Giving by Bill Clinton (2007, Unabridged, Compact Disc)

After watching Mr Clinton on The Oprah show I purchased his book off Ebay - I never was a real fan of the formal president but after reading this book and listening to him on the Oprah show I am now a huge fan. This book has opened my eyes.

Bill Clinton's new book, Giving, is a who's who of organizations and individuals that have crossed paths with him in the world of philanthropy and volunteerism. Readers are given a privileged seat at the table of the annual Clinton Global Initiative, where private-sector leaders make pledges of noble and often highly innovative undertakings.

As Clinton rightly reminds us, what these individuals are doing is important and at times world-changing. Giving will be a useful guide, and an inspiration, to the many people around the world who are stepping forward as volunteers of time, money, and creativity to a burgeoning range of good causes.
We wince, for example, at Clinton's description of the "historic Israeli-Palestinian peace accord" of September 1993 and the many good works in its wake.

Since the accord actually collapsed, what are the lessons? We are not told. We wince again at Clinton's praise for the outpouring of volunteer efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, since we also know that New Orleans has not, in fact, been rebuilt.

The problem is that the great policy-wonk President has gone private. Government is a side note, mentioned in passing in the penultimate chapter.

Clinton does not explain that the efforts of individuals and nongovernmental organizations are world-changing when they point to new strategies, approaches, and technologies that can then be taken to scale through government support and partnership. That is the model Clinton himself has effectively used, for example, in expanding access to AIDS medicines.

Consider one of his (and my) favorite people, Dr. Paul Farmer. This remarkable individual helped change the world by showing that HIV-infected individuals in impoverished settings can be treated effectively with hightech anti-retroviral medicines.

I bought it because I want to give more. I have the book, but haven't had time to read it so I thought it would be more convenient to listen to it on audio. I contribute to the Clinton Foundation and admire the work the former president is doing with it.