How To Be Perfect by Michael Schur

How To Be Perfect by Michael Shur is a book about philosophy. The book is subtitled The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question, and I quote the back cover blurb in its summary that this is “a hilarious, thought-provoking guide to living an ethical life, drawing on 2500 years of deep thinking from around the world.”

Michael Shur is a Hollywood screenwriter who cocreated TV shows Parks and Recreation and the bigger hit series The Good Place. That show’s premise was the story of an amoral woman who is placed in a heavenly afterlife she knowingly does not deserve, and her attempts to avoid being found out and sent to hell.  Redemption for her and others comes with lessons in ethics that shift their perspectives and influence their choices. I didn’t watch all the episodes but from what I remember it was a good show, warm, witty and insightful.

So it is hardly surprising that Michael decided to leverage off both its popularity and the research involved in its production to crank out this book. Overall he does a good job. This is no textbook; Schur keeps the explanations simple and easy to comprehend and he certainly does touch on philosophy’s big concepts and heavy hitters. Aristotle and virtues, Bentham and Mills with Utilitarianism (yep the trolly car question) Kant, Singer, Satre and Rawls. He covers off some of life’s big questions like Should I lie and tell my friend I like their ugly shirt or This sandwich is morally problematic. Can I still eat it?

And yes, it is funny but not hilarious nor as clever like Monty Python’s Philosopher song, but this book will keep you smiling while making you think. Given the state of the world at the moment any book that does that and talks about what we owe to each other and our communities instead of what’s in it for ourselves is a good thing. Well worth a read if you can find it. Love the front cover joke as well.

Five songs about Philosophy. Not including Monty Python’s.

The Logical Song – Supertramp

Do You Realise? – The Flaming Lips

Philosophy – Ben Folds Five

Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads

Birth, School, Work, Death – The Godfathers

How to Be Perfect

By Michael Schur

Quercus Press 2022

289 Pages including index