Good Reads

I just finished reading Forty Chances-Finding Hope in a Hungry World by Howard G. Buffet.  Howard is the son of Warren Buffet, one of the richest and most respected businessmen in the world.  Warren runs Berkshire Hathaway, and is known as the "Sage of Omaha".  Howard farms near Decatur, Illinois and serves on several large company boards of directors.  Early in his life, his father and mother set up a foundation in his name for philanthropy and gave him the responsibility to direct it.  He started using the money to fund wildlife conservation, but evolved into addressing food insecurity around the world.  Seeing his stewardship, his parents added almost three billion dollars over the years to his foundation.  He uses the money from the foundation to fight hunger and poverty, provide water, teach modern Ag methods in third world countries, support micro-loans, and come along side Governments and NGO's in their fight against poverty.  He travels the world seeking opportunities to help, and holding organizations accountable that receive funds.
The name of the book Forty Chances, came from a talk he heard at a farm meeting he attended where the speaker mentioned that the average farmer grows about forty crops in his career from when he takes over from his father until he turns the farm over to his son.  Howard asked himself the question; am I making the most of my forty chances?  The book consists of forty stories about his life and work in philanthropy.

Another excellent book addressing the alleviation of poverty is Banker to the Poor by Muhannad Yunus.  Dr. Yunus established Grameen Bank, a bank devoted to making micro-loans to the poorest people in Bangladesh.  An economics professor by trade, he pioneered micro-loans and micro-credit coupled with teaching financial principles.  He would set up groups of willing people (often women), for teaching, accountability, and support before making loans.  His goal was to teach self sufficiency rather than have the poor rely on handouts and welfare.  His methods, which spark personal initiative and enterprise, have been copied by over 250 organizations in over 100 countries around the world.
I was impressed that Jenna got to meet him in 2014, and was impressed with her whole trip.

Another good book for anyone interested in relief work or philanthropy is When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.  This book is from a solid Christian perspective, and addresses how so often when Christians try to help the poor, do relief work, or do short term missions, we do more long term harm than short term good.  We often try to alleviate poverty by treating symptoms rather than addressing causes.  Good intentions focused on solving poverty materially can have unintended consequences if we don't understand root causes.  The book points out when we need to change our attitudes about how we work with the less fortunate and underprivileged.  It offers concepts, principles, and strategies to equip us to help.

 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Galations 6:10