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daysja's review against another edition
5.0
This book is nothing short of incredible. Jessica gives you the brutal truth behind the ins and outs of humanitarian aid. The words flow off of every page. Everyone should read this book, especially if you plan on going into any non-profit work.
jtheriault78's review against another edition
5.0
Could not put this book down after I started reading it. Fantastic glimpse into the complexities of foreign aid so easily readable.
justine3's review against another edition
5.0
This book articulated so much of what I had been struggling to express about my experience in Uganda
b00ksnb0ts's review against another edition
5.0
As someone still highly idealistic and considering to spend some portion of her life dedicated to the field, this book was one of the best and worst books to read in preparation. Best in having my head come down from the clouds a little bit and reminding me that change is often a slow and tedious process, that there are so many devoted to the world's humanity. Worst in that it introduced a lot of fears and anxieties about myself, the mess that the world is in, and will probably remain so.
Nonetheless, it is honest, raw, and for that I commend its efforts in unveiling a less-than-picturesque depiction of humanitarian aid. Yes the world may be a mess, but still, there are many who strive to make a difference, one small and seemingly infantile project at a time.
Nonetheless, it is honest, raw, and for that I commend its efforts in unveiling a less-than-picturesque depiction of humanitarian aid. Yes the world may be a mess, but still, there are many who strive to make a difference, one small and seemingly infantile project at a time.
mvanhoeck's review against another edition
Informative, engaging. I appreciated the honest descriptions of job burnout, hook-ups, bureaucracy, and friendships of international humanitarian aid work.
elkedagpaulien's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.75
Very interesting topic! It met my expectations. The book was very well written and overall very interesting. It also shocked me a little bit, since the humanitarian aid field was not glorified. Theres some heavy stuff. Made me think a lot actually!
carol87veloso's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
emwinch's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted so much more from this book. While it was incredibly interesting and the historical backfill was succinct and well done, I couldn’t help but continuously revisit the fact that the author is just not a writer. As many reviews say- it lacked depth and description. For me, it read very flatly until she talks about her mother toward the end. While it wasn’t the best memoir I ever read, it was the first I’ve read from the perspective of a humanitarian aid worker, so it was a quick and interesting read.
kelsiludvigsen's review against another edition
3.0
Reminded me of “Emergency Sex” which I read 10 years ago. I loved her opinion about aid and how we can actually help countries. Some of the stories she shared I felt weren’t necessary but overall a good book.