Marginal Revolution Book Rankings

Tyler and Alex's favorites from Marginal Revolution

How it works: I scraped every post categorized under 'books'. Then extracted book titles and relevant review context from each post. I then submitted a couple million pairs of reviews to an LLM to compare and determine which book review had more positive sentiment. I used these comparisons to fit a Bradley-Terry model which produces these rankings. I racked up a gemini bill so stopped shy of exhaustive 16 million comparisons, so it's not perfect, but roughly accurate.

Genre: Ethics ×
Showing 108 books in Ethics
Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood
1. Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood
BT: 7.85 102 comparisons
consumer guide environmentalism ethics food +7
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Build, Baby, Build
2. Build, Baby, Build
BT: 7.51 96 comparisons
economics ethics graphic novel housing economics +2
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3. Markets without Limits: Moral Virtues and Commercial Interests
BT: 6.05 99 comparisons
economics ethics moral philosophy philosophy
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4. Governing Least: A New England Libertarianism
BT: 4.82 169 comparisons
american history classical liberalism economics ethics +5
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A
5. Aquinas and the Market: Toward a Humane Economy
BT: 4.73 167 comparisons
economic philosophy economics ethics philosophy +1
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C
6. Compassion, by the Pound: The Economics of Farm Animal Welfare
BT: 4.49 170 comparisons
agricultural economics animal welfare economics ethics +1
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D
7. Do Markets Corrupt Our Morals?
BT: 4.16 158 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political economy
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T
8. The Little Virtues
BT: 3.83 194 comparisons
education essays ethics literary non-fiction +1
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T
9. The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century
BT: 3.60 394 comparisons
ethics feminism non-fiction psychology +2
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10. Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration
BT: 3.55 620 comparisons
economics education ethics graphic novel +4
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11. The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
BT: 3.40 202 comparisons
ethics personal development philosophy self-help
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D
12. Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, A Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need
BT: 3.28 230 comparisons
ethics history history of philosophy philosophy
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C
13. Citadels of Pride: Sexual Assault, Accountability, and Reconciliation
BT: 3.01 202 comparisons
ethics gender studies legal studies philosophy +2
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O
14. Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies
BT: 2.92 208 comparisons
animal studies ethics health memoir
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B
15. Better Bankers, Better Banks
BT: 2.74 258 comparisons
behavioral economics business economics ethics +1
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B
16. Being Good in a World of Need
BT: 2.54 235 comparisons
development economics effective altruism ethics international development +2
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17. Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization
BT: 2.19 240 comparisons
christianity ethics philosophy religion +1
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18. Essays
BT: 2.05 668 comparisons
ethics european history literature philosophy +1
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19. Death & the Afterlife
BT: 2.01 249 comparisons
ethics metaphysics philosophy
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20. Rethinking the Good
BT: 1.91 279 comparisons
effective altruism ethics moral philosophy philosophy
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D
21. Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference
BT: 1.63 343 comparisons
economics effective altruism ethics philanthropy +1
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22. Stubborn Attachments: A Vision for a Society of Free, Prosperous, and Responsible Individuals
BT: 1.58 2211 comparisons
economic theory economics ethics macroeconomics +4
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T
23. The Ethics of Capitalism: An Introduction
BT: 1.53 279 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political economy
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24. More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement
BT: 1.50 274 comparisons
biology biotechnology ethics futurism +4
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T
25. The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth
BT: 1.34 543 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political philosophy +1
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26. The Good and the Good Book: Revelation as a Guide to Life
