“We need each other. As this very fine book reminds us, the recent American creed of hyper-individualism is making us less happy and more vulnerable—real solace lies in rebuilding the kind of communities that take care of everyone. Everyone.”

– Bill McKibben, climate activist, author of The End of Nature and Deep Economy, co-founder of 350.org, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award and Gandhi Peace Prize

“I highly recommend this book to those struggling with more holistic questions about the place of social aid in a market economy and democratic state.”

– Goodreads reviewer

“The cynical wisdom of our age is that altruists are suckers and that government should shun the needy lest it reward idleness. Deborah Stone’s new book is a brilliant and persuasive statement of the case for organized compassion—not out of sentimentality but for the viability of society and our own self-regard as a decent people.”

– Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The American Prospect

Read Francine Prose’s full review here

“Finishing The Samaritan’s Dilemma, you not only want to give the book to your neighbors and send it to your congressional representatives but may find yourself wishing that, when the time comes for our next president to assemble a cabinet, Deborah Stone could be appointed our first Secretary of Compassion.”

– Francine Prose, Oprah Magazine