Random House New Releases - Social Science - Volunteer Work

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

2013-10-29T00:30:00-05:00

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

Trade Paperback, 144 pages | Bantam | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Biography & Autobiography - Rich & Famous | $15.00 | 978-0-345-53206-0 (0-345-53206-6)

In her powerful memoir His Bright Light, #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel opened her heart to share the devastating story of the loss of her beloved son. In A Gift of Hope, she shows us how she transformed that pain into a campaign of service that enriched her life beyond what she could imagine.

For eleven years, Danielle Steel took to the streets with a small team to help the homeless of San Francisco. She worked anonymously, visiting the “cribs” of the city’s most vulnerable citizens under cover of darkness, distributing food, clothing, bedding, tools, and toiletries. She sought no publicity for her efforts and remained anonymous throughout. Now she is speaking to bring attention to their plight.

In this unflinchingly honest and deeply moving memoir, the famously private author speaks out publicly for the first time about her work among the most desperate members of our society. She offers achingly acute portraits of the people she met along the way—and issues a heartfelt call for more effective action to aid this vast, deprived population. Determined to supply the homeless with the basic necessities to keep them alive, she ends up giving them something far more powerful: a voice.

By turns candid and inspirational, Danielle Steel’s A Gift of Hope is a true act of advocacy and love.

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

Trade Paperback, 232 pages | Beacon Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Business & Economics - Economic Development | $16.00 | 978-0-8070-0186-8 (0-8070-0186-4)

A Peace Corps volunteer’s inspirational story about the power of small change

In 2001, Peace Corps volunteer Rajeev Goyal was sent to Namje, a remote village in the eastern hills of Nepal. Brimming with idealism, he expected to find people living in conditions of misery and suffering; instead, he discovered a village full of happy, compassionate people. After organizing the villagers to build a water-pumping system in the midst of the dangerous Maoist war that had gripped the country, Goyal learned how complex rural development truly is. He also witnessed how the seemingly lowliest villager can hold profound power to influence not only his or her own village but also the highest rungs of government.   

Years after this experience, Goyal applied the lessons he learned in Namje to his work on Capitol Hill. Approaching Congress as if it were a Nepalese caste system, Goyal led a grassroots campaign to double the size of the Peace Corps. His unique approach to advocacy included strategically positioning himself outside the men’s room of the capitol building waiting for lawmakers to walk out. As a result of his determined bird-dogging, Goyal managed to make allies of more than a hundred members of Congress and in the process, he ruffled the feathers of some of the most powerful figures in Washington. But due to his efforts, the Peace Corps was granted a $60-million increase in funding, the largest dollar-amount increase in the organizations history.

On this path to victory Goyal endured a number of missteps along the way, and, as he reveals, his idealism at times faded into fear, anger, and frustration. In this honest and inspirational account of his life as an activist, Goyal offers daring ideas for how the Peace Corps and other organizations can be even more relevant to our rapidly changing world. He urges environmentalists, educators, farmers, artists, and designers to come together and contribute their talents. Filled with history, international politics, personal anecdotes, and colorful characters, The Springs of Namje is a unique and inspiring book about the power of small change.

From the Hardcover edition.

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

2013-09-03T00:30:00-05:00

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

Trade Paperback, 200 pages | Beacon Press | Religion - Missions & Missionary Work; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Social Science - Third World Development | $16.00 | 978-0-8070-0116-5 (0-8070-0116-3)

American Christians, veteran reporter John Donnelly has discovered, are an ever-increasing source of aid in Africa, with some experts estimating that U.S. churches supply more resources to Africa than USAID. In A Twist of Faith, he tells the unlikely story of how faith and determination compelled one such American Christian to travel to Africa and open a school for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. David Nixon, a carpenter from North Carolina who had lived through his share of trouble, knew nothing about the small, land-locked African country of Malawi. But after having a religious awakening and hearing about a preacher's efforts to aid its impoverished and beleaguered citizens, he raises money from his church and sets off to do what so many well-intentioned Americans of faith do in Africa: build an orphanage. But as his plans are beset with difficulties, Nixon slowly comes to realize that helping others requires listening to and learning from them. And that means changing his preconceived ideas of what the Malawians need and how he can best serve them. A Twist of Faith is the story of one man who, despite personal struggles, a profound cultural gap, the corruption of local officials, and the heartbreak of losing an orphan he comes to love, saves himself by saving others in a place nothing like home. Nixon's story is representative of a growing trend: the thousands of American Christians who are impassioned donors of time, money, and personal energy, devoted to helping African children.

