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Giving Is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy
Wouldn’t it be great if we could do what pleases God, helps others, and is best for us—at the same time? Can we live the good life without being selfish?
In Giving Is the Good Life, bestselling author Randy Alcorn teaches life-changing biblical principles of generosity and tells stories of people who have put those radical principles into practice. Each story is a practical application that can help stimulate your imagination and expand your dreams of serving Jesus in fresh ways. These real-life models give you not just words to remember but footprints to follow.
Giving Is the Good Life reveals a grander view of God and generosity—one that stretches far beyond our imagination and teaches us what the good life is really all about.
In Giving Is the Good Life, bestselling author Randy Alcorn teaches life-changing biblical principles of generosity and tells stories of people who have put those radical principles into practice. Each story is a practical application that can help stimulate your imagination and expand your dreams of serving Jesus in fresh ways. These real-life models give you not just words to remember but footprints to follow.
Giving Is the Good Life reveals a grander view of God and generosity—one that stretches far beyond our imagination and teaches us what the good life is really all about.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2019
105 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
Randy Alcorn
222 books1,599 followersRandy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.
"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."
Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon.
Randy is a best-selling author of 50 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.
Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.
Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.
Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website, http://www.epm.org
"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."
Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon.
Randy is a best-selling author of 50 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.
Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.
Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.
Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website, http://www.epm.org
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 15, 2020
Rating: 5 plus stars
Amazing book about why giving brings you fulfillment and joy. So many people with loads of money and material goods find themselves at a dead end of depression, emptiness and nothingness. This book delves into why having so much can bring you to so little and how avoiding the pitfalls that wealth brings can renew your soul and take you to another place that you never dreamed of.
Amazing book about why giving brings you fulfillment and joy. So many people with loads of money and material goods find themselves at a dead end of depression, emptiness and nothingness. This book delves into why having so much can bring you to so little and how avoiding the pitfalls that wealth brings can renew your soul and take you to another place that you never dreamed of.
October 21, 2024
While I really, really liked Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Alcorn, I did not like this book at all. The emphasis on generosity was much heavier on strategic investment rather than heart posture, and the examples he shared postures the giver as benefactor/savior without much consideration of relationship and equality existing outside of who has more to give. That said, I can see how this book would be a good start for someone who has significant wealth and doesn’t have regular linteractions with those in different income brackets.
November 2, 2025
Love Randy Alcorn. The guy always shoots em straight, not afraid to speak some convicting truth. Probably the most comprehensive book I’ve read on the topic of generosity. A few of my favorite points -
* If we met the Luke 12 (bigger barns) man today, we would commend him for his foresight-yet foresight is what he lacked
* Agape sometimes is translated into charity instead of love…..giving is love
* US poverty level ($30k) is top 2% in world and $70k income is .2% world
* 1 Timothy 6 is you!! You are rich!
* Greed and sexual immorality eph 5 and col 3 - equally scandalous
* Raising children in a home that embraces materialism is a form of child abide
* We often fear death because what we treasure most is on Earth
* If we met the Luke 12 (bigger barns) man today, we would commend him for his foresight-yet foresight is what he lacked
* Agape sometimes is translated into charity instead of love…..giving is love
* US poverty level ($30k) is top 2% in world and $70k income is .2% world
* 1 Timothy 6 is you!! You are rich!
* Greed and sexual immorality eph 5 and col 3 - equally scandalous
* Raising children in a home that embraces materialism is a form of child abide
* We often fear death because what we treasure most is on Earth
April 8, 2025
Took awhile, but glad I read this. Realized my view of generosity is very small and not centered on freedom. Excited to live more freely by giving more (of money, time, control etc.,). 4 stars bc I thought it was a touch too long and a lot of ideas were repetitive. I really appreciate the real-life ppl stories sprinkled throughout. And it wasn’t from one type/demographic of ppl.
April 25, 2025
A challenging and worthwhile read! Really makes you consider how you're living out your Christian faith and what steps you may need to take to live a more generous life and store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.
January 16, 2020
Great book for a shift in your mindset regarding generosity. Not my favorite format and most definitely repetitive. I would have managed the very same takeaways had this been a short booklet.
December 15, 2024
Randy Alcorn’s Giving is the Good Life inspires readers to embrace generosity as a pathway to spiritual fulfillment and personal joy. Its central message—encouraging sacrificial giving and simpler living—is both timely and important. However, I found that the book lacked in key areas that are critical to responsible and impactful generosity.
What Works WellAlcorn excels at presenting generosity as a deeply rewarding act, calling readers to live sacrificially and invest their resources in ways that reflect eternal values. His anecdotes and insights are motivational, especially for those new to the practice of giving or struggling with materialism. He challenges readers to shift their focus from self-centered consumption to a life centered on others and God’s purposes.
