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The author of Altruism is Matthieu Ricard.

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Altruism Book Summary - Altruism Book explained in key points

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Altruism summary

Name: Altruism
Rating: 4.3 (199 reviews)
Author: Matthieu Ricard

Matthieu Ricard

The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World

4.3 (199 ratings)

21 mins

Brief summary

"Altruism" by Matthieu Ricard is an investigation into the science of compassion and how it can improve our lives and the world around us. Drawing on his experiences as a Buddhist monk and scientist, Ricard presents a compelling case for the benefits of compassionate living.

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Table of Contents

Altruism
Summary of 9 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 9

What’s in it for me? Learn to direct yourself toward leading a more altruistic life.

When you envision a perfect world, is it filled with altruistic, caring people, working to make life better for everyone? Or do you envision a world where each person is out for himself, fighting to get to the top alone?

These blinks, inspired by Tibetan Buddhist teachings, show that a world based on altruism would certainly be a better place to live for everyone. Yet how do we achieve this? What exactly can we do to make ourselves and our society a better place?

You’ll be surprised to learn that a few simple daily steps, such as meditating and practicing empathy, can help society make large strides toward a new world that is happier and even more successful.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

how neuroscience has proven the power of altruism;
how you can use Buddhist thinking to lessen feelings of pain; and
why the worst of times can bring out the best in people.

There are two types of altruism: one you are born with, and one you need to cultivate as you grow.

There’s no question that the world would benefit from more people practicing altruism. In fact, many people, from politicians to charity workers, stress this need daily.

But what exactly is altruism and how can you practice it?

Actually, there are two types of altruism – one that every person is born with, and a second, more involved form that people must develop themselves.

The first type of altruism is called natural altruism. It refers to any tendency a person has to take care of things or people in her immediate surroundings. It includes things such as motherly love – the impulse of a mother to tend to and protect a child.

The second type of altruism, in contrast, is not innate and has to be cultivated throughout a person’s life. An action like building an orphanage out of a broad concern for parentless children is one example of this type of altruism.

So how do you develop your own altruism?

To foster altruism, it helps to take a deep look inside of yourself. When you do so, you’ll likely realize that in general, you desire happiness and wish to avoid suffering. When you expand this basic insight from yourself to all other beings, you can experience altruism.

Why? Every creature is linked to the joy and pain of every other creature. Therefore, the greatest altruistic endeavor is to liberate every being from all suffering. Someone who devotes herself to this endeavor is known as a Bodhisattva.

In Tibetan Buddhism, to become a Bodhisattva, one must take certain vows. These are essentially promises that one’s entire life will be a spiritual quest aimed to end the suffering of as many other beings as possible, while aiding them in their own attainment of spiritual enlightenment.

According to Buddhism, the true cause of suffering is ignorance; that is, a misunderstanding of reality.

Altruism is linked to love, a contagious emotion. The more love you share, the more love you get.

Altruism is all about helping others, but there’s actually another word that describes such caring acts. It’s love – a feeling of appreciation and peaceful, contented happiness.

But love isn’t just a path to helping others; it’s also contagious. Every loving act builds momentum that creates more love.

Scientists have found that how you think can even change your DNA, making you more altruistic.

Having good intentions may be well and good, but did you know there’s actually scientific evidence to support the benefits of acting positively?

It’s true! This research is based on the concept of neuroplasticity, that people in essence become more loving by having altruistic thoughts. But let’s back up a bit and look at how the scientific community arrived at this discovery.

Humans are not inherently selfish, but egotistic behavior can stifle our natural altruism and empathy.

While natural altruism is inherent in all of us, there are some people who feel that to succeed, one has to focus on one’s own needs alone.

But how true is this?

Daily meditation can help you cultivate altruism and do more good for others.

Meditation is a practice of introspection that’s existed for over 2,000 years, even before the Buddha’s time. But did you know that meditating is also a powerful way to alter your state of mind and cultivate altruism?

That’s because to help others, you first need to be strong yourself. It’s this strength and patience that meditation can gradually build. In fact, even a short daily meditation session can create fundamental positive changes in your mind.

Altruistic heroes are devoted to helping others, and don’t like public recognition or awards.

Most people enjoy recognition for doing good deeds. Yet from the perspective of a true altruist, simply doing his part to help is what’s important – recognition doesn’t matter.

That’s because heroes do what’s necessary, regardless of the danger to themselves; when that task is accomplished, they don’t try to remain in the spotlight.

To make society more altruistic, it’s crucial to fight inequality at all levels.

So you can cultivate altruism within yourself, but what about doing good on a collective level?

This requires a basic level of resources that allows each and every person to care for themselves and their family. Unfortunately, our current economic system creates and maintains levels of inequality that will need to change to foster a more harmonious and altruistic society.

The drive to perform altruistic deeds is constant and real, even amid difficult or dangerous times.

Plenty of people enjoy lending a hand. While you might think such individuals are the exceptions to the rule, if you take a closer look, you’ll see that generosity abounds in the world.

In fact, both individual and collective altruism are much more prevalent than one might think.

Altruism and education are deeply intertwined, and both are essential to building a better future.

We all hope for a brighter tomorrow, even though the world is full of challenges, few of which we can surmount alone. Learning from one another and building empathetic collaboration are two principles that are essential to the success of a peaceful society.

But what do we need to do to put these principles into practice?

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What is Altruism about?

Altruism (2015) examines our need to care for others, a compulsion that is essential in both humans and animals. These blinks explain how and why caregivers do what they do through the lens of philosophy, economics and evolutionary theory.

Altruism Review

Altruism (2015) is a profound exploration of the power and potential of selfless action. Here's why this book is worth reading:

With compelling stories and research, it highlights how acts of kindness and compassion can transform individuals, communities, and the world.
The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the science, philosophy, and practical applications of altruism, making it an invaluable resource for understanding and fostering empathy.
Through its thought-provoking insights and examples, the book challenges conventional wisdom and inspires a reimagining of what it means to live a meaningful life.

Best quote from Altruism

The root of the word altruism is the Latin word alter, which simply means other.

—Matthieu Ricard

Who should read Altruism?

Professional caregivers or anyone who spends time caring for others
Psychologists, family counselors and therapists
People interested in social justice

About the Author

Matthieu Ricard, born in Aix-les-Bains, France, is a Buddhist monk practicing in the Tibetan tradition and is the Dalai Lama’s French translator. He originally studied molecular biology; today he is a bestselling author and spiritual leader working to integrate science and spirituality.

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