"If you had the power to order all of the Philadelphia region to read one book, what would it be? The Greater Good by Claire Gaudiani..."
Tom Foley, CEO, American Red Cross, SE Pa. in
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/2/08
Claire’s ideas have impact. The Greater Good has become the best selling book on philanthropy in many years. Her argument is simple: Citizen generosity is America's primary national value, and our investments in opportunities for others has created our economic and social success.
The book has been reviewed extensively with a wide variety of responses, as one might expect. You can search the web using “The Greater Good + Gaudiani”, or check out the book sellers sites noted below. Our only comment… beware of postings that begin: ‘I haven’t actually read The Greater Good, but…”
Our favorite response to The Greater Good is from Gus Whalen, who is chair of the Warren Featherbone Company in Georgia. After hearing Claire speak, he created a New Year's greeting card. Under an American flag is a quote from The Greater Good...
"Most people think that Americans are generous because they are rich. The truth is that we are rich... because we are generous."
From The New York Observer, September 8, 2003
"In this brief, straightforward and readable book -- which winds up as a plea for Americans to dig deeper into their pockets -- Ms. Gaudiani argues that charity has been, and is, a wealth-producing activity...In wide-ranging, fluent chapters, Ms. Gaudiani -- under whose tenure Connecticut College became an active participant in New London's economic revival -- adduces plenty of evidence... She's masterly on the way philanthropy works..." Read Full Article
- Daniel Gross, The New York Observer
"I can't think of a more important message for our self-absorbed times. This passionately written book can inspire citizens from all walks of life to understand their powerful role in sustaining our common future."
- Lynn Goldberg, Goldberg-McDuffie Communications, NY
"Philanthropy has always been vital to the growth of our country, argues former Connecticut College president Gaudiani. From Colonial times, Americans have always been willing to open their pockets for philanthropic appeals, which represent a form of "investment in our democracy and our economy." Whether it is a Rockefeller giving away millions or schoolchildren handing over pennies, Gaudiani feels that this spirit of generosity is something uniquely American and one of the country's great strengths.
She points out that many institutions taken for granted today (e.g., the Smithsonian) would never have been established without a bequest from enlightened and generous donors. In addition, extending philanthropy to scholarships has enabled us to develop our "human capital," benefiting countless generations. But as companies lay off thousands and large-scale philanthropic contributions are scaled back, Gaudiani wonders if we are at a crossroads. If our generosity dries up, how will our culture endure? As Gaudiani acknowledges, there are no easy answers. This is an eloquent and thoughtfully written work that sheds light on the cultural importance of American philanthropy. Recommended for larger libraries and philanthropic collections."
- Library Journal
"As president of Connecticut College in the 1990s, Gaudiani saw the school's endowment quintuple, no doubt bolstering her enthusiasm for philanthropy and inspiring this foray into writing about public policy. Declaring "no people on earth are as generous with their money as Americans are," Gaudiani posits "citizen generosity" as not just an alternative to government spending or corporate investment, but an integral fulfillment of the nation's "democratic imperative" of upward mobility. She mostly chooses her historical examples well, as in sections on Chicago's vibrant (and lucrative) museum culture and the origins of the March of Dimes, but does stumble occasionally: as evidence of our generosity, an early chapter observes that 89% of Americans made charitable donations in 2001 -- but fails to mention that September 11 might have made the year's giving patterns atypical. Her optimism also leads to a debatable argument that the happiness the founding fathers wanted us to pursue lay in contributing to others' success and that revived attention to various religious championings of generosity could inspire a philanthropic revolution. Gaudiani makes much of the idea that we need charity because we can't rely on government to fix our problems, especially since we hate paying taxes, and conservatives and libertarians will undoubtedly cite this book to support increased tax cuts "freeing up" money for donations. Some will agree, some will not, but what can anyone really say against a book that suggests we all give more to charity?"
- Publisher's Weekly
The comments below were the invited reviews that appeared as part of the pre-publication advertising for The Greater Good.
"The Greater Good is essential reading for citizens, philanthropists, and corporate and government leaders. Claire Gaudiani shows clearly how generosity is crucial in today's economy."
- Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies
"Claire Gaudiani provides a thoughtful analysis of the history of philanthropy in America, its effects on society, and why Americans are uniquely generous. As she examines the directions in which philanthropy must advance in the years ahead, she offers some stark alternatives that will demand the attention of our policymakers. Insightful."
- Edwin J. Feulner, president, The Heritage Foundation
"Those two classic rivals, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, were right to agree that 'the pursuit of happiness' is America's key value. To this end, profit for profit's sake may well be less important to America than profit for philanthropy's sake. Claire Gaudiani authoritatively and perceptively shows us why and how."
- Henry Luce, III
"At a moment when too many rich Americans are using their wealth and power to tilt the playing field ever more in their own direction, this book reminds us that in other eras wealth and power have been used in other ways. One hopes it will prove not just a useful and fascinating history, but a real call to present-day responsibility."
- Bill McKibben, author of Enough
"Having devoted many fruitful years of her adult life to higher education, a field in which she demonstrated extraordinary passion and sensibility, Claire Gaudiani is now, in this remarkable volume, teaching the multifaceted values of philanthropy and its benefits to both givers and receivers."
- Elie Wiesel
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