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

2012-10-30T00:30:00-05:00

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

Hardcover, 144 pages | Delacorte Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Biography & Autobiography - Rich & Famous | $20.00 | 978-0-345-53136-0 (0-345-53136-1)

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

2012-10-30T00:30:00-05:00

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

eBook, 144 pages | Delacorte Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Biography & Autobiography - Rich & Famous | $9.99 | 978-0-345-53137-7 (0-345-53137-X)

The Soup Sisters Cookbook by Pierre A. Lamielle

2012-10-02T00:30:00-05:00

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a Time
Edited by Sharon Hapton and Pierre A. Lamielle

Trade Paperback, 192 pages | Appetite by Random House | Cooking - Soups & Stews; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Cooking - Canadian | $22.95 | 978-0-449-01559-9 (0-449-01559-9)

100 recipes arranged by season, The Soup Sisters Cookbook gives you heartwarming soups to prepare and share throughout the year.

The Soup Sisters Cookbook showcases scrumptious recipes from the "souper volunteers" of the Soup Sisters and recipes from many of Canada's top celebrity chefs--including Michael Stadtlander, Bonnie Stern, Lucy Waverman, Massimo Capra, Anna Olson, Michael Bonacini and Elizabeth Baird. With 100 recipes arranged by season, The Soup Sisters Cookbook is certain to appeal to soup-lovers everywhere!

Soup Sisters are a Calgary-based non-profit enterprise founded in 2009. They are dedicated to making a tangible difference to the lives of women and children in need. Soup Sisters believe in the power of soup and the nutrition, comfort and warmth that the gift of soup can bring. This belief has resonated quickly and profoundly with communities across Canada, who come together through their local Soup Sisters events to cook, share and donate soup, to women's shelters in their community. The Soup Sisters' growing network has over 4,500 supporters, who collectively donate over 8,000 bowls of soup every month--over 75,000 bowls of soup have been donated to date.

The Soup Sisters Cookbook by Pierre A. Lamielle

2012-10-02T00:30:00-05:00

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a Time
Written by Sharon Hapton
Illustrated by Pierre A. Lamielle

eBook, 192 pages | Appetite by Random House | Cooking - Soups & Stews; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Cooking - Canadian | $14.99 | 978-0-449-01560-5 (0-449-01560-2)

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

2012-09-11T00:30:00-05:00

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

Hardcover, 232 pages | Beacon Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Business & Economics - Economic Development | $24.95 | 978-0-8070-0175-2 (0-8070-0175-9)

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

2012-09-11T00:30:00-05:00

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

eBook | Beacon Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Business & Economics - Economic Development | $24.95 | 978-0-8070-0176-9 (0-8070-0176-7)

From the Hardcover edition.

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

2012-07-10T00:30:00-05:00

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

Hardcover, 200 pages | Beacon Press | Religion - Missions & Missionary Work; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Social Science - Third World Development | $25.95 | 978-0-8070-0132-5 (0-8070-0132-5)

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

2012-07-10T00:30:00-05:00

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

eBook | Beacon Press | Religion - Missions & Missionary Work; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Social Science - Third World Development | $25.95 | 978-0-8070-0133-2 (0-8070-0133-3)

Unlikely Brothers by Michael Mattocks

2012-02-28T00:30:00-05:00

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and Redemption
Written by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

Trade Paperback, 272 pages | Broadway | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work | $15.00 | 978-0-307-46485-9 (0-307-46485-7)

“You don’t look like brothers . . .”

Peace activist and cofounder of the Enough Project, John Prendergast is known as a champion of human rights in Africa.

But the not-so-public face of J.P. is the life he’s led as a Big Brother to Michael Mattocks. As a curious, driven, and emotionally wounded twenty-year-old, J.P. made the life-changing decision to form a “Big Brother/Little Brother” relationship with then seven-year-old Michael, who was living out of plastic bags and drifting from one homeless shelter to the next with his mother and siblings. Lacking a connection with his own brother and distancing himself from a disastrous relationship with his father, J.P. formed a unique bond with Michael the moment they met. Michael and J.P. became like family, with Michael and some of his siblings even living with J.P. one summer. In the years that followed, J.P. took Michael and his brothers on outings, whether it was fishing, playing basketball, patronizing cheap restaurants, or going on road trips. This friendship would continue for over twenty-five years as the two coped with varying degrees of violence, instability, and trauma in their own lives.

Told in duet, Unlikely Brothers follows Michael as he grows up on the tough streets of Washington, D.C., where as a young teenager he watched his best friend get shot, dropped out of school, and started dealing crack cocaine shortly thereafter. By sixteen, Michael had become the kingpin of his neighborhood, guns and drugs always close at hand. Meanwhile, J.P. was traveling to and from African war zones. J.P. offered Michael a refuge from the streets, never really confronting the gravity of what Michael was going through in his adolescence. In turn, Michael afforded J.P. an escape from his own turbulent personal and professional life.

As the years go by, the two swoop in and out of each other’s lives, slowly disconnecting as they disappear into their respective worlds, but making their way back to each other at a critical moment for both of them. The effect the two have on each other is extremely significant to both of their paths to redemption.

