If you’ve ever felt uncertain or uncomfortable about giving or serving in your community or abroad, but could never quite put your finger on why, this book is for you. Toxic Charity explores how charity can often be detrimental to those it purports to benefit. Featuring stories of organizations’ and people’s successes and failures, it offers both negative and positive examples of where community service and giving can help or harm, what some rules of thumb are, and best practices. Whether your focus is secular or religious, this book addresses what’s working in charity, what isn’t, and gives advice on how to make sure you or your organization are moving in the right direction.
There are other books on this topic, but the advantage here is that it is a quick read. It seemed like it could be a series of blog-posts, with focused and bite-sized chapters. It was a bit repetitive at times but an enjoyable read that leaves you feeling better prepared to truly and effectively help people in need.