Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference

William MacAskill presents a data-driven framework for making ethical decisions based on the principles of effective altruism. He argues that charitable efforts should be measured by their impact per dollar, using the Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) metric to compare disparate causes. The text examines why standard donor instincts often fail, such as the tendency to fund disaster relief over chronic disease prevention. MacAskill details specific high-impact interventions like distributing insecticide-treated bednets and deworming treatments, while analyzing how professional career choices and personal consumption influence global welfare.

This book is intended for individuals who want to maximize the utility of their donations and career paths. Readers who prefer analytical reasoning over emotional appeals use these chapters to identify which non-profit organizations yield the highest measurable results. By the end, the reader possesses a toolkit for calculating cost-effectiveness and understanding the marginal impact of their time and money. They walk away with a scientific approach to generosity that prioritizes evidence and logic to reduce human suffering.