Good morning, savvy savers! Today, I am bringing you another awesome book review, this time I Like Giving, by Brad Formsma, the creator of ilikegiving.com.
The book cover itself, drew me in, for my family has an instilled belief in giving; I am the descendant of Irish and German immigrants, who overcame great diversity, and created a tradition of expected volunteerism, empathy, and cultural awareness within our family and community ties. I Like Giving, gave me the initial impression that it was going to be a deeply felt text, and I was not disappointed. This story is both very personal and very humatic, as its core focuses on the belief that giving to humanity, to our fellow brothers and sisters, is not about the act of bettering the lives of someone else, but of bettering ourselves, through the joy of giving. The book is comprised of numerous personal accounts and stories, from people who stepped outside of their comfort zones, to give a hand-up, in various compassionate, empathetic situations.
What I greatly appreciate about the book, its reiteration of the idea that citizens can make a positive change, and break common held apathetic beliefs that no one person can make a difference, by way of simple, heartfelt actions and contributions. Moreover, this book is not about financial generosity, but a giving that is even even harder to delve into, the giving of ones compassion. The author leaves the reader with a challenge, to find ways to understand how they can learn to more effectively give to themselves, and in turn, to others; a concept greatly needed in our modern, face-paced, easy-to-overlook culture.
Although the book speaks at length about the beauty of giving, it doesn’t romanticize this ideal, and instead honestly addresses the challenges that can accompany giving. The book also helps the reader overcome instances of giving as an awkward, or when generosity might be rebuffed, or rejected, and how this act should not suppress your spirit of optimism, and giving. The book lends itself to the overall idea that people inherently need to give, more than people need to receive, and in doing so lives are changed!
As well, here is a trailer for the book, for those interested:
And in the spirit of giving, I am conducting the first of its kind customized reader giveaway. I will be giving one reader a copy of I Like Giving, by Brad Formsma, as well as donate $25.00 to the charity of the winners choice, in their name, or name of their choosing. I love the idea of paying things forward, and I hope that this idea will spring ahead to other bloggers as well!
I believe in a simple theory, I am not my brother and sister’s keeper, I am my brother and sister!
To enter leave me a message on my Facebook group page, as well as this post, about where you would want your $25.00 to be donated to, and why. I would love it if you would consider subscribing to my blog and liking my Facebook page, but for this giveaway, its not required.
Good luck, everyone!
Here’s to giving!
In compliance with FTC regulation, I hereby disclaim that I received a free copy of the book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers, via the Blogging for Books Program in exchange for my review. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions of this book, its author, and publisher, are that of my own.
If I won I would like it to be donated to either American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association. Our lives have been touched by both of these diseases!