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Nicholas D. Kristof
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A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity Kindle Edition

by Nicholas D. Kristof (Author), Sheryl WuDunn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 489 ratings
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An exploration of how altruism affects us, what are the markers for success, and how to avoid the pitfalls—with scrupulous research and on-the-ground reporting from the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists and bestselling authors of Half a Sky and Tightrope

Kristof and WuDunn will inspire you to "change lives for the better, including your own (The New York Times Book Review). 

In their recounting of astonishing stories from the front lines of social progress, we see the compelling, inspiring truth of how real people have changed the world, underscoring that one person can make a difference.
 
A Path Appears offers practical, results-driven advice on how best each of us can give and reveals the lasting benefits we gain in return. Kristof and WuDunn know better than most how many urgent challenges communities around the world face to­day. Here they offer a timely beacon of hope for our collective future.

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  1. Print length
    402 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    September 23, 2014
  5. File size
    20666 KB
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
489 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and thought-provoking. They describe it as a great handbook for anyone who wants to take action to help make the world a better place. The book provides a high-level summary of complex issues and connects many dots. It offers a smart, hopeful perspective and makes a great gift for those you admire for their generous spirit.

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Inspirational readReadabilityPacingGift value
101 customers mention "Inspirational read"101 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and informative. They find it thought-provoking, with poignant anecdotes about compassionate people. The book offers a hopeful perspective on practical steps we can all take. It provides ideas and connections for volunteering and donating, as well as systemic problems in inclusivity. Readers also learn about charitable systems and concrete opportunities to take part in the revolution of caring.

"...As for the other parts of the book, it is completely based on experimental data and should be read by all those concerned with the lives of the..." Read more

"...Full of ideas and potential connections for volunteering, donating, and entrepreneurial charity. Must read better than anything you’re watching on TV." Read more

"...The changes mentioned in the book are small but fulfilling, and so spread throughout the world that one is continually surprised at how many good..." Read more

"...book at the end of the day for many days, and I found myself inspired by stories of how compassionate people have made a great difference in the..." Read more

79 customers mention "Readability"77 positive2 negative

Customers find the book readable and helpful. They describe it as an important guide for taking action to help others. The writing style is appropriate for the text and the audiobook narration is compelling. Many readers find the book useful and recommend it as a great read for young people making transitions from high school to college or college.

"...It is a PERFECT book, and I am sure it has already changed many people's lives so far." Read more

"...Must read better than anything you’re watching on TV." Read more

"...many groups the authors mentioned in their book, those advocating for childhood reading and each doing so in its own unique and effective way...." Read more

"...Olivia Wilde narrates the audiobook, and her work is appropriate for the text, somber and serious when needed but also interjecting life and humor..." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a high-level summary of complex issues. It connects many dots and offers a smart, hopeful perspective. The book provides a good framework and suggestions on how to donate money. It takes you behind the scenes of NGOs to find out which ones are most effective.

"...A Path Appears is intelligent, inspirational, and accessible. This book is for the non-profit and for-profit sectors alike...." Read more

"...NGOs, for-profit companies and everyday life, this book offers a smart, hopeful perspective on practical steps we can all take..." Read more

"The book gives you some excellent suggestions as to how to donate money to get the most bang for your buck...." Read more

"This book complements HALF THE SKY. It takes you behind the scenes of NGOs to find out which ones are the most effective in producing their stated..." Read more

5 customers mention "Gift value"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book as a gift. They say it's a great gift for those you admire for their generous spirit.

"...up lifting reading for the holiday season and a great gift to share with family and friends." Read more

"...I hope the authors realize what an amazing gift their books are...." Read more

"This was a gift. Have not heard how the book is." Read more

"makes a great gift for those you admire for their generous spirit.." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Ali Tuna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book to Change Your Own Life First, and then the Lives of Those in Need
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    As I was about to start reading this book, I hoped I would see that there are many good people out there trying to make a change in the lives of people in need. I did.
    However, I did not know that it would make a change in the way I used to look at pre-school education, despite the fact that I have been a somewhat dedicated teacher of Physics and advanced math for the last 15 years. I always believed good education, especially at high school level, would change a student's outlook on life. when I was reading the chapter that focused on the pre-school education, all I could think of was my 4-year-old son. Every paragraph was full of experimental data that supports the argument that pre-school education makes a huge change in a person's life in the future. I was kinda aware of how important the first six years of a child'd life were, and had been trying to convince my ex-wife to send him to school to no avail. When I finished the book, however, I made up my mind, and changed my entire schedule to take him to school every day. I even quit my full time job because they lived three-hours from me. Now my son goes to school, and I am sure this education will provide him many good skills now and in the future.

