Being Generous
Theodore Roosevelt Malloch
In Being Generous, author Theodore Roosevelt Malloch leads an exploration of this important concept of generous giving.
- Price:
- $22.95
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-59947-316-1
- Size:
- 5 x 8
- Page Count:
- 176
- Date Published:
- October 1, 2009
- Price:
- $11.99
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-59947-362-8
Buy This Book
40% off when you buy from Templeton Press
This title is also available from:
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.
He begins by examining how generosity fits into the various spiritual traditions, philosophical schools, and economic systems. Further chapters illustrate how generosity need not always be about money, showing how it might also involve the sharing of time and talent. Elsewhere, Malloch explores the science behind generosity, looking, for example, at the relationship between various chemicals in the brain and generous behavior. Beyond the theory and the science of generosity, readers will also find a wealth of inspiration in a collection of profiles of past and present icons of generosity.
Being Generous concludes with a practical action plan that lays out concrete steps to guide readers toward lives of greater giving.
Back to TabsRequesting an Exam Copy
Exam copies are sent to professors who would like to review the book before deciding whether to use it in a class. To request an exam copy, you must fill out the form below. It will automatically be sent to a staff member.
In our efforts to stay green, reduce expenses, and maintain scholarly accessibility, we are sending examination copies as electronic downloads in the Adobe Digital Edition format for a 90-day review period. If you have any trouble accessing the book in this format, please contact us and we will send a traditional copy of the book instead.
If you chose to review the electronic version of the book and adopt the book for one of your courses, upon notification by you or your bookstore, a traditional bound book will be sent to you free of charge.
Requesting a Desk Copy
Desk copies are complimentary books sent to professors who have already adopted the book for a course. To request a desk copy, please fill out the form below. It will automatically be sent to a staff member.
Back to TabsForeword 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
Back to Tabs“This is a book I will refer to in the future. There are certainly many people who could benefit from the tenet that true happiness is found in giving.” —Hilary Morgan, thegoodbookstall.org.uk (online review)
St. Augustine said: “Discover what being generous means, and begin living it.” Theodore Roosevelt Malloch, chairman and CEO of the Roosevelt Group, a leading strategic advisory and thought leadership company, takes a brief look at how all of the world’s religions see generosity as a mark of living well in the eyes of God. Even modern secular philosophy celebrates this virtue as “a universal moral urge, our defining nature.” The author then examines his own tradition of Christian thinking by focusing on St. Paul’s teachings and practices of generosity. He concludes that those who respond to the gift of grace offered by God are energized to give freely to others. —Spirituality and Practice, 04/07/2010
“The book draws on a variety of evidence to show that generosity is not only good for society but good for the individual. Throughout this inspiring book, pithy and interesting one-page biographies appear of well-known givers and their motivations for helping others. These range from Johann Sebastian Bach, John D. Rockefeller, and Mother Theresa to Bill and Melinda Gates.” —Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, 3/19/2010
“Theodore Roosevelt Malloch’s embrace of the generous life and its reciprocating benefits bleeds through every page of his new book Being Generous. He wrote this short book with one simple goal for its readers: “Discover what being generous means, and begin living it.” . . . As a believer in the joy and meaningfulness of generosity, I commend his compilation of motivations for being generous.” —Faith-Based Philanthropy, 2/27/2010
“Being Generous is profound—yet very, very readable. It’s not yesterday’s leftovers—it’s new thinking pulled from the widest array of knowledge—served up with inspiring side dishes that motivate and are generously seasoned with wisdom.” —John Pearson, Buckets Blog
“In recent years, philanthropy has become an essential ingredient in popular culture—from Oprah’s Big Give and Idol Gives Back to the eponymous television show The Philanthropist. But often what “philanthropy for the masses” lacks is a thoughtful grounding in the moral and religious principles of giving. In Being Generous Ted Malloch delivers an insightful and practical guide to the art of giving. In short, being generous is not just about monetary contributions or adhering to a suggested tithe, but rather the joyous action of sharing our time, talent, and treasure. . . . Being Generous rightfully does not ignore the dark side of philanthropy—giving that is misguided or uninformed. This book is accessible to people in all life stages, faiths, and all traditions. No matter where you are in your “formation” (indeed, formation is a life-long journey) careful study of generosity may just bring you closer to peace and fulfillment.” —Dr. Patrick Rooney, Center on Philanthropy (IUPUI), 11/16/2009
I just finished reading Theodore Malloch’s wonderful new book Being Generous (Templeton Press, 2009), which investigates the reasons for and results of generosity. The book draws on a variety of evidence to show that generosity is good for society and the individual. Throughout this inspiring book, pithy and interesting one-page biographies of well-known givers and their motivations for helping others appear. These range from Johann Sebastian Bach, John D. Rockefeller, and Mother Theresa to Bill and Melinda Gates. —Paul J. Zak, Psychology Today, 11/22/2009
“What makes [Being Generous] especially powerful is his description of his own journey from self-described narcissism to compassion: “It never came easy. I have always had a ‘meritocratic’ outlook. That is . . . you get what you earn, what you deserve. . . . I found it hard—often very hard—to give what I had earned away. . . . Being Generous weaves personal narrative with a brief description of the injunction to generosity in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Native American and Aboriginal spiritualism, Confucianism, and secularism. Malloch then weaves in stories about an exceptional mosaic of givers, both big and small, well-known and obscure. —The Huntington Post, 09/17/2009
“Malloch’s book will be of great value to all those who strive to improve the human condition, from donors to nonprofit organizations.” —Rick Goossen, www.makegood.com, 07/13/2009
