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• world class book by world class citizen..
  a must read for any citizen of the world...
  
  we are all connected.... Jackie runs a microfinance charity that has made a huge difference in the world.....
  
  she shows us the humanity ......
  
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• Inspirational and Honest
  
  The Blue Sweater is Jacqueline Novogratz's life story; the tale of an international banker who never wanted to bank, who found herself backed into a professional realm where she excelled, and who stepped away from it all to do work that would not only make a difference but let her be a traveler.
  
  Her journey is amazing -- but not only because of the places she goes or the problems she encounters. Reading Jacqueline is like reading the blog of a friend: she's going through all these experiences, and she's not some idealized, perfect person. She's real. She screws up. Her first few attempts to find her route in the battle against poverty were monumental failures -- and not only does she own this, she does some pretty hard core analysis about why she failed; why anyone who tried to do what she tried to do would also fail: it's an insightful critique of systems. The discussion you'll find in The Blue Sweater about privilege, particularly institutional privilege, are compelling, honest, and revelatory; particularly in that they're framed outside of a US-setting, take lateral racism as a given, and, perhaps most importantly of all, don't stop the action with a heaping pile of navel-gazing introspection. It's a lovely demonstration of incorporating personal growth into daily life.
  
  Novogratz talks about poverty both without romanticizing it into comfortable cliches, nor contorting her prose into long winded explanations or excuses of why the poverty exists. For her, poverty simply is, and if it is going to not be, action needs to be taken.
  
  Here, we find the beauty of the book. Novogratz is an international banker. Can she leverage those first-world skills into combating third world problems? The answer is absolutely -- but only after the person applying those skills undergoes a radical transformation, allowing her to understand the setting she's using her knowledge base within, and more importantly, the people who she's working for.
  
  You want a book that talks about the strength of relationships among women, and the dynamics of power in female-headed organizations? Read The Blue Sweater. Novogratz shines when she steps back; the women she partners with undergo their own radical transformations in the course of the book. They are achieving some level of success, largely through micro-financing efforts. Even if you're not entranced with finance, it's easy to appreciate both what micro-financing does for the women in The Blue Sweater -- and the reasons why it works. This isn't an obscure economics text. This is clear, logical, and effective writing, explaining sometimes difficult concepts in a straightforward way.
  
  And then, told in Novogratz's calm, flat, this-is-nothing-remarkable style, the genocide in Rwanda happened.
  
  Sometimes, it is the simplest story teller who makes the horror real. Novogratz doesn't try to frame the genocide for you. There is no overt build-up. One moment, we're reading about the women Jacqueline has been working with.
  
  The next moment, many of them are dead.
  
  It would have been easy for The Blue Sweater to end there. I, for one, wouldn't have blamed Jacqueline for a bit if she walked away. Decades of her life's work, gone. The life she loved, the people she worked with, gone -- or worse, arrested for being complicit in the horrors that happened.
  
  But Novogratz does not stop. She goes back; to discover that what has truly been built can be rebuilt, albeit slowly. She visits two women who are being held in the genocide: one, guilty, the other, not. For me, this was a particularly powerful piece: the contemplation of what evil we might do given extreme circumstances is not abstract, not relegated to history. This is real life, real heartache, real-time trauma and real-time hope.
  
  There is no stopping. The story continues, Jacqueline's work no where near finished. There are other initiatives, other projects: to Pakistan, to India, to work with big name philanthropists to develop the Acumen fund and the concept of patient capital.
  
  Novogratz does not advocate hand-outs or simple charity to remedy deep rooted poverty. Instead, she believes in helping poor people, particularly women, access the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty and into prosperity. This approach acknowledges the basic humanity, intelligence, and ability of the poor -- something that is often lacking in the rush to fix problems without first understanding them.
  
  Lest this sound like Ayn Rand with a conscience, I'd like to quote Novogratz here:
  
  After more than 20 years of working in Africa, India, and Pakistan, I've learned that solutions to poverty must be driven by discipline, accountability, and market strength, not easy sentimentality. I've learned that many of the answers to poverty lie in the space between the market and charity and that what is needed most of all is moral leadership willing to build solutions from the perspectives of poor people themselves rather than imposing grand theories and plans upon them.
  
