In Lydia Millet's Dinosaurs, independently wealthy Gil grapples with the guilt brought on by his privilege and financial abundance. He tries to find ways to give back to those around him, through volunteer work and other means. A character's choice to actively attempt to do good deeds, or to change the world for the better, is one rich with narrative possibilities. It raises questions about what it means to be in a position to improve the lives of others, who gets to decide what is best for who else, and what type of work is most important or substantial. Below are a few other novels in which the motivations and morality of those trying to do good are explored. You can find more related novels in our Activism and Volunteering category.

The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alameddine centers on Syrian refugees arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos during the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016. Alameddine uses generous, imaginative humor to navigate the sticky subject of ...