An Accident of Geography
Advances in global development have helped lift hundreds of millions of people from poverty in recent decades, but major challenges in fighting poverty remain. Billions of people continue to have little or no access to the basic necessities of life: clean water, food, shelter, education, and medical care.
The random location of their birthplace limited much of what is possible in many of their lives.
Yet legions of dedicated people today are proving that with the right approaches and resources, disciplined efforts to fight poverty can succeed–and with greater scale and impact than ever.
In An Accident of Geography, author Richard C. Blum profiles many of them while narrating his inspiring personal story–accomplished private-equity investor especially in Asia, humanitarian, public policy advocate, and creator of an unprecedented, multidisciplinary center for poverty and development studies that has attracted thousands of students on the ten campuses of the University of California and beyond.
Blum offers practical guidance on what works best: giving poor people a greater voice in the field and applying key principles of 21st-century management, engineering, and development philanthropy. Put your accident of geography to work in helping others—and yourself. Be the change maker you see in the mirror.
All author proceeds from the sale of An Accident of Geography will be donated to projects advancing global development.
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What People Are Saying
“The friendship between Dick Blum and my father, Ed Hillary, came from time shared in the Himalayas. But, unlike most expeditionaries, their focus moved from the mountains to the people who lived among them. Dick’s book is about how these people in turn became good friends. Once you have friendship and trust, it is a short climb to empowerment and from there the climb ascends the arête of innovation to the summit spur of actualization. This is the story of that climb.”
Peter Hillary, mountaineer, philanthropist, and writer
“This timely call to action begs us to consider how we can turn privilege and good fortune into positive action to reduce poverty and suffering in a world of increasingly limited resources. Dick has made it his life’s work to share his success by fostering programs which provide education, healthcare, food, and access to clean water in needy communities around the world. The seeds he has sown will continue to grow and bear fruit for generations to come.”
—Richard Gere, actor and humanitarian