Scan barcode
prehistoricpotatoes's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Very practical. A great use of maths and reasoning. I learnt a lot about economics, and it was accessible, even if annoying when repetitive sometimes.
I wish the author was more informed about cancers (being not one single disease), about ecology (biodiversity crisis being just as dire as climate change, and a related but distinct issue), and non-animal-welfare related vegetarianism (biodiversity, climate, and also how factory farming’s solution isn’t as simple as increasing animal welfare, this would be dire for land use!).
Overall I will be recommending this book, with these caveats, as its structure and reasoning are practical and mindset shifting I think.
I wish the author was more informed about cancers (being not one single disease), about ecology (biodiversity crisis being just as dire as climate change, and a related but distinct issue), and non-animal-welfare related vegetarianism (biodiversity, climate, and also how factory farming’s solution isn’t as simple as increasing animal welfare, this would be dire for land use!).
Overall I will be recommending this book, with these caveats, as its structure and reasoning are practical and mindset shifting I think.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
Listened via Hoopla. Really good for re-orienting your perspective on charitable giving and making sure your money is being used to alleviate the most pain. I think there is still place to donate to causes that might not do quite as much. But definitely good to read.
mforde's review against another edition
3.0
While the concept behind this book is really interesting, it feels like it would have been more impactful as an essay or a concise report as opposed to an entire book. However it was an easy and thought-provoking read nonetheless.
algorithm0392's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve been reading around the margins of effective altruism for a while, and figured it was about time to see what it is really about - especially given recent news with FTX and SBF, with its entanglements with the EA cause and leaders like Will MacAskill.
Doing Good Better does a good job establishing a framework for motivated do-goodness, which I largely agree with, even if I disagree with some of the conclusions — earn to give, presented here, as well as longtermism.
Having gone a more non-traditional career path and working in the nonprofit and government worlds, I’ve been trying to formulate and refine a thesis for change. While I don’t agree with many EA conclusions, it’s a helpful foil for refining my own worldview.
Aside from the conclusions I don’t see eye to eye on, perhaps even more off putting is the condescension and haughtiness the book and many EA adherents adopt as their primary tone, as if they alone lay claim to the one true way. There’s not a lot of intellectual humility.
Doing Good Better does a good job establishing a framework for motivated do-goodness, which I largely agree with, even if I disagree with some of the conclusions — earn to give, presented here, as well as longtermism.
Having gone a more non-traditional career path and working in the nonprofit and government worlds, I’ve been trying to formulate and refine a thesis for change. While I don’t agree with many EA conclusions, it’s a helpful foil for refining my own worldview.
Aside from the conclusions I don’t see eye to eye on, perhaps even more off putting is the condescension and haughtiness the book and many EA adherents adopt as their primary tone, as if they alone lay claim to the one true way. There’s not a lot of intellectual humility.