Why read No Such Thing as a Free Gift?

Book cover of No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy

Book description

The charitable sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the global economy. Nearly half of the more than 85,000 private foundations in the United States have come into being since the year 2000. Just under 5,000 more were established in 2011 alone. This deluge of philanthropy has helped create…

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Why read it?

1 author picked No Such Thing as a Free Gift as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Tim Schwab

Author

Sociologist Linsey McGoey’s sharp critique of ‘philanthrocapitalism’ raises pointed questions about the Gates Foundation’s close work with the private sector, including its charitable practice of donating money to for-profit companies. Is this kind of philanthropic giving actually driving social change? Or, the really big question—is the foundation doing more harm than good?

By asking readers to consider the evidence that it might be, McGoey helped galvanize and expand a public debate about our philanthropist in chief—one that continues today.

From Tim's list on if Bill Gates is our 'good billionaire'.