The older I get, the more I worry about the human race. We are supposed to be a rational species, but I hear people making absurd statements and claiming they are undeniable truths all the time these days.

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity. And I’m not sure about the former.

Albert Einstein

At one end of the scale, an inconsequential misunderstanding turns firm friends into bitter enemies; at the other end, the people appoint belligerent leaders to rule over their nations, leading to wars and untold suffering. And, all the while, we are continuing to stoke the flames of climate change and environmental destruction. If this is what our species is like, our only hope is that a higher, Artificial Intelligence comes along to teach us how to live together in peace and harmony.

So I thought I’d make a playlist of songs about ‘people’. Eligible candidates might illustrate the deep flaws that evolution has instilled into our human nature, offer a little hope and comfort, or just make us think about what it means to be human.

Here, then, is a ten-part playlist of tracks with ‘people’ in the title. Individually, they will add very little to your understanding of what makes us human. And, even collectively, I doubt you will find any significant revelations about what makes us tick. But, they might bring you some pleasure while you contemplate the uncertain future of humanity.