  A refreshing embrace of common sense, smart business thinking, and compassion at its purest, The Blue Sweater is a fantastic read that will inspire, motivate, and educate. Novogratz personifies hope and determination; she is strong, and she is determined, and most of all, she is optimistic: in the face of what anyone would say is an overwhelming situation, she is not only certain that there is a solution, but that that solution can be found and implemented.
  
  The Blue Sweater does make you think about the value of what you're doing with your life; what role your work takes in improving the world around you. She presents some calls to action at the end, without limiting the options. She does note that scientists find the surest route to happiness is serving others. By the final page, you know what you are holding is the work of a very happy and remarkable woman....more info
• a wonderful inspirational journey
  thank you Jacqueline for sharimg your incredible experiences and stories. i continually found myself re-evaluating how i personally can help change the world, as you clearly have....more info
• An Inspiring and hopeful book
  Reading this book made me want to share the experiences of Ms Novogratz. I felt inspired by what she has done and hopeful that the world can be a better place. In what seems a chaotic world this book presents a lesson about how we can help effectively yet with compassion. It is very personal and very readable....more info
• A Great Read About the Acumen Fund Story
  Definitely recommended. The unique personal experiences that Novogratz shares in The Blue Sweater makes this book a fast and educating read. Her stories illustrate the disturbing ignorance that exists in our small world, and shows through action how people can help to change that. The Acumen Fund's brief history has already proven that being persistent can make all the difference. Will build understanding of the role of patient capitol (a new kind of investing) in the social entrepreneurship sector. ...more info
• I cannot stop thinking about this book.
  It's been very difficult for me to review Jacqueline Novogratz' excellent book, "The Blue Sweater." Every time I sit down to write about it, I don't feel like I have the words to do it justice. I've gone back and read it a second time, and I still find it hard to organize my thoughts well enough to convey how greatly I appreciate this work. It moved me to think and feel deeply; to ponder over what is essential to live and live joyfully despite economic upheavals, cultural diversity, and resource scarcity; and to consider in what ways I might myself care for my fellow brothers and sisters, love them, and learn from them.
  
  So let me just dive in and do the best I can. First, the book reads like a novel. It is full of vivid imagery, color, sensitivity and compassion. It is also, like the author, pragmatic and sensible. I was struck by the complexities of poverty but also the incredible hope and promise of those who value every shred and moment of life--because they have to if they are to survive. I was amazed at how something as simple as a mosquito net could entirely transform a life and how people crushed by illness and tragedy manage to be so much more alive and gratefully engaged with the world than so many of us who are more privileged are.
  
  I was brought face to face with my own emptiness in reading this book--not a bad thing--and also a stirring sense of what I might have to offer in this world. "The Blue Sweater" succeeded in shifting my focus, and rather profoundly so. I feel more hopeful for our world now because I'm thinking about what I, myself, need to do in the context of my family and community.
  
  I only wish the book had photographs of the incredible people in Africa, India, and the Middle East whose stories the author shares with us. I found myself very interested in Novogratz' Acumen Fund activities and her ideas about combining philanthropy with market forces to help the poor build and sustain better lives. I was especially struck by the need to listen to the people one is trying to help and that no one solution is enough; it takes approaching problems in many different ways that all feed into each other if people are to build successful, sustainable communities that promote the health, well-being, and dignity of all citizens.
  
  I could not help but wonder if the principles Novagratz has found to be successful could not be applied somehow to middle- and working-class people in the U.S. and other developed countries who are seeing their quality of life erode and yet do not have the skills to survive or even an awareness of ways they harm others. (This is an entirely different kind of poverty, but it is poverty nonetheless, an ignorance and learned helplessness that is ultimately destructive.) If some, like the retiring baby boomers, could be harnessed to help work to strengthen communities and build connections/collaborations with the poorest among us here, it could be a way of skill-building and also increasing awareness of the ways each of us impacts our world. Out of this training ground could come a subset of people with the generalist skills to work in other countries, either in their younger years as a career or in retirement.
  
