Reminded me that I have alot to learn. Here's my full review and other nonfiction faves: http://laurareviews.blogspot.com/sear... Nonfiction ( )

The book begins very well and is quite interesting until the purpose of the book becomes apparent - not ending poverty but rather calling out the U.S. and it's wealthier citizens to pay up.

The repeated call for the U.S. to pay .7% of its GDP without addressing why it is that other G8 countries' GDP is so low relative to the U.S. is glaring omission. The 'fairness' claim falls flat when one considers that the domestic economic polices of European countries suppress their GDP thus making .7% of their GDP much less in terms of actual dollars. Sach's argument makes one believe that all countries' annual GDP is being achieved within similar domestic economic frameworks. But this is not so.

The U.S. has a very competitive domestic economic framework based on the concept of incentive. These same incentives have been depressed in Europe through domestic taxation and certain expectations of the citizens. Therefore, using a % of GDP as the basis of what is 'fair' is incorrect as we would need to account for GDP reducing policies of the welfare states in the G8.

Basically, by re-distributing their wealth through domestic economic and tax policies and creating disincentives for pursuing high growth and high income, European countries have made it impossible to give more but are still allowed to claim some sort of higher moral ground.

Before the U.S. is coerced into giving more of its GDP, other countries ought to look hard at their own reasons why their GDP (and thus their own giving ) isn't higher to begin with.

And finally, you would think that such a highly educated author would know it is better to use honey than vinegar when asking for money. If he isn't 'asking' but rather 'taking' then I guess he needn't be respectful. I'm not which method he has in mind.

His arguments for massive help are clear and thorough. Why he transitions from such thorough analysis to shallow claims upon the United States' treasury just because 'they have it' boggles. He needs to work on this part of his argument if he is going to be successful. The 'give us the money - we'll do good works with it' just isn't going to work in a world full of corruption - which he glosses over. ( )

A very interesting book, one that can and should inform voters to require of their governments that extreme poverty disappear from the world.
I posted a longer review at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgxshts... ( )

Sachs puts forth a logical argument and achievable goals for ending extreme poverty within the next two decades. He is well researched and knowledgeable on his subject, and does a good job of making the information accessible to the average reader. I highly recommend it. ( )

i was really excited when i started reading this book. jeffery sachs clearly knows what he's talking about and has some great ideas. but i couldn't finish it. quickly, the book descends into ego and becomes a brag list of all of the economies that sachs has single-handedly saved. i'm sure the good (maybe even great) ideas are in there, but they're overpowered by his big head. ( )