Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett
The book was introduced by Krista Tippett, who said she was hooked by its opening line and highlighted its blend of scientific research and real‑world stories. It was presented as a groundbreaking look at the evolutionary roots of revenge and forgiveness, arguing that forgiveness is an instinct shaped by natural selection rather than merely a learned virtue. The discussion emphasized the author’s dissatisfaction with traditional categories of these emotions and praised the work for reshaping common assumptions.
Episode: Michael McCullough — Getting Revenge and Forgivene...
This book explores the evolutionary and biological basis of both revenge and forgiveness, challenging common assumptions about human nature and offering a new perspective on these powerful emotions. The author's research suggests that forgiveness is not merely a learned behavior but an instinct shaped by natural selection.
I was hooked by the first line of Beyond Revenge, a book by the research psychologist Michael McCullough.
One of the things that got me writing Beyond Revenge actually was a dissatisfaction with the kind of boxes that we all tend to put revenge and forgiveness in as human dispositions.
I interviewed Michael McCullough in 2008 just after he published Beyond Revenge.
His book is Beyond Revenge, the Evolution of the forgiveness instinct.
Episode: [Unedited] Michael McCullough with Krista Tippett
The book blends science, social science, and real-world stories to explore revenge and forgiveness, highlighting their evolutionary purposes and the natural human capacity for both. The author's personal passion and interest in the subject was also noted.
I really like in your book the mix of science and social science and stories, real world stories.
One of the things that got me writing beyond revenge actually was was a dissatisfaction with the kind of boxes that we all tend to put.And that's a revenge and forgiveness in as as human dispositions.
You know you said that every day acts of forgiveness are incredibly common among people between people who know each other. Right you know we think of forgiveness as these heroic acts and there are always these heroic examples of forgiveness but you said.You know it's you think we think of it as this bomb for great wounds, but you said yet in daily life forgiveness is more often like a band date on a scrape.
Episode: [Unedited] Michael McCullough with Krista Tippett
The book blends science, social science, and real-world stories to explore the evolutionary purpose of revenge and the surprisingly strong human capacity for forgiveness. It challenges common assumptions about revenge as a disease and forgiveness as a learned behavior.
I really like in your book the mix of science and social science and stories, real world stories.
One of the things that got me writing beyond revenge actually was was a dissatisfaction with the kind of boxes that we all tend to put. And that's a revenge and forgiveness in as as human dispositions.
You know you said that every day acts of forgiveness are incredibly common among people between people who know each other. Right you know we think of forgiveness as these heroic acts and there are always these heroic examples of forgiveness but you said. You know it's you think we think of it as this bomb for great wounds, but you said yet in daily life forgiveness is more often like a band date on a scrape.