How to be Perfect

From the brilliant mind behind the award-winning Netflix series The Good Place, which transformed moral philosophy into entertainment, comes How to Be Perfect, a witty and insightful guide to making ethical decisions. Written by Mike Schur, known for his exceptional writing and producing skills, this book crafts a roadmap for navigating the most challenging and mundane moral dilemmas of everyday life.

How to Be Perfect begins by delving into the fundamental question: How can we live a more ethical life? This inquiry has troubled humanity for millennia, yet it’s become increasingly difficult to answer amid the complexities of modern living. In a world inundated with both significant and trivial challenges, we're often paralysed by the fear of unintended consequences and impossible choices.

Being ethical isn't a once-a-month effort; it’s a perpetual endeavour that demands daily thought, introspection, and hard work. With this perceptive and humorous book, Schur breaks down the perplexing nuances of ethical living. Through a series of engaging real-life scenarios—ranging from "Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?" to "Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people?"—he offers valuable guidance on how to confront and resolve ethical dilemmas.

Much like Chidi Anagonye used humour and philosophy to guide Eleanor Shellstrop toward less selfish behaviour in The Good Place, Schur takes readers on a journey through 2,500 years of ethical discourse. By exploring various philosophical perspectives and boiling them down into comprehensible and relatable lessons, he provides a comprehensive ethical roadmap.

By the end of the book, readers will not attain perfection or unparalleled moral superiority. Instead, they will acquire fresh, funny, and inspiring wisdom to tackle the toughest ethical issues that confront them daily. The ultimate takeaway is not about achieving ethical perfection but about understanding and improving our moral actions incrementally.

Contributions from Professor Todd May of Clemson University, who also served as an advisor on The Good Place, enrich the book with profound insights and expertise. Together, Schur and May offer a brilliant, clever, and thoroughly entertaining exploration of one of the most crucial topics in the world today.

'An absolute breeze to read; funny and enlightening and revealing' – Guardian

'Enormously enjoyable, useful and readable' – The Times

How to Be Perfect is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate the complex waters of moral decisions with a clearer conscience and a lighter heart. And remember, as Tahani Al-Jamil from The Good Place wisely noted, 'The problem is, if all you care about in the world is the velvet rope, you will always be unhappy, no matter which side you're on.'