Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Kindle
$14.99

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$15.29

Paperback
$10.52

List Price: $17.99 Details

Save: $7.47 (42%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Wednesday, February 7 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 16 hrs 9 mins

Select delivery location

In Stock

$$10.52 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Thursday, February 8 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by ZBK Wholesale

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$6.29
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: LTtechno

Follow the author

Adam Braun

Follow

The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change Paperback – February 3, 2015

by Adam Braun (Author)

4.6 2,405 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$10.52","priceAmount":10.52,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"52","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"l02DkKWNeYTUt8tuAyogYI3CzX17eYf5M60W%2Bi38DBaXqTi2qXzxV894Jrbme1knSEb325m7yADAsmsfxR0Yzg%2FEuiqSblWojvkbx2XeAIRlobL33l3jde%2BB7LXHs0jMEas0iMH1c7wAY%2BoeK%2FwF0w%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.40","priceAmount":7.40,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"40","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"l02DkKWNeYTUt8tuAyogYI3CzX17eYf5bm1FSZrRNIGhUfogLvOZh1vfBdCc%2Bo3332d1vOMdUm6V5D1X5x1UBUdSDyqJrppfqoR2MFLRVVnpMbvXFDp0pBAs0VvGOmOcYFebmRf3WY%2Bs%2BkukOw6Ez90bn%2Fef01qfnSQixjLm6f01uzmPi%2BfRIG%2FsZtFWxyFy","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The riveting New York Times bestseller about a young man who built more than 250 schools around the world—and the steps anyone can take to lead a successful and significant life.

Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling he met a young boy begging on the streets of India, who after being asked what he wanted most in the world, simply answered, “A pencil.” This small request led to a staggering series of events that took Braun backpacking through dozens of countries before eventually leaving a prestigious job to found Pencils of Promise, the organization he started with just $25 that has since built more than 250 schools around the world.

The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey to find his calling, as each chapter explains one clear step that every person can take to turn their biggest ambitions into reality. If you feel restless and ready for transition, if you are seeking direction and purpose, this critically acclaimed bestseller is for you. Driven by inspiring stories and shareable insights, this is the book that will give you the tools to make your own life a story worth telling.

*All proceeds from this book will support Pencils of Promise.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publication date

February 3, 2015
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.7 x 8.38 inches
ISBN-10

9781476730639
ISBN-13

978-1476730639
See all details

Frequently bought together

The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change

$10.52

Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 7

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits

$19.29

Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 7

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World

$14.89

Usually ships within 1 to 2 months

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Some of these items ship sooner than the others.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

Simon Sinek
36,278
Paperback
291 offers from $2.21
Chris Anderson
3,160
Paperback
106 offers from $1.97
Albert Bernstein
77
Paperback
52 offers from $1.50
Jim Ziolkowski
125
Paperback
53 offers from $1.25
Joshua Medcalf
4,549
Paperback
27 offers from $13.45
Malcolm Gladwell
8,583
Paperback
762 offers from $0.34

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For anyone with a big dream to transform the world, this book will show you how to get it done." -- Sir Richard Branson

“A compelling and singular story filled with universal truths everyone needs to hear.” -- United States Senator Cory Booker

"A remarkably inspiring story that shares the essential lessons to creating a life of meaning, passion and purpose." -- Deepak Chopra, Founder of The Chopra Foundation

“A vivid, heartfelt account of the power of education and the ability of one person to impact the world.” -- Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America and Co-Founder & CEO of Teach For All

“Braun takes you on a mesmerizing round-the-world adventure, while sharing the concrete steps necessary to turn your own ideas into reality. He has his finger on the pulse of what's next and when he speaks you should be listening.” -- Keith Ferrazzi, #1 NY Times bestselling author of Never Eat Alone and Who's Got Your Back

“A perfect step-by-step guide to building the life you've always wanted on your own terms. . . Start reading and don't put the book down until you're finished.” -- Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia and New York Times bestselling author of Jab, Jab, Jab Right Hook and Crush It!

"Braun's lessons are memorable, accessible, and powerful. This is a must-read, and a must-re-read, and a must-keep-in-view-on-bookshelf kind of book." -- Jessica Jackley, Co-Founder of Kiva

"[An] exuberant testimony to the power of idealism. . . Braun’s story forcefully presents the advantages of silencing the head andlistening to the heart." ― Publishers Weekly starred review and Book of the Week

"[Braun] skillfully weaves together his personal memoir and the professional challenges he faced... Informative and inspiring." ― Kirkus Reviews

“Braun combines his laid-back storytelling style with simple yet sage advice….The Promise of a Pencil is engaging, instructive and inspiring reading for anyone who wants to change his or her life, change the world, or simply feel better about humanity.” ― Success Magazine

"Braun shares his story of how he started Pencils of Promise, what he learned from Wall Street that has helped him...how he’s leveraged social networks to generate donations, and his best career advice." ― Forbes.com

