Being Generous

Through the ages, the world's cultures and great religions have in profound, though different, ways sought to answer the big question: How should we live? Part of the answer has to do with how we ought to treat others, particularly those who are most in need. Ample evidence suggests that giving selflessly to others lies at the heart of what it means to be a thoughtful and moral human being. In Being Generous, author Theodore Roosevelt Malloch leads an exploration of this important concept of generous giving. Weaving together narrative, history, social theory, biography, scientific research, and practical guidance, Being Generous offers readers unique insights into what it means to live a truly generous life. Includes Profiles of the Following Exemplars of Generosity: The Pew FamilyCalouste GulbenkianWafic Rida SaïdLi Ka-shingThe Maclellan FamilySebastian Spering KresgeGeorge CadburyWilliam WilberforceJohann Sebastian BachFelix MendelssohnJ. C. PenneyJohn WaltonHenry FordEli LillyJeffrey SkollJohn TempletonJohn D. RockefellerGary GinterAndrew CarnegieJoan KrocMother TeresaBill and Melinda GatesWarren BuffettOprah WinfreyMichael BloombergArthur Blank

Foreword by John M. Templeton Jr., MD / xi
Preface / xv
Introduction   xix
1: Generosity: A Universal Moral Urge / 3

• The Pew Family / 7
• Calouste Gulbenkian / 13
• Wafic Rida Saïd / 19
• Li Ka-shing / 27

2: Charity and Gift / 30

• The Maclellan Family / 33

3: Stewardship Spirituality / 36

• Sebastian Spering Kresge / 41
• George Cadbury / 47

4: Time, Treasure, and Talent / 49

• William Wilberforce / 51
• Johann Sebastian Bach / 55
• Felix Mendelssohn / 59

5: Generosity and Economics / 61

• J. C. Penney / 63
• John Walton / 67
• Henry Ford / 71
• Eli Lilly / 73

6: Generosity and Science / 75

• Jeffrey Skoll / 77
• John Templeton / 79

7: Responsible Generosity / 81

• John D. Rockefeller / 85
• Gary Ginter / 89

8: A Generous Society / 93

• Andrew Carnegie / 95
• Joan Kroc / 97
• Mother Teresa / 99

9: Generosity and Purpose in Life / 103

• Bill and Melinda Gates / 105
• Warren Buffett / 107
• Oprah Winfrey / 109
• Michael Bloomberg / 111

10: Final Thoughts / 114

• Arthur Blank / 117
• C. S. Lewis / 121

Appendix A: Twenty-one Books to Read on Generosity / 125
Appendix B: Real Life Stories of Giving to GlobalGiving / 129
Appendix C: About GlobalGiving / 139
Notes / 141