Michael Shur, creator of (among other comedies shows) The Good Place, has applied the research he performed to write that series and laid it out, in layperson’s terms, in How To Be Perfect.
This non-fiction book, which I digested in Audiobook format read by Shur himself, was an informative (if surface-level) look into the world of ethical and moral philosophy. It’s peppered with funny asides and illustrative anecdotes throughout, with quotes by notable philosophers read by members of The Good Place cast.
Shur sets out concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, randian objectivism and others with skill and clarity. Each chapter builds on the concepts unpacked in earlier pages, allowing the reader to keep pace as the topics become progressively more interlinked and concepts are built up through the pages. Helped by a philosophy professor, he tackles the classic Trolley Problem before continuing onto an entire chapter to answer the question “Do I have to return my shopping cart to the shopping cart rack thingy?” (in short: yes).
He also introduces the phrase ‘moral exhaustion’ to the lexicon, which so accurately describes my life as a millennial striving to be ethical in a complex society that it hurts.
“Every day we are confronted with dozens of moral and ethical decisions. There’s an environmentally “best” toothpaste we should buy, an “ideal” length of time we should leave the water running when we shower, a “most ethical” car to drive, and a “better” option than driving at all. There’s a “more responsible” way to shop for groceries, a “worst” social media company we definitely shouldn’t use, a “most reprehensible” pro sports franchise owner we shouldn’t support, and a “most labor-friendly” clothing company we should. There are expensive solar panels we should put on our roofs, low-flow toilets we should install, and media outlets we shouldn’t patronize because they stiff our journalists.”
Currently, my inner ethical turmoil centers around dental floss. After much research, I found a highly regarded earth-friendly dental floss to replace my classic Colgate landfill-bound tape… and it SUCKS. What do?!?! (I realise this is not an earth-shattering moral quandary, but it still bothers me…)
This is not my first foray into ethics and moral philosophy, having taken subjects on both at university. Had those subjects been taught with the same enthusiasm and levity that Shur tackles the subjects in this book, I may have taken those studies further.
While some may find Shur’s prose juvenile and off-putting, I really like his comedy brand so the conversational style and casual lingo worked for me. Though basic, it is nonetheless enjoyable and informative. If you enjoyed The Good Place, you’ll enjoy this book.
All in all, 4 Free Cheese Samples out of 5.
