About Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
From the bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED, an inspiring book about one of humankind’s defining but overlooked impulses, and how we can super-charge its potential to build a hopeful future
“I flew through these pages with an increasing sense of joy. I hope that millions read this book.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
Let’s face Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the ills of social media. Is there a way back?
As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them, he believes that it’s within our grasp to turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity? Consider
• how a London barber began offering haircuts to people experiencing homelessness—and catalyzed a movement
• how two anonymous donors gave $10,000 each to two hundred strangers and discovered that most recipients wanted to “pay it forward” with their own generous acts
• how TED itself transformed from a niche annual summit into a global beacon of ideas by giving away talks online, allowing millions access to free learning
In telling these inspiring stories, Anderson has given us “the first page-turner ever written about human generosity” (Elizabeth Dunn). More important, he offers a playbook for how to embark on our own generous acts—whether gifts of money, time, talent, connection, or kindness—and to prime them, thanks to the Internet, to have self-replicating, even world-changing, impact.
- Complete Title: Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
- Format: Hardcover
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 272
- Publication Time: January 23, 2024
- Publisher: Crown
- ISBN: 059372755X
- ISBN13: 9780593727553
About Chris J. Anderson
Chris J. Anderson
Chris Anderson has been the curator of TED since 2001. His TED mantra—“ideas worth spreading”—continues to blossom on an international scale, with some three billion TED Talks viewed annually. He lives in New York City and London.
Reviews Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading
Momma Leighellen’s Book Nook
This was the perfect book for me to start off my 2024 with. I already knew I wanted this year to be different. I had already completed a 21 days of prayer and fasting. I had recently read the book Fil…
Patty (IheartYA311)
A great book with an important message. This book was formatted well, inspiring, and easy to understand. I loved the parts that focused on nonmonetary generosity. Even an unexpected smile at a strange…
Lydia Simon
The author, Chris Anderson, is the head of TED, so it makes sense that this book reads like a very long TED Talk. It’s a breezy, comfortable read with a profound sense of hope supported by numerous ex…
Gijs Limonard
2,5 stars; expected more from this; lots of respect for Chris Anderson and his mission to spread ‘ideas worth spreading’, but besides the historical notes on the TED movement, this was a pretty bland…
John
Infectious Generosity advocates many nice sounding, impractical liberal ideas but seems to forget the obvious fact that for every giver there is a taker getting something for nothing…
James R.
This book gives an interesting insight into the benefits of generosity beyond the fact that it’s helpful to other people. Being kind to others can actually be just as beneficial to the giver as well…
Bejinha
The author is the owner of TED Talks, and this book could have been an 18-minute talk. It probably was, and the fillers were added by the Penguin team.However, the worst aspect of this book is that it…
Stefan Reisner
I only read the kindle sample which covers the first two chapters. Reading the introduction, the familiar TED talk sentiment set in: feeling inspired, elated, motivated – but something in the back of…
Artūrs Kaņepājs
Inspiring…