Basic Books What We Owe the Future

Loved the book! It takes you to history, then talks about how important it is for us to make valuable decisions for a better future.

I loved this book. MacAskill entwines rigorous arguments with compelling metaphors to promote a profoundly important idea: we can make the future go better, and we should. It’s filled with rich, relevant and persuasive historical examples, grounding his philosophical arguments in the real world. It’s a book for people who are curious to learn, but also motivated to act — I strongly recommend it. My full review and summary of what I learned, and the questions it made me ask, is available here

Väldigt intressant och tänkvärt för framtiden. Köpte även som ljudbok vilken läses av författaren.

Um livro importantíssimo que detalha não só o que vai ser necessário que façamos nos próximos anos e decadas (e séculos), como também por quê deveríamos pra começo de conversa. Ele detalha os principais problemas no horizonte da humanidade, suas causas, suas consequências, e eventualmente suas possíveis soluções de uma maneira que não é excessivamente fixa no que atualmente sabemos - o autor sabe que muitas das certezas que temos atualmente podem vir a mudar num futuro próximo ou distante, e oferece uma visão mais ampla de acordo. Apesar do tom que se espera de um assunto assim, a mensagem principal do livro é otimista; ele toca bastante no assunto do altruismo efetivo, que deixa bem claro que há muito que podemos fazer para alterar essas trajetórias extremamente preocupantes, desde pequenas ações a escolhas de carreira.

THIS BOOK IS ACTUALLY 1 STAR JUST GIVING IT 5 FOR VISIBILITY. I really had high hopes for this book. The cover sells you on a book that tells of the current problems facing our world, making you believe you'll be presented with facts, and would look to offer enlightening solutions to said pressing problems. Instead, we got a book that's basically the author's opinions being forced on people, that are wrong to boot. For example, the author argues that bringing people into this world and giving birth is fundamentally a good thing. How? When humans are responsible for the massive destruction of our world? Ruining of ecosystems, the killing of billions of animals per year? Like, I don't understand how you can hold this view even though he knows these atrocities as he describes them in the book. Plus, the reasoning he gives isn't strong enough to justify his view. Oh, we need to sustain current populations instead the world will collapse? Like, so?? As well, he talks about technological stagnation leading to the ending of civilization, and that AI is the solution. This doesn't fully make sense because firstly, as long as we reach net-zero/negative in the coming years then civilization can continue to sustain itself even if we don't advance technologically. Secondly, why is AI seen as the silver bullet and not other forms of technological advancement? The book is just a mess and a lot of it is common sense, although I'm happy with the ending which encourages you to be the change you see in the world, and that it is possible to do things to be that change to influence people. It was inspiring and motivating, but that doesn't cancel the countless flaws of this book. Although to be fair they were some good points and terminologies in here like persistence, contingency, significance, and some others, but it just feels like he put down his thoughts and opinions in a book and gave it to people for $40. Then lied by creating an alluding cover. Anyways, I'm giving this book 5 stars only so that people can read the review. Go down to the 1-star reviews where people actually explain in depth why this book is garbage.