A Globe 100 Book of the Year for 2010.

A powerful and personal exploration of generosity by one of Canada’s finest journalists.

Can one person make a difference? When we write a cheque to a charity or volunteer at a food bank, we’re part of the solution—aren’t we? Author Lawence Scanlan went looking for answers to those questions. He selected twelve different charitable organizations and spent a month in each, and what he discovered during his year-long odyssey was the new face of philanthropy—its players, its politics, its undeniable satisfactions and its fundamental perils.

Scanlan uncovers unexpected stories—from his fellow builder-volunteers in post-Katrina New Orleans, to the challenges facing a women’s radio station in West Africa, to the ongoing shame of homelessness in Canada. And he confronts some uncomfortable truths about the nature of personal engagement and the societal divide that allows us to look away.

This fresh and critical look at diverse approaches to the troubles of the world’s less fortunate demonstrates the compelling need for greater commitment and real connection from us all—individuals, philanthropists of every stripe, and government.