Infectious Generosity

Chris Anderson, head of TED, argues that generosity, amplified by the internet, can turn outrage back into optimism at a time when social media has dashed hopes that the web would bring people together. His examples include a London barber whose haircuts for people experiencing homelessness started a movement, and two anonymous donors who gave $10,000 each to 200 strangers, later finding that most recipients wanted to pass the kindness on. He also tells how TED went from a niche yearly summit to a worldwide source of ideas by giving its talks away online. Anderson sets out a playbook for generous acts of money, time, talent, connection or kindness, primed to replicate themselves online.

Bill Gates, in his summer 2024 recommendations, pointed to it for anyone who wants to help build a more equitable world but is unsure where to begin.