    As for the other parts of the book, it is completely based on experimental data and should be read by all those concerned with the lives of the people we share this Earth with. It is a PERFECT book, and I am sure it has already changed many people's lives so far.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Daniel Griswold
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Manual For Changing the World for Good
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
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    Incredible journey full of the inspiring stories of people from diverse and varied backgrounds making a difference across the globe. Full of ideas and potential connections for volunteering, donating, and entrepreneurial charity. Must read better than anything you’re watching on TV.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Creatics
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sorting through the giving...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
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    The words are part of a quote from the Chinese writer, Lu Xan: “Hope is a path on the mountainside. At first there is no path. But then there are people passing that way. And there is a path.” The words are also the title of the book by husband-wife writing team, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Worldwide correspondents, they have won multiple Pulitzers and witnessed many cultures, seeing both the good and the bad of each and watching how quickly little things can make a difference, especially when it comes to giving, not only monetarily but of oneself by advocating or mentoring. The subtitle of the book is Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity.
    Their book is a good reminder of what we begin to feel for others if only because we are made aware of just how fortunate we are. Certainly the appeals that flood our inboxes and mail begin to overwhelm us, something the authors mention as to why they undertook the writing of this book. "So many social problems in the twenty-first century seem intractable and insoluable. We started our married life together as foreign correspondents for The New York Times, and we have wondered for years how we can do a better job addressing the needs around us. Not everyone can help fight crime in a city's worst neighborhoods or volunteer in schools, so most of us are left to engage in piecemeal efforts such as a donation here or there. Like many Americans, we have day jobs we need to keep, and we have been busy raising our children; that has left us looking for great causes and people to support in modest ways. We aren't regular churchgoers who focus our giving on a particular religious establishment, and although we wanted to lend a hand, we never knew how to choose among the appeals from nonprofits that inundated us. Basically, we were mystified about how best to assist at home as well as abroad. So we investigated how one can do a better job of making a difference, how one can help institute effective change." This book is the fruit of our labors.
    The changes mentioned in the book are small but fulfilling, and so spread throughout the world that one is continually surprised at how many good causes and people are out there, people really trying and making a difference, be they dirt poor (a phrase that originated from medieval days when one didn't have enough money to even purchase a mat or some sort of flooring to cover the dirt ground of one's home) to flooded with riches or success. I mention the latter word because of a few sentences in the book. "Successful people often scorn those who are poor or homeless. A Princeton University scholar, Susan Fiske, has used scans to show that the brains of high-achieving people see images of poor people and process them as if they were not human but things."
    Just one example of the ease of making a difference came from their chapter, A Thirty-Million Word Gap. In this section, studies showed that "a child on welfare heard about 3 million words spoken a year, a working-class child about 6 million words a year, and a child of professionals about 11 million words annually." Hearing such an increased number of words led to higher IQ scores and higher achievement. But more so, "Children on welfare heard two words of discouragement for every encouraging one, while children of professionals received six encouraging words for every discouraging one," often not because they mean to but rather because of the stress of their struggling needs and, for the most part, their own upbringing. Even more interesting was the studies of brain scans showing that babies readily discern the difference between hearing a human talking to them and a television voice talking to them, treating the human voice as "social interaction" and treating the television or computer voice as "random noise." So much for Sesame Street.
    One simple effort is called Reach Out and Read which pediatricians "prescribe" reading for babies and young children. Says medical director Perri Klass, "For many parents, reading to a six-month-old before she can even speak seems alien. And in so many homes, the only book is a Bible on a high shelf, and you wash your hands before taking it down, and you certainly don't hand it to a toddler." One study of low-income Hispanic children found that "64% of the families reported that they didn't have a single children's book in their home."
    Reading to babies and pre-kindergarden children is now becoming more and more accepted as the results begin to pour in. Vocabularies and proficiencies are up, as are graduation rates in later studies. Parents enrolled in such programs report that reading to their children is now one of their favorite activities, not only for them as the parents but also for their children. And the average cost? $20 per child. Even business leaders and CEOs of groups such as Macy's and Proctor & Gamble are recognizing the ROI (return on investment) by funding such early childhood reading, saying, "investing in early childhood achieves the best ROI for our country. Currently more than 90 percent of our education dollars are spent after age five, yet 85 percent of a child's core brain structure is developed before age five."
