Favorite of Readers

A concise and vivid chronicle of the rise of paternalistic American charity.

– Frank Browning, Salon.com

A stinging critique that exposes the dark side of private benevolence in America.

– Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward

Clear, lively…wonderfully readable.

– Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

This book will do more to end poverty than any number of contributions to elite charities.

– Barbara Ehrenreich

Well-reasoned analysis.

– Booklist

With charities’ influence growing, the time is right to raise red flags—and Wagner’s are largely on target.

– The Baltimore Sun

[T]renchant—and sure to be controversial… deconstructs some of America’s most venerated icons.

– Michael B. Katz, University of Pennsylvania