I Like Giving by Brad Formsma [Book Review]

“I Like Giving” has garnered attention for its unique approach to generosity. Brad Formsma’s book is not just about financial giving, but about living a lifestyle of generosity in all aspects. It has been praised for its practical advice and heartwarming stories.

Book Details:

• Title: I Like Giving
• Author: Brad Formsma
• Genre: Self-Help / Christian Living
• Publication Date: 2014
• ISBN: 978-1601425759

About the Author:

Brad Formsma is a renowned speaker and author with a passion for inspiring generosity. With a background in business and philanthropy, he brings a unique perspective on how giving can transform lives. His insights are not only practical but are rooted in personal experience, making his advice both authentic and credible.

Summary of I Like Giving:

“I Like Giving” delves into the concept of living a life characterized by generosity. Formsma illustrates through various stories and personal experiences how giving can be integrated into everyday life. He challenges the notion that giving is solely monetary, expanding it to include time, attention, and skills. The book emphasizes the joy and fulfillment that come from a generous lifestyle, advocating that this approach can positively impact both the giver and receiver.

Selected Passages Randy Highlighted in the Book:

• Winston Churchill said you make a living by what you earn and a life by what you give.
• If you’re not experiencing happiness and satisfaction in your life, giving to others could be the one thing that turns that around.
• …sometimes the line between giving and receiving disappears. You will find that out as you cultivate a lifestyle of giving. What you get back is far greater than anything you give out.
• What they found was that “prosocial spending” was linked to higher levels of happiness (prosocial spending means spending money on others or donating money to charity). Continuing their research, Dunn and Norton conducted a more detailed examination of workers who spent their profit-sharing bonuses in different ways. The only factor that consistently showed correlation between spending and happiness was, again, prosocial spending. The more people spent money on others or gave it away, the happier they reported being.
• …no matter how successful you are, it is giving your life away to others that makes you happy.
• I’m forty-one now. If you’d asked me when I was thirty-one what life was all about, I probably would have said something about making money and getting ahead. I don’t think like that anymore. Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive, and I now know that’s the truth. Climbing the corporate ladder or trying to prove to others that I am a success doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.
• You can’t give what you don’t have; you can give only what you do have, so start with that.
• Giving an unexpected tip is actually one of the most predictable ways to really throw someone for a loop. The expressions on people’s faces can be priceless when you walk up to them with something for no other reason than to show them you appreciate their service.
• Years ago a friend challenged me with the idea of investing as much in ministry as I would in a good business deal. I hadn’t considered that before, but when you think about it, which one has a better return? When someone wealthy tells me that he’s bored or that she’s lost her motivation to make money, I pass on this concept of looking at giving as a way of investing. My wife and I have always given away a percentage of our money and had fun doing it. Then came the opportunity to do something bigger. We had simply gotten involved in a service project at the church, and the next thing we knew, we were looking in the face of a chance to buy a house for someone. We had to decide whether to step into it or walk away, because it was more than we had initially planned to do. When we stopped and thought about what really matters, it wasn’t a tough choice. At the end of the day, giving is a way to actually invest in someone’s life…. You certainly don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference. If you are, you may have greater opportunities than others, but the issue is not how much you have. It’s what you do with whatever you have. That chance is in front of you. I urge you to take it. Giving someone a better life and a better future is one investment you will never regret.
• We decided we would set limits on how much we could give without talking to each other first. This changed things. Now that we were on the same page, there was a new unity and shared excitement in giving. We took time to explore giving opportunities together, even traveling to other cities to learn more about organizations that caught our interest. Getting to meet the people behind the scenes and understanding their work helped us in our decision-making process. This also brought a new richness to our lives and our marriage. As we gave, we discovered more of the mysteries of each other’s heart. I loved being able to support the work in India, while Laura found life in giving to ministries that helped girls with addictions, eating disorders, and unplanned pregnancies. I was unaware of that type of ministry, but realizing it was meaningful to her, we gave in that way too.
• Sometimes people don’t need money or skills or advice. They just need someone to hear their stories and witness their lives. The simple words hello and thank you went a lot further than I realized.
• The reality is that other people are watching how we live our lives, and what we do can have extraordinary effects in our communities.
• You can’t help everybody, but you can help somebody.
• Receiving well also honors the giver.
• Two of the big barriers to living generously are the beliefs that we are owed something by the world and that, compared to others, we don’t have anything to give. If you think that way, let me ask you a question: Are you breathing? You would not be able to read this if someone had not nurtured you when you were a baby, if someone had not taught you to read when you were young.
• Chances are we have all been loved by someone and have all been shown generosity. If we hadn’t, we likely wouldn’t be alive today.
• How many times have you needed money for something and found a way to make it work? When there is no other option, solutions have a way of showing up.
• What if giving wasn’t optional for you? Perhaps you would realize you have a few things in your life that you could sell or give away. If you’re absolutely broke, maybe you can lend someone a hand. Maybe you can give the gift of time, a smile, or a listening ear. If there is life and breath in you and you want to give, you can find a way. The possibilities are endless.
• When Derek and I were in school studying business, we always said the best return on investment comes from investing in people. The return is immeasurable.
• …you can choose to live your entire life as a gift, whether you feel as if you have a lot to offer or not. Live to give, and you will be surprised at the resources you have. Let those resources flow through your life like a river, and watch as the water level rises. Life is meant to be given away, and as you give, more will be given to you.
• When your goal is to live your life as a gift, you move from asking how you can get ahead to how you can serve others to the best of your ability. The question is not “What am I good at?” but “How can I best give my life away to others?”
• There are a lot of problems in the world. Sitting around talking about them or waiting for a large organization to do something about them doesn’t work. Finding opportunities to help others and change the world around us does work.

Who Would Benefit From This Book?

“I Like Giving” is ideal for individuals seeking to enrich their spiritual and personal lives through generosity. It’s particularly resonant for Christians looking for practical ways to live out their faith. Fans of inspirational literature, those interested in personal growth, and readers who enjoy heartwarming true stories will find this book enlightening and motivating.

Popular Quotes from I Like Giving:

1. “Generosity is not just about giving money; it’s a lifestyle.”
2. “Every act of giving has a story, and every story can inspire more generosity.”
3. “When we give, we receive more than we ever could have imagined.”
4. “Generosity starts with a simple act of kindness.”
5. “True generosity doesn’t count the cost; it counts the opportunity.”

Related Books:

• “The Generosity Factor” by Ken Blanchard and S. Truett Cathy
• “The Life You Can Save” by Peter Singer
• “The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn

Readers who enjoyed “I Like Giving” might also find value in Bob & Linda’s book: Simple Money, Rich Life. Find the connections between financial principles and modern financial strategies to enrich your own financial life!