Just finished the audio book. It is great. Must read / listen, though I suspect we as a community are already familiar with the majority of the stories of insane "suicidal empathy" Gad talks about in the book.
The final chapter with the solutions is great.
Biggest takeaway / novel thought was that of "evolutionary reciprocity". We expect reciprocity - both for good and for bad. Which is why we don't inflict harm on others without good reason, since we would expect a reciprocity of violence.
Giving empathy when there is no reciprocity is not only self-depleting and prone to abuse. It is EXACTLY that which narcissists would seek to abuse and exploit.
Which is what we are seeing in the gaming of empathy.
The psychopaths take control because the suicidally empathetic are the easy marks. They practically thank for psychopaths for doing it.
Reciprocity - for good and for bad.
A great concept, and a great standard to guide one's actions.
Amazon affiliate link to book for anyone who's going to read it (or listen to it). https://amzn.to/4xIvFKy
Next book up? Maybe the Evolution of Desire. or Consilience.
See you all tonight!