A review by shirleytupperfreeman
A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity by Nicholas D. Kristof

If you're feeling called to donate more time, money or expertise to help make the world a better place, this book is for you. If you're not yet feeling called, give the book a try and you just might change your mind. As in their first book , Half the Sky (about the plight of women world-wide), this book outlines areas in need of improvement and then highlights people who are actually making a positive difference in those areas. And Kristoff and WuDunn have found a lot of people doing cool things. The second half of the book includes some of the current science on altruism - what causes it, how can we increase it etc. There is also an interesting discussion on the new model of combining for-profit businesses with a social goal. There is plenty of food for thought, plenty of inspiration for getting off your butt and plenty of practical advice for how to do so. Donating money, time or expertise to existing, proven projects is their preference - there are already an abundance of good things going most of which just need more support. To increase your own well being, and the world's, invest a tiny bit of time and effort, and a path will appear.