I discovered Bill Clinton’s Giving: How each of us can change the world a few months back for the bargain price of £2.50 down at the haven that is Hay-on-Wye. I was hopeful.
It’s a straightforward enough guide to giving, talking about money, time, things, skills. It also takes a look at giving into a variety of areas such as micro-finance such as Kiva, or to entrepreneurs, foundations and NGOs and the role government plays in poverty reduction.
It’s a view of the world that very few people could provide, with almost unparalleled access to the world’s biggest organisations, richest donors (like Bill & Melinda Gates), biggest stars (like Bono) that allows him to see the best ideas, the best practices and the best opportunities. And there are a lot of good ideas around, from the chess clubs that help raise exam performance in the poorest schools in the US, or malaria reduction in Rwanda its evident that there are a lot of people working at doing a lot of good. There is hope.
There are a lot of resources too, with plenty of links to useful organisations and a helpful bibliography. I’ve noted a few of the books to try and get hold of.
The emphasis is on encouraging giving but it demonstrated to me that the world knows very little when it comes to the issue of giving, the sums and percentages are quite small and the framework for giving quite limited. It’s quite an opportunity for the church, we could be (and absolutely SHOULD be) at the forefront of giving – people who regularly hit 10% minimum and desire to go far beyond it.
However this is not a great book, the style is quite dry with one case study after another, no real passion and no real style in the delivery, inspirational stories told without inspiration. Workmanlike was the word that ran through my brain as I read this book. I devour books on giving and this one was tough chewing, not because it’s bad but because it’s dry.
If you’re involved in development work then actually this gives a good big picture of some very interesting and innovative programmes, if you don’t have faith then this indeed may be a good book to read on giving, but there’s a bigger and richer world on giving out there for those of us who follow the Great Giver.
I believe Jesus when he said 'life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions'. I believe he offers something better. This blog is mostly about that search.
I'm also a husband, a father, church planter, keen runner, reader, and motorcyclist. These and a few other things make guest appearances from time to time.
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