Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference

Description

Almost all of us want to make a difference. So we volunteer, donate to charity, recycle or try to cut down our carbon emissions. But rarely do we know how much of a difference we're really making. In a remarkable re-examination of the evidence, Doing Good Better reveals why buying sweatshop-produced goods benefits the poor; why cosmetic surgeons can do more good than charity workers; and why giving to a relief fund is generally not the best way to help after a natural disaster. By examining the charities you give to, the volunteering you do, the goods you buy and the career you pursue, this fascinating and often surprising guide shows how through simple actions you can improve thousands of lives - including your own.

William MacAskill is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford and co-founder of non-profits Giving What We Can and 80,000 Hours, which inspire people to use their time and money as effectively as possible to fight the world's most pressing problems. Between them they have raised over $12 million for the most cost-effective charities plus a further $380 million in lifetime pledges. He and his organisations have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Today programme, and on Fox News, NPR and TED.