The principle of hard trade-offs in effective altruism urges us to critically evaluate our actions, whether in charity or career choices, to maximize positive impact.

In the midst of the Rwandan genocide, James Orbinski, a Red Cross worker, faced a moral dilemma of choosing who to save with limited resources. This scenario illustrates the concept of hard trade-offs, a key principle of effective altruism. The principle encourages us to consider how many people benefit from our actions and by how much. This is crucial in determining the most effective ways to make a difference. For instance, when choosing a charity to donate to, it's important to understand what the charity does with your donation. Many charities, like the Salvation Army, run numerous programs but it's unclear how much impact each donation has. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of our altruistic actions. The principle of hard trade-offs also applies to our careers. The decision of what career to pursue is a high-stakes one, as it involves spending over 80,000 hours of our lives. Therefore, it's worth investing a considerable amount of time in this decision. In conclusion, the principle of hard trade-offs encourages us to critically evaluate our actions to ensure they have the most significant positive impact. Whether it's choosing a charity to donate to or deciding on a career, understanding the potential benefits and trade-offs is crucial in effective altruism.

Effective altruism can save lives, but it requires understanding the marginal value of our contributions, not just their average value.

The idea of saving hundreds of lives may seem far-fetched, but it's entirely possible through effective altruism. The cost to save a life in the developing world is estimated to be around $3,400. This is an amount that most people in affluent countries could donate annually without significantly impacting their quality of life. By donating to the most effective charities, we have the power to save dozens of lives over our lifetime. However, it's important to consider the marginal value of our actions. For instance, if a small town can only afford to employ two doctors, the third doctor's absence wouldn't necessarily result in more deaths. The remaining doctors would reprioritize their tasks, focusing on life-saving operations and major health improvements. The third doctor's real impact was in treating minor ailments. This example illustrates the importance of considering what would have happened otherwise when assessing the impact of our actions. In essence, the focus should be on the best charitable programs and understanding how our contributions can make the most significant difference. This approach requires us to think beyond the average value of an action and consider its marginal value.

Charitable giving is often driven more by emotional responses to widely publicized disasters than by rational assessment of where funds can have the greatest impact.

Disaster relief donations are often driven by emotional responses to widely publicized events, rather than rational assessment of where funds can have the greatest impact. This is illustrated by the example of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, which killed 87,000 people but received only $500 million in international aid, a fraction of the funding given to more publicized disasters in Haiti and Japan. This discrepancy suggests that donations would have had a larger impact in Sichuan due to the law of diminishing returns. Everyday, people die from preventable diseases like AIDS, malaria, or tuberculosis, a disaster far beyond any single event. For every death caused by the Japanese earthquake, aid organizations received $330,000 in donations. In contrast, for every person that dies from poverty-related causes worldwide, only $15,000 on average is spent in foreign aid and philanthropy. The emotional response to disasters often leads to an overestimation of their importance compared to ongoing problems. This is a clear example of how charity is often driven by gut reactions to new events rather than a rational response to ongoing issues. In conclusion, while the emotional response to disasters is understandable, it is more effective to resist this inclination and donate to less publicized, ongoing issues where the impact of each dollar donated is likely to be greater.

The potential to make a significant positive impact on the world lies within ordinary individuals leading ordinary lives, not just extraordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances.

In the quest to identify the individual who has done the most good in history, the spotlight falls on an unlikely hero - an unknown Ukrainian man. This man, Stanislav Petrov, single-handedly prevented a nuclear war in 1983 by choosing not to retaliate when a false alarm indicated that the US had launched missiles at the Soviet Union. His decision, based on a gut feeling that it was a false alarm, saved countless lives and averted a potential nuclear holocaust. However, the concept of 'doing good' extends beyond such dramatic instances. It also encompasses the everyday choices we make, such as choosing to work overtime to earn more money that can be donated to effective charities. This idea is exemplified by the story of Dr. D. A. Henderson, who led the WHO’s Global Smallpox Eradication Campaign. His efforts resulted in the eradication of smallpox, saving millions of lives. The key takeaway is that each of us has the potential to make a significant positive impact on the world. This can be achieved through our career choices, our donations, and our everyday actions. The chapter emphasizes that doing good is not confined to extraordinary individuals or extraordinary circumstances. Instead, it is within the reach of ordinary individuals leading ordinary lives, who can achieve extraordinary results through thoughtful and effective altruism.

Overhead costs and CEO pay are flawed indicators of a charity's effectiveness; the true measure should be its impact on improving lives.

