Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century

Jonathan Glover's *Humanity* examines major moral catastrophes of the twentieth century, including wars, genocides, and totalitarian regimes. The book analyzes these events through both historical facts and philosophical frameworks. The narrative moves through key historical episodes, examining the psychology and decision-making of leaders, soldiers, and civilians. Glover combines historical documentation with insights from psychology and moral philosophy to understand how ordinary people participated in acts of cruelty and violence. The work draws on interviews, personal accounts, and official records to reconstruct the human experiences behind major atrocities. The investigation spans multiple continents and political systems, tracing patterns in how moral restraints break down. At its core, this is an exploration of human nature and the fragility of moral beliefs in the face of tribalism, ideology, and institutional pressure. The book raises fundamental questions about how societies can strengthen moral resources to prevent future catastrophes.

Readers appreciate Glover's systematic examination of moral psychology and his analysis of how ordinary people participate in atrocities. Many note his clear writing style and use of concrete historical examples rather than abstract philosophy. Specific praise focuses on his framework for understanding moral choice and his examination of "moral resources" that help prevent evil acts. Several readers highlighted the sections on tribalism and moral distance as particularly insightful. Common criticisms include: - Too much focus on communist atrocities compared to other historical events - Insufficient attention to colonialism and Western crimes - Can feel repetitive in later chapters - Some philosophical arguments need more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) "Changes how you think about human nature and morality" is a frequent comment. Multiple readers noted it pairs well with other moral psychology books like Pinker's "Better Angels" and Browning's "Ordinary Men."

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🔹 Jonathan Glover was inspired to write this book after wondering why the 20th century, despite its technological and scientific advances, became the bloodiest century in human history. 🔹 The book examines psychological "moral resources" that typically prevent people from committing atrocities, and how these resources can be eroded or overridden by ideology, tribalism, and moral beliefs. 🔹 Glover served as Director of the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King's College London and has advised several international organizations, including the World Health Organization. 🔹 The work draws heavily from first-hand accounts and testimonies of both perpetrators and victims of 20th-century atrocities, including the Holocaust, Stalin's purges, and the Vietnam War. 🔹 While many similar books focus solely on acts of evil, Glover's work also examines instances where people resisted moral collapse and maintained their humanity in the face of systematic brutality.