Creating Opportunity - A Path Appears - Transforming Lives

Amounts to a collection of anecdotes of different charitable causes. Provides a good summary of all the different areas you might contribute, and some interesting points about best bang for your buck. Also dispels some misconceptions about administrative costs and metrics by which to evaluate charity effectiveness. However, there was no theme or much analysis.

Kristof and WuDunn's work is jam packed with essential information for anyone seeking to be a part of significant change. A Path Appears is intelligent, inspirational, and accessible. This book is for the non-profit and for-profit sectors alike. It serves as a way for non-profit leaders to start thinking about how to incorporate business standards of efficiency and growth to their organizations and causes in order to maximize their impact. A Path Appears also serves as a shining example of how successful business leaders have broken into the world of giving to create more meaningful lives. Most importantly this book is the first step to imagining a world where the non-profit and for-profit sectors can work together to transform lives and create opportunity for everyone.

Inspiring! I CAN be the difference in the world. This book gives a starting point. The chance to empathize with your fellow humans is SO important. Great follow up book to Half the Sky. Please read both!

not as good as hoped. story after story of different animals in different situations but no real correlation to understanding quirks in my own pets. maybe not what it was intended for., I gave up half way through. Stories of experiments on animals from the past that seem barbaric even for the times. might be disturbing to some readers.

not as good as hoped. story after story of different animals in different situations but no real correlation to understanding quirks in my own pets. maybe not what it was intended for., I gave up half way through. Stories of experiments on animals from the past that seem barbaric even for the times. might be disturbing to some readers.

I really enjoyed Kristof and WuDunn’s previous book, Half the Sky, so as soon as I saw that this new book existed I knew that I wanted to read it. I had high expectations, and they managed to meet them. The book is basically about how to make a difference in the world, both in the direct sense of addressing social issues like poverty and hunger and in the broader sense of creating opportunities and hope. Their arguments are supported by evidence, and there are plenty of interesting descriptions of scientific studies, but they also include anecdotes about individuals to maintain the human interest factor.

By the time I finished the second page, I had already been moved to tears once and had thought of a way that I personally could have an impact. The book as a whole is just so interesting and inspiring. My only complaint is that there’s such a density of information, divided into discrete sections rather than a continuous narrative, that it can almost start to blur together. It’s still an easy read, but I couldn’t recount all the details that I learned here.

The book as a whole has three parts: the first deals with the sorts of interventions that are most effective for helping individuals in different circumstances and at different times of life, the second deals with the organizational and structural issues of providing aid, and the third deals with the effects of giving on the giver rather than the recipient. All of these are fascinating, but I found the second particularly striking, partially because it was the least familiar to me. Here, Kristof and WuDunn argue that it might be beneficial for charities to be run more like effective businesses, and that for-profit enterprises also have the potential to do a lot of good. The current trend among donors is to support charities with the absolute lowest overhead costs, but Kristof and WuDunn argue that this prevents the charities from having as much impact as they could, because they skimp on things like marketing and research and are unable to grow large enough to achieve efficiencies of scale.

This is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in making a difference in the world.

This book is a call to action -- explaining the responsibility each of us has in making the world a better place and showing the impact of individual efforts. The book details the stories of individuals who have made a difference -- by bringing education to girls in Kenya, bringing clean water to remote villages in African, surgical repair ofcleft palates and club feet, working to curtail gang violence in Chicago, helping provide prenatal education in rural United States, -- the stories are plentiful and fascinating. the authors are particularly effective in explaining why poverty is a problem for everyone, not just for the poor. The authors also discuss appropriate business models for charitable organizations and for business organizations aiming to maximize profit while doing social good. I particularly liked the many, many photographs in the book -- The authors discuss fundraising efforts for care projects, emphasizing how a single photograph of an individual child is far far more effective at fundraising than statistics, and their use of photography in the book supports that. Overall, the compelling stories in this book will inspire you to find ways to make a difference at home and abroad.