BT: 1.29 324 comparisons
ethics philosophy religion
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T
27. The Virtue of Selfishness
BT: 1.25 284 comparisons
economics ethics feminism philosophy +1
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O
28. One Life to Lead: The Mysteries of Time and the Goods of Attachment
BT: 1.23 306 comparisons
ethics metaphysics philosophy philosophy of time
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D
29. Does Ethics Have a Chance in a World of Consumers?
BT: 0.99 311 comparisons
consumerism economics ethics philosophy +2
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T
30. TMS
BT: 0.65 330 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy social science
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T
31. The AI Does Not Hate You: Superintelligence, Rationality and the Race to Save the World
BT: 0.62 348 comparisons
ai safety artificial intelligence ethics existential risk +4
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C
32. Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation
BT: 0.53 488 comparisons
conservation environmental ethics environmentalism ethics +1
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33. Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life
BT: 0.53 483 comparisons
classical philosophy ethics philosophy
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34. Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy & the Future of Marriage
BT: 0.37 315 comparisons
ethics history law philosophy +3
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35. Value(s): Building a Better World For All
BT: 0.36 358 comparisons
economics ethics global economics political economy +1
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36. What We Owe the Future
BT: 0.08 365 comparisons
effective altruism ethics longtermism philosophy
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T
37. This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World
BT: 0.02 295 comparisons
ethics social commentary social entrepreneurship social philosophy
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C
38. Compulsory Voting: For and Against
BT: -0.03 347 comparisons
ethics government political philosophy political science +1
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39. Skin in the Game
BT: -0.04 568 comparisons
business economics ethics philosophy +2
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40. Theory of Moral Sentiments
BT: -0.08 1041 comparisons
ethics philosophy psychology social theory
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41. The Kural: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
BT: -0.09 363 comparisons
ethics indian literature philosophy poetry +2
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42. When All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice
BT: -0.18 386 comparisons
ethics libertarianism philosophy political philosophy +1
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43. Grief: A Philosophical Guide
BT: -0.19 360 comparisons
ancient philosophy ethics philosophy psychology
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44. El imperativo moral del crecimiento económico: Una visión de una sociedad libre y próspera de individuos responsable
BT: -0.22 357 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political philosophy
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T
45. The Economist's Oath: On the Need for and Content of Professional Economic Ethics
BT: -0.24 395 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy professional ethics
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O
46. On What Matters
BT: -0.34 907 comparisons
ethics moral philosophy philosophy
MR Post MR Post +1 more
U
47. Uneasy Street: The Anxieties of Influence
BT: -0.39 342 comparisons
economics ethics psychology social science +1
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T
48. The Moral Lives of Animals
BT: -0.45 364 comparisons
animal behavior biology ethics philosophy +2
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S
49. Strangers Drowning: Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Urge to Help
BT: -0.57 679 comparisons
collective biography ethics philosophy psychology +1
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50. Animal Liberation
BT: -0.65 703 comparisons
animal ethics animal rights ethics philosophy
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51. Bioethics and the Brain
BT: -0.84 398 comparisons
bioethics biology ethics neuroscience +2
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D
52. Der Besuch der Alten Dame
BT: -0.84 435 comparisons
economics ethics fiction literary fiction +2
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T
53. The Ethics of Voting
BT: -0.91 365 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy political science +1
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T
54. The Robin Hood Rules for Smart Giving
BT: -0.97 492 comparisons
economics effective altruism ethics philanthropy
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T
55. The Dignity of Commerce: Markets and the Foundations of Contract Law
BT: -1.09 356 comparisons
economics ethics law legal philosophy +2
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O
56. On What Matters, vol. I
BT: -1.16 384 comparisons
economics ethics game theory moral philosophy +1
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B
57. Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation
BT: -1.18 385 comparisons
economics ethics law public policy +1
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S
58. Strangers Drowning: Grappling with Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Overpowering Urge to Help
BT: -1.19 361 comparisons
ethics non-fiction philosophy psychology +1
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T
59. The Idea of Justice
BT: -1.26 362 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy
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T
60. The Rise and Fall of Rational Control
BT: -1.28 362 comparisons
ethics intellectual history philosophy political philosophy
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E
61. Exodus: How Migration is Changing Our World
BT: -1.39 360 comparisons
economics ethics international relations migration studies +3
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I
62. Immigration & Discrimination: (un)welcoming others
BT: -1.41 388 comparisons
discrimination economics ethics immigration +3
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A
63. Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming
BT: -1.42 782 comparisons
ethics moral philosophy philosophy
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R
64. Ramban: A letter for the Ages
BT: -1.44 362 comparisons
ethics jewish history judaism moral philosophy +4
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M
65. Markets without Limits
BT: -1.45 380 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political philosophy
MR Post
T
66. The Soul of the Marionette: A Short Inquiry into Human Freedom
