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Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy Paperback – Illustrated, January 28, 2014

by John Wood (Author)

4.7 74 ratings

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The inspirational story of a former Microsoft executive’s quest to build libraries around the world and share the love of books

What’s happened since John Wood left Microsoft to change the world? Just ask six million kids in the poorest regions of Asia and Africa. In 1999, at the age of thirty-five, Wood quit a lucrative career to found the nonprofit Room to Read. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “the Andrew Carnegie of the developing world,” he strived to bring the lessons of the corporate world to the nonprofit sector—and succeeded spectacularly.

In his acclaimed first book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, Wood explained his vision and the story of his start-up. Now, he tackles the organization’s next steps and its latest challenges—from managing expansion to raising money in a collapsing economy to publishing books for children who literally have no books in their native language. At its heart, Creating Room to Read shares moving stories of the people Room to Read works to help: impoverished children whose schools and villages have been swept away by war or natural disaster and girls whose educations would otherwise be ignored.

People at the highest levels of finance, government, and philanthropy will embrace the opportunity to learn Wood’s inspiring business model and blueprint for doing good. And general readers will love Creating Room to Read for its spellbinding story of one man’s mission to put books within every child’s reach.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Plume
Publication date

January 28, 2014
Dimensions

0.8 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches
ISBN-10

9780142180501
ISBN-13

978-0142180501
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Jacqueline Novogratz
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[John Wood’s] extraordinary enthusiasm [and] boldness…come through clearly. His legacy of libraries is one of which another role model – Andrew Carnegie – would no doubt have been proud, especially since Wood began with nothing like the same personal fortune.”
—Financial Times

“Room to Read will show people they do not need to accept the forces of darkness….May the larger, smarter, more compassionate team win. I know which side will get my investment.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“John Wood is building a global movement around literacy and gender equality. Creating Room to Read offers a blueprint for transforming lives…and eventually the world.”
—Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook and New York Times bestselling author of Lean In

“A refreshing reminder of the power of libraries—their ability to transform individual lives and strengthen communities.”
—Melinda Gates

“An absorbing personal account of a remarkable achievement.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Wood’s passion for literacy and education infuses every page. An inspiring read on the power of books.”
—Booklist

"Just think what would happen if a couple hundred people followed his example."
—President Bill Clinton

"One of the legendary triumphs of philanthropy was Andrew Carnegie's construction of more than 2,500 libraries. Numerically, it has already been surpassed several times over by an American man you've probably never heard of. Wood is tireless, enthusiastic and emotional: a motivational speaker with no off button."
—Nick Kristof

About the Author

John Wood worked for Microsoft for nine years, helping grow the company’s international profile. He resigned at thirty-five and founded Room to Read, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s top nonprofit organizations. He documented his decision and the creation of Room to Read in his memoir, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. He lives in New York City.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0142180505
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Plume; Illustrated edition (January 28, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780142180501
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142180501
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.8 x 5.3 x 7.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,733,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,653 in Nonprofit Organizations & Charities (Books)
- #4,046 in Philosophy & Social Aspects of Education
- #20,593 in Education Workbooks (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 74 ratings

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bheffner

Great lessons from one of the world's most successful NGOs

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013

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Creating Room to Read is the worthy successor to John Wood's first book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, which made Amazon's list of Top Ten business narratives in 2006. This book picks up where the first book left off, chronicling Room to Read's evolution from its start-up years to its growth to become one of the most highly admired and most effective NGOs on the planet. (The Global Journal just cited Room to Read as one of the top 100 NGOs in the world, for the second year running.)

The book includes fascinating accounts of the experiences of some of the key employees who have helped to build the organization. Anyone who has worked in the developing world will appreciate the level of commitment and passion it has taken for these staffers to get the job done on behalf of the children they serve. The book recaps Room to Read's efforts to adapt and embrace change as it grows, in a wildly dynamic economic environment. It's rare that a book recounts experiences that did not go so well. (See the chapter on the start-up year in South Africa.) But Wood's candor in addressing these issues and his growth as a leader provide valuable lessons for other organizations, lending to the credibility of this impressive book.

What you'll remember most are the heart-melting personal stories of the kids (and families) whose lives are being forever transformed by a shot at an education. This book is a great read for anyone who needs to be reminded that even if no single individual can solve all the world's problems, one inspiring and committed leader can change the lives of millions.

8 people found this helpful

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Bandita

A Movement for a Change: Educate to Fight against Poverty (Book Review : Creating Room to Read)

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014

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John Wood is one of the founders of the organization Room to Read. He has authored two books; the first one is Leaving Microsoft to Change the World published in 2011. His first book recollects the memory of visioning and getting started with the mission as Room to Read. The core belief of the organization is just six words: World Change Starts with Educated Children. John Wood had minutely explained and beautifully articulated key events while trekking to Nepal, visiting a school with few or no books in the library, and the basic rights of children to read. He explained how his individual mission of helping one small school in rural Nepal by collecting and sending books from his home expanded to a bigger idea of helping some more in the same country and to other countries in Asia and Africa by creating a strong team. Room to Read now represents an esteemed nonprofit promoting education, gender equality and literacy worldwide. Wood has kept the same enthusiasm, minute explanation, and a convincing argument for the readers to visualize the goal and also inculcates a motivation to offer a helping hand in any form to make this world a better place to live.