How can each of us "transform lives and create opportunity?" Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn provide a wide array of examples and anecdotes of people all around the world who are helping others find a path to greater fulfillment and opportunity. While some of this may seem as familiar as the latest non-profit infomercial or YouTube video, this book pulls the stories together with suggestions on how non-profits might more effectively address some of the world's greatest problems. They are not afraid to point out weaknesses as well as strengths in some of the best-known charities and gently and repeatedly encourage readers to look at their own lives and resources for ways to reach beyond themselves for the benefit of all mankind.

This is not just a book for reading; it is a reference tool for personal reflection and consideration of how we can act to help others from right where we are. Highly recommended for anyone 12 and over.

Have you ever wondered why you feel better when you help others? Volunteering, donating time or money to a cause, helping a neighbor seems like second nature to some people, and yet others can barely fit it into their schedule. Why? Biology! That's why! Read this book and learn about the neuroscience behind giving. How do you know if your charitable giving is effective? How do you judge a charity? Where does your money do the most good? All of these are great questions, and the team of Kristof and WuDunn have produced this book to help you on your quest. They draw back the curtain on charitable actions and answer all the journalistic questions: who, what, where, when, how, and, most interestingly, why people give. It is a fascinating book because they don't just quote dry statistics, but provide anecdotes based on the lives of real people who they interviewed as part of their research. The stories help to bring the facts to life, about charities and about the research that is behind the charitable instinct. More than just finding these stories interesting, you will find them compelling, and you will be motivated to do more to help. Great "new year" book! Put this on your list for 2015!

An excellent compilation of organizations and examples of how people are getting involved in solving poverty, illiteracy, health care gaps both in the U.S. and abroad. I now have a list of at least fifty organizations to research and consider my engagement for 2015 and beyond.
The lack of philanthropy among the Silicon Valley wealthy has long been a concern of mine. The scientific research on cause and affect, Machiavellian attitudes, lower levels of oxytocin doesn't make the answer any more palatable. Compassion, generosity and cooperation need to be more widespread. I wholeheartedly agree with the need to spread more philanthropic giving to the arts community, in addition to, all the other noble humanitarian causes identified in this book.
"Think early on what you want your legacy to be, what you would like to be able to say on your deathbed. The work backward from there."

I picked up this book since I needed something new to read, and it was on the shelf at my local library. I didn't know anything about the book itself, but I've always enjoyed reading Kristof's NY Times articles. Reading the entire book seemed daunting (large, non-fiction) and I thought I'd flip through it. However, as soon as I started reading, I couldn't stop. Each chapter is filled with amazing stories -- the people and places we learn about are inspiring, and the authors are captivating storytellers. I learned a lot about the world of foundations and donations, and it has inspired me to make more meaningful donations.

You're not the president of an influential nation or the director of the UN. So how do you help to build a better world? It can be easy to feel jaded or overwhelmed when figuring out how to do it. As an economist and program evaluator, I see how some programs that really seem like they should make a big difference in people's lives, don't. Giving textbooks to schoolchildren in Kenya didn't improve their test scores (most likely because most kids didn't read English well enough to take advantage of the books). Business training in Tanzania that looked great on paper and in practice didn't make a different to average profits. Sometimes programs have compelling stories about individuals who have escaped poverty, but then, when they are tested rigorously, we learn that they don't make the difference we thought they did. This is the case with microcredit, which was a development darling for years; then, in January of this year, a series of careful studies of microcredit in six countries showed no impact on income for the average borrower.

What's a hopeful giver to do? Ignore the evidence and follow your heart? Kristof and WuDunn enter that scene with a mix of rigorous evidence, compelling stories, detours into the business of aid and the psychology of altruism, and -- most importantly -- what you can do right now to make the world better. They show that the same rigorous evidence that shows. They show evidence of programs that work, tested using randomized trials. They tell stories of both philanthropists (who you could be) and beneficiaries (who you could help). They discuss how the business of charitable giving could be much more effective if it were more like a business and more focused on impact, which is the charitable equivalent of profit, which is impact. There has been a move toward giving to organizations with extremely low overhead in recent decades, which is largely independent of the actual impact of an organization in improving lives. The book tells why you should give -- because it makes you feel better, because a modest sum can indeed make a difference, because it makes your kids more compassionate -- and tells you how you can do it. Indeed, the book ends with two pages entitled 6 Steps You Can Take in the Next Six Minutes.

