Today we start our green book reviews week with a book that is the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to take part in building a better world and don't know where to start from.
Our book today is:
The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World: How to Turn Your Good Intentions into Actions that Make a Difference
Author: Idealist.org with Stephanie Land
Idealist.org, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995, facilitates connections between individuals and institutions that are interested in improving their communities. Learn more.
Stephanie Land was a book editor in New York City before becoming a freelance writer and editor.
Published on: March 2009
What this book is about? (from Idealist.org's website)
Part career guide, part activist's handbook, The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World provides tools and inspiration for anyone who wants to make a difference but doesn't know where to start. Inspired by Idealist.org's 600,000-member online community and their ongoing search for work that gives back to the world, this practical reference walks readers through the different ways they can get involved and the range of possibilities for applying one's interests and skills to meet their community's needs.
Idealist.org's staff gives a comprehensive understanding of the issues, options, organizations, and resources so readers can be proactive, whether it's through one's current job, volunteering, donating, personal spending, board service, starting an organization, or changing careers.
Why you should get it?
We talked on this blogs several times about the importance of having strong communities. This book is the perfect guide to people who share the same beliefs and want to take an active part in their communities.
Timing couldn't be better for such a guide - President Obama has just tripled signed a $5.7 billion national service bill that triples the size of the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years and strongly is calling on Americans to volunteer.
As repoted on Yahoo! News President Obama said "I'm asking you to help change history's course, put your shoulder up against the wheel, and if you do, I promise you your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century."
So if you're one of those who wants to put your shoulder up against the wheel and you're wondering what is the best way to do it, this is your book. The expertise and know-how of Idealist.org, which is really doing an outstanding work in facilitating connections between individuals and organizations, is been reflected in this book and gives it a unique added-value.
What I like mostly about this book is the way it is presenting opportunities to make a difference for everyone - those who are way too busy, those who don't have much money to spend and those who feel they don't have the required skills - in this book everyone can find ideas and directions to the path that would be the best fit for them.
And it's not only about non-profits - more platforms to create change are presented on this book including your workplace. It's also a very good guide to anyone who considers a career in the non-profit world.
All in all this is a very valuable guide and I hope that not only it will help those who are already willing to make a difference, but it will also help others to generate this kind of willingness, because as President Obama put it "All that's required on your part is a willingness to make a difference, And that is, after all, the beauty of service: Anybody can do it."
What others think about the book?
"This has to be the single best book for those who want to translate good intentions into action. It clearly presents the myriad ways in which each of us, regardless of our age, resources or preferences, can have a positive impact on our community. Whoever you are, whatever you are doing, this book will empower you to help make this world a better place. A must read for idealists everywhere!" - Bill Alberta, Associate Director, Cornell Career Services
"At once practical and inspirational, this book asks the simple but penetrating questions: are you an idealist? if so, what are you going to do about it? A must read for anyone interested in making a difference, changing their life and community—in short, building a better world." - Patrick Corvington, Senior Associate, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!
We're giving away one copy of the book, courtesy of the book's publicist, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!
How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: what is your favorite organization and how it helps to build a better world? Submissions are accepted until Monday, May 18, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Plant a tree for every book you read!
3 comments:
I am a big fan (and member) of Green America (formerly Co-Op America). This organization concerns itself with many issues that are critical to building a better world through improving social justice and environmental sustainability. Green America co-sponsors the Green Festival in various cities each year (love the GF!) which is open to the public and offers a wide range of well-known speakers and eco-friendly company booths. Green America publishes the National Green Pages - a great consumer guide to making responsible purchases that help the environment and/or individuals-in-need who produce the eco-friendly goods. Thanks for the chance to win this awesome book! :)
lmarston(at)yahoo(dot)com
At the moment, I'm really a fan of Earth Activist Training (earthactivisttraining.org) a grass-roots organization that lead permaculture design courses in permaculture, rooted in activism and earth-based spiritual traditions. What is truly unique and inspiring about their work is that through their two week courses and shorter workshops, they plant the seeds of action, teaching real skills that lead to true abundance and beauty in the world. Using ritual, song, discussion, and hands on work, Earth Activist Training empowers students to make a difference in the world, rippling out and creating a better tomorrow. All courses are taught by ecofeminist activist, author, and priestess Starhawk.
Thanks for having the contest!!
-abel
arg1989(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, I'm supporting Kiva (www.kiva.org). Kiva enables people from around the world (like me from Indonesia for instance) to lend a small amount of money (say, US$25) to entrepreneurs from around the world (a lady in Kyrgyzstan, for example, to expand her farming business). Those entrepreneurs are not considered as bankable by mainstream banking institutions due to the entrepreneurs' lack of collateral, credit history, and stable job, and because the small amount of loan is considered too costly to maintain. Kiva linked creditors and debtors in a such efficient manner under non-profit motive (creditors forgo interest on the loan, reserving those for field agencies that maintain the loans to cover their costs) and consequently keeping the microloans interest rate relatively low while improving the flow of microcredit on a worldwide basis. Thank you for having the contest!
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