  I hope someone from the Acumen Fund and like-minded organizations will work closely with the Obama administration to develop models to help those Americans who would like to begin to help themselves and their communities, to the extent that they are able.
  
  Finally, let me say that I was excited to realize the significance of Barack Obama's mother having worked with microfinancing (a major tool discussed in this book that I didn't understand before), because I know that means our new president has a sense of how much can be accomplished when those first small steps are facilitated and people are given hope that WE can transform our world. Time is money, too. If we can find ways to "microfinance" our time according to our interests without having to completely reinvent wheels (say, be able to download a well-developed model for starting a small community garden or a "fun"/safe neighbor's home-based afterschool skill-teaching workshop so latchkey kids have a place to go), together we could quickly make enormous progress. What's stopping me is age and not being quite sure how to begin so success is more likely.
  
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• mona lisa
  This is very inspiring story and one I wish everyone would read. This story inspires us to help those who are less fortunate. I would recommend this book. It is also very inlighting....more info
• To new world orders and beyond
  When I first picked up The Blue Sweater I didn't get very far. The writing was a bit meandering, approaching its destination in a serpentine fashion, and often even two steps forward, two steps back. By the time I got to the section where Novogratz had begun working in Rwanda, I was hooked, and I came to a realization. Many of the people who reviewed this book complained about the quality of the writing - "Oh, well the story is there, but Novogratz is no writer..." My son spent a good part of a year in his 20's (a couple of years ago) working with an NGO in Kigali, and from his depictions of his experiences, I believe The Blue Sweater is actually totally successful in conveying not just what happened (is happening) but where, why, and how it's happening, and if it seems frustrating to some Western readers, well that is exactly the frustration Novogratz, my son, and anyone raised in an absolutely different cultural milieu will (did) experience when trying to approach (let alone work with) an issue as complex as the financial growth of small, women-run businesses in developing countries.
  Novogratz tells the true story of a western woman trying to "help" as best she can, in a situation where ANY help of ANY kind is seriously needed, and if readers are not inspired by the story, that's a fault of their own capacity for compassion and desire to make a difference, not any lack of Novogratz's writing skills.
  Pick up this book if you are looking to be inspired, and/or gain practical
  ideas for engaging others in activism that can really affect change in the world....more info
• What an inspiring book!!
  It often appears that half the population is intent on destroying our world while the other half staves off the process by fighting back. I haven't quite figured out yet why this seems to be true but have acquired profound respect for those like Jacqueline Novogratz who work so very hard to improve our world. The author is very honest about the mistakes she made and the lessons she learned along the way. It simply isn't sufficient to look on, then offer up what we "think" will help without getting input from those who will benefit from the help regardless of how well intentioned that offer is. A good example of good intentions gone awry would be the grain mills. As long as they worked, they saved the women time. But once they broke down, no one knew how to repair them or the fuel to run them wasn't always available. If consulted, the women could have told the grantors this.
  
  From an early age, Ms. Novogratz wanted to help others. Trying to figure out how took her on many journeys through Africa, India and Pakistan and culminated in her heading up the Acumen Fund. Describing some of the projects supported by this fund should raise many questions about how things are done in other countries. For instance, the eye clinic in India that turned NO ONE AWAY, yet, stayed profitable year after year. Then there were the $40.00 hearing aids which would cost a couple thousand (at least) in the USA. Farmers in India may not fear loss of hearing as much as the loss of eyesight but here where so many work in office environments or service industries, a $40.00 hearing aid would be a Godsend!!
  