Kristoff and WuDunn don't claim to be philosophers. (They explicitly leave that to Peter Singer.) But they are experienced and reasonable. For example, they seek to reasonable defense for giving and volunteering either at home or abroad. If you want to help abroad: "The needs abroad are unquestionably greater. There is malnutrition in America and Europe, but there are incomparably more children in Mali or Ethiopia whose bodies (and brains) are being stunted because they're not getting enough breast milk, food, or micronutrients in the first couple years of life. Your donation also goes much further abroad, and if all lives have equal value, then it is certainly cheaper to save a child's life or educate a student in Uganda or Pakistan than it is in New York." If you want to help at home: "Americans sometimes find it glamorous to rush off to faraway countries to start schools or fight sex trafficking, while needs at home are seen as banal. This is a misguided view."

There is a fine line between optimism and realism, and they occasionally err on the side of optimism. On the one hand, they tell the story of a total aid failure, a merry-go-round that was supposed to pump water for village women as children played on it, but which ultimately was a disaster. On the other hand, they're hopeful for the Soccket, a soccer ball that generates power when you play with it [p308]. But they also recognize that not everything works: Even so, they argue convincingly that much giving does indeed help the poor effectively, and even that which doesn't helps the giver.

Another reason to read this book is that it has a lovely layperson's summary of research on investments in early child development, complete with some of the nuance that cognitive gains from early child development programs fade out but there is evidence that social gains endure.

I highly recommend this. I listened to the audiobook, read by actress Olivia Wilde (from the TV show House, among other things). It was lovely to listen to.

very disappointed in the book. I was hoping for some inspirational teaching and directional work for younger children and adults. The book was a rehash of life experiences and a collection of other people's events without much reflection or input

A Path Appears as the epitome of examples laid out to my favorite Margaret Meade quote: "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." Wow, so enthralling, I couldn't set down A Path Appears!

If you are looking to give a gift to someone that may help them shift how they are thinking, how about gifting them this book? I have several loved ones in mind that I may order this book to give them as a gift this holiday season.

The first anecdote in the forward got me hooked, where a US student gave enough for an operation to an African child with club feet who would otherwise be a drag on her village and family economy. By making it possible for that girl, Rashida, other families with children with club feet realized that the condition was treatable and the general tone of the village improved. Some endeavors work- like bednets to protect against malaria- and others like solar stoves don't. They suggest many ways to effectively help people from donating blood or supporting a program where pediatricians give books to at risk children. And they suggest that nonprofits get over being scared of marketing- the net funds generated may be higher from an expensive gala presided over by a well-compensated director than from a campaign run on the cheap.

Outstanding book about the positive activities making our world a little better. The enormous issues facing so many, hunger, sexual abuse, and pollution are addressed by innovation, creative, and spirit. Part II of the book is masterful in its discussion of why having the passion to create an organization may not be enough to solve the problem.
Highly recommend the Notes and Gifts section for individuals wanting to donate time or money.

The authors explore cross-disciplinary solutions to endemic problems of inner-city violence and educational opportunities. The book surveys many options for individuals to find an issue they connect with, research the issue and get involved in practical ways, to solve problems. Great follow up to "Half the Sky", by the same authors.

A Path Appears is a compelling and uplifting look at giving – and giving back – in today’s complex and often overwhelming world. The authors successfully avoid being preachy or didactic and instead present very human and engaging stories of real people – those who have triumphed over dreadful circumstances, those who created the programs that helped them, and those who support the programs.

The book immediately engages you with these stories, which are told with bracing honesty and do not whitewash what is involved in truly making a difference. Indeed, A Path Appears includes successes and failures, including some of the authors’ own.

The book also includes a fascinating exploration how doing good does good for the do gooder. Giving is not a sacrifice, but a pleasure. And the authors have the science to prove it!

While you might expect such a book to give a rosy endorsement of nonprofits, the authors also take an honest look at the nonprofit sector and how both charities and the way people judge them need to change. In the interest of full transparency, I must note that I have the privilege of leading one of the charities cited in the book. As such, I consider myself well versed in the issues, yet I was surprised how much I learned in reading and how absorbed I became in the book.

