We Make a Life by What We Give consists of twenty-two essays that examine the philosophical underpinnings of philanthropy. Richard Gunderman, the author of these brief but insightful essays, is a professor of radiology, pediatrics, medical education, philosophy, liberal arts, and philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and a true renaissance man. The themes he addresses in his classes are the same ones he explores here.

In his discussions of why we do good, how we do good, and the impact of our actions on the giver and the receiver, Gunderman draws examples and inspiration from the Bible and other religious works, the words of philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, and great works of literature such as Don Quixote and the Divine Comedy. In the essay entitled "Idealists and Realists," for instance, he examines the idealism-realism spectrum through the contrasting views of Aristotle and Machiavelli. "Aristotle," he writes, "thought that each one of us should aim higher, and thereby rise as close as possible to the full range and measure of excellence. Where possible, we should assume the best in others." In contrast, Machiavelli "counseled leaders to aim lower. To aim high is not only to consign oneself to repeated disappointment, but also to guarantee personal failure. Only by expecting the worst from others can we maximize our probability of success."

Before we despair and "give in to the cynicism to which realism naturally inclines," writes Gunderman, "we should pause to recall that people sometimes rise above our expectations....[Indeed] one of the greatest gifts we can share with others is the trust that they are capable of more than we think. Reflecting back on our own lives, what did it mean when people sometimes believed in us more than we believed in ourselves? When we expect the best of others, we help them become the people they are meant to be."

Similarly, in "Hoarding and Sharing," Gunderman uses the New Testament metaphor "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" as the basis for a discussion of why personal wealth and the magnitude of philanthropic giving cannot be measured only in dollars. True generosity, he writes, aims at bringing us closer together, at fostering "a shared sense of hope and compassion, as well as mutual understanding." In this sense, he adds, "wealth turns out to be a relatively superficial aspect of our identity, not unlike the clothes we wear. There is no question that our economic status exerts an important effect on who we are, but underneath are deeper and more fundamental attributes."

Other essays in the book address the golden rule, the potential to share, suffering, and ethics. My favorite, however, is titled "The Good Samaritan." After providing a translation of the parable from the Gospel of Luke, Gunderman writes about the various interpretations of "neighbor" and the attributes and attitudes of the people in the parable — the fallen traveler, the robbers, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. He then invites us to identify with each character and to think about the importance of insight and experience. He also points out that generosity is not easy — otherwise everyone would do it. Instead, most of us need to see it in action, to gain experience in acting generously, and, through education and practice, to become acquainted with our potential to be generous.

Short, sweet, and a pleasure to read, We Make a Life by What We Give reminds us that we are "capable of contributing much more when we see ourselves in the company of those who depend on us to make the most of what we have been given....Perhaps they are right beside us now," he adds, "challenging us to look more deeply and filling us with the courage we need to be true to what we find. 'Give,' they are saying, 'Go ahead and give!'"