Missed OpportunitiesDespite its strengths, the book misses a major opportunity to address the complexities of giving in a globalized, inequitable world. Alcorn’s emphasis on personal fulfillment risks overshadowing the need for wisdom, humility, and an understanding of power dynamics in giving. For example, the act of generosity can sometimes inadvertently undermine the very dignity and independence it seeks to restore.
A classic example is the well-meaning but misguided approach of bringing Christmas gifts into a disadvantaged community. While it might bring joy to the giver and children receiving gifts, it can also make local parents feel inadequate or powerless, unintentionally reinforcing harmful power dynamics. This is an issue discussed in depth in works like When Helping Hurts, which highlights how uninformed giving can perpetuate dependency or disrupt local economies.
Alcorn briefly acknowledges the importance of wise giving in a short list at the end of a chapter but doesn’t dive into the practical or systemic challenges that often accompany acts of generosity. For a book centered entirely on giving, this feels like a significant oversight.
The Bigger PictureHaving worked across cultures and witnessed the complexities of donor-recipient relationships firsthand, I’ve seen how much influence Western generosity wields—both positively and negatively. Many donors, often unintentionally, bring expectations and control into their giving, which can shape entire nonprofit strategies and even local economies. This dynamic isn’t inherently bad, but it requires careful stewardship, cultural understanding, and humility to avoid causing harm.
Alcorn could have amplified his message by including these perspectives—perhaps by collaborating with voices from the global nonprofit world or impacted communities. Showing readers how to give in ways that restore dignity and build equity, rather than creating dependency or reinforcing inequalities, would have made the book’s message far more robust and actionable.
ConclusionGiving is the Good Life is an encouraging read for those looking to embrace a lifestyle of generosity. Its call to sacrificial giving is convicting and important. However, for those already engaged in nonprofit or global missions work—or anyone wanting to give wisely—it may feel overly simplistic. Pairing this book with resources like When Helping Hurts will offer a more well-rounded understanding of how generosity can transform not only the giver but also the world, in ways that are both sustainable and just.
What Works WellAlcorn excels at presenting generosity as a deeply rewarding act, calling readers to live sacrificially and invest their resources in ways that reflect eternal values. His anecdotes and insights are motivational, especially for those new to the practice of giving or struggling with materialism. He challenges readers to shift their focus from self-centered consumption to a life centered on others and God’s purposes.
Missed OpportunitiesDespite its strengths, the book misses a major opportunity to address the complexities of giving in a globalized, inequitable world. Alcorn’s emphasis on personal fulfillment risks overshadowing the need for wisdom, humility, and an understanding of power dynamics in giving. For example, the act of generosity can sometimes inadvertently undermine the very dignity and independence it seeks to restore.
A classic example is the well-meaning but misguided approach of bringing Christmas gifts into a disadvantaged community. While it might bring joy to the giver and children receiving gifts, it can also make local parents feel inadequate or powerless, unintentionally reinforcing harmful power dynamics. This is an issue discussed in depth in works like When Helping Hurts, which highlights how uninformed giving can perpetuate dependency or disrupt local economies.
Alcorn briefly acknowledges the importance of wise giving in a short list at the end of a chapter but doesn’t dive into the practical or systemic challenges that often accompany acts of generosity. For a book centered entirely on giving, this feels like a significant oversight.
The Bigger PictureHaving worked across cultures and witnessed the complexities of donor-recipient relationships firsthand, I’ve seen how much influence Western generosity wields—both positively and negatively. Many donors, often unintentionally, bring expectations and control into their giving, which can shape entire nonprofit strategies and even local economies. This dynamic isn’t inherently bad, but it requires careful stewardship, cultural understanding, and humility to avoid causing harm.
Alcorn could have amplified his message by including these perspectives—perhaps by collaborating with voices from the global nonprofit world or impacted communities. Showing readers how to give in ways that restore dignity and build equity, rather than creating dependency or reinforcing inequalities, would have made the book’s message far more robust and actionable.
ConclusionGiving is the Good Life is an encouraging read for those looking to embrace a lifestyle of generosity. Its call to sacrificial giving is convicting and important. However, for those already engaged in nonprofit or global missions work—or anyone wanting to give wisely—it may feel overly simplistic. Pairing this book with resources like When Helping Hurts will offer a more well-rounded understanding of how generosity can transform not only the giver but also the world, in ways that are both sustainable and just.
December 28, 2020
Randy is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. The title says it all. We so often miss what the real “good life” is all about. I especially enjoyed the many true life illustrations given throughout the book. I like to underline as I read. Here’s some of what I underlined:
Quote from D. L. Moody - Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t matter.
When we are grounded more firmly in the Word than we are in the world, God moves us to countercultural ways of living and giving.
People often think that compulsive acquisition is normal. No one will suggest that we need an intervention for it or that we should attend a recovery group. We seem to have a silent agreement that keeps materialism mainstream and off limits from accountability.
