A journalist, academic and consultant evaluates the history of philanthropy, from the ideas of St. Augustine to the work of Lebron James, arguing that philanthropy can no longer be premised around basic survival and that public institutions must assume that burden so that philanthropy can support human flourishing as originally intended.

"Whether we realize it or not, all of us participate in the social contract every day through mutual obligations among our family, community, place of work, and fellow citizens. Caring for others, paying taxes, and benefiting from public services define the social contract that supports and binds us together as a society. Today, however, our social contract has been broken by changing gender roles, technology, new models of work, aging, and the perils...

Explores the controversy surrounding welfare, discussing its origins, government policies, and reforms, along with arguments for and against it.

From the Publisher: The Welfare State Nobody Knows challenges a number of myths and half-truths about U.S. social policy. The American welfare state is supposed to be a pale imitation of "true" welfare states in Europe and Canada. Christopher Howard argues that the American welfare state is in fact larger, more popular, and more dynamic than commonly believed. Nevertheless, poverty and inequality remain high, and this book helps explain why so much...

Discusses the history and prevalence of welfare fraud using interviews and case studies.

"According to current statistics, about 40 million Americans currently live in poverty. These individuals face many challenges, from an inability to afford food and shelter to greater health problems due to lack of proper care and nutrition. The US government provides a variety of programs to help the poorest Americans. Yet people are divided on the best ways to address this social problem. The merits and drawbacks of various approaches are discussed...

"Winner of the 2009 Best Book Award in Political Sociology, American Sociological Association" "Co-Winner of the 2009 Mary Douglas Prize for Best Book, Section on Sociology of Culture, American Sociological Association" Brian Steensland is assistant professor of sociology at Indiana University. Today the United States has one of the highest poverty rates among the world's rich industrial democracies. The Failed Welfare Revolution shows us that things...

When Andrea Louise Campbell's sister-in-law, Marcella Wagner, was run off the freeway by a hit-and-run driver, she was seven-and-a-half months pregnant. She survived-and, miraculously, the baby was born healthy. But that's where the good news ends. Marcella was left paralyzed from the chest down. This accident was much more than just a physical and emotional tragedy. Like so many Americans-50 million, or one-sixth of the country's population-neither...

Uncle Sam's Plantation is an incisive look at how government manipulates, controls, and ultimately devastates the lives of the poor-and what Americans must do to stop it. Once a hustler and welfare addict who was chewed up and spit out by the ruthless welfare system, Star Parker sheds much needed light on the bungled bureaucratic attempts to end poverty and reveals the insidious deceptions perpetrated by self-serving politicians.

America's greatness comes from people working hard to fulfill their dreams. But today that greatness is being undermined by people using the government to steal other people's dreams (and money). Rather than participate and innovate in the marketplace, generating goods and services that benefit society, people are increasingly vying for political advantage to live at the expense of others. Something for Nothing reveals the social and personal threats...