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Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting team, husband and wife Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, take us on a journey through Africa and Asia to meet an extraordinary array of exceptional women struggling against terrible circumstances. More girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they are girls, than men were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century combined. More girls are killed in this routine 'gendercide' in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the twentieth century.
In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth, it was totalitarianism. In the twenty-first, Kristof and WuDunn demonstrate, it will be the struggle for gender equality in the developing world. Fierce, moral, pragmatic, full of amazing stories of courage and inspiration, HALF THE SKY is essential reading for every global citizen.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVirago
- Publication date5 August 2010
- File size2063 KB
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Review
"Opens our eyes to an enormous humanitarian issue."
-Washington Post 10 Best Books of the Year
"Vitally important . . . Heartbreaking, galvanizing, and unforgettable."
-Publishers Weekly Top 100 Books of 2009
"This book isn't a sermon . . . These stories are electrifying and have the effect of breaking down this enormous problem into segments the reader can focus on. Suddenly, these horrendous problems begin to seem solvable . . . Again, this book is not a sermon about victims. Its range is wide, and sometimes it's even funny . . . Half the Sky is a call to arms, a call for help, a call for contributions, but also a call for volunteers. It asks us to open our eyes to this enormous humanitarian issue. It does so with exquisitely crafted prose and sensationally interesting material . . . I really do think this is one of the most important books I have ever reviewed."
-Carolyn See, The Washington Post
"Passionate yet practical . . . [Half the Sky] is both stirring and sensible . . . This wonderful book combines a denunciation of horrible abuses with clear-eyed hope and some compelling practical strategies. The courageous women described here, and millions more like them, deserve nothing less."
-Martha Nussbaum, The New York Times
"Half the Sky is a story of empowerment . . . This book takes a sad song and makes it better, so to speak."
-Yoko Ono, O: Oprah Magazine
"Women facing poverty, oppression, and violence are usually viewed as victims. Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's Half the Sky shows that unimaginable challenges are often met with breathtaking bravery. These stories show us the power and resilience of women who would have every reason to give up but never do. They will be an inspiration for anyone who reads this book, and a model for those fighting for justice around the world. You will not want to put this book down."
-Angelina Jolie
"I read Half the Sky in one sitting, staying up until 3 a.m. to do so. It is brilliant and inspirational, and I want to shout about it from the rooftops and mountains. It vividly illustrates how women have turned despair into prosperity and bravely nurtured hope to cultivate a bright future. The book ends with an especially compelling 'What you can do' to exhort us all to action."
-Greg Mortenson, author, Three Cups of Tea
"If you have always wondered whether you can change the world, read this book. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have written a brilliant call to arms that describes one of the transcendent injustices in the world today--the brutal treatment of women. They take you to many countries, introduce you to extraordinary women, and tell you their moving tales. Throughout, the tone is practical not preachy and the book's suggestions as to how you can make a difference are simple, sensible, and yet powerful. The authors vividly describe a terrible reality about the world we live in but they also provide light and hope that we can, in fact, change it."
-Fareed Zakaria, author, The Post-American World
"I think it's impossible to stand by and do nothing after reading Half the Sky. It does what we need most, it bears witness to the sheer cruelty that mankind can do to mankind."
-George Clooney
"It's impossible to exaggerate the importance of this book about one of the most serious problems of our time: the worldwide abuse and exploitation of women. In addition to describing the injustices, Kristof and WuDunn show how concerned individuals everywhere are working effectively to empower women and help them overcome adversity. Wonderfully written and vividly descriptive, Half the Sky can and should galvanize support for reform on all levels. Inspiring as it is shocking, this book demands to be read."
-Anne Rice
"Half the Sky is a passionate and persuasive plea to all of us to rise up and say 'No more!' to the 17th-century abuses to girls and women in the 21st-century world. This is a book that will pierce your heart and arouse your conscience. It is a powerful piece of journalism by two masters of the craft who are tireless in their pursuit of one of the most shameful conditions of our time."
-Tom Brokaw
"The stories that Kristof and WuDunn share are as powerful as they are heartbreaking. Their insight into gender issues and the role of women in development inspires hope, optimism, and most importantly, the will to change. Both a brutal awakening and an unmistakable call to action, this book should be read by all."
-Melinda Gates
"An unblinking look at one of the seminal moral challenges of our time. This stirring book is at once a savage indictment of gender inequality in the developing world and an inspiring testament to these women's courage, resilience, and their struggle for hope and recovery. An unexpectedly uplifting read."
-Khaled Hosseini, author, The Kite Runner
"While we rightly roared at racial apartheid, we act as though gender apartheid is a natural, immutable fact. With absolutely the right Molotov cocktail of on-the-ground reporting and hard social science, Kristof and WuDunn blow up this taboo . . . A thrilling manifesto for advancing freedom for hundreds of millions of human beings."
-Johann Hari, Slate.com
"The most important book of the year . . . Half the Sky is the kind of book that could change the course of history."
-William Petrocelli, The Huffington Post
"How many books make a significant difference in matters that concern everyone who lives on earth? Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have certainly written such a book. Half the Sky is the most important book that I have read since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, published in 1962 . . . Half the Sky is a groundbreaking, eye-opening book, stunning in every sense."
-Charles R. Larson, CounterPunch
"Urgent . . . Passionate . . . Compelling . . . Half the Sky is a grab-the-reader-by-the-lapels wake-up call."
-Bill Williams, The Boston Globe
"Superb . . . As Rachel Carson's Silent Spring once catalyzed us to save our birds and better steward our earth, Half the Sky stands to become a classic, spurring us to spare impoverished women these terrors, and elevate them to turn around the future of their nations."
-Susan Ager, Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Stunning . . . [Half the Sky] belongs on the 'must-read' list because it offers perspective, insight, and clear-eyed optimism for why and how each of us can and should meet one of the great moral and humanitarian challenges of our times."
-Bill Gates, Sr., The Huffington Post
From the Publisher
Book Description
From the Back Cover
A Cambodian teenager is sold into sex slavery; a formerly illiterate woman becomes a surgeon in Addis Ababa. An Ethiopian woman is left for dead after a difficult birth; a gang rape victim galvanizes the international community and creates schools in Pakistan. An Afghan wife is beaten by her husband and mother-in-law; a former Peace Corps volunteer founds an organization that educates and campaigns for womens rights in Senegal.
Through their powerful true stories, the authors show that the key to progress lies in unleashing womens potential, that change is possible, and that each of us can play a role in making it happen. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
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- ASIN : B004GGUGEE
- Publisher : Virago (5 August 2010)
- Language : English
- File size : 2063 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 353 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 162,762 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
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About the authors
Nicholas D. Kristof is a New York Times op-ed columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. With his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, he has written four best-selling books, including the No. 1 New York Times best-seller "Half the Sky." Kristof and WuDunn were the first married couple to win a Pulitzer for journalism, for their coverage of the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in China and the massacre that followed. Kristof later won a second for his columns from Darfur. Kristof and WuDunn live in the New York area with their three children.
Kristof is active on social media, particularly Facebook (www.facebook.com/kristof) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nickkristof). He was the first blogger on the New York Times website and the first to make a video for the site; he now has more Twitter followers than any other print journalist.
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of China as New York Times correspondents. Mr Kristof won a second Pulitzer for his op-ed columns. They live in the New York area with their three children.
Photo by Marty555 (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
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The authors of this book have clearly done a LOT of research, as well as physically travelling to most of the places mentioned in this book, which would no doubt have been confronting at times. I had always had a feeling that some of the high-profile Aid agencies were not necessarily going about helping people in the third world in the most efficient way possible, but reading this book was a complete eye-opener! So many brave, brave women in countries where culture and a lack of funds (and a host of other things) held them back, but they were pioneers who helped others along the way. I would love to shake each and every one of their hands. If I was younger, I would go and volunteer somewhere too.
This was an incredible book, and a must-read for everyone, I think. Since it has been 10 years now since the book first came out, I think a follow-up book would be fabulous, let us know what has happened to some of the people in this book, in the intervening years. Also, would love to know how some of the businesses which were just getting off the ground in the book, are doing today.
I give this book 5 stars because if everyone in the first world read it and applied some of their time, energy and funds to the women of the third world, the world as a whole would be a much nicer place, for everyone.
Thank you to Taryn Brumfitt (from Embrace), who mentioned this book as a "must read". She was right!
