Out of Poverty: And Into Something More Comfortable

by John Stackhouse

In an intriguing blend of travel writing and analysis, moving portraits and comic tales, Stackhouse tells the personal stories of some of the world's poorest people and shows how they are going to end global poverty in the next century. He provides haunting details of lives and communities destroyed by misplaced aid and government interventions. But more importantly he shows how individuals are finding the creativity and means to make their own lives better. Time and again, Stackhouse sees what happens when people have a say in the fate of their schools, forests, fields and governments: they do what no development agency or government mega-project has been able to achieve. They thrive. They may continue to be humble but they are no longer desperate. John Stackhouse's eight-year journey among the poor leads us away from despair. Poverty, he writes, is not an inevitable part of the human condition but a direct result of human actions - and something that can be remedied.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poverty, Africa

396 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2000

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I've read about development. Stackhouse doesn't try to wrap everything up into one simple feel-good lesson, and he acknowledges that many development efforts have complicated effects--they aren't either totally misguided and evil or totally ingenious and perfect. I found his conclusions on development in general were very convincing.

On the other hand, I think he might have tried to cover off too much--too many characters, towns, countries, and projects. The result is that he likely didn't know much context and didn't portray many of them very accurately, plus took quite a few liberties to ensure the stories flowed and made a particular point (not surprisingly, given that he was writing for the Globe during his time abroad). For instance, I have been to Banjarmasin and definitely would not call it "an air-conditioned boom-town" to a reader back in Canada--they would picture Calgary or something. I found his stories about India much more convincing, genuine, and interesting, given that he did spend a lot of time living and traveling there.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journalist and his photographer wife travels in the world to meet and document how people in poorer countries live. How donations from other nations and other means of help impact in positive and negative ways. Eyeopening.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a little out of date, the information is interesting and gives a good, on the ground perspective.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book! John Stackhouse identifies with precision the fallout of stacked inequality and entrenched institutions.He focuses on women and the role they do not have in most parts of the world and again identifies the role their noninvolvement plays in maintaining the status quo. He also correctly equates lack of education with keeping millions of marginalized people rooted to traditions that are harmful and backward.Africa's Big Man syndrome which has in many countries caused mass genocides amid political exterminations is identified as a poverty maker as is the art of war. This is another book for the school room

[Bulat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good stories, based on author's personal experience, about real situation in villages in India, Africa. Also, it gives some insight, how people are living there and the benefits of international aid for end recipients.

[Marsha]

Rec. by William Easterly --