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Secondary sourceBook1889 (essay); recording date not given

The Gospel of Wealth (LibriVox audio reading)

Andrew Carnegie · 1889 (essay); recording date not given

A volunteer audio reading of Carnegie's 1889 essay arguing that the wealthy should give away their fortunes. The reader is a modern volunteer.

Carnegie wrote this essay himself, and it sets out his views on wealth and philanthropy, the core of his public legacy.

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Andrew Carnegie, The Gospel of Wealth, LibriVox audio recording read by Michele Fry.

About this source

What it is

This is a LibriVox audio recording of The Gospel of Wealth, an essay by Andrew Carnegie written in 1889. It asks how great wealth should be used and argues for philanthropy, meaning giving that benefits the community. The recording was read in English by a volunteer, Michele Fry, so it is a modern reading of the text, not Carnegie's voice.

Why it matters

The essay was later republished in a 1900 collection of Carnegie's writings, which the source opening shows. It is often used in lessons on giving and on the role of rich industrialists in American society. Students can compare Carnegie's ideas with those of other people of his time who debated wealth and charity.

Look closer

  • What problem about great wealth does Carnegie say he is trying to answer?
  • Who does Carnegie believe should decide how a fortune is used, and why?
  • What might people who worked in his steel mills have said about his ideas?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Andrew Carnegie on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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