Amazon Resale
Buy used
£9.99
£2.99 delivery 10 - 13 January. Details
Used: Good | Details
Sold by preownedcdsdvdsgames
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: used in good condition
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

William MacAskill
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference Hardcover – 28 July 2015

by William MacAskill (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,242 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
Most of us want to make a difference. We donate our time and money to charities and causes we deem worthy, choose careers we consider meaningful, and patronize businesses and buy products we believe make the world a better place. Unfortunately, we often base these decisions on assumptions and emotions rather than facts. As a result, even our best intentions often lead to ineffective—and sometimes downright harmful—outcomes. How can we do better?

While a researcher at Oxford, trying to figure out which career would allow him to have the greatest impact, William MacAskill confronted this problem head on. He discovered that much of the potential for change was being squandered by lack of information, bad data, and our own prejudice. As an antidote, he and his colleagues developed effective altruism, a practical, data-driven approach that allows each of us to make a tremendous difference regardless of our resources. Effective altruists believe that it’s not enough to simply do good; we must do good better.

At the core of this philosophy are five key questions that help guide our altruistic decisions: How many people benefit, and by how much? Is this the most effective thing I can do? Is this area neglected? What would have happened otherwise? What are the chances of success, and how good would success be? By applying these questions to real-life scenarios, MacAskill shows how many of our assumptions about doing good are misguided. For instance, he argues one can potentially save more lives by becoming a plastic surgeon rather than a heart surgeon; measuring overhead costs is an inaccurate gauge of a charity’s effectiveness; and, it generally doesn’t make sense for individuals to donate to disaster relief.

MacAskill urges us to think differently, set aside biases, and use evidence and careful reasoning rather than act on impulse. When we do this—when we apply the head and the heart to each of our altruistic endeavors—we find that each of us has the power to do an astonishing amount of good.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    258 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Avery Pub Group
  4. Publication date
    28 July 2015
  5. Dimensions
    14.61 x 2.39 x 21.74 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1592409105
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1592409105
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
Kindle Storyteller Award 2024
Check out this year's winner: 'Stateside' by J.D KIRK. Read more

Product description

About the Author

William MacAskill is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Oxford University and the cofounder of the nonprofit organizations Giving What We Can and 80,000 Hours. These nonprofits have raised over $400 million in lifetime pledged donations to charity and helped to spark the effective altruism movement. He is a contributor to Quartz, the online business magazine of The Atlantic and he and his organizations have been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and TED, among other media outlets. He lives in Oxford, England.

William MacAskill earned a PhD in Philosophy from Oxford University, studied at Princeton University as a Fulbright Scholar, and is currently a Research Fellow at Cambridge University. He lives in Cambridge, England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avery Pub Group (28 July 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592409105
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592409105
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.61 x 2.39 x 21.74 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,242 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
William MacAskill

William MacAskill

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm Will MacAskill, Associate Professor in Philosophy and Research Fellow at the Global Priorities Institute, University of Oxford. My academic research focuses on the fundamentals of effective altruism - the use of evidence and reason to help others by as much as possible with our time and money, with a particular concentration on how to act given moral uncertainty.

I am the author of Doing Good Better - Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference, and Moral Uncertainty. My latest book is What We Owe The Future.

I am the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research, a co-founder and the President of the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) and I helped to create the effective altruism movement. Through Giving What We Can, CEA encourages people to commit to donate at least 10% of their income to the most effective charities. CEA also runs over 100 effective altruism local groups, hosts regular effective altruism conferences, and does research into high-impact policy and philanthropic opportunities.

I also co-founded 80,000 Hours, a YCombinator-backed non-profit that provides research and advice on how you can best make a difference through your career.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,242 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and encouraging. They describe it as an excellent introduction to the philosophy of effective altruism. Readers praise the book for its engaging writing style and well-thought-out arguments.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Thought provokingReadability
36 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’33 positive3 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and encouraging. It provides an excellent introduction to the philosophy of effective altruism with compelling arguments and a good framework. Readers say it helps them think about how to have a real impact with charitable giving. The book provides practical advice and information on efficient charitable giving as well as a framework to use.

"...and counter-intuitive guide to how you can have the biggest positive impact on the world. The two most important points for me were as follows...." Read more

"...& causes which are likely to have the most effective, efficient impact on people's lives, in many cases where relatively small amounts of money can..." Read more

"...It has totally changed the way I allocate resources to charitable enterprises, and it shocked me to realise how insanely badly I had approached..." Read more

"...rating from me because it offered very straightforward and useful information on altruism (including good frameworks), whilst being interesting and..." Read more

35 customers mention ‘Readability’32 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate its impartial approach and thoughtful analysis. Readers mention it's an easy read with interesting insights into effective altruism.

