Customer Reviews

A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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As a microfinance practitioner I have long struggled to find a book to recommend that succinctly summarizes the power of microfinance. It is easy to delve into the technical details and forget the fundamental reasons for how and why microfinance is lifting millions out of crushing poverty.

With A Billion Bootstraps I finally have it: a book that accurately, briefly, and compellingly summarizes this approach to poverty alleviation. I highly recommend it to those who would like an overall description of microfinance, an understanding of why it could be the most effective way of addressing poverty in today's world, and, most importantly, ways to get involved.

Peter Greer

President, HOPE International

I wish I had this book 14 years ago. I could have avoided a lot of mistakes and wasted effort as I tried vainly to "help the poor".

At that time, others from my church and I were seeking to assist low-income Ukrainians as they struggled to emerge from the ashes of the former Soviet Union. Over a few years we tried lots of things - from handouts to giving equipment to start a medium-size business. Nothing worked, until we discovered the power of microfinance - described so movingly in A Billion Bootstraps.

For anyone seeking to make a significant, lasting difference in the lives of thousands, even millions of people, this resource is a great place to start. I have found that microfinance provides permanent solutions to poverty. The authors of A Billion Bootstraps have shown that clearly.

Jeff Rutt

President, Keystone Custom Homes

The "micro-credit, banking, and business" subtitle may sound like a book for a retired economist or a smarter/richer person than you (it did me...): DO NOT BE FOOLED! Consider my subtitle: keys to making a difference beyond you ...

A motivating book, that will not only help you recognize the blessings in your life, but is guaranteed to challenge your current life position, purpose, direction, and effort(s). You will be driven to take action. Have you ever asked yourself "How can I really make a difference in a world with so many problems"? This book, in the first three chapters alone, will clearly answer that question and:

* Give you a clear and concise understanding of the needs of HURTING PEOPLE around the world, the need!
* Educated you with regards to several other methods people often choose in attempt to address the obvious need.
* Bring to the surface strong feelings of anger/pity/ignorance not for the hurting people, but for the people who have sold-out to mainstream approaches to ending poverty.
* Cause you to question if you are putting forth enough effort, efficient effort, or any meaningful effort at all?
* Regardless of the size of a contribution, should we not (being a good steward) make certain our giving/gifts/efforts are impacting as many hurting people as possible?
* Motivate you to look beyond the next charitable event/occasion or at least not leave your brain at coat-check.

Regardless of your self-worth or net-worth, either step-up and learn something or simply humble yourself to a new approach.

The solution to helping hurting people now seems obvious to me. Enjoy...

A Billion Bootstraps is right on the mark about microcredit, poverty, and the economics of this poverty solution. I am working with a grassroots microcredit organization in India, and I have worked in the microcredit field for 13 years. This is the only book I have found that I can hand to a layperson and know that by reading it they will understand what microcredit is all about and become as excited about the results as I am.

Yunus got the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work in microcredit. Smith and Thurman should be lauded for explaining how it works and why it works. Plus, it's a great read!

Carol Stigger
Nagpur, India

This is a good book in explaining what microcredit is and how to get involved, but not how to run a microcredit organization.

I preferred Mohammed Yunus (the noble prize winner) autobiography to this book it gave a better summary of what it is and explains how microcredit can work in the rural and inner city US which a Billion Bootstraps doubts can happen. In Yunus' book he demonstrates how microcredit has worked programs in urban Chicago and rural Arkansas.

A Billion Bootstraps is potentially a world changing book. It describes the most effective way to end poverty that I've ever heard about. I had heard about micro loans -- before but didn't know how it worked or how powerful it can truly be. Many misguided people believe that giving people things is the answer to poverty, and sadly, that is rarely the case. Intuitively many of us have also realized this but never had a better way, never had an answer. Here's the answer and it's told and explained in a straigt forward and compelling way. I particulary enjoyed the stories of the lives that have been changed by micro loans, truly inspiring. My hat is off to Phil Smith and Eric Thurman for the fine work they have done in spreading the good word about the creative business solution to poverty. This is creative problem solving at it's finest. For more about creative problem solving, see: Jack's Notebook: A business novel about creative problem solving

Easily one of the most important books I've ever read. I hope this work is nominated for national book awards--or something greater--it richly deserves our (and our leaders') immediate attention. Smith and Thurman not only offer an alternative strategy for philanthropy, but also a proven blueprint of economic success, for the poorest families in the world, under the direst of circumstances, based on the concept of "sweat equity" and the most human of instincts--the will to survive, and ultimately, to flourish. "A Billion Bootstraps"--a must read.

The book explains well the business model of microfinance, what works and what not. It provides a very good insight into this industry. The author has obviously broad experience.

A Billion Bootstraps changed the way I view charitable giving. Now instead of "giving to a charity," I am "investing in changing lives." What's more, I've learned to look for and expect accountability from the organizations which receive my money. Microcredit, which once seemed an esoteric concept, is now accessible to those of us who don't have business or economics degrees, thanks to Philip Smith and Eric Thurman. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to intelligently invest in changing lives of the poorest of the poor.

I once heard a preacher say, "if the poor would convert, accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord & Savior and pay tithes, God would pull these people out of poverty." I think he got it wrong, God gave us the power to eliminate poverty, Smith and Thurman listened. The book was an excelent read, enlightening and full of hope. Microcredit is a well reasoned method of gving poor people of the developing nations opportunity while holding them accountable for the outcome in a community setting. The concept also holds investors and donors accountable for the results of the philantrophic endeavors. Anyone serious about helping others must read this book.