How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Incorporating Good Deeds into Your Everyday Life (Paperback)

by William Coplin (Author) "1. The more one gains personally from giving time and money, the less genuine the act of doing good..." (more)
Key Phrases: corporate social investing, leadership directories, cooperative problem solving, Genuine Do-Gooder, Mother Teresa, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This book is a guide to "Transforming your life by giving something back." Coplin (the Maxwell Sch. of Citizenship, Syracuse Univ.) thoughtfully discusses how to become a volunteer in various sectors, and describes the lives of both well-known and unsung activists. Resource lists in this book are useful; game-plans and self-evaluation quizzes less so. Public librarians may want to toss a coin in deciding whether to purchase this book or The Cathedral Within (LJ 6/15/99), a remarkably similar volume by Share Our Strength founder Bill Shore. Shore's book covers much the same ground, is the more readable of the two, and is in hardcover. Heads or tails?--Ellen Gilbert, Rutgers Univ., Lib., New Brunswick, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Finally we have a realistic roadmap which can be used to leverage our charitable giving and our volunteer time in ways that will genuinely improve society. This book includes all the component parts that anyone--regardless of age, sex, income level or political persuasion--can assemble into a powerful strategy that will truly make a difference.." -- Curtis Weeden, co-author of Corporate Social Investing: The Breakthrough Strategy for Giving and Getting Corporate Contributions

"Highly inspirational...will inspire every reader to help make things better in our world.." -- Jack Brill, co-author of Investing With Your Values: Making Money and Making a Difference (1999)

"Purity of motive isn't an issue in this low-guilt book--action is..." -- Publishers Weekly

"This book makes doing good a little easier...." -- American Way

"This is a wonderful book. It will be enormously helpful to all individuals who want to make the world a little better....We often hear that people want to get involved but don't know how. This book will make it impossible for anyone to use that excuse anymore. And best of all, it's written without jargon or preaching and with lots of passion and conviction.." -- Sara E. Melendez, President and CEO, Independent Sector

This book makes doing good a little easier... -- American Way
Shifting focus from self to others, William D. Coplin shows how to make the world a better place in How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life. The public affairs professor packs in self-assessment quizzes, suggested activities and extensive contact information before sending readers off to donate something (time, blood, talent, money) toward the enhancement of society. Purity of motive isn't an issue in this low-guilt book--action is. Deeming Mother Teresa an unworkable role model, he profiles 'genuine do-gooders,' such as a kindly school teacher who spent eight years of Sundays welcoming visitors to a harsh jail. -- Publishers Weekly
This is a wonderful book. It will be enormously helpful to all individuals who want to make the world a little better. Would-be volunteers with only a few hours a week or a month to spare will find very good suggestions and resources for how to get involved. Would-be doctors and even philanthropists (big donors) will find very practical ideas for getting started. And for those who want to make doing good their life's work, there is also valuable information. We often hear that people want to get involved but don't know how. This book will make it impossible for anyone to use that excuse anymore. And best of all, it's written without jargon or preaching and with lots of passion and conviction. -- Sara E. Melendez, President and CEO, Independent Sector
Highly inspirational...With clearly stated principles and real life examples, How You Can Help will inspire every reader to help make things better in our world. -- Jack Brill, co-author of Investing With Your Values: Making Money and Making a Difference (1999)
Finally we have a realistic roadmap which can be used to leverage our charitable giving and our volunteer time in ways that will genuinely improve society. This book includes all the component parts that anyone--regardless of age, sex, income level or political persuasion--can assemble into a powerful strategy that will truly make a difference. -- Curtis Weeden, co-author of Corporate Social Investing: The Breakthrough Strategy for Giving and Getting Corporate Contributions
Bill Coplin shows how you can help, no matter who you are, what you are and where you are. -- Ralph Nader

This book makes doing good a little easier... -- American Way
Shifting focus from self to others, William D. Coplin shows how to make the world a better place in How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life. The public affairs professor packs in self-assessment quizzes, suggested activities and extensive contact information before sending readers off to donate something (time, blood, talent, money) toward the enhancement of society. Purity of motive isnt an issue in this low-guilt book--action is. Deeming Mother Teresa an unworkable role model, he profiles genuine do-gooders, such as a kindly school teacher who spent eight years of Sundays welcoming visitors to a harsh jail. -- Publishers Weekly
This is a wonderful book. It will be enormously helpful to all individuals who want to make the world a little better. Would-be volunteers with only a few hours a week or a month to spare will find very good suggestions and resources for how to get involved. Would-be doctors and even philanthropists (big donors) will find very practical ideas for getting started. And for those who want to make doing good their lifes work, there is also valuable information. We often hear that people want to get involved but dont know how. This book will make it impossible for anyone to use that excuse anymore. And best of all, its written without jargon or preaching and with lots of passion and conviction. -- Sara E. Melendez, President and CEO, Independent Sector
Highly inspirational...With clearly stated principles and real life examples, How You Can Help will inspire every reader to help make things better in our world. -- Jack Brill, co-author of Investing With Your Values: Making Money and Making a Difference (1999)
Finally we have a realistic roadmap which can be used to leverage our charitable giving and our volunteer time in ways that will genuinely improve society. This book includes all the component parts that anyone--regardless of age, sex, income level or political persuasion--can assemble into a powerful strategy that will truly make a difference. -- Curtis Weeden, co-author of Corporate Social Investing: The Breakthrough Strategy for Giving and Getting Corporate Contributions
Bill Coplin shows how you can help, no matter who you are, what you are and where you are. -- Ralph Nader

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415922976
• ISBN-13: 978-0415922975
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,004,296 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Inspired -- Do Some Good, February 17, 2000

By	Michael Kent (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Coplin's "How You Can Help" is an inspiration to both aspiring and life-long do-gooders alike. His easy-to-follow tips and guidelines for being a successful volunteer, donor and/or professional do-gooder make this book a must-read. "How You Can Help" crosses all boundaries, as it applies to anyone from parents looking to develop a neighborhood tutoring program to business-owners looking to make their companies more socially responsible. Coplin's tales of success provide inspiration for all. This book sets the standard for do-gooding and motivates each reader to do his or her part to make the world a better place.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to revive the spirit of service and responsiblity, January 27, 2000

By	Scott D. Lipton (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews

As a college student I found "How you can Help" an enlightening manual on how the youth and everyone in todays socieity can help to revive the ideals of "doing good" and helping others. The book serves as a step by step manual on how the individual can someway help others. Something I throughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Find the Do-Gooder in You, October 22, 2006

By	Jennifer B. Kinney (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first read this book when I entered college in 2000 and it has continually remained a motivation and reference point for the past 6-years. After reading this book, I denounced my film making aspirations and took a path of public affairs.

"How You Can Help" highlights simple ways you can incorporate doing good into various aspects of your life. Through inspirational stories and step-by-step guides to getting involved, Coplin provides a thorough outline of how you can make a difference. Idealistic, yes, but unlike many other inspirational books, Coplin cuts straight to the point. This book makes getting involved simple. I recommend "How You Can Help" to anyone, but especially young students trying to find their place in this world. It will help you find the do-gooder in you.