BROADCASTS.com

To get a free copy of the Infectious Generosity book, visit ted.com/generosity\xa0 \xa0

When John M. Sweeney first read about the old Italian tradition of \u201ccaf\xe9 sospeso\u201d, he didn\u2019t know he\u2019d create a viral movement. The simple and powerful idea originates in the working-class caf\xe9s of Naples, where generous Neapolitans who could afford to do so would buy two coffees \u2014 but consume only one, leaving the other for a less fortunate person to claim. Chris chats with John about why he took this concept from an exploratory Facebook page to the Suspended Coffees movement that now has more than 2,000 participating cafes worldwide. They talk about the profound power of random acts of kindness, the beauty of gifting economies and how the philosophy of generosity can change an entire community \u2013 and the world at large.

Transcripts for The TED Interview are available at: go.ted.com/TTIscripts