The Investment of Influence: A Study of Social Sympathy and Service

"The Investment of Influence: A Study of Social Sympathy and Service" by Newell Dwight Hillis examines the social and moral sway individuals possess over each other. Written in the style of the late 1800s, the book tackles the idea that all people radiate an aura that touches everyone around them, underlining the bond of human connections and our collective responsibility towards each other. Showing how people both get from and give to each other, Hillis champions cultivating oneself combined with acts of kindness and community service. Framing his argument, he makes the case that each person, with their own special influence, can build up or tear down those in their circle, using analogies to sunlight and warmth to paint a picture of how lives can be changed. Using historical and moral tales, he puts good people on a pedestal and makes them examples of the positive atmospheres that protect those around them. He then poses influence as an investment in society and insists that empathy and kindness are key to communal growth and personal satisfaction.