Moral Ambition

‘Gives us hope, humour and guidance at a time when all are in short supply’ TIMOTHY SNYDER
‘The rare read that might actually help you become a better person’ ADAM GRANT

THE ANTIDOTE TO APATHY FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RUTGER BREGMAN

Every day we’re bombarded with methods, mantras and life hacks that promise us wellness and prosperity – while time and talent remain some of our most squandered resources. The average full-time worker will spend 80,000 hours at their job: are you making the most of them? Do you truly believe in what you do, day in, day out?

What if you want to do something more with your limited time on the planet?

Internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman shows us that with moral ambition – the will to make the world a wildly better place – we can be both idealistic and successful, and change the world along the way. Uncovering the qualities that made the great change-makers of history so effective, he shows how we too can lend our talents to the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to inequality to the next pandemic. With moral ambition, we can do more than be on the right side of history: we can make history itself.

This book won’t make your life easier, but it should make it more meaningful. The question is: what will you do with it?

His appeal is very much to the high-flyer, looking for a cause that will give the fullest moral satisfaction ... Yet he is also admirably realistic about the need to park one’s own desire for a certain kind of sainthood, to accept the need for ordinary self-care so as to avoid falling victim either to burnout or – worse – to one’s own mythology, and to remain clear about what measurable differences might look like ... Offers a bracingly hopeful perspective, insisting on the necessity of doing all you can to allow yourself to be sensitised and resensitised to that which eats away at the dignity not only of humanity but (an important element in Bregman’s argument) of the entire living environment Guardian
What an inspiring book! A tremendous trumpet call to clear our heads of the current inward looking obsessions with self-realisation and all those selfish life-coaching motivational goals, aims and targets that we are told will bring us happiness, and to think instead about satisfying that part of us that can make a difference to the world. And as Rutger Bregman brilliant demonstrates, that, in the end, is where our true happiness and fulfilment is most likely to be found in the first place -- Stephen Fry
Every now and then something tumbles from a brave mind and clangs at your feet like a full metal gauntlet. Moral Ambition is a book of weight, wit and incitement. There is something Socratic about Bregman. His works set off a mechanism that expands the readers ability to deal with and accept the vast and beautiful potential of humanity. I believe he calls himself a historian, he’s not. He’s a revolutionary in a sensible coat -- Russell Crowe
Rutger Bregman has become the voice in my head. A disruptive revolutionary armed with an actual, tangible plan. At last -- Jameela Jamil
Rutger Bregman’s latest work isn’t merely a book; it’s a call to action for humanity to reevaluate our paradigms of success and impact in the world. It serves as a stark wake-up call, urging us to truly utilise our talents to create the future we all wish to live in -- Trevor Noah
Rutger Bregman challenges the reader to use their lives to improve the world. A bracing but ultimately uplifting wake-up call for a culture increasingly drowning in distraction and consumption! -- Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of SLOW PRODUCTIVITY and DEEP WORK
"Find something worth doing" seems like sage advice for us all - and on this beleaguered planet, as this book makes clear, that means digging into the very biggest problems -- Bill McKibben
A life-changing book. It will lead you to re-evaluate your life - and radically raise your game. As soon as you finish it, you will want to buy it for everyone you love -- Johann Hari
There are many things to admire about this book. Just one of them is the way Rutger Bregman’s inspiring array of dedicated people who changed the world around them spans continents and centuries. Meeting them all, some of whom I had not known before, gave me hope — at a moment when we need that -- Adam Hochschild
Another barnstorming, transformative book by one of the greatest thinkers of the 21st century. It is uplifting, inspiring, informative and entertaining in equal measure. I defy you to read it and not be motivated to act -- George Monbiot
This book is the wakeup call that our world sorely needs. With his signature clarity and conviction, Rutger Bregman boldly and brilliantly challenges us to hold ourselves to higher standards – and do more for others. Moral Ambition is the rare read that might actually help you become a better person -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and HIDDEN POTENTIAL
