The traditional book publishing process often favors commercially viable projects, creating barriers for authors focused on high-impact ideas—particularly those aligned with Effective Altruism (EA). These authors may struggle to secure traditional publishing deals, even if their work could significantly benefit society. This gap limits the number of impactful books being written.
One way to address this issue is through a specialized grantmaking program for EA-aligned book projects. Authors could submit proposals to a team with expertise in both EA and publishing. If an idea meets criteria like impact potential and feasibility, the author would receive an advance to write the book while the team handles publisher outreach. If no publisher is found, the work could be self-published (e.g., as a free ebook). This approach would:
This model could benefit multiple groups:
Publishers might be more willing to take on projects with lower commercial potential if they come with validation from EA-aligned evaluators.
A pilot phase could start small, funding 5–10 books to test demand and processes. Key steps might include:
Early challenges—like predicting a book’s impact or securing publisher interest—could be addressed through beta readers, niche publisher relationships, and transparent selection criteria.
Unlike general crowdfunding or traditional publishing, this approach would combine EA-aligned funding with publishing support, potentially unlocking more high-impact books that might otherwise go unwritten.
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