Reading List

The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.

Why you should donate blood, briefly explained

Donating money isn’t the only way you can help people. You can also give your blood.  Although approximately 62 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, only 3 percent do so each year. But someone needs blood every few seconds in the US. While the average red blood cell transfusion is about three units, […]

Giving Tuesday, explained

Giving Tuesday — the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the internationally recognized day to contribute to charity — is upon us. This year, it falls on December 2. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has always been the kickoff event of the holiday shopping season and one of the biggest shopping days of the year. […]

How to break free of “money dysmorphia” — and 3 other tips on generosity

As the writer of an ethical advice column, I get a lot of questions from people who really want to do good in the world but are running into problems. They want to know how to give charity — and how to do it optimally. They want to know if they should be pressuring their parents […]

The Case for Growth

For the past few years, American politics have been organized around a simple, unnerving feeling: Life is getting too expensive, and no one seems to know what to do about it. Rent and home prices feel out of reach. Child care feels like it costs as much as a second mortgage. Groceries, utilities, and health […]

Want to help animals? Here’s where to donate your money.

If you care about animals and want to reduce their suffering, but aren’t sure exactly how, Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) is an organization that might be able to help. The California-based nonprofit puts out an annual guide for recommended animal charities, and it recently released its list for this year. (Disclosure: ACE has helped fund […]