City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Altruism, the power of compassion to change yourself and the world, Matthieu Ricard

eng

no index present

non fiction

Altruism

Matthieu Ricard

the power of compassion to change yourself and the world

"A careful, detailed, hard-nosed assessment of what is needed both for individual happiness and for the welfare of the planet.... This book is so rich, so diverse...that it is best kept as an inspiring resource to be consulted over many years." Wall Street Journal Matthieu Ricard, author of the international bestseller Happiness, makes the passionate case for altruism-genuine concern for the well-being of others. Presenting a vision based on decades of firsthand experience and scientific studies, Matthieu Ricard illuminates how altruism can answer the main challenges of our time: economic inequality, life satisfaction, and environment sustainability. In this riveting book, he champions the cultivation of altruistic love as the best means for simultaneously benefitting ourselves and our global society, and offers readers practical and inspiring ways to develop their potential for compassion. There's an altruism revolution underway, and it just may be the saving grace for the 21st century

I.What Is Altruism? -- 1.The Nature of Altruism -- 2.Extending Altruism -- 3.What Is Empathy? -- 4.From Empathy to Compassion in a Neuroscience Laboratory -- 5.Love, Supreme Emotion -- 6.The Accomplishment of a Twofold Benefit, Our Own and Others' -- 7.Self-Interested Altruism and Generalized Reciprocity -- 8.Selfless Altruism -- 9.The Banality of Good -- 10.Altruistic Heroism -- 11.Unconditional Altruism -- 12.Beyond Imitations, True Altruism: An Experimental Investigation -- 13.The Philosophical Arguments Against Universal Selfishness -- II.The Emergence of Altruism -- 14.Altruism in Theories of Evolution -- 15.Maternal Love, Foundation for Extended Altruism? -- 16.The Evolution of Cultures -- 17.Altruistic Behavior Among Animals -- 18.Altruism Among Children -- 19.Prosocial Behavior -- III.Cultivating Altruism -- 20.Can We Change? -- 21.Training the Mind: What the Cognitive Sciences Have to Say -- 22.How to Cultivate Altruism: Meditations on Altruistic Love, Compassion, Joy, and Impartiality -- IV.Contrary Forces -- 23.Egocentrism and Crystallization of the Ego -- 24.The Spread of Individualism and Narcissism -- 25.The Champions of Selfishness -- 26.Having Hatred or Compassion for Yourself -- 27.The Shortfall of Empathy -- 28.At the Origin of Violence: Devaluing the Other -- 29.The Natural Repugnance to Kill -- 30.Dehumanizing the Other: Massacres and Genocides -- 31.Has War Always Existed? -- 32.The Decline of Violence -- 33.The Instrumentalization of Animals: A Moral Aberration -- 34.Backfire: Effects of the Meat Industry on Poverty, Environment, and Health -- 35.Institutionalized Selfishness -- V.Building a More Altruistic Society -- 36.The Virtues of Cooperation -- 37.An Enlightened Education -- 38.Fighting Inequality -- 39.Toward a Caring Economy -- 40.Voluntary, Joyous Simplicity -- 41.Altruism for the Sake of Future Generations -- 42.Sustainable Harmony -- 43.Local Commitment, Global Responsibility