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Banker to the Poor: The Autobiography of Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank | 
 enlarge | Author: Muhammad Yunus
Creator: Alan Jolis
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
Buy New: $74.88
New (1) Used (2) from $74.88
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 1604381
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 342
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 0195795377
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.12092
EAN: 9780195795370
ASIN: 0195795377
Publication Date: May 24, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new, hardcover with dustjacket, hard to find title, ships in 2 to 24 hours (inventory#s9)
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This book is an autobiographical account of the founder of the Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus. This work is a fundamental rethinking of the economic relationship between the rich and the poor, as well as their rights and obligations.
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| Customer Reviews:
Inspiring July 14, 2008
C. Lester (Grayling, MI)
I was inspired and amazed at the simplicity of Yunus's concept, and appalled at the resistance he met putting it into action.
It started when he found that 42 villagers were being kept in thrall -- literally bonded slavery -- to moneylenders in one village. The total sum they owed was $27. Yunus put his hand into his own pocket, and the system of microcredit was born. THEN came the long, long, attempt to get other sponsors, government help, and a lot more.
By the end of the book they have branched out into cooperatives, health care, cell-phone providers, and the internet. As he says, no US businessman would even consider operating without a telephone.... but there is criticism that "The rural poor do not need the luxury of a telephone." But telephones help the micro-borrowers improve their businesses and find the best markets for their products. So Yunus's bank, Grameen, created GremeenPhone to provide service to villages. Some villages didn't have electricity, so they then created a nonprofit company dedicated to developing wind turbines, solar energy, etc! Just one example of Yunus's progressive thinking and nothing-is-too-tough attitude!
Not in the book, but it's inspiring to see how Yunus's idea has caught on in other parts of the world. There's even a US organization, Kiva, which allows people to extend loans over the internet to individual small businesses in far-flung countries. This is an idea that has to grow.
Highly recommended November 25, 2006
Jim Luckett
Very small amounts of capital loaned to people who have almost none yield very large returns. Loans are coupled with requirement that borrowers form groups of five borrowers to support and encourage each other, thereby building community. Bank is owned by the borrowers. Concept becoming worldwide movement called micro-lending. Entrepreneurship and access to credit as a cure for poverty. Great book by the guy who started it all with a $27 loan.
Life Changing! December 14, 2003
Jay Goyal (Arlington, VA United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Banker to the Poor is an excellent read. The style is very easy to understand, and the jumps Yunus makes between different stories, ideas, and theories keep the reader's interest throughout. However, much more so that the style, the story itself is remarkable: to see how a single idea of one man could become a global force against poverty. His example has been extremely influential for millions of people, and his pursuit of a poverty-free world no longer seems outrageous, but in fact attainable! The story was enough for me to want to change my career direction to help the microcredit revolution.
Excellent and interesting book May 14, 2002
N. de Heij (Utrecht, Netherlands)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Muhammad Yunus describes in this book how the idea developed about starting a bank for the poor. The writing style of Yunus makes the book very easy to read; almost like a good novel. Because this book doesn't focusses on just micro-credit (because it's an autobiography) I think it's an excellent introduction to the topic of micro-credit and finding sollutions for the poor. But for more in-dept info, buy another.
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