Quote from Amy Carmichael - You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
Quote from Elie Wiesel - The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
There is a great cure for boredom, although it’s one people don’t typically consider: giving more time, money, and energy to God’s Kingdom work, and inviting God to open our eyes to the needs surrounding us.
Quote from Martin Luther - God divided the hand into fingers so that money could slip through.
Quote by Peter Marshall - Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.
As thoughtful Christ-followers, we should never assume that financial abundance is God’s provision for us to live in luxury. We should assume that God entrusts us with His money not to build our kingdom on earth, but to build His Kingdom in Heaven.
Giving is not simply the indication of a changed life. It’s a God-ordained means of saving our lives!
One reason many of us fear death is that our treasures are predominantly here on earth. If we store our riches in Heaven, which we get closer to every day, we’re always heading toward -- not away -- from them.
Living simply certainly has many benefits, but it doesn’t automatically do anything good for others.
If God owns it all, shouldn’t we stop acting as though we do?
Quote from D. L. Moody - Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t matter.
When we are grounded more firmly in the Word than we are in the world, God moves us to countercultural ways of living and giving.
People often think that compulsive acquisition is normal. No one will suggest that we need an intervention for it or that we should attend a recovery group. We seem to have a silent agreement that keeps materialism mainstream and off limits from accountability.
Quote from Amy Carmichael - You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
Quote from Elie Wiesel - The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
There is a great cure for boredom, although it’s one people don’t typically consider: giving more time, money, and energy to God’s Kingdom work, and inviting God to open our eyes to the needs surrounding us.
Quote from Martin Luther - God divided the hand into fingers so that money could slip through.
Quote by Peter Marshall - Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.
As thoughtful Christ-followers, we should never assume that financial abundance is God’s provision for us to live in luxury. We should assume that God entrusts us with His money not to build our kingdom on earth, but to build His Kingdom in Heaven.
Giving is not simply the indication of a changed life. It’s a God-ordained means of saving our lives!
One reason many of us fear death is that our treasures are predominantly here on earth. If we store our riches in Heaven, which we get closer to every day, we’re always heading toward -- not away -- from them.
Living simply certainly has many benefits, but it doesn’t automatically do anything good for others.
If God owns it all, shouldn’t we stop acting as though we do?
January 6, 2020
A good reminder that we should be willing to give to those in need it was shallow, repetitive, and he had very weak arguments to back up his points. He lost me around the 4th chapter.
January 5, 2025
Two takeaways:
1. When Alcorn described how most of the world lives - without furniture, reliable electricity and water, the very bare essentials in their pantry - it reminded me of how much I have. It reminded me of how much our family truly has and how rich we are to have so much food and clothing and kitchen appliances and flushing toilets.
2. At the end of the book, Alcorn talks about what it could look like to give abundantly during your lifetime and then also leave money and other assets to ministries you support. I haven’t thought about that much, but I think it was something to think about regarding inheritance and a will.
Overall, I’m already convinced that giving is the good life and regularly practice generosity. While this book was full of cool stories of giving, I found it difficult to listen to the 8+ hours of the book, and was just trying to get through it in order to move onto the next book I’m interested in reading.
1. When Alcorn described how most of the world lives - without furniture, reliable electricity and water, the very bare essentials in their pantry - it reminded me of how much I have. It reminded me of how much our family truly has and how rich we are to have so much food and clothing and kitchen appliances and flushing toilets.
2. At the end of the book, Alcorn talks about what it could look like to give abundantly during your lifetime and then also leave money and other assets to ministries you support. I haven’t thought about that much, but I think it was something to think about regarding inheritance and a will.
Overall, I’m already convinced that giving is the good life and regularly practice generosity. While this book was full of cool stories of giving, I found it difficult to listen to the 8+ hours of the book, and was just trying to get through it in order to move onto the next book I’m interested in reading.
January 12, 2026
Alcorn makes the case for generous giving in a book that challenges the American believer to use his or her wealth to support the kingdom of God. He points out that our belief on the "American dream" is not actually rooted in Scripture. The true good life comes about by faithfulness to God and generosity.
This book had a lot of great examples of how God will protect and uphold generous givers, without it sounding prosperity-gospel-ish. Alcorn acknowledges that God does bless a cheerful giver, and good stewards will receive more. But he also warns about being caught up in pursuing money or material possessions.
I do think this book could have been shorter. Three hundred pages made it seem as if he was repeating himself throughout the book. But overall, it was a pretty good book.
This book had a lot of great examples of how God will protect and uphold generous givers, without it sounding prosperity-gospel-ish. Alcorn acknowledges that God does bless a cheerful giver, and good stewards will receive more. But he also warns about being caught up in pursuing money or material possessions.
