Where Am I Giving Lib/E: A Global Adventure Exploring How to Use Your Gifts and Talents to Make a Difference

by Kelsey Timmerman

Ninety percent of Americans have donated money, goods, or services to causes. Eighty-four percent of Millennials report that making a positive difference in the world is more important than career recognition. But trying to make a difference and actually making a difference are two different things. WHERE AM I GIVING? by New York Times bestselling author Kelsey Timmerman shows us how to make the greatest impact through our careers, time, consumer dollars, and donations. Starting in his hometown of Muncie, Indiana and then traveling all over the world, (Malawi, Kenya, India, Peru and more...) Kelsey demonstrates not only different ways of giving--as a worker, consumer, volunteer, giver--but also the effectiveness of these methods. He visits people on the receiving end of giving organizations, takes part in "voluntourism," starts his own local non-profit and more. WHERE AM I GIVING? is a fast-paced narrative that combines compelling stories with practical advice on how to make giving a part of our everyday lives. WHERE AM I GIVING?also addresses more nuanced issues around giving:


guilt that can come from recognizing your privilege (and how to get over it!), realizing that no matter where you are in life, you always have something valuable to give--and it doesn't have to be money. feeling overwhelmed by myriad options, understanding your best assets and how to offer them without burning out

Audio CD

Published January 25, 2019

About the author

I'm the author of "Where Am I Eating? An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy" and "Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes"

I've spent the night in Castle Dracula in Romania, gone undercover as an underwear buyer in Bangladesh, played PlayStation in Kosovo, taught an island village to play baseball in Honduras, and in another life, worked as a SCUBA instructor in Key West, Florida.

I live with my wife and two kids Muncie, IN, the hometown of Garfield.

I read a lot of nonfiction to inform my writing, but try to sneak in some fiction, from cowboys to space battles, to wizards when I can. I'm also really pumped to have an excuse to read kid lit now...kids.

Reviews

[Lloyd Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Heartbreaking, uplifting and thought-provoking.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am familiar with Kelsey Timmerman's previous books and was looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed. The book attempts to examine global giving patterns and impacts and to draw personal lessons from them, creating a list of "Giving Rules," such as: Do something, but not just anything; and Even people who are giving the most feel like they aren't doing enough. What drives these lessons home is that Timmerman--who besides writing this book does a lot for his community and charitable organizations--doesn't make this an academic exercise. The book is filled with very specific stories of his visits to India, Cambodia, Kenya and elsewhere to see what is being done to help some of the poorest people in the world. In the book's conclusion, he offers a formula (the "good person equation") as an attempt to suggest how much giving (cash donations, volunteer time, civic participation) is "enough" for each person. The book is both conversational (and often very funny, as Timmerman pokes fun at himself) but seriously thought-provoking.

[Zak Kizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful, touching and refreshingly nuanced critique of (and guidebook for donating to) charitable causes.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t really answer the question in the title, but opened my eyes to a lot of problems in the world, and the way we can go about sorting them out and helping.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred the author's first book "Where Am I Wearing" This book is about giving and I have nothing to give