A Brief History of Empathy: How Humanity Learned to Feel for Others cover art

A Brief History of Empathy: How Humanity Learned to Feel for Others

Listen with a free trial

Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can-listen catalogue of 15K+ audiobooks and podcasts
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

A Brief History of Empathy: How Humanity Learned to Feel for Others

By: Emily Hartmann
Narrated by: Virtual Voice
Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Pre-order Now for £10.29

Pre-order Now for £10.29

LIMITED TIME OFFER

£0.99/mo for 3 months - terms apply. Offer ends 31 August 2026.
Background images

This title uses virtual voice narration

Virtual voice is computer-generated narration for audiobooks.

Trace the fierce evolutionary battle between radical human compassion and deep-seated tribalism in global history. Perfect for an inspiring morning commute or a reflective deep-listening session, this journey travels from ancient hunter-gatherer bands to the hyper-connected digital age. Uncover how the biological drive to care for strangers emerged, stalled, and transformed alongside civilization itself.

Immerse yourself in a thought-provoking blend of neuroscience and anthropology that challenges your assumptions about human nature. Whether you are actively seeking personal growth or trying to make sense of a polarized society, this eye-opening narrative delivers profound clarity. It illuminates the hidden mechanics of emotional contagion, perspective-taking, and the systemic biases secretly governing our hearts.

What you'll discover inside:

• How early survival pressures triggered the biological development of mirror neurons and emotional mirroring.

• The startling ways ancient moral codes and major religions expanded—and restricted—our circles of concern.

• The psychological paradox of societies being exquisitely sensitive to their own while remaining blind to outsider suffering.

• Why modern technologies, from the printing press to social media, simultaneously broaden our worldview and trigger emotional numbness.

• Forward-looking strategies to foster discerning, sustainable care in schools, digital platforms, and public policy.

Do not let empathy fatigue dictate how you engage with a rapidly changing, hyper-connected society. Press play to unlock a wiser approach to human connection that empowers you to balance profound understanding with actionable justice. Start listening today to transform the way you perceive your own mind, your community, and our shared future.

©2026 Hidden Voices (P)2026 Hidden Voices
Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet