Thank you to NetGalley and Casper Press for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

This has been on my TBR for a long time, both with NetGalley and my personal. In fact, it was added to my TBR before it was published as an ARC but my life didn't allow for ARCs at the time so it has been sitting there, patiently waiting for me. But then the Supreme Court took our nation many steps backward with stunningly awful reversals and decisions and I needed to read inspiring stories about inspiring people to keep me from drowning in despair. I hoped this title would do the trick. Spoiler alert: it did.

Doyal, who has traveled and worked extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia as President of The International Forum, met many people from all walks of life that were living stories of courage, inspiration, fortitude, problem-solving, change-making, etc. So she contacted seven people who really made an impression on her and asked them to share their larger stories with her, and the world.

Taking us from the slums of Mumbai, the villages of Tibet and northeast Thailand, the inner cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco, and a ghetto outside Stockholm we are introduced to the people and work of seven amazing individuals who have made incalculable differences in their communities and the people who live and work in those communities. And not only has their local community been transformed but the ripple effect is one of changing the world at large...for the better. I was moved by each person and the work they have done and are doing. I was inspired, all over again, to look for ways to engage with my local community for change - reminded that we start where we are and take one step at a time. Each person wasn't born into a knowledge of how and what to do to change their immediate world and the circumstances of people in their community, they educated themselves and put in a significant amount of sweat equity in the pursuit of lending a helping hand to their fellow humans. It's a valuable lesson for each of us.

I thought the premise was interesting, though a bit idealistic. I loved reading about what's being done and the impact that can be made, but I felt like it didn't quite go far enough.

I was very curious about this book since I work in the aid world and the best practice is to indeed let "locals" develop activities that will benefit them -because they know the culture, context, etc. better than anyone external could. I enjoyed the short chapters focused on one person and her/his impact in their sector and country. The stories were compelling.

That being said, it seemed to me that one of the main message was "one person can change the world", which is rarely true. The author showed that each individual succeeded with the help of others of course, but put them apart from their context, their government, and sometimes even the people who benefit from the projects. I found myself enthralled by some stories and disinterested in others -which I'm sure will depend on one's own centers of interest.

Overall it was an interesting read but not one that pointed to clear solutions or even steps to take to help where WE are, wherever we are.