This is the most engaging popular science book I can remember reading in a long time. Beautifully written and filled with lots of storytelling, this book does way more than just tell us about science, which makes it so engaging and easy to read. I was skeptical about the book to begin with (since I'm often skeptical of positivity), but I left the book totally changing my mind about a ton of things. The book convinced me to be a bit less cynical, because how we see the world and how we treat others powerfully shapes the world. Trust is self-fulfilling, and if we trust others, they trust us back. We might think cynicism is wise, but cynicism is associated with worse cognitive performance, and trust is often way more wise and rational than we think. The book has tons of practical advice on how to overcome cynicism, build cultures of trust, be an anti-cynical leader, and disagree better. People are often better than we expect them to be, and this book backs this up with solid scientific evidence. But, science often isn't persuasive without storytelling, and this book is written like a novel or memoir, which makes the insights of this book way more compelling. I'd highly recommend this book, and if you're too cynical to read something that feels this positive -- just try this first 100 pages. It'll change your mind, I promise! I already plan to buy copies for my cynical friends. Too many people I know are cynical and negative, thinking this is honest and wise -- not realizing this cynicism is negatively impacting themselves and those around them.

The world needs this book. And so do you.

In an era of declining trust and rising cynicism, this book offers a powerful antidote: hopeful skepticism. Drawing on groundbreaking research and compelling stories, this book reveals how our negative expectations can become self-fulfilling prophecies, while hope is both healthier and more realistic. As a natural optimist, I found the opening of this book to be a bit depressing. But once it got going, the tone of the book changed. The science and stories are inspiring. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Couldn’t bear to read through the “if people weren’t so cynical they would have just gotten their covid vaccinations and more lives could have been saved” BS.

Jamil is an expert both on the scientific subject matter of this book but also on bringing it to LIFE through his writing! Highly recommend this read!!

While it gets mired in the maudlin, preachy, and, ironically, Pollyanna zones, it indefatigably insists that we replace cynicism with skepticism. Any progress towards that goal is no small victory.

This wonderful book is a delight. It teaches us how to keep an open mindset and to find the good in people. I looked forward to reading Hope for Cynics every night!

It's a lovely book, beautifully written, solid on the science, and firm on optimism. Many people are filled today with cynicism, but hope is attainable. This book maps out the case—and the pathway—for leaving behind our cynicism. One idea I really appreciated was the distinction between skepticism and cynicism. We should be suspicious of unsupported scientific claims, but less suspicious of each other and our motivations. In fact, a health skepticism is one way to combat cynicism. Media pundits tell us that other people are filled with hate, but Zaki cites ample science showing that most people want the best for each other. The message of the book is clear and elegant: If you trust the data, you should better trust other people.