  After the genocide, Ms. Novogratz ultimately returned to Rwanda and interviewed those who had worked on earlier projects with her such as the bakery. Some were in prison, either because they helped instigate the genocide or were there erroneously. Those who returned to their homes had lost everything and had to start over. She was constantly amazed by the resiliency of the women and their warmth and caring for others in the face of harsh adversity. Ms. Novogratz has written a powerful book which I'm proud to have read. May she continue her fight to empower people, especially women, to become self-sufficient. Again, she has my profound respect.
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• Good book, wonderful ideas, but seems all over the place
  I to thought I would love this book and was ready to stay up all night to read it based on the reviews and subject matter of the book. I must also say that no one can take anything away form Jacqueline and her life exeriences. They seem amazing and nothing close to anything i have done with my life. The basis of the book is great but it seems to have so many different tangants with it. One minute it focuses on her, then the genocide, and goes off into a different direction. She has so many wonderful life experiences I think she could have written her own bio., a book on just the stories from the women whom survived the genocide (one I would love to read myself), and then a do it yourself how to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in Africa. There are just to many arms reaching out on this book. It has been hard to get through, BUT that doesn't mean it isn't a great book. I have really enjoyed this book...I was just expecting something different and really admire this brave woman with a brain and a heart of gold. ...more info
• Should be required reading of everyone considering doing any work or business in a developing country
  The title of this book stems from two related incidents in the life of the author. When Novogratz was younger she had a favorite blue sweater that she continued wearing even though her development began straining the threads. Finally, when a group of male classmates were discussing the possibility of a skiing field trip being cancelled, one pointed to her and said, "Well in that case we can ski mount Novogratz." That motivated her to give the sweater to charity.
  Eleven years later when Novogratz was in Africa, she spotted a child wearing a blue sweater just like her favorite. After checking the tag where her name was written, she realized that it was indeed her favorite sweater, now residing in Africa after a chain of charitable transactions.
  At the time of the sighting, Novogratz was in Africa as part of a program where western financial agencies were making small loans to budding entrepreneurs. She was part of programs that were being developed in several African countries, from Gambia on the west coast to Kenya on the east side and Rwanda in the south. As someone who was in Rwanda before and after the genocide of the 1990's, her perspective is unique. Some of the people she worked with before the slaughter were in prison afterwards for supposedly having participated on the side of the killers. Novogratz was bold enough to visit and interview them while they were in prison. As part of her studies, Novogratz also spent significant time in India.
  As someone whose feet were always on the ground and dealt with the people face-to-face in their homes and business residences, Novogratz offers a fascinating perspective on what will and will not work in the developing world. While the easiest thing to do is to simply give unconditional aid, the long-term effect of aid given in the absence of the alternative of immediate starvation is counterproductive over the long term. Another problem was when the aid was given in the context of a western economic mindset. For any such program to work, it must be planned and executed in the context of the local conditions all the way down to the level of the village. This includes the climate, political situation, what crops can be grown, basic traditions and the local tribal and cultural structure. As Novogratz realizes, it can take years before one gains the experience and trust to operate effectively in these situations.
  One of the most telling parts of her account are her first experiences in Africa, where she was perceived as a white westerner there to tell the African women what to do. Her reception was rude, dismissive and very hard for her to understand. Throughout it all, which includes times of great danger, Novogratz never loses her drive to make a difference in the lives of poor people in developing countries. At times the progress is measured in inches when the journey is one of miles, yet there is eventually some success.
  Through all the talk about what the developed nations should do with and about the developing nations a great deal of it is nonsensical and misinformed. This book should be required reading for anyone planning to be a part of any venture in developing countries. That includes everyone from those doing missionary/charitable work to officers of major corporations with plans to enter or expand their operations.
  
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• Inspiring
  This is a serious book but so well-written that you will find yourself racing through the chapters. Jacqueline Novogratz relates the story of her journey for the past 25 years from neophyte do-gooder to intelligent, sophisticated and compassionate non-profit leader.
  
  Novogratz doesn't mince words. Her tales of the beauty of Africa and her people will make you want to pack your bags immediately. However, she also frankly relates the frustrations, the complexities, and frequently the horror of some of the recent history of the continent, particularly of her time in Rwanda. For anyone who has never visited a third-world country, this is an eye-opening biography. If you have, then you will appreciate all the more the wonderful and dedicated people who truly try to make a difference for our brothers and sisters on this planet. I admire the work that Novogratz does, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. She has a gift for bringing diverse peoples together for a common cause, with particular focus on women's issues. She is devoted to promoting the independence of women in poor nations by helping them to become economically independent. It is truly inspiring to know that people like Novogratz are out there, continually trying to make the world a better place.
  
