The Gospel of Wealth
Andrew Carnegie
Carnegie's challenge to his peers was radical in its time. As industrial capitalism surged, amassing wealth was often seen as the pinnacle of success. Carnegie flips this notion, arguing that the true measure of a life well-lived is not in wealth accrued, but in wealth distributed for public good. This was his "Gospel of Wealth," a call to arms for the philanthropic endeavors that birthed libraries, universities, and public institutions worldwide. Wealth, in this view, becomes a temporary stewardship rather than a permanent possession.