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The Givers

Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age
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May 15, 2017lukasevansherman rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
David Callahan founded and edits a website called Inside Philanthropy. His new book explores the world of ultra rich philanthropists (he calls many of them "activist philanthropists"), who use their money not just for good, but to influence politics, sway public opinion, and even try to privatize traditionally public institutions (schools, for example). While the book is somewhat blandly written and follows a repetitive format (Here's this rich guy. Here's how he made his money. Here's what he does with his money.), it's well-researched and thought-provoking, raising a key question of whether it's truly democratic to have the 1% wield such enormous power. Familiar figures like Bill Gates, the Koch Brothers, and Mark Zuckerberg are featured, and Callahan follows the money as it works its way into health, education, arts, politics, and more. We learn that the rich are different than us: they have more money, more power, and more influence.