Christian Smith is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, Director of the Notre Dame Center for Social Research, Principal Investigator of the National Study of Youth and Religion, and Principal Investigator of the Science of Generosity Initiative. He is the author, co-author, or editor of numerous books, including Young Catholic America, Souls in Transition, and Soul Searching.

Hilary Davidson is a PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Notre Dame. With Christian Smith, Kari Christoffersen, and Patricia Snell Herzog, she is a co-author of Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood.

"The Paradox of Generosity is a winner. It's a terrific book full of interesting and important data and insights and, more important, meaningful lessons for each of us and for all of us. Parents should make this book required reading for their adult children as a roadmap to greater happiness, health, and purpose in life." --Jack Brennan, Chairman Emeritus, The Vanguard Group

"'It is a sociological fact: by giving ourselves away, we flourish!' Smith and Davidson provide data to support the truth of that statement as they unpack the rich learnings of Notre Dame's 'Science of Generosity Initiative.' A must read for scholars, health professionals, nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, religious practitioners. But more: it written for anyone who in their giving and living want to live well and make a difference." --William G. Enright, Director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University

"...compelling and well-researched... the book argues that the regular practice of being generous with our money, time, and relationships enhances happiness." --Publishers Weekly

"...[Fascinating]... I'm grateful for [the authors'] extensive research and careful presentation of the results. The charts, data, and lengthy interviews found in The Paradox of Generosity should satisfy skeptics and scholars. They have employed the language of academia to describe in new ways something that has always been true: That generosity feels good, and is good for you..." --Englewood Review of Books

"Smith and Davidson paint a rich portrait of the generous and ungenerous family, using excellent data." --CHOICE

"This is a cogent, clearly written book that deftly weaves theoretical concepts and quantitative data into an intriguing account of generosity and how, precisely, it facilitates health, happiness, and purpose in life." --American Journal of Sociology