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A Mighty Purpose: How Jim Grant Sold the World on Saving Its Children
The inspiring story of how the iconoclastic humanitarian Jim Grant succeeded in saving the lives of tens of millions of children through his extraordinary ability to win over world leaders
Nicholas Kristof hailed Jim Grant as a man who “probably saved more lives than were destroyed by Hitler, Mao, and Stalin combined.” Nominated by President Jimmy Carter to head UNICEF, Grant ran the United Nations agency from 1980 to 1995 and became the most powerful advocate for children the world has ever seen. To ensure that even children trapped by war received health care and immunizations, he brokered humanitarian ceasefires by exploiting the political self-interests of presidents and warlords alike. Grant at first met fierce resistance at the United Nations and in his own organization, and some thought his ideas were crazy and dangerous. But as he kept toppling obstacle after obstacle, he eventually won over even his most stubborn detractors. Grant spearheaded a historic surge in worldwide childhood immunization rates and launched a movement that profoundly altered the face of global health and international development.
Nicholas Kristof hailed Jim Grant as a man who “probably saved more lives than were destroyed by Hitler, Mao, and Stalin combined.” Nominated by President Jimmy Carter to head UNICEF, Grant ran the United Nations agency from 1980 to 1995 and became the most powerful advocate for children the world has ever seen. To ensure that even children trapped by war received health care and immunizations, he brokered humanitarian ceasefires by exploiting the political self-interests of presidents and warlords alike. Grant at first met fierce resistance at the United Nations and in his own organization, and some thought his ideas were crazy and dangerous. But as he kept toppling obstacle after obstacle, he eventually won over even his most stubborn detractors. Grant spearheaded a historic surge in worldwide childhood immunization rates and launched a movement that profoundly altered the face of global health and international development.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 30, 2025
Adam Fifield’s A Mighty Purpose is more than just a biography, it is a compelling tribute to a humanitarian who transformed global child survival efforts through sheer will, strategic audacity, and relentless optimism. In tracing the life and legacy of James Pineo Grant, the former executive director of UNICEF, Fifield crafts a deeply researched, emotionally resonant portrait of a man who believed, with unshakable conviction, that saving children's lives was not only possible but urgent and morally non-negotiable.
The book opens with Grant’s audacious campaign in the 1980s to massively increase immunization rates worldwide. Through what came to be known as the Child Survival Revolution, Grant pushed for what many considered impossible: the immunization of 80% of the world’s children against diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria. Fifield does not just recount the statistics, he vividly reconstructs the global mobilization efforts, the bureaucratic pushbacks, and the innovative strategies Grant employed.
One of the most striking stories in the book is Grant’s success in brokering “days of tranquility” in war zones, and temporary ceasefires to allow for vaccination drives. These moments show the extraordinary breadth of his vision: he saw diplomacy not just as statecraft but as a tool for saving lives.
What stands out most in Fifield’s book is Grant’s unrelenting faith in the power of data and moral persuasion. He understood the language of policy-makers and used it effectively to frame child survival as both a health priority and a moral imperative. But he also had an uncanny ability to connect with people on the ground, from world leaders to grassroots health workers. Fifield paints a complex, often contradictory figure: brilliant, sometimes stubborn, occasionally overbearing, but always passionately driven by the belief that no child should die from a preventable cause.
The book’s writing is eloquent and well-paced, balancing historical detail with human drama. Fifield avoids turning Grant into a saint. He shows his flaws: his impatience, his perfectionism, and his tendency to bulldoze opposition, but these traits are presented in the context of a man racing against time, fighting not for glory but for the lives of millions. The book also doesn’t shy away from the broader context of international politics, aid fatigue, and institutional inertia that Grant often had to confront.
What makes A Mighty Purpose particularly powerful is its relevance. In an age where global health efforts are again in the spotlight, Grant’s story offers both inspiration and practical lessons. His model of moral clarity combined with strategic pragmatism is one that current and future health leaders would do well to study.
Ultimately, this book left me with a profound respect for James Grant, not just as a global health pioneer, but as a moral force. Adam Fifield has given us a beautifully written, meticulously researched, and urgently relevant story of what leadership in service of humanity can look like. I would recommend this book to public health professionals, global development advocates, students of international relations, and anyone seeking inspiration in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. A 5-star read!
The book opens with Grant’s audacious campaign in the 1980s to massively increase immunization rates worldwide. Through what came to be known as the Child Survival Revolution, Grant pushed for what many considered impossible: the immunization of 80% of the world’s children against diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria. Fifield does not just recount the statistics, he vividly reconstructs the global mobilization efforts, the bureaucratic pushbacks, and the innovative strategies Grant employed.
One of the most striking stories in the book is Grant’s success in brokering “days of tranquility” in war zones, and temporary ceasefires to allow for vaccination drives. These moments show the extraordinary breadth of his vision: he saw diplomacy not just as statecraft but as a tool for saving lives.
What stands out most in Fifield’s book is Grant’s unrelenting faith in the power of data and moral persuasion. He understood the language of policy-makers and used it effectively to frame child survival as both a health priority and a moral imperative. But he also had an uncanny ability to connect with people on the ground, from world leaders to grassroots health workers. Fifield paints a complex, often contradictory figure: brilliant, sometimes stubborn, occasionally overbearing, but always passionately driven by the belief that no child should die from a preventable cause.
The book’s writing is eloquent and well-paced, balancing historical detail with human drama. Fifield avoids turning Grant into a saint. He shows his flaws: his impatience, his perfectionism, and his tendency to bulldoze opposition, but these traits are presented in the context of a man racing against time, fighting not for glory but for the lives of millions. The book also doesn’t shy away from the broader context of international politics, aid fatigue, and institutional inertia that Grant often had to confront.
What makes A Mighty Purpose particularly powerful is its relevance. In an age where global health efforts are again in the spotlight, Grant’s story offers both inspiration and practical lessons. His model of moral clarity combined with strategic pragmatism is one that current and future health leaders would do well to study.
Ultimately, this book left me with a profound respect for James Grant, not just as a global health pioneer, but as a moral force. Adam Fifield has given us a beautifully written, meticulously researched, and urgently relevant story of what leadership in service of humanity can look like. I would recommend this book to public health professionals, global development advocates, students of international relations, and anyone seeking inspiration in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. A 5-star read!
August 25, 2018
Jim Grant was enigmatic and through his devotion to UNICEF and determination, saved many children around the world. Fascinating book.
June 16, 2022
The best book I've ever read about the correct way to persuade people. Jim Grant was truly a saint.
October 9, 2015
A fascinating look at UNICEF about which I know very little, and one of the most influential leaders of it. Not a glossy portrait but a flawed one of a complex man and organization. Very compelling.
October 6, 2016
An enjoyable and well-researched study of a visionary man. The story is told with energy and heart and doesn't shy away from some of the man's complexity. Very readable. The UN needs more mavericks like Jim Grant.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews