A blog by William Schambra, Daniel Schmidt, and Michael Hartmann. Learn more->

19
Jan
2023
America and the Art of the Possible, and philanthropy

Part of post-frontier America’s failed “managerial elite.”


13
Jan
2023
Revisiting contemporary philanthropy as part of a First Estate “clerisy”

Newly out in paperback, Joel Kotkin’s book on the coming “neo-feudalism”—comparing current class conditions to those of the Middle Ages—correctly characterizes the current status and a current role of foundations.


09
Jan
2023
Philanthropy and The Myth of Left and Right

Applying an analytical framework in another, related context.


19
Dec
2022

06
Dec
2022
Philanthropy in Control

Adam Rutherford’s new book about eugenics reminds us again of those progressive foundations that supported it—and that it’s long past time for a full and fair accounting of them for what they funded and fomented, and why.


03
Nov
2022

14
Oct
2022
Revisiting conservatism, philanthropy, and The Dying Citizen

A work to read in “the Wilderness.”


23
Sep
2022
Some narrowness in longtermism

The short of it: in his new book’s ambitious thinking about the “full scale of human history,” William MacAskill undervalues the past—by definition, but more than needed—and elides in practice what that thinking could perhaps offer those of a different ideological worldview.


15
Aug
2022
Data and drama, studies and stories, and guidance for philanthropic decision-makers from Wild Problems

The popular EconTalk podcast host Russ Roberts’ new book offers a helpful insight to any grantmakers willing to receive it—and self-aware enough to risk considering themselves as essentially engaged in art, not science.


06
Jul
2022
Thoughts on philanthropy from books featured in The Giving Review in first half of 2022

A mid-year collection of interesting and insightful passages.