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2013

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Loved Leaving Microsoft to Change the World and the sequel is even better!

Inspiring. Loved reading the inspiring stories of the communities and people supported through Room to Read's work. As a business junkie, really enjoyed reading about the funding and business challenges as well. Have always appreciated the transparency of Room to Read. A non-profit that's run like a business. Now that's where I want to put my money!

I've been a donor since just before Leaving Microsoft and continue to support the organization because of the greatness of the work that John and the entire Room to Read organization are doing to change the world. Creating a "youth-quake." LOVED that phrase in the book.

Well done John. A(nother) check is in the mail. :)

2 people found this helpful

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Dave Knight

John Wood's Journey

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2014

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John Wood is on a remarkable quest. He will be long remembered by those to whom he brought education, who might otherwise have starved.

He is a bit of a self-promoter, but this is clearly a necessary fault, not a part of his real persona (my take, based on meeting him years ago).

He has done wonders, where others have shown feet of clay.

One person found this helpful

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Leora Langs

Best nonprofit management book ever and a great read with a story that both educates you on world issues and inspires

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2013

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This is one of those books that digs into the soul of an organization and a movement and highlights a variety of unique situations and the individuals that used their experience, intuition, educations to effectively change the lives of children and the communities they live because it is the right thing to do. It weaves an excellent story through countries, challenges, family & friends that highlights how the road less traveled has become the sustainable highway to education in some of the most illiterate and remote areas of the world. Ten stars for the story and their efforts in the battle for global literacy. A must read.

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AP

A must read book for anyone who cares about making this world a better place!

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013

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John Wood's first book "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" was a fascinating story about establishment of his startup 'Room to Read' with the mission of giving the gift of education to every child in the world irrespective of where he/she is born.

His latest book, "Creating Room to Read" which talks about his journey accomplishing this mission over the last 10 years. I am just amazed by how much he and his organization has accomplished in a short period of time, and how much he is pumped-up to accomplish even more in the years to come.

One person found this helpful

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Robbie Carpenter

What an inspirational book

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2013

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John Wood is a selfless, caring individual. He has done more for mankind in his short life time than all the other "do gooders" put together. What an inspiration this man is. His book is both enlightening and a joy to read. I would recommend it to anyone fed up with the waste we have here in the USA. He really gets it, educating women is the way out of poverty for so many of these people.

One person found this helpful

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ccomstan

A gamechanging read

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2013

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As leader of a nonprofit startup, John Wood's "Creating Room to Read" has become my de facto instruction manual for growing my organization. His passion to serve others, combined with his sharp business acumen, is leading him to exceed all expectations in fulfilling the mission of his organization. The book has encouraged me to change how I have been approaching my nonprofit in order to empower it toward fulfilling its mission. Highly recommended book.

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dan

A must read for anyone with an interest in developing education globally

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2015

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A truly inspiring read, that left me close to tears more than once!

Jillian Phillips

Inspiring with practical tips

Reviewed in India on May 2, 2015

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Since reading this book (twice so far!) I have recommended it to many others to read. It is interesting as the story of one NGO - one that has captured the hearts and minds of so many donors - but in addition it contains so much practical advice that other NGOs and individuals can benefit from when trying to assist others, particularly cross-culturally, and not only in projects related to literacy or even education. There is some (necessary) overlap of content with John Wood's first book, "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World", but this does not detract from the book in any way in my opinion.

Second to NUN

とても示唆に富む本です

Reviewed in Japan on December 15, 2013

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Room to readの創始者 John Woodの書籍　第二弾です。

第一弾はこちら
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children
第一弾はRoom to readの黎明期
第二弾はその後を描いています。

いろんな意味で示唆に富む一冊です。
日本に住み、文字が読めることがほぼ当たり前ですが、それが当たり前でない国は残念ながらまだまだ少なくないようです。

自分たちのため・社会のため
残された人生で何ができるのか
考え、行動に移しましょう。

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Dorothy Sly

and was pleased to find her story and photo in this book

Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2014

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I was inspired to read this book after learning about Inkham, the little Laotian girl with high educational ambitions in spite of the fact that both her parents are mute. I knew that she is being helped by Room to Read, and was pleased to find her story and photo in this book. I was disappointed, however, that the book has few similar stories. In fact, the main point of the book is to show how the author has taken big business practices from his earlier career in Silicon Valley and applied them to running an NGO (non-government organization). He has been successful, apparently, for Room to Read now reaches millions of children. Thus the book is an effective manual for NGO's with similar aspirations, I found it lacking, however, in the human touch that I associate with small NGO's.

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