[ssprang]

"The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty" by Peter Singer. After reading this I dramatically increased the amount of money that I donate and began supporting several new charities.

"Lying" by Sam Harris. This is really just a long essay, but it changed the way I think about communication. It convinced me that honesty really is the best policy.

[a3n]

> After reading this I dramatically increased the amount of money that I donate and began supporting several new charities.

I've been in a dilemma for years about this. I look at the world and how systemically fucked up it is for so many people, and feeding the charity machine seems so indirect and ineffective. Although I do acknowledge that charities probably do improve peoples' lives in a band-aid sense.

As old as I am, I'm still emotionally a teenager and would like to figure out a way to wipe out war and poverty and intolerance. I wish I knew ...

[ssprang]

Singer's book talks about finding and supporting effective charities. Here's one I now support that seems pretty direct: https://www.fistulafoundation.org

It also made me rethink what I am doing with my life/career. Is creating apps for well-off people with iPads the best use of my time? Is getting rich and donating most of your wealth a good strategy? What's the biggest problem I can personally solve?

I'm still trying to figure it out.

[ozziegooen]

One group that's spending some attention to this is 80,000 Hours, a group that Peter Singer recommended. They are researching and advising people on how to do as much good as possible through their careers.

There are quite a few people doing "Earning to Give", or earning as much money as possible and giving away 10-60% of it to the most efficient known causes. One can do quite a bit of good this way, it's actually quite difficult compete in the direct work you do.

Disclaimer: I'm currently doing an internship here. Think their take is quite unique in this way though. http://80000hours.org/blog