    Who knew that the age-old (if diminishing) practice of reading a story to child at night (as so idyllically portrayed in the movies) would not only make a comeback, but would prove so valuable? Below are just a few of the many groups the authors mentioned in their book, those advocating for childhood reading and each doing so in its own unique and effective way. And this is but one small section of the book. If you're finding yourself as confused as the authors, sorting through the blizzard of mail and tinkling bells requesting money for the holidays, then you might want to pick up this book and have it bring a bit of joy in your life. The giving is happening all over the world and in ways well beyond that of writing a check! Goodnight Moon is back!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kris Abrahamson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and practical
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2023
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    I read this book at the end of the day for many days, and I found myself inspired by stories of how compassionate people have made a great difference in the lives of others. I want my own donations and volunteer efforts to make a difference, and I have gathered many practical ideas of how to help others. At the end of the book, the authors provide a list of all the organizations that they mention and their websites. I will do more research on many of them.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Annie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something we should all read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2014
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    The book itself is an important book that I think everyone should read, not just bleeding heart liberals like myself. I appreciate its more objective approach to charity and philanthropy, pointing out the failings and rough starts. As a total nerd, I really loved the science of giving, too. Olivia Wilde narrates the audiobook, and her work is appropriate for the text, somber and serious when needed but also interjecting life and humor when the book calls for it. Her voice is very easy to listen to. This book was also a perfect gift to a friend of mine who is trying to get more involved in mission work, though I did warn her that the intro will break your heart a little (okay, a lot).
    5 people found this helpful
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  • J. Randall Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars They present a convincing case for knowing ourselves well enough to find a comfortable fit for donating time and money
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2014
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    The authors' positive view that individuals can make a difference is evident throughout this encouraging and helpful text. They present a convincing case for knowing ourselves well enough to find a comfortable fit for donating time and money. In instance after instance they document how significant impact can be made with even small contributions. They convincingly place the responsibility at our doorstep, as it relates to knowing that we can make a difference. We cannot avoid the fact that there are discouraging circumstances all about us, but Krustof and WuDunn demonstrate that "A Path Appears" to each of us who want to do more than stew about the complexity of the problems that plague us.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Love Reading
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book! So inspiring!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Yes, I purchased the book. Confession, I haven't actually "read" this one, but I've LISTENED to the audiobook from the library more than once (on my second time through). I bought the book because I want to be able to go back and underline, and find the names of organizations.
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  • H. Werntz
    3.0 out of 5 stars An overview of everything altruistic
    Reviewed in Italy on September 24, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book both interesting and overwhelming. It has great background information and reviews of all types of charities and altruistic endeavors, but I think it could have benefited greatly from some heavy editing. The book is so long and includes so many examples and anecdotes that I found myself feeling overwhelmed by the amount there was to read as well as the infinite possibilities of how to be charitable, rather than feeling empowered to help make a change.
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  • BHUPENDRA MADHIWALLA
    4.0 out of 5 stars I thought only Indian NGOs are corrupt, wasteful and ...
    Reviewed in India on November 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I thought only Indian NGOs are corrupt, wasteful and less productive and effective. Reading this book made me realize that humans are same all over, more or less.
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  • Yashika
    3.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
    Reviewed in Germany on June 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I love charity work and this book gives a good insight into it. Worth reading it in my pastime. Recommended!
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  • Philippe Korda
    5.0 out of 5 stars un livre exceptionnel
    Reviewed in France on November 28, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Cet ouvrage, écrits par deux lauréats du prix Pulitzer, est d'un intérêt exceptionnel.

    D'abord, parce qu'il n'aborde que les sujets les plus importants : les moyens les plus efficaces en matière de lutte contre la pauvreté et d'accès à l'éducation et à la santé partout dans le monde.

    Ensuite, parce qu'il apporte sur ces sujets des analyses à la fois limpides et très documentées, souvent contre-intuitives et parfois franchement déstabilisantes.

    Enfin et surtout, parce qu'il donne envie d'agir. Les exemples rapportés sont tellement poignants qu'il est difficile de lâcher le livre et tellement convaincants qu'il est difficile de ne rien faire après l'avoir terminé.

    Evidemment, on pourra reprocher aux auteurs de placer les Etats-Unis au centre du monde et de manquer d'exemples européens, mais franchement cette lecture est capitale pour toute personne désireuse de jouer un rôle utile au-delà de son cercle de proches.
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