Inspirational and deeply moving, Unlikely Brothers beautifully showcases how life’s most random moments can often be the most profound.

From the Hardcover edition.

When the World Calls by Stanley Meisler

2012-02-07T00:30:00-05:00

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and Its First Fifty Years
Written by Stanley Meisler

Trade Paperback, 288 pages | Beacon Press | History - United States - 20th Century; Political Science - International Relations - Diplomacy; Social Science - Volunteer Work | $19.00 | 978-0-8070-5051-4 (0-8070-5051-2)

When the World Calls is the first complete and balanced look at the Peace Corps’s first fifty years. Revelatory and candid, journalist Stanley Meisler’s engaging narrative exposes Washington infighting, presidential influence, and the Volunteers’ unique struggles abroad. He deftly unpacks the complicated history with sharp analysis and memorable anecdotes, taking readers on a global trek starting with the historic first contingent of Volunteers to Ghana on August 30, 1961. In the years since, in spite of setbacks, the ethos of the Peace Corps has endured, largely due to the perseverance of the 200,000 Volunteers themselves, whose shared commitment to effect positive global change has been a constant in one of our most complex—and valued—institutions.

Playbook for Progressives by Eric Mann

2011-08-09T00:30:00-05:00

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer
Written by Eric Mann

Trade Paperback, 232 pages | Beacon Press | Political Science - Political Process - Political Advocacy; Political Science - Social Policy; Social Science - Volunteer Work | $15.00 | 978-0-8070-4735-4 (0-8070-4735-X)

An organizing manifesto for the twenty-first century, Playbook for Progressives is a must-have for the activist’s tool kit. This comprehensive guide articulates pragmatically what is required in the often mystifying and rarely explained on-the-ground practice of organizing. Here, Eric Mann distills lessons he learned from over forty years as an organizer, as well as from other organizers within the civil rights, labor, LGBT, economic justice, and environmental movements.

Playbook for Progressives by Eric Mann

2011-08-09T00:30:00-05:00

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer
Written by Eric Mann

eBook | Beacon Press | Political Science - Political Process - Political Advocacy; Political Science - Social Policy; Social Science - Volunteer Work | $15.00 | 978-0-8070-4736-1 (0-8070-4736-8)

The Third Wave by Alison Thompson

2011-07-12T00:30:00-05:00

The Third Wave A Volunteer Story
Written by Alison Thompson

Hardcover, 240 pages | Spiegel & Grau | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Travel | $25.00 | 978-0-385-52916-7 (0-385-52916-3)

Alison Thompson, a filmmaker living in New York City, was enjoying Christmas with her boyfriend in 2004 when she saw the news reports online: a 9.3 magnitude earthquake had struck the sea near Indonesia, triggering a massive tsunami that hit much of southern Asia. As she watched the death toll climb, Thompson had one thought: She had to go help. A few years earlier, she had spent eight months volunteering at Ground Zero after 9/11. She’d learned then that when disaster strikes, it’s not just the firemen and Red Cross who are needed—every single person can make a difference.

With $300 in cash, some basic medical supplies, and a vague idea that she’d go wherever she was needed, Thompson headed to Sri Lanka. Along with a small team of volunteers, she settled in a coastal town that had been hit especially hard and began tending to people’s injuries, giving out food and water, playing games with the children, collecting dead bodies, and helping rebuild the local school and homes that had been destroyed. Thompson had intended to stay for two weeks; she ended up staying for fourteen months. She and her team helped start new businesses and set up the first tsunami early-warning center in Sri Lanka, which continues to save lives today.

The Third Wave tells the inspiring story of how volunteering changed Thompson’s life. It begins with her first real introduction to disaster relief after 9/11 and ends with her more recent efforts in Haiti, where she has helped create and run, with Sean Penn, an internally-displaced-person camp and field hospital for more than 65,000 Haitians who lost their homes in the 2010 earthquake. In The Third Wave, Thompson provides an invaluable inside glimpse into what really happens on the ground after a disaster—and a road map for what anyone can do to help. As Alison Thompson shows, with some resilience, a healthy sense of humor, and the desire to make a difference, we all have what it takes to change the world for the better.

