Targeted social media advertising to give away high-value books
Effective Altruism, Values and Reflective Processes, Epistemic Institutions
Books are a high-fidelity means of spreading ideas. We think that high-value books are those that promote the safeguarding and flourishing of humanity and all sentient life, using evidence and reason. Many of the most valuable books have come out of the Effective Altruism (EA) movement over the last decade. We are keen for more people who want to maximize the good they do to read them. Offering those most likely to be interested in EA ideas free high-value books via targeted adverts on social media could be a highly cost effective means of growing the EA movement in a values-preserving manner. Examples of target demographics are people interested in charity and volunteering, technology, or veg*anism. Examples of books that could be offered are The Life You Can Save, Doing Good Better, The Precipice, Human Compatible, The End of Animal Farming. Perhaps a list of books could be offered, with people being allowed to chose any one.
One related idea might be to offer the books with a heavy discount. Historically, I’m much more likely to read a book if it pops up on my kindle like this: 10€ 0.99€, compared to books that are given away for free. Maybe book vendors are open to accept a subsidy to lower the price of EA books?
This was inspired by Ryan Carey’s books in Library idea, and the trend of EA book giveaways to various groups (such as those attending EA Cambridge’s AGI Safety Fundamentals course).
Targeted social media advertising to give away high-value books
Effective Altruism, Values and Reflective Processes, Epistemic Institutions
Books are a high-fidelity means of spreading ideas. We think that high-value books are those that promote the safeguarding and flourishing of humanity and all sentient life, using evidence and reason. Many of the most valuable books have come out of the Effective Altruism (EA) movement over the last decade. We are keen for more people who want to maximize the good they do to read them. Offering those most likely to be interested in EA ideas free high-value books via targeted adverts on social media could be a highly cost effective means of growing the EA movement in a values-preserving manner. Examples of target demographics are people interested in charity and volunteering, technology, or veg*anism. Examples of books that could be offered are The Life You Can Save, Doing Good Better, The Precipice, Human Compatible, The End of Animal Farming. Perhaps a list of books could be offered, with people being allowed to chose any one.
One related idea might be to offer the books with a heavy discount. Historically, I’m much more likely to read a book if it pops up on my kindle like this:
10€0.99€, compared to books that are given away for free. Maybe book vendors are open to accept a subsidy to lower the price of EA books?This was inspired by Ryan Carey’s books in Library idea, and the trend of EA book giveaways to various groups (such as those attending EA Cambridge’s AGI Safety Fundamentals course).