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| A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty | 
 enlarge | Authors: Philip Smith, Eric Thurman
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $8.98
You Save: $15.97 (64%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $4.11
Avg. Customer Rating:  (15 reviews)
Sales Rank: 52633
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 0071489975
Dewey Decimal Number: 338.91
EAN: 9780071489973
ASIN: 0071489975
Publication Date: February 7, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A bold manifesto by two business leaders, A Billion Bootstraps shows why microcredit is the world's most powerful poverty-fighting movement-and an unbeatable investment for your charitable donations. A Billion Bootstraps unearths the roots of the microcredit revolution, revealing how the pioneering work of people such as Dr. Muhammad Yunus-winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize-is giving hope to billions. Philanthropist and self-made millionaire Phil Smith and microcredit expert and consultant Eric Thurman provide a riveting narrative that explores how these small loans, arranged by ?barefoot bankers,? enable impoverished people to start small businesses, support their families, and improve local economies. By paying back their loans instead of simply accepting handouts, men and women around the world are continually giving others the same opportunity to change their futures. Smith and Thurman also examine why traditional charity programs, while providing short-term relief, often perpetuate the problems they are trying to alleviate, and how applying investment principles to philanthropy is the key to reversing poverty permanently. A Billion Bootstraps explains how ordinary people can accelerate the microcredit movement by investing charitable donations in specific programs and then leveraging those contributions so the net cost to lift one person out of poverty is remarkably low. You'll discover how to get more for your money by donating with the mind-set of an investor and calculating measurable returns-returns that will change lives and societies forever.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 The Best Book Ever Written About Solving Poverty Through Microcredit August 1, 2008
"A Billion Bootstraps" is a beautifully written and informationally rich guide for donors to what is perhaps the most effective method of poverty reduction and wealth creation in the developing world -- microcredit. Tiny empowerment loans are granted to underemployed men and women so they can launch their own small businesses - and lift themselves and their families out of chronic poverty, into self-sufficiency...forever.
The authors, one, Phil Smith, a rags-to-riches oil entrepreneur, and the other, Eric Thurman, a world renowned microcredit expert, have rendered great service to those who wish to make a true difference in the alleviation of poverty in this world of ours.
- Mike Schwager
Founder, Editor-in-Chief
Enrichment.com (www.enrichment.com)
 Practical solution for dealing with poverty May 12, 2008
Bought this book on the recommendation of someone. It is an excellent read. Very well written and not heavy at all. It is not a manual on how to do micro-credit. It is rather and "advert" for it.
Worth buying
A Fresh Look at Effective Generosity April 11, 2008
The authors of "A Billion Bootstraps" have captured the essence of generosity in this fresh, challenging look at personal giving. Too often we give to feel good about ourselves. Smith & Thurman encourage us to look beyond our own self-fulfillment and find ways to have real-life, effective impact on our world. I am inspired to give, but to do so strategically...with an eye for meeting real-world needs, empowering those with fewer resources available and through a sustainable methodology.
Read this book, be inspired and use what you've been blessed with to bless others.
Good introduction to microfinance. February 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book provides a good introduction to Microfinance. The authors are genuinely enthusiastic about microfinance and want to spread their excitement to others through this book. Though I am familiar with non-profits, I learned that through microfinance, the same money can serve multiple people in say a 10 year period (as one six-month loan gets repaid, it is plowed into a new loan, and the cycle goes on. So your donation of say $[...] can be loaned to 24 people in a 10-year term).
After reading this book, most people (that includes me) will likely consider providing Micro loans instead of donating cash as one-time donations. I have found that through [...] (ebay's philanthropic arm I think), one can provide the loan as well as get a 3% return on the invested amount.
My only gripe (hardly so) is the book a bit too basic for my liking and contains too many stories.
 A nice gift for wealthy philanthropists November 23, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The authors' main reason for writing the book seems that they want to convince their fellow millionaires stop donating and start investing their money in MF funds. They give a convincing explanation why MF has a much bigger "impact on investment" compared to donations and they help you with selecting efficient MF programs.
However, although the authors discuss the history and principles of MF too, much more interesting books can be found for those who are interested in how MF works in practice and how to set up a MF institution.
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