What do you think?
Rate this book
The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World: How to Turn Your Good Intentions into Actions that Make a Difference
From the world?s largest nonprofit networking website?a resource that gives readers the tools they need to make a difference.
Part career guide, part activist?s handbook, The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World provides tools and inspiration for anyone who wants to make a difference but doesn?t know where to start. Inspired by Idealist.org?s 600,000-member online community and their ongoing search for work that gives back to the world, this practical reference walks readers through the different ways they can get involved and the range of possibilities for applying one?s interests and skills to meet their community?s needs.
Idealist.org?s staff gives a comprehensive understanding of the issues, options, organizations, and resources so readers can be proactive, whether it?s through one?s current job, volunteering, donating, personal spending, board service, starting an organization, or changing careers.
Part career guide, part activist?s handbook, The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World provides tools and inspiration for anyone who wants to make a difference but doesn?t know where to start. Inspired by Idealist.org?s 600,000-member online community and their ongoing search for work that gives back to the world, this practical reference walks readers through the different ways they can get involved and the range of possibilities for applying one?s interests and skills to meet their community?s needs.
Idealist.org?s staff gives a comprehensive understanding of the issues, options, organizations, and resources so readers can be proactive, whether it?s through one?s current job, volunteering, donating, personal spending, board service, starting an organization, or changing careers.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2009
9 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 19, 2012
I'm writing this review late, but better late than never. :D
Anyway, let me just say that I got this book at the dollar store, but I would have gladly paid more for it because it is useful and encouraging. I'm a believer in life being more than just for yourself. I believe that everyone should engage in community service of some sort because there is a lot of work to be done in this planet. Though globalization is supposed to help out many and it has made progress in a lot of aspects, I also believe that it has become damaging as well. Not believe I know actually, from things that I've read and learned. Think about these two things for example. 20% of the world consumes 86% of all goods and services, while the poorest consume 14%. The cattle that are raised specifically to be used for consumption, consume more than one third of the world's grain.
Isn't that insane? There is a lot of poverty and inequality in this world. A lot of the progress made is measured in economical terms and though a lot of money is being made, it doesn't mean it is being spread throughout equally. It's sometimes hard to remember, but for those of us living in the U.S, our lifestyle is not a common one. We are the minority in the world. Even for those of us who don't have that much money, we are most likely still better off than a lot of people in the world. Therefore, I believe, because we are better off, we should be helping people more. Our world is a mess and though things will never be perfect I think at least something can be done. And I think the best way to begin is to start small, like volunteering around your community, then expanding and seeing if you can volunteer in other countries. The book doesn't tell you, you should take this path, this is just my own personal vision.
What is great about this book that not only does it give you suggestions at the different types of community service that can be done, but it gives you different options. Like it mentions how some people may not want to do hands on volunteer work, like working at a soup kitchen, but this does not mean that they aren't valuable. This book places equal importance in those who, for example, are board members or people who make fliers for organization or people who donate money. This book lets you know that anyone can find something to do for any organization, you just have to look. And any help you give is going to most likely be useful.
What I also liked was that it was realistic on people's expectations and what actually happens. For example, some people like working with teenagers and they want to be a hero to them. This doesn't really happen that much and some people might not even say thank you for your help. The book let's you know that and advises you to help younger kids instead because they are more prone to seeing you as a "hero." It was also realistic in the sense that it acknowledged that some people do volunteer work to enhance their resumes or other things like that. And that's perfectly ok. After all, everyone needs to do things for themselves as well. And anyway, you are still helping. Work is still being done.
I really enjoyed this book and even though I've been doing volunteer work for some time now I learned new things. I recommend this book to everyone because like I said I'm a believer in everyone helping out.
Anyway, let me just say that I got this book at the dollar store, but I would have gladly paid more for it because it is useful and encouraging. I'm a believer in life being more than just for yourself. I believe that everyone should engage in community service of some sort because there is a lot of work to be done in this planet. Though globalization is supposed to help out many and it has made progress in a lot of aspects, I also believe that it has become damaging as well. Not believe I know actually, from things that I've read and learned. Think about these two things for example. 20% of the world consumes 86% of all goods and services, while the poorest consume 14%. The cattle that are raised specifically to be used for consumption, consume more than one third of the world's grain.