"[A] page-turning debut." ― MTV Act

About the Author

Adam Braun is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning for-purpose organization that has built more than 200 schools across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and delivered over 30 million educational hours to children in poverty. PoP was founded with just $25 and has grown under Braun’s stewardship with his unique approach that blends nonprofit idealism with for-profit business principles. He has been a featured speaker at the White House, Clinton Global Initiative, and United Nations. All proceeds from The Promise of a Pencil will go to support Pencils of Promise.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1476730636
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Reprint edition (February 3, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781476730639
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476730639
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.38 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #167,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #54 in Philanthropy & Charity (Books)
- #90 in Nonprofit Organizations & Charities (Books)
- #179 in Social Activist Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.6 2,405 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Adam Braun

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Adam Braun is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning organization that began with just $25 and has since broken ground on 250 schools across the world. He also is the creator of the "For-Purpose" approach to business and philanthropy, which combines for-profit business acumen with the best of social sector idealism. Braun graduated from Brown University, began his career at Bain & Company, and has been a featured speaker at the White House, United Nations and Clinton Global Initiative.

"The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change" is his New York Times bestselling debut book, which shares his personal journey from high finance through more than 50 countries and explains the essential steps that every person must take to discover their own life of passion and purpose.

Richard Branson described, "For anyone looking to transform the world, this book will show you how to get it done."

You can find more information at www.adambraun.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

2,405 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amazon Customer

I also felt like you were sharing my own personal narrative

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2017

Verified Purchase

Dear Adam,

Man, I couldn't wait to share with you the uncontrollable excitement that had been generated from reading your book (which I completed in two sittings). I sat down, propped up against the pillows on my bed on the final evening entirely immersed in the emotional ebb and flow of this piece of literature that you've graciously shared with the world. I barely wanted to pause, it was too riveting and mind blowing! I ran to the kitchen for snacks in between some chapters and I even convinced myself that it was time to shower but that clearly did not happen until I ended at the acknowledgements!

Thank you for the journey- it evoked tears, laughter, thrill, hope, motivation and inspiration. As I 'travelled" with you throughout your vast and dynamic adventures, not only did I experience your passionate outlook on humanity and your innate desire to problem solve, I also felt like you were sharing my own personal narrative. In other words, whilst I haven't seen all of this world in the ways that you have, I have had dreams of doing so my entire life and your detailed portrayal of a life lived by completely assimilating yourself in the cultures that you walked into, demonstrated to me your love for people and your overall seriousness to engage and understand. It's through your anecdotes that I was able to understand your character- you seemingly embody cross cultural acceptance and I want to thank you for being fearless and setting examples for others to emulate. You see, although our world has evolved tremendously and is considered globalized and therefore more "unified" and interconnected, we continue to struggle with divisiveness that is still apparent in many areas including the non acceptance of different cultural/racial/ethnic groups. You go against this harsh reality by letting us know that through your social good/social impact (for purpose) approach, you and your team are able to unite so many of us across the world to work towards a common goal-making a difference through the transformation of lives. This Adam is beyond amazing to me.

As a growing Social Entrepreneur, I could relate to your sentiments. In fact, at this stage of my journey I saw the need to dig deeper into social entrepreneurship and so, I begun actively searching for books on Amazon to assist with gaining clarity and insight when I stumbled upon "The Promise of a Pencil" immediately after I ordered People over Profit by Dale Partridge. This was when I learnt about your organization. My enthusiasm and excitement roared because I knew I was being led along the right path. Backpacking across the globe, living minimally and sharing in the cultures of others, caring deeply (so deeply that your core vibrates with no end) for the people who need opportunity and hope, education and accessibility to it. These are passions that reverberate within me daily and I've had this inherent desire to contribute in the same way that you've described... That made this sojourn through your book even more fascinating and relatable.

I was moved and quite eager to share that you've inspired me thoroughly and I am more than happy that I chose to invest time to read about your journey throughout the world and the successes you amassed for social good. It makes me proud and even more confident of this path that I have undertaken to not only experience the world with purpose and passion, but to contribute to solving some of its problems. One day I will know, just like you did at the Philharmonic that 'everything is going to change.'

I feel it coming, I just don't know what it looks like. I do know, however, that the tireless work you are doing comes pretty close and I do know I want to spend the rest of my life making people happy by letting them know that there is so much more to hope for and achieve. We will continue to provide tools for growth; we will continue to encourage and inspire men, women, boys and girls to believe that they are allowed to dream and excel regardless of where and who they are.

Thank you for sharing your triumphs as well as your challenges and most of all, I appreciate the fact that you are inspired by your family. I am too. I am hardly me without them. In fact, when you dedicated your first school to your "Ma" and then eventually told her your story, her response sent tears rolling down my cheeks. Why? I could relate. My grandmother, affectionately called "Mama" was pulled out of school in Grade 3 to contribute to her household. Throughout the years she would describe quite emotionally, the effects of being denied access to educational opportunities. However, we would always remind her of the results of her dedication to hard work. She accumulated multiple successes in spite of not receiving formal education and her greatest achievement in my opinion, is the solid foundation she laid for all of the generations that followed. Nonetheless, I know it hurts her and therefore, if I were to erect a school some day, I believe she would be honoured if it were dedicated to her.

