Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World The Entertainment Critic Book Review, By James Myers GIVING: HOW EACH OF US CAN CHANGE THE WORLD By Bill Clinton Published by Borzoi Books, an Imprint of Alfred A. Knopf Publication Date: September, 2007 Price: $24.95 240 Pages ISBN: 978-0-307-26674-3 Four Star Rating **** “We all have the capacity to do great things. My hope is that the people and the stories in this book will lift spirits, touch hearts, and demonstrate that citizen activism and services can be a powerful agent of change in the world.” “The health of a democratic society maybe measured by the quality of the functions performed by private citizens.” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America Bill Clinton has written an extraordinary book, Giving. This inspiring call to action is a look at how each of us can take positive steps to change the world. The book discusses concrete examples of extraordinary and innovative efforts are currently being made by companies, organizations and most importantly ordinary people to solve problems and save lives. Mr. Clinton categorizes for us the various methods that we can help based on his travels and experience: • Giving Money • Giving Time • Giving Things • Giving Skills • Gift of Reconciliation and New Beginnings • Gifts that Keep Giving • Model Gifts • Giving to Good Ideas • Organizing Markets for the Public Good • Nonprofit Markets • The Government This book is very well researched and it’s listing of resources in the back of the book is very impressive. What I liked the best about Mr. Clinton’s book was the examples he gave of common, ordinary people who have made miraculous differences in other peoples’ lives. Here are a few examples: Dr Paul Farmer: Dr Farmer grew up living in the family bus in a trailer park. He vowed to devote his life to giving high-quality medical care to the poor. This led him in his adult life to build innovative public health-care clinics in Haiti and Rwanda; A New York couple in Africa for a wedding, visited several schools and were appalled by the absence of textbooks and supplies. They founded their own organization to gather and ship materials to 35 schools. After 3 years, the percentage of 7th graders who passed reading tests increased from 5% to 60%; Oseola McCarty, a woman who worked as a washer woman for 75 years, gave $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi to endow a scholarship fund for African-American students; Heifer International, which gave 12 goats to a Ugandan village, helped to provide poor people enough money selling goat’s milk that it paid for school fees and eventually sent all her children to school. The children in turn pass a baby goat along to other families, extending the impact of the gift. I like this book not only for the impact that great men like Bill Gates have provided from his foundation, but the common ordinary person who by taking small helping steps, effected prolific changes. Written in an upbeat, contemporary conversational style, what could have been a stuffy and dusty old book is fresh and new. This is a great book and it demonstrates what de Tocqueville first observed about Americans in the 1860’s. Our society is built on the cooperative efforts of others. Bill Clinton’s stories about gifts of time, skills, things and ideas carries on a very mucRead full review
Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World by Bill Clinton A call to action! To make this a better world. Clinton has always believed in the power of private charities, and this book is a collection of examples of self-starters and the charities they've created. An inspiring look at how each of us can change the world. He shares his own experiences and those of others, like innovative efforts now being made by organizations and individuals to solve problems and save lives both “down the street and around the world.” Saying the market for charitable giving is "under-organized" and "under-capitalized," Clinton also urges us, the reader, “regardless of income, available time, age, and skills,” to do what we can to help. The book introduces us to both well-known and unknown givers. Nongovernmental, nonprofit activity. These stories show that gifts of time, skills, and ideas are as important and effective as contributions of money. Bill Clinton has this way of presenting his ideas for reforms as simple, elegant solutions. A portion of the book's profits go to charities. Giving is good! William Jefferson Clinton is a genius. willtrib - EasyCityBooks NOLARead full review
This is an outstanding guide and resource to giving one's time, money or skills. Whether or not you like Mr. Clinton as a person or a President is immaterial as far as this book is concerned. He has amassed research on many ways of giving - from a global scope to individuals. For anyone who doesn't know what to do with some time, money or both this book is something you should get and read. For just a little of yourself or your checkbook, you could make an enormous difference in someone's life. This book will give you many ideas on how to do so.
Thanks did you know when Bill Clinton left office the United States had a surplus of money!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Whether you are a Clinton-backer or not, this book is a must read for anyone who has the desire to give back to their community and fellow men. I am a service-learning coordinator in a public high school. This book provided many examples of how even people with limited means can give.... time, knowledge, etc. Clinton's book is well-organized and enjoyable to read. Truly inspirational, my students and I now have even more ideas on how we can improve others' lives.
Never was a Bill Clinton fan, and never will be. But, he tells some interesting stories, and demonstrates how people can give back to the community and help others. There's a lot of self-promotion of Bill Clinton in this book. At the same time, it was easy to read, and shows that every little bit helps.
thanks
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
After watching Mr Clinton on The Oprah show I purchased his book off Ebay - I never was a real fan of the formal president but after reading this book and listening to him on the Oprah show I am now a huge fan. This book has opened my eyes.
Excellent book by former president of the United States, Bill Clinton. It gives a sincere and honest overview with multiple ideas on how to give. I strongly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.
Had to get to get it for an assignment for school. It was a good read if you don't mind reading a lot. It's good to be involved.
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