"...The book is really well written and I hope it finds a wide audience." Read more

"...There's also an interesting chapter on how to make a difference by your choice of career, and an exploration of ecosystem issues (& global warming)..." Read more

"...One of the most excellent qualities of the book is that it is a totally engaging read...." Read more

"...This is a great book for anyone who wants to make a difference, but is not just satisfied with giving money to the place that 'sounds' like it needs..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Mr. J. G. Halstead
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly empowering
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an exceptionally well-argued and counter-intuitive guide to how you can have the biggest positive impact on the world. The two most important points for me were as follows. Firstly, we can know with reasonable certainty that an ordinary person can save many many lives by donating to the world's most effective charities. This is incredibly empowering. You can literally save hundreds of lives over your life while barely reducing your own welfare. Secondly, the career advice is very insightful and has changed the way I look at my career. In the UK, you get no good careers advice, despite the fact that your choice of career is the one of the most important decisions you'll make. Doing Good Better provides rational and well-informed careers advice, some of which I found very surprising. e.g. it tells you not to follow your passion, but rather to look where you can add the most value.

    The book is really well written and I hope it finds a wide audience.
    12 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sentinel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Better Ways of Giving?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Given the amount of money donated to charities which never reaches the intended recipients, this book is long overdue. MacAskill provides an analytic framework with which to assess the 'most effective' ways in which our money can work for us after donation.

    His research base appears sound, while some of his discoveries are hair-raising about the way in which large amounts of money are wasted in apparently 'good' causes, for example 'Fairtrade', where almost all of the money is swallowed up by 'middlemen', while yet other 'obviously' better approaches to pumping water is also a huge waste of money, with the 'heart ruling the head'.

    The framework MacAskill provides can be used to assess & identify charities & causes which are likely to have the most effective, efficient impact on people's lives, in many cases where relatively small amounts of money can have an impact far beyond what might be imagined.

    If this still seems like too much hard work, MacAskill helps identify some current projects where donors can be assured their money will be effectively & efficiently used, and also the details of the regulatory body for charities which monitors the on-going effectiveness of these charities/projects, to ensure money donated can be wisely targeted in the future. There's also an interesting chapter on how to make a difference by your choice of career, and an exploration of ecosystem issues (& global warming), and the nature of poverty & 'sweatshops', revealing the latter to have a much more beneficial face than might be expected.

    Fascinating & thought-provoking reading.
    17 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • C. B. Gooden
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction To The World Of Effective Altruism
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A long way from perfect, this book is an excellent introduction to the world of Effective Altruism.

    Despite its shortcomings I'm still really glad I read it. It has totally changed the way I allocate resources to charitable enterprises, and it shocked me to realise how insanely badly I had approached these issues in the past.

    One of the most excellent qualities of the book is that it is a totally engaging read. Had it been packed with more detailed analysis then it might have been a "better" book but it would not have carried the message so effectively.It got my juices flowing, and I'm better equipped to delve deeper because of that.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • pete1mac
    5.0 out of 5 stars Practical information for a difficult subject
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I liked the pragmatic nature of this book. With so many viable charitable organisations it's difficult to know who is best to give to, why should one give time/money to one org over another?
    This is a great book for anyone who wants to make a difference, but is not just satisfied with giving money to the place that 'sounds' like it needs it most.
    It's also a useful read for anyone who's struggling with career choices - the advice could help one focus, especially if one doesn't know what they want to do.
    This book got a 5 star rating from me because it offered very straightforward and useful information on altruism (including good frameworks), whilst being interesting and an easy read.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Enrique Ortiz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on why why we need to use critical thinking do good
    Reviewed in Mexico on 11 May 2023
    Verified Purchase
    With clear real-world examples, the author teaches us to question our beliefs, culture, and glamor to focus our efforts to do good that makes an impact in a world with so many needs
    Report
  • Mathieu Putz
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most influential books on my life I've ever read
    Reviewed in Germany on 2 February 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The book has made me viscerally excited about doing good effectively in my life. It is staggering how important it is to choose our ways of doing good wisely. As the book carefully lays out, this could make the difference between having no impact at all and saving many lives each year (or much more).
    If you care about making the world a better place, this book is for you.
    Report
  • Nancy Farran
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking - loved it.
    Reviewed in Canada on 22 August 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A good read if you are at all philanthropic.
    Report
  • al-m
    5.0 out of 5 stars Freakonomics for Social Impact
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 September 2018
    Verified Purchase
    “Doing Good Better” by William MacAskill is a little gem I stumbled upon almost by mistake. The book develops what could be described as a data-driven approach to measuring and maximizing your social impact, whether through donations to charities, your career, political activism or ethical consumption.
    It’s an incredibly easy and light read that, like Freakonomics, has no prerequisites whatsoever beyond high-school math. The author explains quite a few basic concepts from economics, statistics and sociology, using clear and vivid examples and not a single math formula. Granted there are many simplifications over the models actually used by researchers but as a result we, the readers, feel smarter and therefore empowered.