Perhaps the most important message of the book is that, not only is there hope based upon proven successes, but also that acting on that hope and developing your own personal path is a win-win. This book moves you from thinking you “should” do good to making you want to do good.

A Path Appears informs, inspires and guides, helping readers to develop their own path following their hearts, but bringing their heads along too. My ardent hope is that it jumps the “inner circle” of readers and reaches a broader audience, inspiring them to develop their own paths of hope toward a better world.

--- Kathy Spahn, Helen Keller International, President & CEO, www.hki.org

This book will appeal to a certain type of individual, the type who sees a purpose beyond self gratification and personal well being. It inspires and points the way to the path mentioned in the book title. This is a call to action and more. It's a how-to guide for he or she who truly wants to make a difference. It won't appeal to the reader who can't see beyond self, and that's too bad because some of those can be awakened.

But for those who are willing to see, it will be shown in this volume

"A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is an inspiring and riveting collection of stories, true stories. These are stories about how one person with a passion and the drive was able to make change happen to transform lives. After reading this book I will never say, "What can I do? I'm just one person." It only takes one to start the ball rolling to save lives, improve lives, make things happen.

Children born with common birth defects that are routinely corrected in the West are leaving children to grow into adults unable to work or take care of themselves. There are children unable to attend school because of a fee that is under $10.00 leaving them uneducated or undereducated. Then there are the children with little guidance in their lives who are partnered with a mentor with who they form a close bond with, find direction in their lives, and learn how to live life well. So much can be done with so little.

Not an ordinary book, it's one that will have you wondering what you, one person, can do. Or you may find yourself attracted to one person's cause and decide to reach out to them to see what you can do to help them help others.

With all the bad things occurring in this world, its nice to see good things are still happing. Its always nice seeing random acts of kindness in the news and on the web, this book has plenty of these stories that will help you restore your faith in humanity.

In "A Path Appears," New York Times journalist Nick Kristoff and his wife Sheryl Wudunn present an array of ideas and methods to tackle poverty both at home and abroad. I have read a number of books this year about the power of social networking and individuals who have started organizations aimed at tackling myriad problems. This one is by far the most ambitious. As journalists who have traveled the world reporting on areas with high poverty and violence, political disarray and malaise they ave seen more than most. Over the years I have been very impressed by Mr. Kristof's compassion and drive, his willingness to get involved and try to tackle the problems inherent in the cultures which he is reporting on. There are times I have said that I wished someone would nominate him for Nobel because he consistently uses his position and resources to help others and to rally other people to do the same.

In the book under review, the couple showcases dozens of individuals who have made a difference by starting projects or organization to help others. Many are individuals who have risen from poverty themselves, some are still struggling. Unlike many similar books I have read, they turn a critical eye on both problems and solutions aiming at the cause rather than the symptoms.

It is a complicated book in that they resist simple (or simplified) answers acknowledging the multi-faceted nature of many of the problems the world faces. While previous generations have sought to tackle the symptoms or consequences, they look at trying to solve problems where they begin e.g. by giving someone a job rather than a hand-out or preventing disease by providing clean water rather than treating consequent illnesses.

They discuss some of the the scientific discoveries related to altruism as well as poverty illustrating that helping others is beneficial all around, and provide a list of resources for those looking for a way to get involved.

I enjoyed reading about the variety of ways people have found to tackle problems both in their own back yards and abroad. Of particular interest to me were some of the novel hybrid (neither traditional non-profit nor for profit organizations) "self-sustaining" organizations and businesses.

The one thing missing for me, which I have looked for in the many books I have read on this topic is more guidance on how to start a similar organization as I have been looking to do something in an under-served area.

There is no question that some fine examples have been provided as well as documentation that success can be achieved in the most seemingly intractable areas. What I am looking for is the mechanics.

If you are interested in learning more about how some of the biggest problems around the world are being tackled or a way to get involved, this book will point the way. While I fear that like many of its ilk it will not reach the people who most need to read it, those who do will be presented with a variety of choices and inroads to help them get involved and help others.

I have always enjoyed Mr. Kristof's writing, activism, altruism. This books feels like a natural extension of his column, an attempt to do more and to reach more people, and by extension multiply the effect.