This is a tough book for me to review. My feelings are mixed.
If we're talking about writing ability and readability, "A Fistful of Rice" is a success. The chapters are clear and well-thought out, and the picture of his microloan program in India is very interesting. Akula has given a formidable amount of statistical information without overwhelming the reader, and his anecdotes about the people he helps/has helped are affecting.
What I had a very hard time stomaching is the motivation behind the book. As is evident from the first chapter, much of it is a defense of running his microloan business as a 'for profit' venture. No matter how much good his loans have done, and the success rate is high according to his estimation, the thought of making money (more than it takes to keep the operation in business) off the sweat of some of the poorest people in the world is hard for me to stomach.
As a picture of India and what can be done to help manage poverty there, "A Fistful of Rice" is a good book. My heart, though... my heart dislikes his justifications.
If we're talking about writing ability and readability, "A Fistful of Rice" is a success. The chapters are clear and well-thought out, and the picture of his microloan program in India is very interesting. Akula has given a formidable amount of statistical information without overwhelming the reader, and his anecdotes about the people he helps/has helped are affecting.
What I had a very hard time stomaching is the motivation behind the book. As is evident from the first chapter, much of it is a defense of running his microloan business as a 'for profit' venture. No matter how much good his loans have done, and the success rate is high according to his estimation, the thought of making money (more than it takes to keep the operation in business) off the sweat of some of the poorest people in the world is hard for me to stomach.
As a picture of India and what can be done to help manage poverty there, "A Fistful of Rice" is a good book. My heart, though... my heart dislikes his justifications.
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