  Although I can probably look it up, it would have been helpful to have an address or website for the Acumen Fund in the back of the book. I would like to know more about the organization and how to donate. ...more info
• Really Good Insight on Poverty and Development
  Jacqueline Novogratz shares her insight into global poverty. I agree with her in many ways. People need listen to the people they are helping and serve. It is philosophy that has been around a long while and is a staple of the Peace Corps beliefs. This can be done in small micro projects but doesn't work as well with big ones. I think it is true that other cultures give us more than we give back. Jacquline's story especially in Rwanda and Pakistan is very touching and she shares a lot. The story about finding her blue sweater on boy in Rwanda is moving. ...more info
• Want to end poverty? Make sure to read The Blue Sweater...
  "Today, I believe more strongly than I did as a young woman that we can end poverty. Never before in history have we had the skills, resources, technologies, and imagination to solve poverty that we do now."
  Jacqueline Novogratz
  
  Read this book. Jacqueline candidly shares her experiences; successes, failures, and lessons learned - from a lifetime of work in the developing world. I found incredible value in both her life lessons and knowledge relevant to solving global poverty.
  
  Jacqueline readily admits that we don't have the answers...yet. But that through innovative approaches, embracing global interconnectedness, and improving our understanding of the world - we can end poverty.
  
  I repeat, WE CAN END POVERTY....more info
• Inspiring story, but writing itself is weak
  I congratulate the author for dedicating her life to help others. The book is inspiring, and I see great potential in it. However, her writing style is very weak, and her ideas don't flow well. It's really hard to stay interested in the book when the writing isn't up to par to this woman's incredible determination and visionary ideas.
  
  NOTE: I read an advance copy of "The Blue Sweater," so the writing may improve after it is edited thoroughly.
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• These stories need to be told
  This is a very captivating collection of stories that demonstrate important priorities we need to refocus on as a society. Good solid narrative and intriguing concepts on how we can aleviate global poverty....more info
• Eye opening ...
  This is an outstanding book, an eye opener for those like me living the American dream where, too often, the life of so many not-so-lucky human beings is just forgotten. The author, Jacqueline Novogratz, is the founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit venture capital firm for the poor that invests in entrepreneurs bringing affordable and sustainable health care, water, energy, and housing to people earning less than $4 a day. This books is the conclusion of Novogratz after two decades first in Africa, and later in Pakistan and India, and asset in our global world that will leave nobody indifferent....more info
• Small world
  I enjoyed this book because it opened up my eyes to women starting and running business of their own in towns in Africa. Women are running their own business all over the world. ...more info
• Review / Videos
  `The Blue Sweater` is a sort of multi-genre popular memoir about American Jacqueline Novogratz's experiences working on humanitarian developmental issues in Africa, India, Pakistan and other areas to help the worlds poorest of the poor become more self-sufficient. She is a founder of the non-profit Acumen Fund and the book is also a vehicle to explain its vision using market-oriented approaches to tackling poverty. Novogratz happened to be in some interesting places at interesting times - Rwanda just before the genocide, NYC on 9/11, Pakistan soon after - so her stories and the people she meets are not only interesting but topical to the headlines. It's a personal book and at least half of it is human interest story which, while usually engaging, can be tedious in the amount of extraneous detail - while some authors use food to spice up their memoirs, Novogratz uses clothing descriptions throughout to give it color.
  
  Novogratz made and saw a lot of mistakes and the central lessons she has to offer are as follows: Giving money like a traditional charity for free doesn't work, the recipients have to be treated as equals and not victims. Institutions have to be built in the country, owned and run by the people who will benefit - with oversight help and funding from outside until they become large enough to become self-sufficient. It should be run as a company with a profit motive. Finding entrepreneurs and giving them the tools to invest their energies is the key to scalability.
  
  Overall I'm sold on the principals. It's really no different than what we do in the West as standard practice, we know it works. She devotes a number of chapters showing what Acumen has accomplished in India and Pakistan. I've long been a giver to micro-loans, but this takes it to a new level. I will be looking into Acumen as a part of my charitable giving strategy.
  