Top reviews from other countries
Reform and human rights:
Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali (4.5 stars)
Heretic - Ayaann Hirsi Ali (4 stars)
Headscarves and Hymens - Mona Eltahawy (4 stars)
I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai (5 stars)
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali (4.5 stars)
In the Land of Invisible Women - Qanta Ahmed (4.5 stars)
Between Two Worlds - Zainab Salbi (5 stars).
City of Lies - Ramita Navai (3 stars)
Half the Sky - Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (4 stars)
Seeking Allah Finding Jesus - Nabeel Qureshi (4.5 stars)
Nick Kristof has long been deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize for his columns highlighting human rights abuses around the world and for helping those who are trying to make a difference. Women's rights, in particular, has been a central focus of Kristof's columns and this book gives details much further than he can in the NY Times. Much of it is difficult to read for its details in abuse of women but it contains enough hopeful stories of empowerment and change to keep a positive tone. From this book, I learned about Zainab Salbi's charity Women for Women, which helps survivors of rape in war. I later read Salbi's autobiography, which is excellent.
"The paramount challenge of the 21st century is women's rights in the developing world." Kristof and WuDunn travel the world highlighting challenges in various countries, including those purely of culture and religion. "Empowering girls disempowers terrorists." In Islamic countries, even the Pentagon has funded studies and programs looking at the effectiveness of empowering women in curbing violence. Education and civil rights are more effective than force. Studies have even found that access to Western soap operas showing rich and influential women affect villages that now have access to some television and satellites. (Qanta Ahmed makes this comment about Saudi Arabia in her book.)
The author who wrote the famous piece "In Praise of Sweatshops" continues his arguments of economic development in this work "Women working in sweatshops are better than women not working at all." In the realm of economic development, he praises Jeff Sachs but also concedes some of Sachs' nemesis Bill Easterly's criticisms. Kristof gives credit where it's due. He praises Bono, as well as the rather controversial Greg Mortenson, whose schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan Kristof has visited. Women who are educated only a little are far better off than those who have no access at all. Despite other policy disagreements, President George W. Bush had a good record on cracking down on human trafficking and funding AIDS help, particularly for Africa.
There is much that is difficult to read in this book. You hear the details of a Cambodian girl brutally forced into prostitution. You read of border guards indifferent about watching exploited girls being trafficked but cracking down on pirated DVDs, militarized rape, bullying, and the lack of health care access in many countries. About the one million children forced into slavery, possibly three million women and children as sex slaves, and at the possible 20 million slaves in the world. Kristof and WuDunn offer portraits of women shattered and abused, but also of women becoming stronger, and women helping women. He highlights the women heroes. Anyone reading this book will want to spring into action, and the authors have answers for them. How can an American help?
- Be realistic about the pace of change.
- Focus on rural schools for women.
- Expose yourself and your children to foreign countries and cultures.
Kristof no longer supports legalization and regulation of prostitution as a solution, seeing too much exploitation by powerful forces. He tells stories of those rescued from their lives, only to return due to psychological issues or a lack of economic alternatives. If you close a brothel, you have to provide jobs for the women to empower themselves and live. There has to be a moral component, communities have to reach a "tipping point" of deciding "enough is enough," and Kristof gives some examples. In some cases, it is when one woman takes a public stand at great risk, and others follow, especially men.
The lack of reproductive health available in places like Sub-Saharan Africa is sobering. Niger reportedly has only 10 OBGYNs in the entire country. Fistula is a common problem. 95% of women in the Sudan are circumcised, a horrifying practice detailed by people like Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Kristof and WuDunn are quick to limit their criticisms of Islam on this point, and note it has more to do with cultural Islam than Islam universally; this is the debate in several of the books in the list at the top of this post. In the US, Kristof is critical of abortion policies that affect the criticially poor in inner-city America that are predominately minorities.
While skeptical of Christian legislation against abortion, Kristof has praise for missionaries; he admires their compassion and desire to live long-term in a country learning language and customs. While many Christians (including myself) bemoan the spread of the Pentecostal-inspired "prosperity gospel" in poor countries, Kristof notes that Pentecostalism in Africa has had the effect of empowering women, allowing them to become powerful leaders in their churches and raising their esteem in the community.
