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A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity by Sheryl WuDunn, Nicholas D. Kristof
author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition
4.0
Poverty and charity might be two of the most complex issues in the world today. A Path Appears by Kristoff and WuDunn attempts to make sense of the "1.4 million [aid groups] already operating in America."
Consider how mutual funds are marketed. A mutual fund group creates dozens of mutual funds and says little about them for five or ten years. After this respectable wait, the very best are selected and advertised with their impressive five- and ten-year returns. In the same way, out of those 1.4 million aid groups, some have to accrue impressive results. But as they say with mutual funds, "Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results."
A second issue is the confusion between correlation and causation. Consider the currently popular "thirty-million word gap." The observation is that lower socioeconomic status (SES) families spoke less to their children than higher SES families. By the age of four, the children have experienced the "thirty-million word gap." This observation is a correlation.
The interesting conclusion, now supported by many government programs, is that talking to children will remove the gap in life-long success they experience as a result of their lower SES life. Not surprisingly, other researchers ascribe the cause to be nutrition, early education, stress, missing parents, toxic parents, etc.
Poverty and charity might be two of the most complex issues in the world today. Kristog and WuDunn deserve much credit for not getting discouraged and for doing one of the best jobs in attempting to point a way forward: A Path Appears.
For more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-path-appears-by-kristof-and-wudunn.html
Consider how mutual funds are marketed. A mutual fund group creates dozens of mutual funds and says little about them for five or ten years. After this respectable wait, the very best are selected and advertised with their impressive five- and ten-year returns. In the same way, out of those 1.4 million aid groups, some have to accrue impressive results. But as they say with mutual funds, "Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results."
A second issue is the confusion between correlation and causation. Consider the currently popular "thirty-million word gap." The observation is that lower socioeconomic status (SES) families spoke less to their children than higher SES families. By the age of four, the children have experienced the "thirty-million word gap." This observation is a correlation.
The interesting conclusion, now supported by many government programs, is that talking to children will remove the gap in life-long success they experience as a result of their lower SES life. Not surprisingly, other researchers ascribe the cause to be nutrition, early education, stress, missing parents, toxic parents, etc.
Poverty and charity might be two of the most complex issues in the world today. Kristog and WuDunn deserve much credit for not getting discouraged and for doing one of the best jobs in attempting to point a way forward: A Path Appears.
For more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-path-appears-by-kristof-and-wudunn.html
2frangipani2's review against another edition
4.0
I made the mistake of getting this on audiobook. I will be getting this in paperback also, because it's difficult to go back and look up ideas on audiobook. :) I wasn't sure what this book was about, but was looking for some advice on how to do good in this world. And the book delivered. Instead of just pointing out problems, there was real-world advice on what a "normal" person can do and where you can be valuable.
The good part about an audiobook when the book is large like this one, is that you aren't intimidated by it. You can listen to it anywhere and it is great inspiration while walking the dogs, exercising, cleaning etc.
I think everyone should read this (or listen to it) as it truly has lot's of ideas on how and wehre to help. Or, how to allocate your annual charitable giving before the tax year slips away.
The good part about an audiobook when the book is large like this one, is that you aren't intimidated by it. You can listen to it anywhere and it is great inspiration while walking the dogs, exercising, cleaning etc.
I think everyone should read this (or listen to it) as it truly has lot's of ideas on how and wehre to help. Or, how to allocate your annual charitable giving before the tax year slips away.
huskerkeeg's review against another edition
5.0
A great and inspirational book that I recommend everyone to read at some point in their lives.
jacalata's review against another edition
5.0
fascinating book, very effective discussion of donation choices and impacts, lots of inspiring stories.
littlesprite21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
claudia2945's review against another edition
4.0
Another thought-provoking book. It has changed the way I donate money. Kristoff is a wonderful witer
nenobeano's review against another edition
5.0
Great book. Should be required reading for anyone starting a non-profit, providing aid, or even donating money to a cause.
EDIT: I listened to the audiobook a year ago (never my preferred method of digesting books). I liked it so much I bought the hardcopy and finally got around to actually reading it. This is a wonderful look at all that is involved with humanitarianism in the modern day. Definitely confirmed my previous 5-star rating.
EDIT: I listened to the audiobook a year ago (never my preferred method of digesting books). I liked it so much I bought the hardcopy and finally got around to actually reading it. This is a wonderful look at all that is involved with humanitarianism in the modern day. Definitely confirmed my previous 5-star rating.
agirlwithredhair's review against another edition
4.0
a good read for reminding yourself that there is hope and there's a lot of people doing good.
if you're interested in charity, whether it's through giving money or giving time, it's a great read to get an insight into the nonprofit sector
if you're interested in charity, whether it's through giving money or giving time, it's a great read to get an insight into the nonprofit sector
dgarten's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting book with great research and anecdotes. I thought the main takeaways were compelling and not something I would normally want to side with. The book largely focuses on the cost benefit of charitable giving and volunteering, making it a numbers game rather than showing the importance of fostering connections with people. Although I don’t believe the financial compensation should necessarily dictate how/where/what to give, it is very logical to study the efficacy of studies through how people have benefited from the relationship and calculating change before and after the program. The research, financial comparisons, and psychology studies were very interesting and varied storytelling to uncover their thesis. This book is definitely for the Ts because the language is outdated/not PC and views people largely as victims of their environment.