When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself

Fikkert and Corbett have provided a critical analysis of why so many development and relief efforts in the Majority World do not succeed and, more importantly, what might be done to truly alleviate poverty. What are the causes of poverty? What does the bible tell us about these causes? What might be done to alleviate this poverty in such a way that it is sustainable, that the impoverished conditions don't return when the aid worker or program ends. The book is extremely well written and grabs the readers attention through colorful examples drawn from Fikkert's and Corbett's own experiences in development work in Africa and in the US. While written from a carefully thought out Christian perspective, the analysis would be helpful to those of other faith's as well. It is a terrific book.

When Helping Hurts is a compelling book that will be a significant help to the Church for years to come. The first chapter alone is worth the cost of the book and ought to be read by every church leader in every ministry category. This is not just a book for the missions committee (although it ought to be required for everyone involved in missions) or the Outreach Director, or the pastor. I think every Christian in America would benefit. Most evangelicals would be rattled. There are several benefits from this book. Since most people read book reviews to try and determine whether they want to buy and read the book, let me mention those benefits. It doesn't just pick on the Church or her leaders. This book is personal; it will pick on you. It was deeply convicting to me as I read it. I realized that as many times as I have been moved by stories about the fatherless and the widow, the poor and the sick, I am not purposefully living for my life, and leading that of my family, to intersect with these members of society. I have forsaken the needy by my enslavement to convenience and stuff. My house is conveniently situated away from poverty. I hardly see the needy. And then there is my busyness. All my important tasks that keep me far away spending myself on "behalf of the hungry" (Is. 58:10) are often where I find my own significance and worth. I am convicted that although I hold to the position that all humans are created in the image of God, I don't live as such. And I realize that I do have a god-complex (although every time I read that phrase in the book, my first reaction was, "No I don.....okay, I do. I do."). The authors are not writing from lofty chairs in academia. They pen their own confessions. One of my favorites is, "I confess to you that part of what motivates me to help the poor is my felt need to accomplish something worthwhile with my life, to be a person of significance, to feel like II have pursued a noble cause...to be a bit like God...I sometimes unintentionally reduce poor people to objects that I use to fulfill my own need to accomplish something. it is a very ugly truth, and it pains me to admit it, but `when I want to do good, evil is right there with me' (Rom. 7:21)." [p. 65] They also give a number of examples that show where they blew it. This communicates not only humility, but also a sense that there's a bit of a journey involved. Helping the needy will never become neat, clean and orderly. This book is highly biblical, both in its use of Scripture for application as well as in developing a theory of poverty that serves as the framework. You won't be able to get past a few pages at any point in the book without being confronted by biblical truth (and a helpful reference). And it does not do what many books on this subject do, namely, present steps and practices for alleviating poverty dissected from the Bible as the source of these truths or from the Holy Spirit as the source of divine power. Rather, the authors contin

When Helping Hurts is an important book for anyone that has or is giving to a development or relief organization. It digs deep to get to the root of the problem with giving money and resources away. The authors continually describe how we can undercut the development of those in need with our giving. Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert provide alternative solutions to giving money away to efficiently help those in need. This book helped to raise questions in my life and has served as a great yardstick to measure if I have been actually hurting those I thought I was helping. When Helping Hurts is a great book to go through with a group because the authors spur discussions throughout the text.

Thank you, Brian and Steve, for this tremendous book. So often we miss the unintended consequences of our wonderful intentions. For anyone who has been on a mission trip, plans on going on a mission trip, or is thinking about supporting missions, please pick up a copy of this book. Its thorough analysis and helpful guide to thinking through long-term issues will dramatically refine your understanding of the world and of missions. Chris Horst HOPE International www.hopeinternational.org

Yep, I know. "Lives changing" is not grammatically correct. Nevertheless, I use this play on words to indicate that this book is not just life changing for you, me, and other readers, but, for the millions who we can and must serve. This is about THEM and their lives, even though it starts with you, me, and our churches. As we learn and put into practice the authors' supremely wise counsel, we will see enormous increases in the effectiveness of our ministries to a hurting world. I dare say as well that as we see these profound qualitative improvements, the quantity of our efforts will skyrocket as well - we'll want to do far more as we discover the joy of doing far better. Thus, This Is Big. To say this is the best book ever on the subject would be, believe it or not, an UNDERstatement. That's partly because it's not only a book - it also has fabulous accompanying materials (website learning and discussion aids, courses, speakers, trainers, etc.) that will significantly help readers and churches put these "lives changing" ideas into practice. All this is literally an unbelievable Gift from God - for the church and the world. Dave Larson Economic Development Consultant Portland, Oregon