“As someone who worries that a deep dive into morality will ruin my fun and problematic life, I was certain this book wouldn't be for me. Like The Good Place, this is a humorous and thought-provoking journey into some of life’s hardest questions.” - Kirkus (starred review) “eartfelt and funny…a relatable and consistently amusing introduction to practical philosophy. “Schur distills what he has learned about ethics into How to Be Perfect, an enjoyable next step for anyone who watched the series and for anyone else who wants to learn about moral philosophy while avoiding the usual dry earnestness…The narrative voice is not that of a gentle professor but of a slightly manic bar-room joker who is actually funny and genuinely excited to share his passion with anyone who will listen.one of the most accessible entry points to philosophical ethics available-in short, a very good place to start.” - The Wall Street Journal Instead, we’ll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every day.

We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. By the time the book is done, we’ll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. Such as: Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people? How much money should I give to charity? Why bother being good at all when there are no consequences for being bad? And much more. Schur starts off with easy ethical questions like “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” (No.) and works his way up to the most complex moral issues we all face. With bright wit and deep insight, How to Be Perfect explains concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, and more so we can sound cool at parties and become better people. Fortunately, many smart philosophers have been pondering this conundrum for millennia and they have guidance for us. Most people think of themselves as “good,” but it’s not always easy to determine what’s “good” or “bad”-especially in a world filled with complicated choices and pitfalls and booby traps and bad advice. From the creator of The Good Place and the cocreator of Parks and Recreation, a hilarious, thought-provoking guide to living an ethical life, drawing on 2,400 years of deep thinking from around the world.

How to be perfect by michael schur