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Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World's Poor
1st Place Environmental Picture story BOP NPPA
1st Place Documentary book, IPA (International Photography awards)
World Understanding award finalist (Pictures of the Year International)
Moscow Foto Awards, HM Picture story
Scripps Howard Photojournalism Award Finalist Astonishingly, one out of every six people who share this planet with us live on less than a dollar a day. Slightly over one billion people on the planet live on a dollar a day. While the reasons for their poverty may be different across geographic regions and political circumstances, the results are much the same. Extreme poverty robs people of options in life, and the cycle is nearly impossible to break without help. While the poor often work very hard at jobs many of us would not even consider doing, not having access to basic health care and education keeps them at the bottom of the economic ladder, usually for generations.
Living on a Dollar a Day shares the personal stories of some these poorest of the poor, honoring their lives, their struggles, and encouraging action in those who can help. In making this beautiful and moving book a team traveled to four continents, took thousands of photographs, conducted numerous interviews, and researched information on the agencies around the world that strive to help the destitute. The resulting stories and photographs offer a heartrending glimpse into the everyday realities of individuals and families facing extreme poverty. Personal profiles give voice to their experience, and research about the root causes of global poverty is shared along with information on how those in more fortunate circumstances can get involved.
Living on a Dollar a Day gives the largely invisible poor a face and a voice. In a world that grows more and more connected and interdependent, the issues that affect one person eventually affect us all. This important book is a powerful call to action for anyone who wishes to help alleviate human suffering. Over 200 Color Photographs
1st Place Documentary book, IPA (International Photography awards)
World Understanding award finalist (Pictures of the Year International)
Moscow Foto Awards, HM Picture story
Scripps Howard Photojournalism Award Finalist Astonishingly, one out of every six people who share this planet with us live on less than a dollar a day. Slightly over one billion people on the planet live on a dollar a day. While the reasons for their poverty may be different across geographic regions and political circumstances, the results are much the same. Extreme poverty robs people of options in life, and the cycle is nearly impossible to break without help. While the poor often work very hard at jobs many of us would not even consider doing, not having access to basic health care and education keeps them at the bottom of the economic ladder, usually for generations.
Living on a Dollar a Day shares the personal stories of some these poorest of the poor, honoring their lives, their struggles, and encouraging action in those who can help. In making this beautiful and moving book a team traveled to four continents, took thousands of photographs, conducted numerous interviews, and researched information on the agencies around the world that strive to help the destitute. The resulting stories and photographs offer a heartrending glimpse into the everyday realities of individuals and families facing extreme poverty. Personal profiles give voice to their experience, and research about the root causes of global poverty is shared along with information on how those in more fortunate circumstances can get involved.
Living on a Dollar a Day gives the largely invisible poor a face and a voice. In a world that grows more and more connected and interdependent, the issues that affect one person eventually affect us all. This important book is a powerful call to action for anyone who wishes to help alleviate human suffering. Over 200 Color Photographs
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2014
1 person is currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2015
I challenge anyone to pick up this book and not (1) feel like their heart is going to break and (2) give thanks, many times over, for living the life they have. Because no matter what your circumstances, I can guarantee that any person who is a member of GoodReads is NOT living a life remotely comparable to the people you will encounter in this riveting book.
I’ve only done a rather quick skim through it at this point because it’s almost too much to take in and read in-depth in one go. To be honest, the photos make enough of an impact without even reading the text. Absolutely stunning photographs. I plan on going back to it and reading the individual stories a few at a time. The ones I’ve read already are heartbreaking; the one that particularly angers me is the one about the young girls/women and the fistula surgeries.
The horrible result of poverty and desperate living conditions in this world is almost beyond comprehension. How can mankind be so inhumane? Thankfully, the author has chosen to end the book with a final chapter entitled “Hope”. This is definitely a very difficult book to read (especially because the photos are so compelling), but it is still something everyone in North America should read.
I’ve only done a rather quick skim through it at this point because it’s almost too much to take in and read in-depth in one go. To be honest, the photos make enough of an impact without even reading the text. Absolutely stunning photographs. I plan on going back to it and reading the individual stories a few at a time. The ones I’ve read already are heartbreaking; the one that particularly angers me is the one about the young girls/women and the fistula surgeries.
The horrible result of poverty and desperate living conditions in this world is almost beyond comprehension. How can mankind be so inhumane? Thankfully, the author has chosen to end the book with a final chapter entitled “Hope”. This is definitely a very difficult book to read (especially because the photos are so compelling), but it is still something everyone in North America should read.
July 31, 2014
An odd book to have as a coffee table book, yet it is amazing. Thomas Nazario has traveled to the poorest parts of the world to help readers understand that these people (many women and children) work harder than most in 1st world countries, but remain one step from death due to living conditions. Nazario has teamed with Renee Byer to help send the message home - they are people just trying to survive. A documentary film is in the works I believe...
Received this book from LJ to write a review (sadly, it got a bit mucked up in editing process)
Received this book from LJ to write a review (sadly, it got a bit mucked up in editing process)
July 15, 2015
If ever any book has the potential to deliver a life changing experience, this is it. The profiles are heart wrenching. Thank goodness the last chapter of the book is entitled, “Hope.” Otherwise it would be tempting to give in to a feeling of hopelessness. But for me, I keep coming back to one of the core beliefs articulated in the Introduction: “That all of us have the opportunity to leave this earth better for having been here. It is what defines a meaningful life.”
February 5, 2016
Such a difficult, yet amazing, book. Heart-wrenching, soul-shattering, mind-blowing. These are stories you hear, but can't quite comprehend. It is just so foreign to the lives so many of us lead. This book is important. It will change you. The photography captures something that is hard to look at but hard to understand without the pictures. It made me want to fix the world.
November 5, 2016
In the Bible, Jesus said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." I'm an atheist, but I agree with that sentiment. Who are your brothers and sisters, what do they look like, and how do they live? This book tells you, so that when you meet them in person, you might remember compassion.
April 23, 2014
The images speak for themselves – the book as a whole is arresting, moving, and painfully beautiful. As the gap between rich and poor grows wider and wider throughout the world, now more than ever we need to highlight the human face of poverty.
September 9, 2023
Satan and the demons claimed that there are no poor people anymore. This might be because they received an invitation to God's kingdom.
I have not read this book yet, if at all.
I have not read this book yet, if at all.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews