The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made And Gave Away A Fortune (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
Perhaps the greatest philanthropist ever, who operated in anonymity for nearly 50 years, Chuck Feeney's story is awe-inspiring.The book chronicles Feeney's meteoric rise from working class beginnings in Elizabeth, New Jersey to the CEO of Duty Free Shopping, capturing one of first truly global markets. I was most impressed with his emulation of Andrew Carnegie, and his near-obsessive preoccupation with personal divestment.Getting a rare inside look into the business model, and relationships made (and lost) serves a cautionary tale in business creation and team building.A quick read, great for type-A's. By being such an extreme business success, and then an extreme philanthropist, Feeney is a memorable character. His down to earth humility, despite having so much success and wealth, are inspiring and admirable. Although I got to my current similar beliefs about frugality and giving in a more roundabout way than Feeney, I'm proud to see shades of like mindedness with thus great role model. The biographer's storytelling style is brisk, well organized, and fascinating as the story unfolds.
What do You think about The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made And Gave Away A Fortune (2008)?
The most amazing man no one has heard of. A more generous person probably never lived.
—mamasha
One of the best books I ever read - captivating, inspiring.
—brandi721
