Reading list: Learn what makes us give

Explore what makes us human and what makes us give

Here at Charitable Impact we are all about people and we believe everyone has something to give. With that in mind, here are some recommended reads on topics like what drives individuals to be generous.

Some of my recommended reads have a focus on how and why people support others, offering a knowledge base on what might drive and support charitable giving. Some are more about what makes humans tick or simply the human experience, which is tied to the charitable space and is always worth reading about. They are both newer and older, offering a broad reference list in no particular order.

Reads about the charity space and giving

Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World  – by Matthieu Ricard, published in 2015 

Giving: Western Ideas of Philanthropy – by J.B. Schneewind, published in 1996 

Reads about human nature, in particular as related to the charity space

Actionable Gamification: Beyond Points, Badges, and Leaderboards  – by Yu-Kai Chou, published in 2015 

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World – by David Epstein, published in 2019 

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst – by Robert Sapolsky, published in 2017 

The Selfish Gene – by Richard Dawkins, published in 2006

The Power of Habit – by Charles Duhigg, published in 2012

Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness – by Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein, published in 2009 

I Invented the Modern Age: The Rise of Henry Ford – by Richard Snow, published in May 2014 

BONUS: Some sci-fi – just for fun! 

Foundation series – by Isaac Asimov

The Emerald Tablets Of Thoth – by Dr. M Doreal, published in 2006