Overhead costs and CEO pay are often used as indicators of a charity's effectiveness, but this approach is flawed. The definition of 'overhead' can vary greatly, as demonstrated by Development Media International's varying overhead calculations, which range from 16% to 100% of total expenditure depending on the definition used. The focus on overhead costs can also lead to misconceptions about a charity's impact. For example, a hypothetical charity that distributes doughnuts to hungry police officers with only 0.1% overhead costs may seem efficient, but its actual impact on improving lives is questionable. Charity Navigator, a popular charity evaluator, suggests that efficient charities spend 75% or more of their budget on their programs and services. However, this metric doesn't necessarily reflect the charity's effectiveness in improving lives. For instance, Books for Africa, which has a low overhead cost of 0.8% and a CEO pay of only 0.47% of total expenditure, is highly rated by Charity Navigator. Yet, the actual impact of shipping one book for every 50¢ donated is not clear. The chapter also highlights the importance of considering the long-term tractability of a cause when investing time and effort, rather than just focusing on short-term cost-effectiveness estimates. This approach can help identify opportunities to make a significant difference in areas that receive comparatively little attention. In conclusion, while financial metrics like overhead costs and CEO pay can provide some insights, they should not be the sole determinants of a charity's effectiveness. The ultimate measure should be the charity's impact on improving lives.

While ethical consumerism is commendable, ending extreme poverty is the key to improving sweatshop conditions.

Sweatshops, despite their horrific working conditions, are often seen as a necessary evil in the economic development of poor countries. The wages, although low by Western standards, are significantly higher than the average income in these countries. This is why economists, including Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman and Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, argue that sweatshops are beneficial for the world's poor. However, the ethical consumerism movement, which encourages consumers to buy goods produced under fair working conditions, often overlooks the economic realities of these countries. Boycotting goods produced in sweatshops can lead to job losses, pushing workers into even worse conditions. For instance, when the US banned the import of goods made by child labor, many children in Bangladesh lost their jobs and ended up in worse situations, such as street hustling and prostitution. The solution is not to boycott sweatshop goods or to buy only domestically produced goods. Instead, the focus should be on ending the extreme poverty that makes sweatshops desirable places to work in the first place. While companies that claim to have higher labor standards, like People Tree and Indigenous, are commendable, the impact of buying their products is small compared to the potential good that well-targeted donations can do. In conclusion, ethical consumerism, while well-intentioned, is not the most effective way to help the world's poor. Instead, efforts should be directed towards ending extreme poverty and improving working conditions in these countries.

"Follow your passion" is flawed career advice; job satisfaction stems more from certain job features and evolving interests than pre-existing passions.

The common advice to "follow your passion" when choosing a career is flawed. Many people's passions, such as sports, music, or art, do not align with the job market. A study of Canadian college students found that while 84% had passions, 90% of these were in areas that only make up 3% of jobs. Pursuing a passion in a competitive field can lead to disappointment, as seen in the fact that less than 1 in 1,000 high school athletes make it into professional sports. Moreover, interests change over time, as shown by psychologists Jordi Quoidbach, Daniel T. Gilbert, and Timothy Wilson. Basing a career on current passions can lead to dissatisfaction when interests evolve. Instead of focusing on passion, it's more beneficial to seek out jobs with certain features that lead to job satisfaction. The 'job characteristics theory' identifies five factors: independence, sense of completion, variety, feedback from the job, and contribution. These factors, along with a sense of achievement, support from colleagues, and 'hygiene' factors like fair pay and reasonable commute, contribute more to job satisfaction than passion. Even Steve Jobs, often cited as an example of someone who followed his passion, initially got into electronics as a way to earn money, not out of passion. His passion for technology developed over time. In conclusion, it's more effective to take an empirical approach to career choice, trying out different types of work and learning as much as possible about potential jobs. Passion often grows out of work that has the right features, rather than being a pre-existing requirement.

Balancing the fight against climate change and extreme poverty requires careful consideration of economic costs, potential impacts, and personal passion.

Climate change is often referred to as the greatest global threat of our time by influential figures such as former President Barack Obama and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. However, the question arises whether it is indeed a greater priority than extreme poverty. To answer this, one must consider the economic costs of climate change, which are estimated to be trillions of dollars. Investments in low-carbon technology, such as solar photovoltaics and carbon capture and storage technologies, are beneficial in mitigating these costs. However, the Stern Review estimates that mitigating climate change would cost approximately 1% of GDP every year, which is money that could be spent on other pressing issues. Climate change is also not a neglected issue, with the US government spending about $8 billion per year on climate change efforts and the UK spending about £1 billion per year on climate change projects in developing countries. Despite the consensus among scientists that man-made climate change is happening, the debate over its existence is irrelevant when it comes to what we ought to do. The World Health Organization estimates that without significant action to reduce carbon emissions, climate change will be causing approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050. In conclusion, while climate change is a significant global issue, it is not necessarily a greater priority than extreme poverty. The decision on which cause to focus on depends on various factors, including personal passion and the potential impact of one's efforts.

Home

Doing Good Better - Book Summary (2024)

William MacAskill

"Doing Good Better" presents the philosophy of effective altruism, which combines empathy with evidence-based reasoning to maximize the positive impact of one's actions. It provides a framework of five key questions to guide decision-making in charitable giving, career choices, and ethical consumption.

