Lessons About Philanthropy in The Giving Myths

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The Giving Myths: Giving Then Getting the Life You’ve Always Wanted, written by noted philanthropy expert Dr. Steve McSwain, is a powerful book about the myths that keep people from fully understanding the benefits of giving. Both people who are interested in philanthropy and those who are currently resistant to giving can benefit from this book. The tips and advice presented in the book can also be very beneficial for nonprofit organizations and development professionals looking for a way to take their fundraising efforts to the next level.

Dr. Steve McSwain is the vice president of Cargill Associates, a leading in philanthropic and fundraising consultancy that has helped charitable cause clients raise billions of dollars throughout its three decade history. Dr. McSwain has made presentations to thousands of people each year for more than a decade, as well as provided extensive consulting services to hundreds of religious institutions and philanthropic organizations. The message he has always strived to convey, and that is communicated in The Giving Myths: Giving Then Getting the Life You’ve Always Wanted, is that the happiest and most healthy individuals are the ones who have learned to be generous.

In the book, Dr. McSwain identifies the seven most common myths about giving that prevent people from choosing to be generous with their good fortune. The book discusses the misnomer that is so prevalent in our society that getting, saving, and achieving will result in a lifetime of happiness. According to Dr. Steve McSwain, this attitude has led to a society of individuals who are not happy with who they are because their culture has led them to be selfish rather than generous. McSwain asserts that the life people really want is found not in getting but in giving.

The author firmly believes that there are many people in society who have entered or are getting close to their retirement years who could greatly benefit from participating in philanthropic giving. He states that many such individuals who have accumulated wealth and material possessions feel as if their lives are lacking meaning significance. He proposes that these persons can find the meaning they so desire by giving some of what they have to help those who are less fortunate.

Dr. McSwain makes a compelling argument that the highest purpose in life is to give yourself away and generously share your abundance with the world. Simply put, The Giving Myths: Giving Then Getting the Life You’ve Always Wanted is for ordinary people who are looking for fulfillment in life, are in need of direction on giving, and simply need a little nudge to become philanthropic.