When helping hurts

This book is surprisingly relevant in 2020. Lots of concerns from an evangelical Christian about systemic oppression, and even racism in the US and around the world.

The book is emphatic in focusing on both the individual and the community and accuses modern Christians and non-Christian aid efforts of being “relief” based when many poor people need development efforts.

Overall it feels like a book that many churches would reject if it didn’t talk about Jesus so much. I didn’t learn a whole lot of new things, but I was reminded the importance for any program (religious or governmental) to preserve people’s dignity and give them ways to help themselves without us assuming we know better or that our subculture ways work better than their subculture ways. The poor are smart people.

Not what I expected to be honest. I was looking for a book that would ultimately help me to choose where to give me time and treasures, so they can be more loving and effective. But I feel like this book is more general and doesn't use research to back up its claims. Instead there are anecdotes and spiritual principles, which, while a lot of them are true and useful, some are quite harsh. Especially if you're reading the book from a perspective of hardship.

All in all it wasn't terrible, but I only read about 80% of it because it started to feel repetitive and didn't really live up to what I'd heard.