The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving

by Jenny Santi

We often focus on how our gifts can help those in need. But the act of giving actually improves our own lives as well. In The Giving Way to Happiness, Jenny Santi overturns conventional thinking about what it takes to be happy by revealing how giving to others—whether in the form of money, expertise, time, or love—has helped people from all walks of life find purpose and joy. Drawing on the wisdom of great thinkers past and present, as well as cutting-edge scientific research, Santi makes an eloquent and passionate case that oftentimes the answers to the problems that haunt us, and the key to the happiness that eludes us, lie in helping those around us.

This book is filled with inspiring stories told firsthand by Academy Award winner Goldie Hawn, Noble Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, supermodel Christy Turlington Burns, Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp, philanthropist Richard Rockefeller, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, activist Ric O’Barry, bestselling author Isabel Allende, ALS survivor Augie Nieto, and many others from all over the world. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they have all found unexpected happiness and fulfillment through giving. This book tells us not just how they changed the world but also how their acts changed their very own lives.

In addition, Santi reveals:
- How altruism involves far more than suppressing basic selfish urges. Rather, we are wired to give, as it activates the same pleasure centers of the brain stimulated by food, sex, and drugs
- How helping others—whether by walking a friend through a struggle that you’ve also experienced or by supporting a cause to honor a loved one’s memory—can be a healthy way to deal with adversity and process grief
- The unexpected reasons why those who “gave it all up” to make a difference, and who face the direst situations, are nevertheless some of the happiest, most fulfilled, and least angst-ridden people you’ll ever meet.
- Practical, universally applicable lessons on what kind of giving makes people happy and what doesn’t. How do you discover giving that is unique to you and makes you feel good?

In this inspiring book, Santi turns conventional wisdom upside down about what it takes to be happy and reveals the surprising reasons that have led so many people to live lives full of meaning, purpose and happiness

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Jenny Santi is a trusted philanthropy advisor to notable ultra high net worth philanthropists, celebrity activists and foundations worldwide. Through her work she helps her clients channel their wealth, power and influence towards social good. By age 28 she became the Head of UBS’s award-winning Philanthropy Services department in Southeast Asia, and within less than a year of independent practice at her consulting firm Saint & Partners, already serves clients including an Oscar-winning actress, signatories of the Buffett-Gates Giving Pledge, and several prominent foundations in the USA and Switzerland.


She has organized numerous philanthropy events, including the much-acclaimed UBS Global Philanthropy Forums, and led together with INSEAD the largest study on Asian family philanthropy. A former university lecturer, she is a frequent media commentator and event moderator on the topic of giving. Jenny did her MBA at INSEAD and Wharton; and graduated summa cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila University. She attended New York University's Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising, and is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. She is the Regional Advisor to Asia at the (Goldie) Hawn Foundation, a Mentor at The HUB in Singapore, a Social Entrepreneur in Residence at INSEAD, and a
 member of the Steering Committee of the Philanthropy in Asia Summit in Singapore.



She is the author of "The Giving Way to Happiness," coming soon from Penguin Random House.

Reviews

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book to read and I'm glad he did. It was helpful to me in two ways. First, as a retired tech executive who has started a non-profit -- it gave me a view into how other people approach following their passion to solve huge problems. I learned about how social entrepreneurs and philanthropists across the world are making a difference and it helped me think more strategically about how I want to proceed. Secondly as a family, we are grappling with how to include our children in these endeavors, and have them follow their own passions to make an impact in the areas they care about. I definitely agree with the author that spending time really helping others impacts our lives too, although that is not why we do it.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the content of the book is appealing as it shares the motivations of why the ultra-wealthy give, the author’s tone and comments undermined some of the positive value of the book. For example, she seemed to compete with the subjects of her book as she relayed her own brushes of wealth (eg, going to a private school in Manila, her mother volunteering with orphans). Further, she dwelled in insignificant details such as what her subjects were wearing to their interviews, how they flew (didn’t) fly first class. These were distracting comments.

[Daniel Hageman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose I just expected this to be a bit more about the science and philosophy behind the idea, as opposed to the largely anecdotal survey taken from various philanthropists. Still some good stuff here though!

[BHARAT MANSUKHANI · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title was misleading

When I started reading the book I thought it would be more about pointers for deriving Happiness. However, it was more directing towards philanthropy and charitable giving. A good read though.

[Johannes Bertus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from goodreads first reads. Right off the bad let me say I am so grateful this book moved beyond just giving money that seems to be the cornerstone of most books of this type (automatic two stars). For me it walked a fine edge between inspiration and hopelessness that never really settled comfortably. I was pleased it had a frank discussion of burnout and donor fatigue (bumped it up another star barely). The ending didn't leave me refreshed or burning with desire to give. I think this book would have come off better if I had read it over the course of a few weeks and not all at once.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't entirely what I thought it would be... enjoyed much of it, but a good part of it was focused on philanthropy of the ultra-wealthy.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not practical for most of us. I read it like fiction.