In all, I give this book 4 stars out of 5. It is a must-read if you are interested in women's rights and economic development around the world. I will hopefully enjoy the book's sequel soon.
I would encourage anyone with the emotional fortitude to grapple with the horror in this book to read it. The authors accomplish their goals, risking their lives, at times, to do it. They are well-deserving of the accolades this book received.
As much as I appreciated this book, it's not without it's flaws. These flaws are small compared to the wonderful mission of this book, but, here they are, nonetheless:
1) The authors struck me as reliable sources, and I found myself mostly on board with their diagnoses and prescriptions. That being said, however, several times while reading this book I was reminded of the importance of thinking critically about arguments before jumping on board, seeking alternate opinions when possible. For example, their glowing endorsement of Greg Mortenson (this book was published before Krakauer's scathing exposé of Mortenson and his "philanthropic" work) was a good reminder that humanitarian workers, however noble their work may be, are still human and not necessarily free of ulterior motives--and that includes the authors, as well. Another example that concerned me is the authors' complete faith in microfinancing endeavors as a means to transform poor, stagnant nations. Intrigued by the concept of microfinancing, I listened to an interview with an economist from Duke university who argued that there is currently no evidence whatsoever that microfinancing can transform communities, let alone nations. In his view, microfinancing functions much more like a lottery; it might just transform one lucky person's life, but that's it. In my mind, it's probably still worth pursing, even if that's the case, but prospective donors ought to hear both sides of the argument.
2) I found the authors' discussion of religion to be very problematic. I wished they would have just left the topic alone, since it was clear - to me, anyways - that they lacked the knowledge tackle this issue fairly. I could have predicted their indictment of the Bible as a misogynist book that advocates the stoning of young girls and the oppression of women. Honestly, I don't expect Kristoff and WuDunn to understand the truths that Christians from different times and places have affirmed for centuries: about Christ abolishing the old covenant and fulfilling the new (which is why it's nonsensical to say that the Bible "advocates" the stoning of unfaithful women) and about Paul's progressive admonition that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28) and about the radical biblical reality that both men and women are God's image-bearers, and, as such, are worthy of dignity, respect and protection. Had they known that, I would have been genuinely surprised, so that's not really what bothered me. What annoyed me was their inconsistent and unbalanced treatment of the religions. They take texts from the Bible at face value without any consideration of context or sound hermeneutics, while relying on the interpretations of a very narrow segment of Muslim scholars - namely progressive, feminist types - to speak solely for the Qur'an. Frankly, I don't have any knowledge or preconceived notions about the Qur'an. I'm sure it does contain many passages that can be argued as defending and honoring women. At many points in the book, the authors go out of their way to cast aspersion on the Christian faith: 1) they cite one example of a Christian Pakistani woman whose male relatives were apparently debating whether to kill or beat her for some minor infraction - who knows if they were Christians; I don't think it's mentioned. 2) They make an offhand claim that there are some professing Christians out there who practice female genital mutilation (it's not believed to have ever been a widespread problem in Christian communities, and they know it). Yet, an ENTIRE chapter of the book is dedicated to defending Islam, even though, according to the authors, a hearty majority of the suffering women profiled from the book are from Muslim communities. From my vantage point, their analysis is often disingenuous, presumably motivated by political correctness and just hard to take seriously. And the topic of religion is not even germane to the book's primary burden, so just leave it alone, guys!
As much as Kristof and WuDunn's discussion of religion irked me, I refuse to let it overshadow the powerful message of this book: that millions of women are persecuted today, just for being women. That's a burden that everyone ought to bear and address, regardless of religion, politics or culture, and the authors agree that that is the case. For that, I applaud them.
I "read"--listened to this book in the unabridged audio version is 10.5 hrs on 8 CDs, very well read by Cassandra Compbell, by HighBridgeaudio.com
This book was an easy read, although the topic is not normally one I would choose. It was enthralling--hopeful and uplifting and often stories are told first-hand through the eyes of those women rather than the world. I listened to it end to end--during my commute. It's well-written and well-told. You will not put this down. It might even compel you to action-- knowing that even a tiny action can help change the world one human being at a time.
What the book's about:
The Problem:
How can a country and culture or the world thrive, when half its resources go untapped? When half of our world is debased and marginalized, and not permitted to actively participate in society, the world is a poorer place. We are talking about the female in society within less developed parts of the world.
