Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World
by Bill Clinton
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Book Reviews of Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World
Book Review: Giving Might Be The Fulfillment You Are Waiting For
Summary: 4 Stars
If you haven't added the acronym NGO (Non-governmental organization) to your daily vocabulary, this book will park it there permanently. Giving is about just that. Listed is a wide collection of charity groups from food pantries to African AIDS organizations. Each has a specific mission designed, in some way, to better the world we live in. Heading these NGO's are dedicated, sometimes brilliant, sometimes rich and powerful people who found themselves delving into the higher purpose of aiding humanity. From the deep pockets of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to the Cancer foundation of Lance Armstrong, the stories of Giving are endless, varied and sometimes heartbreaking. Collecting these energies is the Clinton Global Initiative which brings together funding with pledges of action to bring about immediate relief to those who are suffering.
Forget about the legacy issues of the author or the political ambitions of his wife. Put aside partisan ideology for what really matters, taking care of your fellow human beings. If you have a big heart, free time or a full wallet then Giving might be the fulfillment you are waiting for.
Book Review: This was a worthy effort, but did not speak to me personally at all
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a nicely-written book about how people in many stages of life, with differing income brackets and abilities, helped others in a big way.
But I'll be honest - it lacked the spark that would have engaged me and gotten me excited and passionate about giving.
Even though I can point to examples throughout the book of how small people made a difference, the majority of the time was spent on the givers with big money. The normal people who he focused on were nearly all in a stage of their lives when they were being cared for by others - a small child, college kids... And then retirees, who have their time to give.
But I am a working person with little time and money, and I had really hoped that this book would show me some concrete ways of making a difference with what I have to give.
I think Clinton did his book a disservice by focusing so much on the big money givers. I think this book could have touched a huge number of people, if done differently. Instead, it reads like a sanitized and agreeable political book more than a real, passionate call to action.
Book Review: Giving
Summary: 5 Stars
Clinton describes, how now that he has time, his world experiences in giving as a private person. He describes many NGO's fund raising and giving processes. He describes giving of money, time, ideas, as well as different models of giving. He claims there are three trends leading to an increase in giving, the Internet, charitable giving, democracy, the third of which speaks to the ultimate price we have paid for a free and democratic Iraq. He didn't say that in print, but I read it in the white space between the lines. While he described a stereo-typical agenda of a republican what you really come to appreciate is the non partisan tone in his overall message, a message to take note of. I also took note of his portrayal of a healthy and flourishing economy American economy under G. W. Bush (in print); a far cry from his party dogma, especially his wife. ("this administration...")
While inspiring, the book takes on the persona of a Clinton rant, much like the one America endured in his farewell address.
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Book Review: Boring book, Inspiring content
Summary: 3 Stars
You know that part called 'Acknowledgements' which is available in almost every book and covers three or so pages? Ever read one of those? I bet you skip those pages every time!
The first two-thirds of this book gave me the exact same feeling. Every chapter covers too much names that are soon to be forgotten by the time you enter the next chapter. No matter how inspiring these people are, you cannot ask the average reader to remember the UNC, DDA, EXRE and whatever NGO is being mentioned.
And then, out of the blue, the book does get interesting. Most of this is due to the change in writing and you get a sense of personal touch in its writings. It doesn't even surprise me if Mr. Clinton only wrote some of this book.
The people mentioned in this book deserve better than just being a paragraph in a chapter. Maybe Mr. Clinton should call his good ol' pal Al and make a documentary about this book, because it does hold award-winning content...
Book Review: Giving
Summary: 5 Stars
President Bill Clinton is a genius at making it easy both to give and receive and live one's life more meaningfully. Indeed each one of us can give something of our money, time, talents and even knowledge. After reading Clinton's book, you have no more excuses for not joining the giving dance floor. I like the examples Clinton gives of both the great and not so great who give and make a difference in somebody's life as well as their own.Giving indeed benefits both givers and receivers. As usual, Clinton has put a human face to givers and beneficiaries alike. Poverty has a human face and so has giving. And giving empowers and makes us more human whereas not-giving impoversihes us and makes us less so. We are one interdependent global human body moving towards integration. This is a must-read for both givers and their partners, meaning therefore all of us. Bill Clinton belongs to the global family.