Better, Not Perfect: A Realist's Guide to Maximum Sustainable Goodness

*** Distinguished Winner for the Responsible Research in Management Award ***

Negotiation and decision-making expert Max Bazerman explores how we can make more ethical choices by aspiring to be better, not perfect.

Every day, you make hundreds of decisions. They’re largely personal, but these choices have an ethical twinge as well; they value certain principles and ends over others. Bazerman argues that we can better balance both dimensions—and we needn’t seek perfection to make a real difference for ourselves and the world.

Better, Not Perfect provides a deeply researched, prescriptive roadmap for how to maximize our pleasure and minimize pain. Bazerman shares a framework to be smarter and more efficient, honest and aware—to attain your “maximum sustainable goodness.” In Part Two, he identifies four training grounds to practice these newfound skills for outsized impact: how you think about equality and your tribe(s); waste—from garbage to corporate excess; the way you spend time; and your approach to giving—whether your attention or your money. Ready to nudge yourself toward better, Part Three trains your eye on how to extend what you’ve learned and positively influence others.

Melding philosophy and psychology as never before, this down-to-earth guide will help clarify your goals, assist you in doing more good with your limited time on the planet, and see greater satisfaction in the process.

How can we overcome the hidden psychological traps that sabotage our best intentions?

• Moral Decision Making: Learn a practical system that merges insights from philosophy and psychology to help you make better, not perfect, choices every day.
• System 1 and System 2 Thinking: Move beyond gut reactions (System 1) to more deliberate reasoning (System 2) with a prescriptive roadmap for life's most important moments.
• Wise Trade-offs: Discover how to analyze trade-offs not just for yourself, but for your organization and society, turning conflicts into opportunities for value creation.
• Effective Altruism: Find out how to make your charitable giving and personal efforts more impactful, ensuring your good intentions lead to the best possible outcomes.