This Book Will Make You Kinder, Henry James Garrett
This Book Will Make You Kinder, Henry James Garrett
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This Book Will Make You Kinder
An Empathy Handbook

Author: Henry James Garrett

Narrator: Jude Owusu, Henry James Garrett

Unabridged: 3 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/20/2020


Synopsis

From the creator of Drawings of Dogs, a thoughtful examination of empathy and the necessity of being kinder

The kindness we owe one another goes far beyond the everyday gestures of feeding someone else's parking meter--although it's important not to downplay those small acts. Kindness can also mean much more. In this timely, insightful guide, Henry James Garrett lays out the case for developing a strong, courageous, moral kindness, one that will help you fight cruelty and make the world a more empathetic place.

So, how could a book possibly make you kinder? It would need to answer two questions:

  •  Why are you kind at all? and,
  •  Why aren't you kinder?

In this audiobook, building on his academic studies in metaethics, Henry James Garrett sets out to do just that, exploring the sources and the limitations of human empathy and the many ways, big and small, that we can work toward being our best and kindest selves for the people around us and the society we need to build.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Heidi

I agree with pretty much everything the author says, but I learned very little from this book. I think that will be the case for most people reading it. I can't say it didn't inspire me, or that it wasn't worth reading--the final chapters on listening and acting, especially, have some great points.......more

Goodreads review by Rosa

I absolutely adored this book!! So much so that I’m planning on getting myself a second copy so I can have one nice one and then also one that I can highlight and make notes in. This is essentially a book about moral philosophy, a subject that the author studied to a high level and knows well, and it......more

Goodreads review by Hestia

I read in English but this review is in Bahasa Indonesia Actually, kindness isn't optional. It isn't some side effect of market forces; it isn't a softness produced by the codding of snowflake millennials. Kindness is built into the fabric of what it is to be human, and once we understand that, we......more

Goodreads review by KG

This book offers a beautiful insight into important questions about what drives our moral action. It offers us the opportunity to honestly interrogate our moral behaviour, and often find ourselves wanting - not in a cruel or aggressive way, but in the perfect way that shows us how we should be askin......more

Goodreads review by Beth

I found this book to be a thought-provoking, quick read on what motivates kindness and how we could all be kinder to one another. Sometimes the prose is a bit dense, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as this is the kind of read that should be regarded with extra thoughtfulness. His illustratio......more


Quotes

“Interspersed with Henry’s beautifully metaphorical illustrations, this is a great and easy-reading practical exploration of what kindness means in the modern world.”
—Matt Haig

“If kindness and empathy is the best of humanity this book is a roadmap to it. Accessible, beautifully illustrated, at times heart-swelling in its wholesomeness, and at others inviting you to consider philosophical ideas, it’ll sink your brain into a warm bath and, in turn, you’ll return a kinder person ready to raise the bar on humanity.”
—Gina Martin
  
This Book Will Make You Kinder blends distinctly human comics with an academic approach to understanding empathy, from a near-expert on the subject. The result is an affirming, charming book that ultimately lives up to its title.”
—Adam J. Kurtz

“Foundational to our humanity, crucial to our survival, and only limited by our imagination and will, this book will convince you to take a hard look at the 'mistakes' that hamper your capacity for kindness, the power structures that depend on those limitations, and the moral imperative we all have to overcome them. Both a compelling philosophical exploration of morality and a strategic guide to expanding our collective capacity for empathy, this slim book makes an elegant (and beautifully illustrated) case for power of kindness. Smart, humane, and life-altering.”
—Thomas Page McBee

“Henry Garrett is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram and as a human. His drawings take complicated issues and make them simple again. He is a master at softening hearts and making people understand and care—his work encourages us to regularly put ourselves in other people’s shoes. This Book Will Make You Kinder is not just beautiful to look at but feels urgent in its message. For many reasons we are in danger of becoming disconnected and dehumanized, and this book is a reminder of the life-changing power of empathy. I hope this book makes it into every school and onto every bookshelf.”
—Emma Gannon