Out of Poverty and Into Something More Comfortable

by John Stackhouse

From East Timor to Timbuktu, John Stackhouse has met and lived with hundreds of the world's poor. When he set out on this journey in 1991, he was certain that the new age of global markets and economic reforms would end decades of extreme hardship in the developing world. But as the nineties rolled on, he found poverty still entrenched in dozens of countries -- except where people had some control over their lives.

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 -- from women in the remote shea-nut forests of West Africa who are learning to bypass their corrupt government to cash in on rich international markets to a trade union of prostitutes in Calcutta that is actively demanding basic human rights. Stackhouse's journey proves that poverty is not an inevitable part of the human condition but a direct result of human actions. Poverty is something that people can change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poverty, Africa

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.

[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 --