Mass and gang rapes (including as a war tactic), kidnapping, sex trafficking & brothels, the cult of virginity and the hymen, sexual honor in the mid-east, honor killing, and genital mutilation and cutting---take place daily against our female sisters globally. Like slavery, females are devalued as human beings in many cultures and countries.
Women hold just 1% of land that is titled, according to the United Nations. They have no opportunity to contribute to society in a meaningful way. This book tells us that when half the people of the world are allowed to contribute, the difference is markedly positive for a country's GDP and its people.
These countries that devalue women include Pakistan, China, India, Liberia, Africa, Eastern Europe and SE Asia.
Change Makers
Empowerment and education are the steps to preventing these behaviors, and family planning and birth control, including education to reduce family size. The availability and funding of condoms to prevent AIDS in poor countries.
Grassroots social movements are far more effective than laws and large aid $$$ that don't reach the poor. Societal issues against women are a cultural norm, and that does not change even with the laws say otherwise. Education helps change oppressive culture.
The U.S. sometimes is seen as sitting in moral judgment when there might be better actions to help stem this tide.
Capitalism achieves more than what charity and good intentions sometimes cannot: Micro credit loans are a revolution, in helping people help themselves. This book shares online sites where you can lookup and participate in this micro lending right down to the country, town and woman.
Double Standards in Society
There is a double standard regarding sexism and misogyny for female vs. male population
Women are lured by false promises of jobs, that turn out to be rape-run brothels.
In addition to the act of rape itself, there is a social stigma attached to rape and the victim often is cast out by her family and village. Rape victims are punished not the perpetrators and often women are forced to marry their attackers (and no one else will have them).
There is no protection from police, courts, or the public.
There is a high rate of female infanticide. Just by being female, fetuses are often aborted, babies allowed to die, or through-out their lives, receive less (or no) medical care vs. males.
Women also grow up to be the perpetrators of these same crimes against other women.
Women who are damaged physically by rape or childbirth or disease are abandoned as modern-day lepers, especially females in poor rural areas. High rates of death occur among these same women during child birth. Health care is poor overall, and women receive the lowest (or no) priority.
Some countries have young females paired up with old "Sugar Daddies" -with a trade off of material goods for sex. Middle aged men take teenagers as baubles in exchange for money and gifts. These older men are more likely to have AIDS and pass it on.
There is a shortage of doctors, supplies and facilities in many countries. Conservative religious attitudes related to culture are repressive to women. Sexual abuse, arranged marriage, and virginity testing are all practices that contribute to the problem
Bottom Line:
This book outlines the problem, and some solutions that have shown success, and how we can get involved at any level. Go to the end for explicit referrals where you can source for where and how you can help--on any level.
Kristof epitomises the proverbial "good guy" in the egocentric world of journalism and this shines through especially in his books -- all of which are co-authored with his wife Sheryl WuDunn, an eminent writer in her own right. In their latest book, Kristof and WuDunn tackle the intractable problem of promoting women's rights worldwide, against a resistant tide of cultural exceptionalism. The title of the book comes from an old Chinese proverb that states "women hold up half the sky".
struck me most about the book was that Kristof and WuDunn are brave enough to challenge "political correctness" and in a separate chapter ask the question about whether religion is misogynistic. They acknowledge the acerbic statistic that "countries where girls are cut, killed for honour, or kept out of school or the workplace typically have large Muslim populations." Furthermore, they substantiate their findings with data. For example, in Egypt only 25% of the population believes that a woman should have a right to become president. And yet, we are left with the bewildering paradox that several Muslim countries have indeed had women leaders, including Pakistan. Class differentiation could be the easy explanation but there is something else going on as well to indicate that Muslim societies may be more flexible in terms of gender roles than may be otherwise assumed. However, the problem of gender discrimination in Muslim lands, including Pakistan is real and musts be addressed as Kristof and WuDunn correctly urge us to do. The book also acknowledges that that there are many human rights activists and women's development organisations in Muslim countries who are championing the rights of women through legislative activism and personal action despite enormous threats to their lives.