Clear, brave, important and provocative. Forcing us to reassess and defend the most fundamental moral principles and purposes of our lives -- Rory Stewart
Fresh, lucid and persuasive, Moral Ambition gives us hope, humour and guidance at a time when all are in short supply. Bregman’s version of our century is ever so much better than the one around us, and so we should all read, consider and act -- Timothy Snyder
In Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman challenges us to rethink what we want to do with our lives. This practical and inspiring book is the best antidote to the pessimists and cynics who make you believe that nothing can be done about the problems we face today ... Imagine what we could achieve together if everyone read Rutger’s book! -- Max Roser
The key to solving our biggest problems isn’t just awareness, political will, or money – it’s ambitious individuals willing to dedicate their time and skills to improving the world. This book will inspire you to become one of them -- Boyan Slat
‘Not for the faint-hearted. But an essential guide for those who are determined to make a difference. Packed with powerful insights, inspiring stories, and data to back it up, Bregman challenges us to think and act bigger. Read it, then go out and change the world’ -- Hannah Ritchie
One of very few books in my life that has changed how I view the world (and my world, too!). It is a true bible of realistic idealism. It takes awareness of “getting things done” to a new level, with a dynamic invitation to up each of our games. This is a must read -- David Allen
Do you want to read a book about the most important decisions of your life? Rutger Bregman has produced that book and you should read it -- Tyler Cowen
A fierce and brilliant call to arms for anyone who has been wondering whether there's more to life. (There is.) Bregman wants to change you, and he just might succeed. This is a wonderfully dangerous book -- Tim Harford
A radically practical challenge to the footsoldiers of 21st-century capitalism Guardian
Moral Ambition is exactly the kind of book we need right now. Rutger Bregman challenges us to rethink success – not as wealth or status, but as impact and contribution. If you’ve ever felt like your talents could be put to better use, this book is your wake-up call. Read it, reflect on it, and most importantly – act on it
Moral Ambition offers a refreshing antidote to both cynical fatalism and naive idealism. If you’re willing to trade a life of comfort for a life of meaning, Rutger Bregman is your guide and this book is your map -- Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE POWER OF REGRET, DRIVE and WHEN
A beautiful and courageous book about one of the most important questions each of us will face: what will we do with our one life? Rutger Bregman calls for a seismic norm shift in how those of us with the privilege to consider our career choices think about where we put our greatest resources – our time and energy -- Wendy Knopp, founder of Teach America
A new look at how to make the world a better place, guided by reason, balance and engaging case studies. Bregman avoids easy moralizing and lazy conventional wisdom to offer a fresh and practical guide to idealism -- Steven Pinker, Harvard Professor and author of ENLIGHTENMENT NOW
A terrific read ... With Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman has pulled off something remarkable: a lively and entertaining read that is full of important wisdom about some of life's most important questions. I hope everyone who wants to make the world a better place will read it -- Peter Singer, professor of bioethics, emeritus, Princeton University and author of ANIMAL LIBERATION and THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE
We have come to accept so many things as normal – skyrocketing inequalities, gargantuan firms ruling our lives, virtue signaling on social media instead of democratic participation, all of us just worrying about our image while the world is on fire. We need to dream of and articulate to each other an alternative vision for a society in which we have control over our lives and can still speak truth to power via the democratic process and free media. I hope this readable, audacious book calling for greater moral ambition can be a first step -- Daron Acemoglu, Professor at MIT an winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics 2024
Do you want to use your talents and ideals to make a meaningful difference? Here is an inspiring and powerful call to action: why pursuing an altruistic career is not only vital for our shared future but can also bring you deeper personal fulfillment and happiness -- Princess Mabel of Orange

Rutger Bregman, a historian and writer, is one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers. His books Humankind and Utopia for Realists were both Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers. His work has been translated into 46 languages and has sold over two million copies. He lives in New York City.

@rcbregman | rutgerbregman.com

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