Key Ideas

The term 'the 1%' often refers to the top 1% of income earners in the Western world. However, if we consider the global income distribution, anyone earning above $52,000 per year falls into this category. This means that a significant portion of the Western population is part of the global 1%. The disparity between the global rich and poor is stark. For instance, the average income of the poorest billion people is approximately $1 per day. This income disparity provides an opportunity for those in the 1% to make a significant difference in the lives of the less fortunate. For example, the cost of preventing a child from dying of malaria is about $3,340. This means that an individual earning $60,000 per year could, by donating 10% of their income, save a life every year and a half. This is a powerful illustration of the potential impact of effective altruism. The concept of effective altruism is not just about giving, but about giving effectively. It involves asking questions like how many people benefit from a donation and by how much, is this the most effective thing you can do, is this area neglected, what would have happened otherwise, and what are the chances of success. By considering these questions, we can ensure that our altruistic efforts have the maximum possible impact.

Doing Good Better by William MacAskill provides a guide to effective altruism, a philosophy that uses evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. MacAskill presents five key questions to help readers think like effective altruists and make the most significant positive impact possible. These questions encourage readers to consider how many people benefit from their actions, whether their actions are the most effective, whether the area they're focusing on is neglected, what would have happened without their involvement, and the chances of success and potential payoff of their actions.

10 Actions to Implement Learnings:

Regular Giving: Establish a habit of regular donations to highly effective charities, even if it's a small amount each month.
Career Choices: Consider how your career choice can make a significant difference. Use resources like 80,000 Hours for advice and coaching on career choices that allow you to make the most difference.
Join the Effective Altruism Community: Sign up to the Effective Altruism mailing list to learn more about the community, read stories of people putting effective altruism into practice, and discuss with others in the Effective Altruism forum.
Spread the Word: Share your thoughts about effective altruism on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or your blog. Encourage others to make changes that increase their positive impact.
Birthday Donations: For your birthday, ask for donations to a highly effective charity instead of presents.
Volunteering: Consider volunteering your time to causes that align with the principles of effective altruism.
Ethical Shopping: Make conscious decisions about what you buy and don't buy, considering the impact of your purchases on others.
Invest in Learning: Set aside specific dates to learn more about how to make a difference effectively.
Consider Overhead Costs: When choosing a charity to support, don't just look at overhead costs. Consider the overall effectiveness and impact of the charity.
Embrace Uncertainty: Understand that some activities may have low odds of success but large potential payoffs. Be willing to pursue these activities over those with guaranteed smaller benefits.

Want a high quality book summary? Send us your wish!

Heard about a book? Check the summary!

Find more than 1 million summaries!

We are building a new experience around books!

Discover, discuss and engage with books in new ways, powered by AI! Become an early adopter to fight the global reading crisis.

Discover the Snackz AI catalogue

Science & Technology

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Power Systems

Lebensmittelhygiene

Wasserstoff in der Fahrzeugtechnik

Emerging Technologies in Food Science

Echtzeit-Praxis mit PEARL

Digital Innovation Playbook

Human Error

Merchants of Doubt

Methode zur Gestaltung zukunftsrobuster modularer Produktstrukturen aus Markt- und Produktionssicht

Sustainable Energy

Leadership & Management

Someday Is Today

Hyperfocus

The Productivity Project

How to Take Smart Notes

The 5 AM Club

Slow Productivity

The Science of Getting Started

Anleitung zur Selbstüberlistung

Hooked

The Power of Full Engagement

Politics

Economists4Future

A Court of Mist and Fury

Propaganda

Das Neue Land

Die Neue Welt

Cobalt Red

جامعه‌شناسى سىاسى

Wie hat Ihnen das Anthropozän bis jetzt gefallen?

Das erschöpfte Selbst

Machtmaschinen

Psychology

Tomorrowmind

Why Him? Why Her?

How We Learn

Illness as Symbol

Nudge

Warum es funkt – und wenn ja, bei wem

Selbstbestimmt leben

Kleine Philosophen

Der Sympathie-Schalter

The Paradox of Choice

Religion & Spirituality

The Triumphant Church

Preaching

The Tao of Love and Sex

The New Testament in Its World

Theories of Primitive Religion

Becoming Supernatural

L'Islam expliqué aux enfants (et à leurs parents)

Bhagavad Gita

"Me Grandad 'ad an Elephant!"

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Self-Help & Personal Development

Man Enough

Wired for Story

Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates

Rich Dad Poor Dad

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

The Anatomy of Peace

Working Identity

Wenn es hart auf hart kommt

Critical Thinking

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The right book at the right time will change your life.

Company

Privacy

Imprint

Cookie Settings

Get this books directly into your inbox!

✅ New Release

✅ Book Recommendation

✅ Book Summaries