I do think this book could have been shorter. Three hundred pages made it seem as if he was repeating himself throughout the book. But overall, it was a pretty good book.
January 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Definitely a worthwhile read, but I’d recommend reading Alcorn’s book, “Money, Possessions, and Eternity” first to get a solid foundational understanding of the topic. Having that deep understanding makes the examples of generosity in this book more relevant to the reader. I keep thinking about the statement that those living at the current “poverty level” in America are still in the top 2%in terms of worldwide wealth. That sure makes our excuses about why we “can’t afford to give” sound pretty lame. Reading these two books has already caused me to reprioritize several things in my life and I look forward to more opportunities!
May 3, 2023
3.5 stars
repetitive, dry, lacks prose, evangelism-centric; but worthy soundbites nonetheless: eternal life is both quantity of existence ("eternal") AND highest quality of living ("life"); God is happy in Himself (thus God *is* happiness); our hearts follow our money- when we invest in the kingdom, we fall more in love with God, giving, & heaven.not, "Don't care about treasures", but, "Enjoy the *superior* treasures & joys of giving (& receiving daily gifs from our generous God of riches, who delights in our joy!)".
repetitive, dry, lacks prose, evangelism-centric; but worthy soundbites nonetheless: eternal life is both quantity of existence ("eternal") AND highest quality of living ("life"); God is happy in Himself (thus God *is* happiness); our hearts follow our money- when we invest in the kingdom, we fall more in love with God, giving, & heaven.not, "Don't care about treasures", but, "Enjoy the *superior* treasures & joys of giving (& receiving daily gifs from our generous God of riches, who delights in our joy!)".
January 15, 2024
This book is a good reset for thinking about the resources God has entrusted me with, and focusing on laying up treasures in heaven. The author brings out interesting points on stewardship. At the end of the reading, I am left thinking about my choices, and prayerfully asking God to direct me in how He would have me steward the resources He has entrusted me with.
March 25, 2022
A thought provoking and heart convicting read. If it all belongs to God, am I using it for his glory or for my comfort? Giving to serve his purposes produces what Alcorn refers to as EROI, or ETERNAL return in investments. Where better to invest my time, money and talents?
September 7, 2022
Fantastic overview of the joy of living a life focused on giving. Reinvigorated my hunger for giving, one that I've slipped away from over the last few years. Praying bigger dreams as a result! (Bigger giving dreams that is).
August 14, 2023
DNF. I wanted to love this book, and I tend to agree with Alcorn on a lot of his points. However, 100 pages in, I couldn't bear another 150 pages of the same two points over and over again. It was exhaustingly repetitive!
December 4, 2024
What if I actually believed Jesus’ teaching on money?Alcorn explores generosity and argues that it is the pathway to the good life. I have to agree and am excited to keep experiencing the generous God through giving.
December 26, 2024
“Jesus calls us to do something radical: love others by giving away our money and time.”
It’s too easy for me to see generosity as a duty rather than a joy. Randy Alcorn reminds me that God desires to give me so much, and one of the ways I can receive from Him is by giving.
It’s too easy for me to see generosity as a duty rather than a joy. Randy Alcorn reminds me that God desires to give me so much, and one of the ways I can receive from Him is by giving.
January 29, 2025
3.5 stars
This books was challenging and had a lot of good points. There were, in my opinion, a few too many stories to wade through and not all his points seemed to be well backed. Overall, though, I’m glad I read it and generous giving is something I hope to continue to grow in.
This books was challenging and had a lot of good points. There were, in my opinion, a few too many stories to wade through and not all his points seemed to be well backed. Overall, though, I’m glad I read it and generous giving is something I hope to continue to grow in.
February 13, 2025
I listened to the audiobook because my word of the year is generosity. This was a good book to get the biblical principles around giving. It provided a good foundation for incorporating generosity as part of our Christian life.
August 11, 2025
Repetitive in a way that drilled in the same point over and over again, however I thoroughly enjoyed the testimonies! An inspiring read to say the least, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to lean into ways I can simplify and live more generously.
July 16, 2020
A solid book from a biblical worldview on the topic of giving. I gave it 4/5 only because I found it repetitive, but I would still highly recommend.
October 31, 2020
Everything Randy Alcorn write is great! Really puts everything perspective and keeps it interesting!
October 17, 2023
This is an excellent book. It spurs one on to love and good works. Love God and Love People
February 5, 2024
The "good life" is one focused on our eternal hope of Jesus Christ, lived with outward generosity to others. Living this way brings joy, stores up eternal treasure, and impacts the world for good.
March 15, 2024
Great doctrine! Inspiring topic. Tedious listen.
May 7, 2024
Very good, very inspiring. I want to live this kind of good life!
May 13, 2025
A lot of words with not a lot actually being said. This book could have capped out at 100 pages and would have been far more impactful.
August 13, 2025
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews