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

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.

"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