Customer Reviews

50 Facts that Should Change the World

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Here are just a few: ONE IN FIVE OF THE WORLD'S PEOPLE LIVES ON LESS THAN $1 A DAY--THERE ARE 27 MILLION SLAVES IN THE WORLD TODAY--CARS KILL TWO PEOPLE EVERY MINUTE--EVERY WEEK, AN AVERAGE OF 88 CHILDREN ARE EXPELLED FROM AMERICAN SCHOOLS FOR BRINGING A GUN TO CLASS. This is one of those books you pick up in the bookstore and 35 minutes later you're still standing there. I'm not sure what's worse, the fact that these things are true or the fact that we in the civilized world are so far removed. When you read something like MORE THAN 70% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION HAVE NEVER HEARD A DIAL TONE it can only make you humble, make you realize how great we have it in our culture. Information like this makes you realize just how large this world is--both in size and diversity--and how small our own little circles are. A fact like IN KENYA, BRIBERY PAYMENTS MAKE UP A THIRD OF THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD BUDGET makes you think, if only about how different lifestyles really can be. It may not be our job to solve things for everyone, but we'll never have empathy for anyone or anything if we don't at least SEE the way others live. Again, it's sad enough that people have to live in certain situations or with certain conditions--but it's even worse that so many of us live in such a bubble that except for sports scores and reality show outcomes and the 3 or 4 calls we missed on our cell phone we don't really care what happens elsewhere. I can only hope social studies teachers buy this book and read these out loud to their students.

This book containing 50 facts about the current world we live in is a must for anyone who wants to know the "real deal". Each fact is supported by 3 or 4 pages of explaination and research findings. While reading the whole book in one sitting is guaranteed to give the reader an immense sense of hopelessness about our current world, reading a couple facts a day and following Ms. Williams advice on how to help (in the back of the book...) will definately put one on the right path to change the world for the better. Hard facts at your fingertips.

While some of the facts are interesting, to this author it seems like solution to most of the world's problems are:

The US should give a lot more money
African countries need to sign a lot of treaties.

One of the silly facts:

More people know the McDonald's arches than the Christian cross. The reason... Christians are not tolerant of gays.. Really?? I would think it is because the Majority of the Chinese and Indian belong to a different religions.

It was a quick read, but I wouldn't look for any in depth research.

50 Facts That Should Change The World is a shocking, eye-opening look at what is really going on in the world today. The cold statistics are so severe they speak for themselves, yet each one is elaborated upon with several pages explaining why the stark reality of the statistic has come to be, and what can be done about it. Figures such as "black men born in the US today stand a one in three chance of going to jail" and "children living in poverty are three times more likely to suffer a mental illness than children from wealthy families" don't lie - and the needed efforts to change these figures would transform life as we know it, if only more people would become aware and take action.

This book will change your life as the truth often does. One example of one of the 50 facts is: More people die each year from suicide than in all of the world's armed conflicts. Then each fact is followed by a short essay that puts the fact in context.
Be careful... this book may turn an average person into a powerful activist.

This book does not appear on the surface to be more than just facts to ponder. However, next to each fact written in bold, there is a well-written essay on the topic. Normally, the context of the fact is discussed, along with an evaluation of the fact and steps to change it (or let it be). Topics cover the gamut of human issues from poverty to obesity, and include some environmental ones too.

While this book is very exposing and invigorating, it should be noted that Jessica is obviously a little more progressive than the reader, and you may disagree with some conclusions. Fore example, the fact "80% of executions are in China, the USA, or Iran" is misleading, because the vast majority of those are in china. Approval of plastic surgery and moral permisiveness may strike others as migsuided. But no matter what your ideological affiliation is, this book is a must-read for those looking for a clear list of issues the world faces ahead.

Here is another example of the bad job done by the mainstream media in informing Americans about the state of the world. This book presents a number of facts, with accompanying essays, that will not be covered on the evening news.

In 2002, more than 80 percent of the world's executions took place in just three countries, China, Iran and America. Black men born in the US stand a one in three chance of going to jail, while white men have a one in seventeen chance of going to jail. Because of the Asian preference for male over female babies, and because of China's one-child policy, China has 44 million missing women. Over one-fifth of the world's population lives on less than one dollar a day. One-third of the world's obese people, and over 80 percent of the smokers, live in developing countries.

Did you know that nearly half of Americans believe that aliens have landed on Earth? According to one estimate, there are over 67,000 lobbyists in Washington, which equals 125 for each member of Congress. Ten languages disappear every year. Every year, America spends $10 billion on pornography, the same amount it spends on foreign aid. More than 70 percent of the world has never heard a dial tone.

This book also includes sources for each of the essays, and organizations to contact for those who are inspired to get involved in any of these areas. It is excellent, and I enjoyed reading it. Compare the subjects in this book to what is shown on the "all-news" channels. To get a very different view of the world, this is a fine place to start.

I believe with this book Ms. Williams is trying to give us enough statistics and information so that if we previously don't care or not aware of what is going on in the world, we can spur to action after reading this book. I certainly hope people do this!

This book is about the inequalities that go on everyday in the world. From - slavery to the flesh trade to war, etc. This book has lots of information and has websites and links on the end of the book which help the reader understand how they can help make a difference. The purpose of this book is to find the root cause of our problem so that we can make the world a better place so we don't have to put a club in our car, live in the suburbs and own 10 handguns. At the end of this book, there are great resources on the web that we can go to to make a difference.

As Paul states in his great review, most Americans don't know or understand these things because of the protective shell we live in. One solution that I can think of to help with that is to please go visit other countries - developing countries. Contrary to what you hear and watch in the media, 99% of people in developing countries (even Middle Eastern countries) welcome Americans with open arms. Also, read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman". That is a great book to go with this one.

This book presents tragic facts about modern day terrorism, poverty, torture, war, social injustice, and slavery. The author tries to inspire her readers to take action to change the world and also hopes governments will follow.

Here are some of the facts presented:

One in five of the world's people lives on less than $1 a day.

There are 44 million child laborers in India.

Cars kill two people every minute.

More people die each year from suicide than in all the world's armed conflicts.

The world's trade in illegal drugs is estimated to be worth around $400 billion- about the same as the world's legal pharmaceutical industry.

The facts are very interesting, and the horrible circumstances that women and children are subjected to break my heart. However the author puts to much responsibility on Western governments to solve the world's problems. Many of the problems discussed are caused by corrupt governments in parts of the developing world, and sometimes citizens not taking responsibility for their own lives in the Western world. I believe that the economic problems that the book presents in the developing world will be solved only when true capitalism is brought there and the rule of law enforced. Until then the problems will continue indefinitely. I still like the book and think readers will find it thought provoking no matter what your political leanings.

This is an eye opening book for anyone.

It's a great introduction for someone who is naive about the existence and causes of contemporary political, economic, social, environmental issues in their own country and around the globe. It's also great for those who have already taken the time to learn about such issues. It will broaden horizons and, while remaining brief, deepen your understanding.

This book will be perfect for teaching my high school students and inspiring them to care beyond their bubble. It would also be useful for a younger group of students, or for adults of any age or level of education, academics and "lay" people alike.