Giving

Customer Reviews

• Bill Clinton at his best  Sep 4, 2007 (107 of 123 found this helpful)

  Even conservatives will like this book. It's interesting, inspiring, clearly written, not at all political and, believe it or not, only a tad self-centered. Filled with dozens, maybe hundreds, of specific examples of charitable individuals and successful grassroots programs, it argues -- in fact, proves -- that you don't have to be a big shot to make the world a better place. Clinton clearly believes in what he writes; the book is passionate and powerful on topics that, in other hands, would be detached and dull.
  
  Besides the subject matter, what I liked best about the book is its organization. Written so you don't have to read it all at once, it breaks down philanthropy into six different categories, and gives each its own chapter. Those are:
  
  * Giving time
  * Giving things
  * Giving skills
  * Giving "gifts of reconciliation and new beginnings" (citing everything from the efforts of Nelson Mandela to PeacePlayers International, a group that sets up basketball leagues in the Middle East)
  * Giving gifts that keep on giving (such as the work of Heifer International, which gives millions of poor farmers free cows -- as long as they agree to donate one its first offspring to someone else)
  * Giving to good ideas
  
  Clinton also includes descriptions of some successful charitable programs that are easy to use as model strategies for your own ideas, illustrates how businesses can make money out of acting in the public interest, and explains his views on what roles governments (not just Washington, but cities and states) can play.
  
  In the last chapter, titled "How Much Should You Give and Why," he argues that if the rich would donate five percent of their incomes to humanitarian causes, the rest of society would give even more, and that one reason to be generous and public spirited is simply that it makes you feel good. "Who's happier?" he writes. "The uniters or the dividers? The builders or the breakers? The givers or the takers? I think you know the answer."
  
  Regardless of your political views, if you're a charitable person and seriously want to make a difference in the world, this is a must-read. You'll come away from it not only inspired, but with plenty of ideas on how to accomplish your goals.

• laundry list, boring to read  Dec 9, 2007 (65 of 73 found this helpful)

  I agree with most all the 1 star reviews here. I'm very liberal and still felt that the book was a long list of statistics and descriptions of big money charitable efforts as well as efforts by those without big money. The reading just gets very tedious about a third of the way through. I also agree with other reviewers that I get a feeling a staff of researchers and editors put this book together rather than Bill.

• Chicken Soup for an ex-president's soul?  Oct 1, 2007 (75 of 89 found this helpful)

  Does anyone really need an entire book just to tell them that the world would be a better place if we all helped each other out?
  
  I was looking for some world-changing ideas here, but this book reads like a long ghost-written feel-good press release and while the "giving" sentiment is a good one, I think the Bible already covered "do unto others" quite nicely.
  
  I suppose an author can't very well go on a worldwide book tour without having a book first, so this one was obviously quickly produced as an excuse to hit the talk show circuit.
  
  But most people will be able to grasp the book's entire message just from hearing interviews about the book and seeing the title. Actually reading the book is unnecessary.

• Giving as part of a daily life  Sep 14, 2007 (58 of 69 found this helpful)

  Over sixty years ago, Harry Truman resurrected the failed presidency of Herbert Hoover in order to have Hoover help out in the distribution of aid to Europe after the end of the the Second World War. In like manner, many former presidents since then have made global contributions, most notably Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Not to be overlooked is Bill Clinton, who has offered a candid and reasonable look at people who have made a difference on a large scale. "Giving" is a good book, but not a great read. Information abounds, but the narrative is flat. If only he had written this book the way he speaks on the campaign trail, this book would have taken off, for sure.
  
  I applaud Mr. Clinton for bringing to our attention vast areas of need around the world. His teaming up with former President Bush is the height of bipartisan co-operation, something sorely lacking these days. I mean, how good does it get, for instance, when two former presidents work together to try to solve the problems in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? Yet, although there is much litany and less practical involvement to get absorbed in "Giving", I do give President Clinton high marks for laying out many cases which need our focus. "Giving" is a short but important book and one that I hope everyone who reads it takes seriously.

• A call to action  Oct 20, 2007 (26 of 31 found this helpful)

  "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World" is an inspirational book that details the power each and every person has to make a difference. Bill Clinton focuses on two things in this book (which, by the way, is much, MUCH shorter than his autobiography, "My Life"). First, the former president provides countless examples of people and organizations that have taken on projects that have had a positive impact on the world. Second, the book demonstrates the many different ways people can give back, either by volunteering, organizing, or making monetary donations.
  
  I was extremely impressed by the scope of this book. I thought the whole focus of "Giving" would be on the work the Clinton Foundation has done over the past six years. Although Clinton does use some of his personal experiences as examples, most of the stories in this book are about outside individuals and other non-governmental organizations that are doing amazing things. Clinton praises a wide variety of people for their good works, ranging from Bill and Melinda Gates to a young girl who organized regular garbage pick-ups at a local beach. I recognized a lot of the names and organizations mentioned in this book, but many of them were unfamiliar to me, and it was great to learn about the different things people are doing.
  
  So many people (myself included) tend to focus on the negative aspects of the world we live in. We complain about the government, the economy, taxes, etc., but the reality is that there is a lot of good in the world that goes unnoticed. Reading this book was very inspirational because it illustrated how many people care enough to try to make the world a better place. I know that sounds kind of hokey, but it's the truth...and people really do make an enormous difference!
  
  Everyone has the ability to give something, regardless of age, availability, or income. After reading this book, I'm reassessing the amount that I give back and thinking about ways that I can do more. I hope other people will do the same thing.