Thanks Adam. My experience with the book in such a short space of time can be easily considered.... life altering..
Continue to inspire and be inspired..

With every good wish.

Love from Jamaica,
Jheanell

One person found this helpful

Helpful

R. Young, Ed.D.

Braun's book subtly asks the question, “Is there something I can do to make a difference in our world?”

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

Of the many books about generating global change that I have read over the years, The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change by Adam Braun has just been added to the select few that have been game changers for me.

Braun’s story takes us through his childhood and young adulthood where he made dramatic and risky decisions that ultimately impacted his life as well as the lives of countless others. He is transparent and vulnerable with his audience, helping readers understand that both his family history and his choices shaped his life. One area he had no control over, the other he did. What makes his life ordinary for Americans is the fact that he grew up in the USA and was exposed to the same materialism and wealth that our society cultivates and deems as “living the dream” today. While it’s clear that not everyone in our country has the same access to the opportunities he was given, such as the advantage of a privileged education, the ability to travel around the globe, much less at a moment’s notice, or connections in the business sector and music industry, what Braun did with his access makes this an extraordinary story.

In the words of Jack Mayer, MD, author of Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project, “…none of us can do everything, but we can all do something”. (Mayer credits this as a paraphrase from the words of a Hebrew sage, Rabbi Tarfon, from 2,000 years ago, "It is not for you to complete the task, neither are you free to desist from it.") Failure to do anything perpetuates a culture of selfishness and insularity, and unjustly criticizing those who do make a difference in our world does nothing more than put a hole in the boat that we call mankind.

We have all at some time been presented with the opportunity to help someone whose needs are greater than our own. (Even people living in abject poverty in America have a better chance of helping others than the average person living in sub-Saharan Africa today. Ironically, those living in the worst situations have a greater tendency to try and help others than those who are more able to do so.) Braun chose to help others with the resources that were made available to him, spending his youth and his own assets to give the opportunity of education to children who might not otherwise have had the chance to be educated, an act which is both commendable and reproducible. His book doesn’t outline all of the failures and challenges he faced in this undertaking, nor does it address basic principles of organizational development or answer the myriad questions about sustainability and matriculation, but my sense is that the purpose of the story was less about creating a handbook for those trying to set up an NGO and more about encouraging people to do something to make a difference, no matter what station in life they find themselves. It proves that one person’s tenacity and passion is infectious and can translate into a vision worth pursuing. Perhaps a sequel will tackle the more practical aspects (i.e. perils and pitfalls) of providing an education in developing nations.

Braun’s efforts have affected hundreds if not thousands of young lives around the globe. By selflessly risking his future, he has given the hope of a future to scores of children everywhere. This includes those who have received an education in a PoP school as well as those who now understand the value of giving an education to someone who needs one. We can’t all do what he has done, but we can all DO SOMETHING to make our world a better place for the next generation. Giving the gift of an education is one way of doing just that. Braun's book subtly asks the question, “Is there something I can do to make a difference in our world?” The answer should be a resounding “YES!” from whoever reads this story.

To anyone wondering about the validity of “the power of the one” to make a difference in our world, this book shows that it can be done. Braun’s book and work are boundless. I give The Promise of a Pencil my highest recommendation.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Kindle Customer

Great book by a young social Entrepreneur

Reviewed in India on January 28, 2023

Verified Purchase

Loved every part of this book. Got to know the true purpose of our life. Thank you Adam for writing this book and sharing your experience.

One person found this helpful

Unnombremuycomun

BRUTAL

Reviewed in Spain on April 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

Una historia muy interesante, me ha encantado y enganchado desde el principio. Lo recomiendo 100% para darte un chute de energia.

Translate review to English

Thiago Cerutti

Great book

Reviewed in Brazil on December 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

Simply inspiring, shows how everybody can change the world somehow. Even small dreams, with action, can change someone's life. Great book.

Amazon Customer

Great read

Reviewed in Australia on October 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is a great read for anyone who loves to see first hand what a person following their passion combined with persistence and a never say quit attitude can achieve.

Brittany krystantos

Thank you Adam for speaking your truth!

Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2015

Verified Purchase

The promise of a pencil is written in such a beautiful way. Adam Braun has written it from his heart, every word in this book is coming from his intention: to change the world.

The book teaches teens who doubt: "Am I 'actually' able to change the world?" Yes, they're more than capable of doing exactly that because all it takes to live up that promise is giving a smile to a stranger. And living with your heart.

Adam lives with integrity, and that is shown in his writing. He lives with compassion, and that is shown in his everyday action, "how can I better the world?" Is something he asks himself daily.

This book is a must read for anybody seeking inspiration and guidance. READ IT! It changed my life. It left me thinking, "now how can I do the same thing, change the world, live up to my purpose", being someone who knows at such a young age that is my life's mission too.

It may give you the insight or answers you've seeking for a while. Enjoy it!

-Britt Krystantos

See more reviews