A Gift of Freedom: How the John M. Olin Foundation Changed America

This simply stunned me. It's as much an eye-opening experience I've had in a 3-4 years. An amazing journey - some new ground and some old, but all seen in a totally new light. Those who have followed the development of public policy intellectual thought over the past 2 decades are will recognize the supporting cast here: Allan Bloom, Tod Lindberg, John Chubb, Irving Kristol - and organizations - American Enterprise Institute, National Association of Scholars, Collegiate Network, American Council of Trustees and Alumni,.... One originally sees these and appreciates the struggles of the founders of these groups, the efforts, the results; one knows that the participants from like-minded organizations move in intersecting circles and meet each other in philosophical agreement. Yet it had never even occurred to me that all could be tied together so in a common bond of support through a single funder, via a dedicated team that methodically sought out and empowered each and all. And then the amazing story of Law and Economics, a discipline which I'd never heard named before (nor, probably, had my MBA professors). And yet, there it built up and spread across the country, providing a cutting edge of learned thought. Many of us think often of the Law's impact on our economics in the US - especially via a National minimum wage (which skews everyone's views of fair, localized, work-appropriate compensation). But the story of systematically introducing economics into our wayward law schools was a tale worthy of Tom Clancy! This truly was astounding work the Olin Board and Staff were engaged in. This spring brings much commentary from Francis Fukuyama on the war. Miller reveals that it was the John M. Olin Foundation which sponsored the orignial debates and publications to give Fukuyama fame. I must say, I finished the book jealous of the Olin staff. What great fun to work with such intellectual diversity and excellence. Miller captured the excitement of the period well. This was simply an awesome romp through the wonder-filled growing years of the counter-intelligentsia, and inspired a deep appreciation of the vision, focus, and commitment of John Olin and partners.

I stumbled across this book from an article in Townhall.com called "Muscular Philanthropy: Tough Love & The John M. Olin Foundation" [...] and I was intrigued. The article outlined the reasons behind the success of the Olin Foundation even though the Leftie foundations outgun everyon on the Right by 10 to 1. The book doesn't organize the material in the same way the article did, but it give a deeper understanding of some of the day to day decision making at the Olin Foundation. It is obvious the whole place functioned as an organic team. Everyone interested in philanthropy, or in running a nonprofit that depends on foundations for money, should read this book and the complementary article -- even the Leftie foundations. But they won't be able to copy the qualities that made the Olin foundation so great because foundation people on the Left are too ideologically driven to adhere to the principled philanthropy strategies outlined in this book and in the article.