    With a plethora of insightful data and back-of-the-envelope calculations, MacAskill methodically rebuffs common myths, starting with the widely popular misconception that all charitable donations are ‘drops in the ocean’. The human brain, he argues, is generally bad at thinking about large numbers and probabilities, which is partially why we fail to perceive the depth of wealth inequality around the world today: all things accounted for to adjust for the cost of living in different countries, someone at the poverty line in the US - $11.000 - has more purchasing power than 85 percent of people in the world. If you are reading these lines, you are most likely already in a tiny minority of the richest people on Earth. Which is not to say that top CEOs and wall street bankers are not significantly richer than you are. In fact the figures show they probably are (no offense). But the point is, you already have an enormous potential for social impact in the world.

    Beyond this introductory analysis, MacAskill will show you among other things:
    * Why the Food and Drug Administration estimates the value of an American life at $7.9 million, and why statistics guarantee you can save a life in the developing world for about $3400
    * Why donating to disaster relief is not always the wisest decision
    * Why giving up sweatshop-produced goods in favor of domestically produced goods usually doesn’t have the result you are looking for
    But also:
    * How to offset your *entire* carbon footprint for $105 / year
    * How to choose or change your career path to have a maximum social impact
    * How to objectively compare different charities, even if they work on different problems

    The figures and specific charity recommendations from the author are great but nowhere nearly as useful as the methods and questions he provides for thinking critically and quantitatively about your impact. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and he will revolutionize charity.

    I have read many reviews of the book, including many negative ones, and found the latter to be severely lacking factual evidence to rebut all that provided by the author. They typically decry effective altruism as little more than a baseless, cold-hearted utilitarian vision of the world using false analogies that imprison them in a cage of moral paralysis, like this Guardian columnist who asks “Would you really save a large bag of cash from a burning building rather than your neighbour’s terrified child, even if you could donate that cash and save the lives of a thousand strangers?”, certainly oblivious to the fact that the analogy fails to relate in any way to a real-world problem of charitable giving.
    Others, more legitimately so in my view, will blame the author for reasoning on incomplete data and making unreasonable assumptions, failing to grasp complex systemic issues. All constructive criticism should be appreciated on a 200-page attempt at tackling such difficult questions, but to them I propose that we work together to support independent, peer-reviewed research. Improve the models. Find better data. Or fund people to do it for you. Just don’t throw the baby with the bathwater.

    Overall, “Doing Good Better” is a very ambitious book and an unapologetic, data-driven perspective on why charitable thinking desperately needs to step into the 21st century. It has a fair share of uncomfortable truths, but ultimately delivers a message of profound optimism: we don’t need to be “at the top” to have a massive, measurable impact on saving and improving lives of fellow humans. To change the world we need rationality at least as much as good intentions.
    Report
  • Luis Mota
    5.0 out of 5 stars Leitura indispensável para quem quer fazer o bem
    Reviewed in Brazil on 6 July 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Esse livro, definitivamente, mudou a minha visão de mundo, e o que eu pretendo fazer com a minha vida no futuro. Com diversos exemplos claros e bastante explicativos, o autor vai traçando como pensar de maneira mais científica quanto a como se pode ajudar o mundo, e que isso faz uma diferença enorme no impacto que a gente tem.
    O autor começa mostrando como, por exemplo, uma organização que chegou a receber o apoio da primeira dama dos Estados Unidos na verdade acabava ajudando muito pouco seus beneficiários, enquanto outra organização que decidiu investigar qual o melhor jeito de melhorar a educação na África encontrou uma solução inesperada, mas extremamente eficiente: distribuir remédios contra verminoses. Ele explica conceitos científicos como valor marginal, contrafactual e valor esperado através de exemplos, mostrando desde por que não é tão bom doar para desastres como terremotos até por que participar de política pode ser extremamente valioso. Esses conceitos são combinados para analisar situações bastante relevantes para o leitor, como qual o melhor jeito de se escolher para onde doar dinheiro, se vale a pena boicotar indústrias asiáticas que têm condições terríveis de trabalho, ou se atitudes como ser vegetariano realmente fazem diferença.
    Doing Good Better é uma excelente introdução ao movimento de altruísmo eficaz, e acaba por convencer o leitor de que é possível, para pessoas comuns, salvar dezenas de vidas e ter um impacto enorme no mundo, desde que se pense cuidadosamente sobre como fazer isso. Por fim, esse livro é uma leitura indispensável para todos que pensam seriamente em ajudar o mundo.
    Report