Despite the despair that permeates so many of the stories of the book, the tone of the narrative is also hopeful. In each case, the authors try to transform the victim through tales of personal valour and sacrifice. The book also ends on a note of advocacy, exhorting readers to get engaged in a global movement to end the abuse of women just as the world united to end slavery at all levels across all societies. The authors also provide a list of four steps which we can take to get involved with various NGOs that are working towards the goal of equal rights for women worldwide.
Half the Sky will be a difficult book for many Muslims to read because it turns a mirror on some of the most detestable practices in ostensibly Islamic societies. Many readers will have a knee-jerk reaction of negative nationalism or religious protectionism and try to dismiss these cases as exceptions. However, as Muslim countries like Pakistan finally confront the Taliban, let us not forget that the most pernicious aspects of their regime which brought discomfort to even some of the more conservative aspects of society was their total disregard for the rights of women. Even if we discount any of the other motivations for the confrontation in Waziristan and Swat, the mere fact that hundreds of girls schools were destroyed by the fanatics should make us consider what we are up against. No society can flourish with the demoralisation and marginalisation of half of its population by using ossified cultural excuses. To quote an epigraph from Mark Twain that Kristof and WuDunn mention: "What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce!"
I think this has to be the most important book - not just for women's rights globally but for human rights - published in my memory.
Kristof and WuDunn weave together a most compelling story of how culture and customs historically suppress women. They tackle many tough, taboo topics - for example honor killing. But more importantly, they champion the stories of heroic women worldwide wholly committed to changing the many evils of the status quo.
What is more, they posit a kind of general framework theory that the really important advances in human rights that are going to be made in the near future are going to be brought about by these entrepreneurial pioneering women. In essence, that the backbone of the human rights movement and of real change across all societies is going to be a direct function of brave women who give themselves permission to say "NO" to thousands of years of (to most Westerners) unimaginable oppressive cultural customs and who take it upon themselves to lead to a new way. Once you have read the book, it is very hard, if not impossible, to disagree with Kristof and WuDunn's general theme. To wit, the brave women of Iran who took to the streets to protest the results of the recent election.
Among many other "super" women, HALF THE SKY spotlights the following inspirational Ashoka Fellows:
· Sunitha Krishnan (India), founder of Prajwala, a citizen sector organization in Hyderabad, India, fighting forced prostitution and sex trafficking, rescuing women and children from sexual exploitation, incestual rape, sexual torture, and abuse in prostitution. Her organization helps former prostitutes learn vocational skills so they can move into new careers. "Prajwala" means "an eternal flame".
· Sakena Yacoobi (Afghanistan), founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, a citizen sector organization providing teacher training to Afghan women, educating and fostering education for girls and boys, and providing health education to women and children. Her organization also runs fixed and mobile health clinics that provide family planning services. Sakena holds the distinction of having been Ashoka's first Afghan Fellow. Educating women and girls was banned under the Taliban and is controversial under Islamic law.
· Roshaneh Zafar (Pakistan), founder of Pakistani microfinance lender, Kashf. A former World Bank employee, she was inspired after a chance meeting with Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank. "Kashf" means "miracle" and Kashf is indeed fostering a miracle by leveraging microfinance to women to transform the role of women in Pakistani society and bringing about a poverty-free world. To date, Kashf supports 305,038 families in Pakistan, has disbursed $202 million, and has 52 branches nationwide.
I am not alone in my enthusiasm for this book! Last Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ("UNODC") will be hosting a panel discussion and booksigning with Mr. Kristof and Ms. WuDunn in the UN Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will deliver opening remarks. Every seat (550) in the Trusteeship Council Chamber was filled.
The buzz out there is that many people are coming and that everyone is very excited about the publication and significance of this extraordinary milestone work.
Five out of five stars. An absolute must read for anyone who cares about women's rights or human rights. A genuine eye popper that moves so fast, tackles so much that has hitherto been taboo and unmovable, and interweaves the unbelievably positive stories of the very heroic women already leading and creating change in a tapestry that is glimpse of a brave and very different, humanitarian new world.
Once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down. And once you have read it, you will be moved to help bring about tomorrow. Absolute proof that the glass (or the sky) is half full. We just have to give ourselves permission to make change. Or as Gandhi said, "we must be the change we wish to see."
BUY IT. READ IT. PASS IT AROUND.