BT: -1.50 372 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy
MR Post
C
67. Central Notions of Smithian Liberalism
BT: -1.51 402 comparisons
classical liberalism economic philosophy economic theory ethics +6
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J
68. Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How it Can Do Better
BT: -1.54 369 comparisons
ethics philanthropy political philosophy politics +1
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A
69. Astronomical Waste
BT: -1.55 370 comparisons
ethics existential risk future studies longtermism +1
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B
70. Black Mass
BT: -1.71 359 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy religion
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R
71. Reishit Chochmah
BT: -1.73 408 comparisons
ethics jewish ethics judaism religion +2
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T
72. The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don’ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life
BT: -1.76 393 comparisons
communication ethics personal development philosophy +1
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S
73. Smithian Morals
BT: -1.77 351 comparisons
economics ethics history of economic thought moral philosophy +1
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E
74. Essays on Derek Parfit's On What Matters
BT: -1.77 345 comparisons
ethics moral philosophy philosophy
MR Post
C
75. Climate Matters: Ethics in a Warming World
BT: -1.78 356 comparisons
climate change environmental ethics ethics philosophy +1
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A
76. Against Empathy
BT: -1.91 377 comparisons
ethics philosophy psychology
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O
77. Out of the Night
BT: -1.99 350 comparisons
biology ethics eugenics evolutionary biology +2
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R
78. Robinson Crusoe
BT: -2.06 651 comparisons
adventure fiction economics ethics fiction +1
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T
79. The Difficulty of Being Good
BT: -2.08 385 comparisons
ethics moral philosophy philosophy
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P
80. Peter Singer Under Fire: The Moral Iconoclast Faces His Critics
BT: -2.21 363 comparisons
ethics philosophy
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T
81. The Mind of the Market
BT: -2.41 365 comparisons
biology economics ethics philosophy +3
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M
82. Manipulation: What It Is, Why It Is Bad, What To Do About It
BT: -2.44 334 comparisons
behavioral economics ethics philosophy politics +1
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83. Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human Values Evolve
BT: -2.45 360 comparisons
anthropology ethics evolutionary studies history +1
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T
84. The Moral Landscape
BT: -2.51 318 comparisons
atheism ethics philosophy religion +1
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85. Love Your Enemies
BT: -2.52 373 comparisons
ethics politics self-help social science
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S
86. Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals
BT: -2.53 321 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy
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D
87. Deuteronomy
BT: -2.62 327 comparisons
ancient history ethics religion religious text +1
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T
88. The Moral Economy: Why Good Incentives are No Substitute for Good Citizens
BT: -2.70 288 comparisons
behavioral economics economics ethics philosophy +2
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E
89. Essays on Longtermism: Present Action for the Distant Future
BT: -2.80 354 comparisons
effective altruism ethics longtermism philosophy
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L
90. Like Silicon from Clay: What Ancient Jewish Wisdom Can Teach Us About AI
BT: -3.03 320 comparisons
artificial intelligence ethics jewish studies philosophy +2
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I
91. I, Robot
BT: -3.04 2636 comparisons
ethics fiction law literature +1
MR Post MR Post +7 more
V
92. Valuing Life: Humanizing the Regulatory State
BT: -3.10 294 comparisons
administrative law behavioral economics economics ethics +5
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T
93. The Ethics of Immigration
BT: -3.19 339 comparisons
ethics philosophy political philosophy politics +2
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T
94. The Great Guide: What David Hume Can Teach Us about Being Human and Living Well
BT: -3.23 353 comparisons
ethics history of philosophy intellectual history philosophy
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T
95. The Virtues of Our Vices: A Modest Defense of Gossip, Rudeness, and Other Bad Habits
BT: -3.37 343 comparisons
ethics philosophy social commentary
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M
96. Maxims
BT: -3.38 331 comparisons
ethics french literature moral philosophy philosophy
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S
97. Solving Social Dilemmas: Ethics, Politics, and Prosperity
BT: -3.50 323 comparisons
economics ethics history philosophy +3
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T
98. The Children Act
BT: -3.52 1010 comparisons
ethics fiction legal fiction literary fiction +1
MR Post MR Post +2 more
I
99. Is Social Justice Just?
BT: -3.82 270 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political philosophy +1
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A
100. All the Lives You Can Change: Effective Altruism for Christians
BT: -3.87 302 comparisons
christianity effective altruism ethics philosophy +1
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T
101. The Pragmatist’s Guide to Crafting Religion
BT: -3.91 301 comparisons
ethics philosophy religion social philosophy
MR Post
T
102. The Routledge Handbook of the Ethics of Immigration
BT: -3.99 268 comparisons
ethics immigration studies philosophy political philosophy +2
MR Post
T
103. The Bourgeoise Virtues
BT: -4.04 218 comparisons
economic history economics ethics philosophy
MR Post
P
104. Priced Out: The Economic and Ethical Costs of American Health Care
BT: -4.15 196 comparisons
american public policy economics ethics health care +2
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W
105. Why Some Things Should Not be for Sale: The Moral Limits of Markets
BT: -4.21 204 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy political economy
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H
106. Henry's Demons: Living With Schizophrenia, A Father and Son's Story
BT: -4.44 171 comparisons
ethics family relationships memoir mental health +2
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W
107. What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets
BT: -5.89 107 comparisons
economics ethics philosophy
MR Post
M
108. Molly
BT: -6.56 79 comparisons
cultural criticism ethics memoir social commentary
MR Post