Isn't that insane? There is a lot of poverty and inequality in this world. A lot of the progress made is measured in economical terms and though a lot of money is being made, it doesn't mean it is being spread throughout equally. It's sometimes hard to remember, but for those of us living in the U.S, our lifestyle is not a common one. We are the minority in the world. Even for those of us who don't have that much money, we are most likely still better off than a lot of people in the world. Therefore, I believe, because we are better off, we should be helping people more. Our world is a mess and though things will never be perfect I think at least something can be done. And I think the best way to begin is to start small, like volunteering around your community, then expanding and seeing if you can volunteer in other countries. The book doesn't tell you, you should take this path, this is just my own personal vision.
What is great about this book that not only does it give you suggestions at the different types of community service that can be done, but it gives you different options. Like it mentions how some people may not want to do hands on volunteer work, like working at a soup kitchen, but this does not mean that they aren't valuable. This book places equal importance in those who, for example, are board members or people who make fliers for organization or people who donate money. This book lets you know that anyone can find something to do for any organization, you just have to look. And any help you give is going to most likely be useful.
What I also liked was that it was realistic on people's expectations and what actually happens. For example, some people like working with teenagers and they want to be a hero to them. This doesn't really happen that much and some people might not even say thank you for your help. The book let's you know that and advises you to help younger kids instead because they are more prone to seeing you as a "hero." It was also realistic in the sense that it acknowledged that some people do volunteer work to enhance their resumes or other things like that. And that's perfectly ok. After all, everyone needs to do things for themselves as well. And anyway, you are still helping. Work is still being done.
I really enjoyed this book and even though I've been doing volunteer work for some time now I learned new things. I recommend this book to everyone because like I said I'm a believer in everyone helping out.
December 31, 2017
Gagh, has there ever been a book that I so appreciated the content and yet had such a difficult time sticking to reading? ...I'm pretty sure the answer would be yes, if I took a moment to think about it, but the sentence pretty much sums up my feelings about this book in a nutshell. I thought the content of this book was really helpful and inspiring. If it weren't pretty out of date, I probably wouldn't have too many complaints about its contents (and even out of date, it's still serviceable as a starting point). But it took me months to bring myself to finish it! And I can't figure out why. If it wasn't that great at getting me to finish in a timely fashion, then I probably need to dock it a star or two even if I'm not sure why that was.
In the meantime, I still think it's a really good starting point for people looking for ways to get involved. I guess I just hope they either have more sticktoitiveness than me or are able to get what they need without reading the whole book.
In the meantime, I still think it's a really good starting point for people looking for ways to get involved. I guess I just hope they either have more sticktoitiveness than me or are able to get what they need without reading the whole book.
November 13, 2010
This book gave me a case of the warm fuzzies. Basically, it takes the "saint" complex out of volunteering. Everyone can volunteer for whatever reason they want. Want something that will look good on your resume? Looking to impress a hot girl? Just want the free donuts they're handing out? It's all good. Really. Just ask yourself the right questions to find the organization that will best fit you and your goals.
Favorite Quote:
Causes can often become trendy. In the 1960s it was Vietnam. In the 1980s it was AIDS. In this first decade of the millennium it would seem that environmentalism is the hot topic of the day.
Favorite Quote:
Causes can often become trendy. In the 1960s it was Vietnam. In the 1980s it was AIDS. In this first decade of the millennium it would seem that environmentalism is the hot topic of the day.
January 6, 2009
Very thoughtful and thorough guide to making a difference in various ways: volunteering, giving money, corporate social responsibility, etc. I've been working in nonprofits for years and learned tons of new things about the sector from this book!
September 8, 2010
Not a bad read but given the current financial crisis of Idealist.org I am not convinced into the overall applicability of the ideas proposed. Still, it's a make-you-feel-good read all through.
Read
June 25, 20123.5 stars
January 19, 2016
Though I never actually finished the book (darn you, grad school), it's an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the nonprofit sector. Highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews