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92 reviews for:
The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically
Peter Singer
3.69 AVERAGE
92 reviews for:
The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically
Peter Singer
3.69 AVERAGE
‘Peter Singer’s status as a man of principles and towering intellect—a philosopher extraordinaire, if you will—is unrivalled in Australia.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Peter Singer is a public intellectual par excellence.’
Monthly
‘Peter Singer may be the most controversial philosopher alive; he is certainly among the most influential.’
New Yorker
‘Forty years on from Animal Liberation, Peter Singer is still challenging our complacency with his advocacy for new ideas and movements…In clear prose, Singer weaves effective altruism into a timely and convincing ideology.’
Books+Publishing
‘Singer makes a strong case for a simple idea—that each of us has a tremendous opportunity to help others with our abilities, time and money. The Most Good You Can Do is an optimistic and compelling look at the positive impact that giving can have on the world.’
Bill and Melinda Gates
‘The Most Good You Can Do is an important book. Reading it may change your life and save someone else’s.’
Australian Book Review
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Peter Singer is a public intellectual par excellence.’
Monthly
‘Peter Singer may be the most controversial philosopher alive; he is certainly among the most influential.’
New Yorker
‘Forty years on from Animal Liberation, Peter Singer is still challenging our complacency with his advocacy for new ideas and movements…In clear prose, Singer weaves effective altruism into a timely and convincing ideology.’
Books+Publishing
‘Singer makes a strong case for a simple idea—that each of us has a tremendous opportunity to help others with our abilities, time and money. The Most Good You Can Do is an optimistic and compelling look at the positive impact that giving can have on the world.’
Bill and Melinda Gates
‘The Most Good You Can Do is an important book. Reading it may change your life and save someone else’s.’
Australian Book Review
'The Most Good You Can Do' doesn't suffer from the complexities of moral philosophy, which can be off-putting to some readers. The thesis-that of Effective Altruism- is presented with a high level of clarity and many vibrant practical examples.
Given enough time, I think a counter can be made to what is put forth here. But the book's goal isn't to prop up a doctrine and invite attacks from the academia. Its motives are far nobler. The book does prop up a doctrine, but it is for people to consider than to attack.
There is also the escapist element present. In this greedy Capitalist world, there is great comfort in reading about people giving up on a certain level of comfort. It seems unreal in many ways. And it does good to the reader. One might not be compelled to donate at the same level as some of the people mentioned in the book do, but it does make the reader question if they can't donate more.
The book doesn't stop there. It presents great sources to the reader so that they can make most of their donations. Every aspect of altruism is discussed to an extent. This discussion yields some moral conundrums for the reader to consider. Although slim in size, Peter Singer offers a lot in this book.
Given enough time, I think a counter can be made to what is put forth here. But the book's goal isn't to prop up a doctrine and invite attacks from the academia. Its motives are far nobler. The book does prop up a doctrine, but it is for people to consider than to attack.
There is also the escapist element present. In this greedy Capitalist world, there is great comfort in reading about people giving up on a certain level of comfort. It seems unreal in many ways. And it does good to the reader. One might not be compelled to donate at the same level as some of the people mentioned in the book do, but it does make the reader question if they can't donate more.
The book doesn't stop there. It presents great sources to the reader so that they can make most of their donations. Every aspect of altruism is discussed to an extent. This discussion yields some moral conundrums for the reader to consider. Although slim in size, Peter Singer offers a lot in this book.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
dark
fast-paced
I think I thought this book would be more helpful than it was. I did gain a deeper insight of effective altruism though and it certainly challenged me with where I use my money.
This is a weird book. Peter Singer tries to take advantage of the effective altruism movement to advocate for utilitarian ideas normally not associated with EA, like veganism and preventing human extinction. (The core novel EA idea, from what I've seen, is "earning to give"--earning as much money as possible so you can donate to effective charities.) While I generally agree with his philosophy, the book is a bit unfocused since it's half trying to convince you to give to the poor and half going deep into his philosophy about what is good. If you're looking for an inspiring book about doing good, read the first few chapters of this book then switch to either The Life You Can Save (his earlier book about giving) or A Path Appears (a bit less focused on doing "the most good" but still exciting).
I am excited to read his purely philosophical books, though, having had a taste of his philosophy and finding it very compelling.
I am excited to read his purely philosophical books, though, having had a taste of his philosophy and finding it very compelling.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced