The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property

Hyde, L. (1983). The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property. Vintage Books.

In a 'market' economy, says Hyde, the highest status belongs to those who have acquired the most. In a Gift Economy, the highest status belongs to those who have given the most. But what is most important, he says, is that the gift must always move. This idea was recently popularized by the terrific little movie called Pay it Forward. Every gift is its own reward, but that reward is multiplied, without limit, when the gift, or any gift, is passed along to others. A story is a gift. Blogs are gifts. Ideas and insights and teaching and counsel are gifts. Conversations are gifts.

Source: http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2005/04/17.html