Edited by Julia Hanna and Jen McFarland Flint; illustrations by Rose Wong

In every life there is room to improve—particularly if we redirect our efforts in the direction of greater good for all beings. Professor Max Bazerman’s new book, Better, Not Perfect: A Realist’s Guide to Maximum Sustainable Goodness, draws on research from the fields of philosophy, psychology, behavioral research, and the concepts of effective altruism to outline a set of actions that we can embark on immediately to make next year better than last.

Start saying no.

When he turned 50, Bazerman gave himself the gift of bowing out of certain faculty meetings in which he no longer felt that he was adding value (and where it was socially acceptable to do so). He also stepped down from the editorial boards of four prestigious academic journals and, with them, the task of peer-reviewing scores of academic papers. We all have to find ways to be good citizens of the world, he says, but if we say yes to every request of our time, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to create more value.

Give smarter.

To make the most of your charitable gifts, try to stay firm in the face of the heart-tugging appeals that arrive in the mail unannounced. “People make wiser decisions when they are deliberative, rather than when they are following their gut instincts,” he says. Instead, to ensure the greatest impact, Bazerman and his spouse put a date on the calendar at the end of the year to discuss their charitable-giving goals and map those across organizations and interests.

Venture outside your tribe.

Giving time or money in service of those who share a common trait or identity with us—whether religion, ethnicity, nationality, or even alumni status—can exacerbate inequalities in the world and, at times, cause as much harm as overt racism, Bazerman says. Even as most of us would agree that equality for all is good, tribalism can threaten our ability to do anything about it. “Biological and social factors pressure us to do more to try to alleviate the pain experienced by our family members, and perhaps those in our community, city, our country, than the pain of outsiders,” he says. We can increase our aggregate good in the world by redirecting our intentions to support people farther afield who are struggling with basic human needs.

Max Bazerman is the Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration. His research focuses on negotiation, behavioral economics, and ethics.

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