A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity

Giving to others makes us happier and more fulfilled, write Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and A Path Appears shows that even reading about giving can bring an instant lift. Their book shares stories of people who have been helped out of extreme poverty or other distress and of people who are doing the helping. The book works just as a reminder of the good in people all around us, but its aim is even greater: to show how all of us can find ways to give back in some way, whether it’s a small or large donation of money, time, or advocacy—just spreading the word about a cause we believe in can make a difference.

The authors profile a few charitable groups that have found success and mention some worthy efforts that just didn’t make the impact they intended; they also discuss how charities could be more effective if they were run more like businesses—and if our society could accept that more expenses might need to go to overhead for the charities to run better, have better leadership, and make more of a difference.

This book is inspiring and motivational, but, even better, it gives specific guidance on how each of us can give more effectively, making it a must-own.