What We Owe the Future

By: William MacAskill

Narrated by: William MacAskill

An Oxford philosopher makes the case for “longtermism”—that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time

The fate of the world is in our hands. Humanity’s written history spans only five thousand years. Our yet-unwritten future could last for millions more—or it could end tomorrow. Astonishing numbers of people could lead lives of great happiness or unimaginable suffering, or never live at all, depending on what we choose to do today.

In What We Owe The Future, philosopher William MacAskill argues for longtermism, that idea that positively influencing the distant future is a key moral priority of our time. From this perspective, it’s not enough to reverse climate change or avert the next pandemic. We must ensure that civilization would rebound if it collapsed, counter the end of moral progress, and prepare for a planet where the smartest beings are digital, not human.

If we put humanity’s course to right, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will thrive, knowing we did everything we could to give them a world full of justice, hope, and beauty.

©2022 William MacAskill (P)2022 Recorded Books

Interesting and mind broadening

Loved history context analysis and use of those examples to set basis for evaluating present pronciples to act towards better future.

Amazing book

I loved that this book addresses important things for the present, near-future, and the far, far future as well. Also helped me shape how I talk about the future especially in resguarda of examining population quality of life, and even being able to measure my own quality of life. Highly recommend for Futurists of any kind.

Thinking in *future tense*

Will McGaskill is not afraid of offending you to your core. He is so far ahead of our self centered ‘me me me’ moment that the topics about which he will offend you will be way outside your comfort zone. As in, they won’t be things you have ever been offended about before. All the noise from the news will quiet, and what truly matters will come into focus. Trust me, it’s not a pleasant picture.

Sometimes I think about my ancestors and all the struggles they overcame. Traveling by boat to America, starving in the famines. Great great grandmas having 12 kids (changing diapers for 25 YEARS). Great great great grandpas toiling in factories and courting ladies. Someone probably had a limb sawed off and kept living. Someone probably died giving birth.

I am thankful to these people. Even when life is hard these days, it’s still good to be alive. If you are thankful to those people you should at least contemplate what your descendants will think about you.

I found his accent slightly hard to understand, but the book is good.

You Are Here

This is the single book that most changed my mind in 2025.

The present looks different from either the past or the future, and we have extraordinary leverage to change the latter.

Thank you William MacAskill for this book.

This audiobook is a must listen to.
Thank you so much William MacAskill for this book.