Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the ills of social media. Is there a way back?

Chris Anderson, the head of TED, believes that we can turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human virtues: generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity? Consider:

how a London barber began offering haircuts to people experiencing homelessness - and catalysed a movement

how two anonymous donors gave $10,000 each to 200 strangers and discovered that most recipients wanted to ’pay it forward’ with their own generous acts

how TED itself transformed from a niche annual summit into a global beacon of ideas by giving away talks online, allowing millions access to free learning

In telling these inspiring stories, Anderson offers a playbook for how to embark on our own generous acts - whether gifts of money, time, talent, connection, or kindness - and to prime them, thanks to the Internet, to have self-replicating, world-changing impacts.

CHRIS ANDERSON

CHRIS ANDERSON is the curator of TED.

Trained as a journalist after graduating from Oxford University, Anderson launched more than 100 successful magazines and websites before turning his attention to TED, which his nonprofit foundation acquired in 2001.

His TED mantra -- "ideas worth spreading" -- continues to blossom on an international scale, with more than one billion TED Talks viewed annually.

He lives in New York City.