The Good Life: well-being and the new science of altruism, selfishness and immorality

The question of human goodness and to what extent it sits within our biological makeup is not new. Here, the author, a consultant child and adult psychotherapist, says we possess propensities to be kind and helpful from the beginning.

But, he argues, modern life is priming us to turn off the 'better angels of our nature' at an ever-increasing rate. The author is adept at cutting through a wealth of research, as well as bringing to life the latest research, to discuss the role of parenting, the influence of genes, and the undermining impact of stress on our altruistic capacities.