'Tim Schwab has written the definitive critique of Bill Gates as bully-philanthropist. Schwab uses the case of Gates to tell a compelling and carefully researched story that raises disturbing questions about the lack of accountability of power-philanthropy.'
- Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor, The American Prospect
'This is not the story of one bad man, so much as a demonstration of the inability for anyone-no matter how smart or rich-to solve the world's problems from the top down with money and technology. As this well-argued and immensely engaging account of Bill Gates's forays into world-saving by fiat make clear, the problem with Big Philanthropy is the Big Hubris that comes along with it.This is not the story of one bad man, so much as a demonstration of the inability for anyone-no matter how smart or rich-to solve the world's problems from the top down with money and technology. As this well-argued and immensely engaging account of Bill Gates's forays into world-saving by fiat make clear, the problem with Big Philanthropy is the Big Hubris that comes along with it.'
- Douglas Rushkoff, author of Survival of the Richest
'In this incisive and penetrating book, Schwab dares to confront a question society has long ignored: should a secretive, unaccountable billionaire dictate policy in public health, education, and science? Fearlessly rendered and much-needed.'
- Sonia Shah, author of The Next Great Migration
'Tim Schwab follows the money to expose what happens when one man-however intelligent or well-intentioned-amasses so much wealth and so much power, he can literally dictate to governments around the world. With great skill-and given the range of Bill Gates's influence, considerable courage-Schwab pulls back the curtain to deliver a classic of muckraking journalism.'
- D. D. Guttenplan, editor, The Nation
'The author argues convincingly that the Gates Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-privileged charity that is acting like a private equity investor, venture capital fund, or a pharmaceutical company... An eye-opening look at the use of tax-subsidized money by private philanthropy'
- Kirkus