  Novogratz has a number of TED videos (see Comment below for a URL link) that are well worth watching and summarize much of the book. If you like the videos, check out the book for the full story....more info
• Cultural Change and the Roadblock that one hits along the way.
  I'm only 1/2 way through the book and have been facinated by the similarity it has with changing any culture. The roadblocks of inside and outside organizations. The failure of well intentioned ideas. The danger of creating too much change quickly. Allowing others (insiders) to see and demand the change.
  
  As a Business Architect, I'm continually addressing deep routed cultural ways that need to change in order for the organization to survive. Though on a much smaller scale, what Jacqueline Novogratz discusses in her learned lessons apply to any organization that needs to change to survive.
  
  I will now recommend this book to any person striving to be a better change agent in any environment. It needs to be the first book to read to be an instigator of change....more info
• Fascinating memoir educates, entertains
  Acumen Fund director Jacqueline Novogratz begins her memoir by telling the story of a favorite childhood sweater that she eventually outgrows and gives to the Goodwill. Many years later, on her first trip to Rwanda, she sees a child wearing an identical sweater and discovers it was once hers - her name was written on the label inside.
  
  Using the sweater as a starting point to explain community and global interconnectedness, Novogratz relates the lessons she learned in business and leadership in working with African women to create microfinance systems that would benefit the entire community. There were many slips and errors along the way, and Novogratz is not shy about admitting where she went wrong.
  
  The book is not just about business; the stories of many entrepreneurs in the poorest communities of the world are shared here -- including stories of Rwandan genocide survivors. This is, to me, the most important part of the book. Everyone has a story, and we need to listen to one another in order to understand how truly connected we are regardless of our differences in background, education, etc.
  
  (Review based on advance uncorrected proof.)...more info
• The Blue Sweater
  
  We are enjoying the book. It is an excellent book for those wanting to improve life in third world countries. It helps those who believe in social micro-enterprises, micro-credits, micro-finance to do a better work. It is entertaining and full of adventures!
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• An inspiring journey
  A wonderfully told tale of change, which is both thought provoking and inspiring.
  
  Thank you Jacqueline, for the work you do, and for the story you've shared....more info
• Everyone should read this!
  I was hooked as soon as I found out the story of the blue sweater. So often I hear people say "Well that's their problem". This book connects our humanity and makes a powerful statement about creating sustainable change. I couldn't put it down. ...more info
• Sustainable Philanthropy in Action
  Jacqueline Novogratz has done a masterful job of capturing her story and providing unique insight into how we can serve the poor using our real skills and abilities. While the book read as an autobiography I learned a lot about how to make a sustainable difference in the world. I feel as though I have taken a course, or read a text book, on sustainable philanthropy in practice....more info
• ...Just couldnt get into it.
  I have struggled for the last few weeks to finish this book. I honestly thought it would be one of those books I couldnt put down, as the concept and the blurb on the back sound very interesting. As other reviewers can tell you, the general direction that this book goes is that the decisions that we make in our lives we see as being so small affect people all over the world. And with this in mind came the most interesting story in the entire book, about the authors favorite blue sweater when she was a child. I think it is very commendable that the author has put this mantra to action in her daily life, but whether she should have written a book about her experience is still questionable to me. The author lives for a bit in Africa and it seemed that the main point she was trying to drive home is that corruption is rampant in third world countries, and the locals are not very accepting of outsiders.
  The stories about Rwanda are the most exciting, but that doesnt really say much for this book. Other authors have covered this bit of African history with better perspective I feel.
  Overall I have to say that while the authors life and work are commendable, this book just didnt do much for me. Nothing in the book is particularly gripping or harrowing, and most of the first half seems to be about the bickering and mistrust that goes on between locals and foreigners in a depressed African republic. I say skip this book and read "War Child" by Emmanuel Jal instead....more info
• A must read!
  I first became familiar with Ms. Novogratz when I saw her interviewed on the Charlie Rose show on March 25th. I immediately got her book and am mesmerized after only reading one chapter. What a magnanimous woman she is! Anyone reading her book will be inspired to give back in some way. ...more info