The Alternative: Most of What You Believe About Poverty Is Wrong

by Mauricio L. Miller

Clara Miller, President of the F. B. Heron The Alternative, is not only important reading, it’s imperative. Miller, a trained engineer, the one-time manager of a top social service organization and most importantly, the son of a remarkable single mother, has both lived and observed the failings embodied in our attitudes toward the poor and, as a result, the flaws in our systems meant to help people in poverty. He merges heart and soul with system thinking to yield a prescription featuring the real math, trust relationships and courage that can change the “us and them,” to “upward together” and put American families in the driver’s seat to build their futures.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Donna Yankowitz]

Fascinating Ideas about Intrinsic Motivation and Poverty

This book has some really interesting ideas about how we currently approach poverty and an alternative approach that is based on humility and recognizing the value of humans and their intrinsic motivations.

It was a short book yet still somewhat repetitive since the ideas are not complex. I would have liked more narrative directly from the folks who took control of their lives and how they saw and felt about the process.

[Ellen]

Interesting work and important perspective.

[Joseph]

A Crowd Sourced Poverty Escape Plan

What am amazing look into what works to tap into people’s self determination and resourcefulness. It reminds me of design thinking where the goal is to find where your talents intersect with your clients life. As opposed to trying to sell them something take a walk in their shoes to see where you fit in their routines and lives. This should be the most recommended book to those who intend to get into social work or who already work in the industry. This should include those who fund these initiatives whether public or private.