Ending Global Poverty: A Guide to What Works

by Stephen C. Smith

Over 800 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and over ten million children die each year from preventable causes. These may seem like overwhelming statistics, but as Stephen Smith shows in this call to arms, global poverty is something that we can and should solve within our lifetimes. Ending Global Poverty explores the various traps that keep people mired in poverty, traps like poor nutrition, illiteracy, lack of access to health care, and others and presents eight keys to escaping these traps. Smith gives readers the tools they need to help people overcome poverty and to determine what approaches are most effective in fighting it. For example, celebrities in commercials who encourage viewers to "adopt" a poor child really seem to care, but will sending money to these organizations do the most good? Smith explains how to make an informed decision. Grass-roots programs and organizations are helping people gain the capabilities they need to escape from poverty and this book highlights many of the most promising of these strategies in some of the poorest countries in the world, explaining what they do and what makes them effective.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, Political Science, Poverty

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Heather315 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Smith, in general, and I think this is an excellent book for those who are not already well-versed in the issues surrounding (and obstacles confronting) eradicating global poverty. It's a great place to start and it's definitely a good read.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by the Philosophy dept at UMB when I graduated. He offers explanations of problems of poverty, and the traps that keep the worlds poor in poverty. He focuses mainly on the poorest of the poor. Most of the book gives specific examples of NGOs, Not-for-profits, and businesses that are doing great things to alleviate poverty. The last section of the book he lays out specific ways that we as individual people can help. He makes it seems so realistic to be able to reduce, and possibly rid the world of extreme poverty.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A realistic synthesis of micro finance and the traditional concept of aid/humanitarian relief. Read me to be a part of financial crisis in the world's poorest countries. I'll say it again: Realistic.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it interesting. He gives great examples of what people are doing to help eradicate poverty. Nothing in the book is new but it does motivate you to go out and make simple and creative changes to help others.

[Kirsten Kinnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome, hopeful, inspiring... let's do it!

[Adriana]

GREAT BOOK!!