A bold and original examination of a universal human phenomenon in the vein of Adam Grant’s Think Again and Rutger Bregman’s Humankind, SORRY, NOT SORRY uses cutting edge psychology, cultural history, and first-hand research to answer the question of why we apologize, and how we can say sorry better.

SORRY, NOT SORRY:
The Power of Apologies in a Divided World
by Dr. Judy Eaton
Bloomsbury US, Summer 2026
(via Randle Editorial & Literary)

We all know the power of giving and receiving a humble apology – just as we all know when an “apology” is meaningless. However, as much as we think we might know about apologies, we tend talk about them in broad, shallow terms: What makes a “good” apology? When is an apology necessary, and when is it not? Why do members of some cultures seem to apologize more than others?

SORRY, NOT SORRY takes an original look at the history and science of the humble apology, showcasing the power of apologies throughout time and how the apology has never been more important in today’s world. Exploring the universal nature of apologies, tracing their evolution and history, first as an adaptive mechanism for survival and then continuing as a nonviolent form of conflict resolution, it shows how apologies are universal and that their essential function – to help us connect better with each other – crosses borders, time, and even species.

SORRY, NOT SORRY will expand the way we think about apologies by showing how they serve a deeply important universal function – to interrupt our natural instinct to seek revenge on those who hurt us. It will also demonstrate that the ability to apologize well has been essential to our survival as a species.

Dr. Judy Eaton is Professor of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada. She has spent more than two decades studying apologies and forgiveness – in friendships and romantic partners, the workplace, and the criminal justice system. Her work has been profiled in prominent media outlets such as Esquire, Time, NBC News, CBC News, Popular Science, Smithsonian Magazine, and the Houston Chronicle. She has been invited to give public talks on topics including whether Canadians apologize too much, death row apologies, and the benefits of forgiveness, among much more. She lives in Ontario with her family, where she apologizes multiple times each day for things that do not require apologies. As a British-born Canadian, this comes naturally to her.