Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism by Dr William MacAskill - Non Fiction - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781783350513
Publisher: Guardian Faber Publishing
Age Range: Adult / 16+

Overview:
Doing Good Better by Dr William MacAskill is a landmark work of popular philosophy that founded the effective altruism movement. Written for anyone who wants their charitable giving, career choices, or ethical consumer habits to have real, measurable impact, it replaces guesswork and good intentions with hard evidence and rigorous economic thinking. MacAskill, a young Oxford moral philosopher, uses vivid case studies to show why some well-meaning acts of generosity do little good, while others save lives at astonishingly low cost, offering readers a practical framework for maximising the difference they make.

About the Book:
Doing Good Better opens by questioning assumptions many of us hold about charity, volunteering and ethical shopping, showing through careful data analysis why intuition often leads us astray. MacAskill introduces the core toolkit of effective altruism: assessing how many people are affected by a problem, how severely, and how cost-effectively it can be solved, before comparing this against the counterfactual impact of alternative actions. He walks readers through striking examples, such as why funding anti-malarial bed nets can outperform many higher-profile causes, and why buying sweatshop-made products is not always the ethical villain it first appears. The book also tackles bigger lifestyle questions, including whether to pursue an ethical career directly or to earn a high salary and donate strategically, a concept MacAskill terms "earning to give." Chapters on animal welfare, climate change, and global health broaden the discussion into everyday consumer and career decisions. Throughout, the tone stays accessible rather than academic, blending philosophy, economics, and psychology with real anecdotes from aid organisations and charity evaluators. Readers come away with transferable questions they can apply to any decision about doing good, which is part of what has made the book so influential among students, professionals, and philanthropists alike.

Key Benefits:

• Introduces the influential effective altruism movement in clear, jargon-free language.
• Provides practical tools for evaluating charities and causes using cost-effectiveness data.
• Challenges common assumptions about ethical consumerism, sweatshops, and fair trade.
• Explores career choice and "earning to give" as a route to greater impact.
• Ideal for readers interested in philosophy, economics, global development, or social impact.
• A thought-provoking gift for anyone who wants their generosity to go further.

About the Author:
Dr William MacAskill is a moral philosopher and one of the co-founders of the effective altruism movement. A former Oxford academic, he has spent over a decade researching how individuals can use their time, money, and careers to do the most good possible. MacAskill helped establish organisations including Giving What We Can and 80,000 Hours, which advise donors and professionals on high-impact giving and careers. His clear, evidence-based approach to ethics has made him a widely respected voice in contemporary philosophy and philanthropy circles worldwide.

Why You'll Love This Book:
Doing Good Better turns vague good intentions into a genuinely actionable framework, making it essential reading for anyone who wants their charity, purchases, or career to have real, lasting impact.

Please Note: Cover design may vary slightly from the image shown; you will receive the current UK paperback edition with the ISBN listed above.