynical? Hopeful Skepticism Could Be a Way Out
Podcast: Science Talk
Episode:

Are You Tired of Feeling Cynical? Hopeful Skepticism Could Be a Way Out

Category: Religion & Spirituality
Duration: 00:16:19
Publish Date: 2025-01-31 10:50:00
Description:

It’s easy to be cynical about the state of the world—even when you’re a researcher who studies empathy and kindness. Stanford University psychologist Jamil Zaki turned his own negativity into his new book Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness. The book busts common myths about cynicism and explores what it could be doing to our body and brain. Zaki reflects on the imperfections of cynicism and hope and presents a third option: hopeful skepticism.


Recommended reading:

Read Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

Follow Jamil Zaki’s work at www.jamil-zaki.com and www.ssnl.stanford.edu


E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. 


Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Total Play: 0

Users also like

900+ Episodes
罗辑思维 .. 100+     10+