I have been following historian Rutger Bregman for a while now and had enjoyed his previous books including Utopia for Realists and Humankind: A Hopeful History and so was interested in his follow up Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference. In my review for Utopia I stated that Bregman doesn't pretend to be a man of destiny with all the answers but he does present some intriguing counter-points to illusory truths. So, would Moral Ambition follow this trend?
From the outset, Bregman challenges the conventional pursuit of personal happiness, epitomized by the 30-year meditator Matthieu Richard, by asking a crucial question: ‘What did he do for the world?’ This sets the stage for a compelling argument that true meaning and legacy are found not in self-absorption, but in addressing global challenges.
Bregman introduces the concept of ‘Moral Ambition’ as the drive to dedicate one's working life – a precious 80,000 hours – to solving the world's most pressing problems, from climate change to future pandemics. He insightfully categorizes professional aspirations, illustrating how many fall short of this ideal. There are those trapped in ‘bullshit jobs,’ writing reports no one reads or managing unneeded personnel, their roles exposed as superfluous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then there are the ‘ambitious but not idealistic,’ individuals who strive for personal success measured by superficial metrics like a corner office or a large salary. Bregman laments how some of the brightest minds are drawn to industries like finance or tech, where their efforts are channeled into optimizing ‘clicks’ rather than societal good. A third group comprises the ‘idealistic but not ambitious,’ who desire to help the world but primarily through local efforts or personal choices. Bregman sees this as a ‘Gen Z mentality’—a generation with strong ideals but often lacking the means or knowledge to become agents of large-scale change, preferring the passive ‘Love. Live. Laugh’ ethos over active engagement. The pinnacle, and the focus of Bregman's advocacy, are the ‘idealistic and ambitious’—individuals who actively seek to change the world and work tirelessly towards their goals, exemplified by the unwavering commitment of abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.
Bregman then delves into the practicalities of fostering moral ambition, suggesting that extraordinary acts are not exclusive to ‘Hero genes.’ In Lower Your Threshold to Take Action, he argues that such acts often stem from individuals being asked to step up, witnessing the impact of their actions, and then being compelled to do more. This snowball effect, he believes, is how revolutions are born. Further emphasizing the power of collective action, Join a Cult (or Start Your Own) champions the influence of small, committed groups, echoing Margaret Mead's famous saying. Bregman highlights figures and organizations from the Quakers to modern technologists, though he shrewdly notes that being "on the right side of history" doesn't automatically equate to successfully instigating change.
The complexities of achieving impact are further explored in See Winning as a Moral Duty. Here, Bregman examines the Overton Window concept—how radical ideas can become mainstream—and critically analyzes the pitfalls of well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective actions, such as Ralph Nader's presidential run that inadvertently led to an undesirable outcome. He highlights the often counterproductive nature of ‘noble losers’ and the ‘whataboutism’ and ‘quest for purity’ that can splinter protest movements. Bregman observes a striking increase in protest groups since 2006, yet notes a disheartening lack of legislative change, advocating for long-term, organized efforts over fleeting bursts of activity. This underscores his belief that surface-level awareness often fails to translate into tangible policy shifts.
The book truly shines when Bregman presents compelling examples of moral ambition in action. Learn to Weep Over Spreadsheets tells the inspiring story of Rob Mather, who leveraged meticulous organization and entrepreneurial spirit to transform a simple Mumsnet fundraising swim into the Anti-Malaria Fund, which became the world's largest organization tackling the disease, responsible for donating over 600 million nets and eradicating malaria in some regions.
Similarly, Enrol at a Hogwarts for Do-Gooders introduces Joey Savoie’s Charity Entrepreneurship, an organization dedicated to maximizing impact and efficiency by training morally ambitious students to create projects with measurable outcomes. Bregman also celebrates scientific breakthroughs driven by moral ambition, from immunizations for smallpox and polio to the recent malaria vaccine, contrasting these with the private sector's tendency to capitalize on life-saving innovations with exorbitant markups.
However, Bregman does not shy away from the ethical complexities. In Save a Life. Now only $4,999, he confronts the uncomfortable ethical dilemma posed by Peter Singer: if one would save a drowning child at the cost of new shoes, why do we not donate to causes that prevent diseases like measles or malaria, which cost a similar amount to prevent? Bregman attributes this empathy fatigue to the overwhelming scale of global misery. He critically examines certain interpretations of ‘Effective Altruism,’ which encourages high-paying jobs to maximize donations, but questions its ethics when such jobs involve practices like tax havens, effectively perpetuating the very systems they claim to alleviate. He draws a historical parallel to medieval indulgences, suggesting a similar self-serving loophole.
Expand Your Moral Circle challenges the notion that any single society holds the pinnacle of ethics, asserting that while societal norms evolve, some fundamentals remain universally abhorrent. Bregman acknowledges the difficulty of judging historical figures by contemporary standards, yet points out that even enlightened individuals of the past held views now considered abhorrent. He cautions against the self-congratulatory belief that one would have been an abolitionist in the past, highlighting the significant social and professional costs of being a ‘moral pioneer.’ Instead, he advocates for finding like-minded individuals to collectively drive change. To guide aspiring moral trailblazers, Bregman provides six ‘alarm bells’ for identifying morally questionable practices: rumbling protests, justifications of practices as ‘normal, natural, and necessary’ without detailed defense, avoidance of unpleasant facts, angry responses to moral ambition, difficulty explaining the position to children, and consideration of how future generations will view the practice. He uses factory farming as a compelling example where all these alarm bells ring true, particularly in light of emerging technologies like stem cell meat production. This point resonates strongly in the current global climate, as evidenced by Bregman's own public stance on the ongoing Palestine conflict, acknowledging the difficulty of speaking out against widely accepted narratives.
Finally, in Make Future Historians Proud, Bregman addresses chronocentrism, conceding that humanity indeed faces unique and very interesting times due to three existential threats: nuclear war, AI, and lab-created pathogens. He concludes with an urgent call to action, emphasizing that despite immense challenges and limited resources, many of these problems are solvable through a ‘coalition of the willing,’ urging readers to aim for moonshots rather than succumbing to despair.
Moral Ambition is a powerful, inspiring, and challenging read that urges individuals to not just live, but to live meaningfully, by actively contributing to a better world. It's a book that will make you rethink your career, your consumption habits, and your role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.
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