The Gospel of Wealth

Several essays by businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie are collected in this volume. The title essay lays out Carnegie's belief that the self-made rich have philanthropic responsibilities. Carnegie believed that the large sums of money amassed by many Gilded Age tycoons could be dangerous if they were passed on to those unprepared for them. Instead, Carnegie suggested that the money be put to good use, particularly in ways that might enable others to better themselves. Carnegie put his philosophy into practice by funding the construction of thousands of so-called "Carnegie libraries" around the world.