The Third Wave by Alison Thompson

2011-07-12T00:30:00-05:00

The Third Wave A Volunteer Story
Written by Alison Thompson

eBook, 240 pages | Spiegel & Grau | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work; Travel | $14.99 | 978-0-679-60492-1 (0-679-60492-8)

Unlikely Brothers by Michael Mattocks

2011-05-17T00:30:00-05:00

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and Redemption
Written by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

eBook | Crown | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Social Science - Volunteer Work | $11.99 | 978-0-307-46486-6 (0-307-46486-5)

When the World Calls by Stanley Meisler

2011-02-22T00:30:00-05:00

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace COrps and Its First Fifty Years
Written by Stanley Meisler

eBook | Beacon Press | Social Science - Volunteer Work; History - Modern - 20th Century; History - Modern - 21St Century | $26.95 | 978-0-8070-9547-8 (0-8070-9547-8)

A complete and revealing history of the Peace Corps—in time for its fiftieth anniversary

When the World Calls is the first complete and balanced look at the Peace Corps's first fifty years. Stanley Meisler's engaging narrative exposes Washington infighting, presidential influence, and the Volunteers' unique struggles abroad. He deftly unpacks the complicated history with sharp analysis and memorable anecdotes, taking readers on a global trek starting with the historic first contingent of Volunteers to Ghana on August 30, 1961.

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps by Dillon Banerjee

2010-11-03T00:30:00-05:00

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps What to Know Before You Go
Written by Dillon Banerjee

eBook, 192 pages | Ten Speed Press | Social Science - Volunteer Work | $11.99 | 978-0-307-76853-7 (0-307-76853-8)

So, you want to join the Peace Corps . . . If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, you probably have questions that run the gamut from "What is the application process like?" to "Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?" In this updated second edition, former Peace Corps volunteer Dillon Banerjee shares candid facts and insights about the experience in a practical question-and-answer format. With input from recently returned volunteers who served across the globe, this thorough guide presents valuable information including: • What Peace Corps recruiters look for in your application• Items you should--and shouldn't---pack for your two-year trip• Useful gadgets and technology that help volunteers stay connected from far away• Real answers to personal questions about culture shock, safety, dating, homesickness, and more Whether you're thinking of joining or have already been accepted and are preparing to leave, The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps will help equip you for the unique challenges and rewards of the volunteer experience, regardless of your program area or country assignment. It's essential reading for anyone interested in "the toughest job you'll ever love."

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Random House New Releases - Social Science - Volunteer Work

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

A Gift of Hope Helping the HomelessWritten by Danielle Steel

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of CongressWritten by Rajeev Goyal

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in AfricaWritten by John Donnelly

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

A Gift of Hope Helping the HomelessWritten by Danielle Steel

A Gift of Hope by Danielle Steel

A Gift of Hope Helping the HomelessWritten by Danielle Steel

The Soup Sisters Cookbook by Pierre A. Lamielle

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a TimeEdited by Sharon Hapton and Pierre A. Lamielle

The Soup Sisters Cookbook by Pierre A. Lamielle

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a TimeWritten by Sharon Hapton Illustrated by Pierre A. Lamielle

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of CongressWritten by Rajeev Goyal

The Springs of Namje by Rajeev Goyal

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of CongressWritten by Rajeev Goyal

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in AfricaWritten by John Donnelly

A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in AfricaWritten by John Donnelly

Unlikely Brothers by Michael Mattocks

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and RedemptionWritten by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

When the World Calls by Stanley Meisler

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and Its First Fifty YearsWritten by Stanley Meisler

Playbook for Progressives by Eric Mann

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful OrganizerWritten by Eric Mann

Playbook for Progressives by Eric Mann

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful OrganizerWritten by Eric Mann

The Third Wave by Alison Thompson

The Third Wave A Volunteer StoryWritten by Alison Thompson

The Third Wave by Alison Thompson

The Third Wave A Volunteer StoryWritten by Alison Thompson

Unlikely Brothers by Michael Mattocks

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and RedemptionWritten by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

When the World Calls by Stanley Meisler

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace COrps and Its First Fifty YearsWritten by Stanley Meisler

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps by Dillon Banerjee

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps What to Know Before You GoWritten by Dillon Banerjee

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

A Gift of Hope Helping the Homeless
Written by Danielle Steel

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a Time
Edited by Sharon Hapton and Pierre A. Lamielle

The Soup Sisters Cookbook 100 Simple Recipes to Warm Hearts . . . One Bowl at a Time
Written by Sharon Hapton
Illustrated by Pierre A. Lamielle

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

The Springs of Namje A Ten-Year Journey from the Villages of Nepal to the Halls of Congress
Written by Rajeev Goyal

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

A Twist of Faith An American Christian's Quest to Help Orphans in Africa
Written by John Donnelly

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and Redemption
Written by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and Its First Fifty Years
Written by Stanley Meisler

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer
Written by Eric Mann

Playbook for Progressives 16 Qualities of the Successful Organizer
Written by Eric Mann

The Third Wave A Volunteer Story
Written by Alison Thompson

The Third Wave A Volunteer Story
Written by Alison Thompson

Unlikely Brothers Our Story of Adventure, Loss, and Redemption
Written by John Prendergast and Michael Mattocks

When the World Calls The Inside Story of the Peace COrps and Its First Fifty Years
Written by Stanley Meisler

The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps What to Know Before You Go
Written by Dillon Banerjee