The Keys to Kindness

(Spoken by Nimue, typed by James)

Hurrah for audiobooks! For being able to borrow them from UK libraries and for devices that do not use touch screens.

This is a fascinating book exploring the science of kindness. It draws on a range of studies from around the world to look at the many ways in which kindness impacts on us and those we bring it to. From my perspective this book offers the perfect balance of properly scientific material and accessible presentation. The author assumes that you the reader are clever, but not necessarily up to speed with all the technical jargon. The book is written in a warm and human way mixing personal anecdotes with the results of research projects.

Kindness can mean a great many things and it might be more tempting to focus on dramatic examples of heroism and self sacrifice. However, the author is more interested in the implications of everyday kindness. While more dramatic examples are explored, this is much more about normal life overall. Kindness impacts on our mental health. It can inform social connection and has a huge capacity to improve things. Small acts of kindness get a lot done. By dint of being small, such acts are available to us all every day. The book offers a great many ways of thinking about kindness and thinking about being kinder. Which is all good, and I found it very helpful.

Back when I was at college, we were still arguing about whether nature or nurture most informed a person’s psychological makeup. At this point, the superior influence of nurture is generally recognised. What this book brings in, is a third aspect in the form of choice. I’m really glad about this. that whole nature/nurture business laves us too passive. It turns out that our choices inform how our brains work. You start wherever you start, with whatever hardware and opportunities are available to you, but you get a vote. The everyday choices we make really do shape who we are. There’s a lot to be said for choosing kindness anytime that’s an option. It’s not just better for other people around us, it’s better for our own well being too.

I can heartily recommend this book.. As well as being informative on the science front, it’s good philosophically as well, and gives you plenty to work with.