I don’t know that I’m the kind of person OP is thinking of, but beyond opportunity cost there’s also a question of reportorial distance/objectivity. I’ve thought a lot about whether to do a project like this and one sticking point is (a) I identify as an EA (b) I donate to GiveWell and signed the GWWC pledge (c) many of my friends are EAs, so I’m not sure any book I produce would be perceived as having sufficient credibility among non-EA readers.
I’d encourage you to consider taking it on. Even if identifying as an EA would reduce the credibility for outsiders, I’m sure whatever you produced would be a wonderful starting point for anyone else tackling it down the line.
Definitely agree with Chris here! Worst case scenario, you create useful material for someone else who tackles it down the line, best case scenario, you write the whole thing yourself.
I don’t know that I’m the kind of person OP is thinking of, but beyond opportunity cost there’s also a question of reportorial distance/objectivity. I’ve thought a lot about whether to do a project like this and one sticking point is (a) I identify as an EA (b) I donate to GiveWell and signed the GWWC pledge (c) many of my friends are EAs, so I’m not sure any book I produce would be perceived as having sufficient credibility among non-EA readers.
I’d encourage you to consider taking it on. Even if identifying as an EA would reduce the credibility for outsiders, I’m sure whatever you produced would be a wonderful starting point for anyone else tackling it down the line.
People enjoyed reading Winston Churchill’s history of the war and he was hardly a neutral observer! Pretty clear which side he wanted to win.
See also: Thomas Young’s history of abolitionism, Friedrich Engels’ history of Marxism.
I’d also say take it on. Someone objective can always rewrite it later, but if we don’t save it now we could lose a lot.
Definitely agree with Chris here! Worst case scenario, you create useful material for someone else who tackles it down the line, best case scenario, you write the whole thing yourself.