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An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children“I had a lump in my throat. Words were hard to find. I struggled to explain that the school had filled my heart with a feeling it had never before experienced – that I had made a difference in the world, or at least one very small part of it. For these children, there was a bit more opportunity today than there had been yesterday. All of this had come about because of a simple request a year ago – ‘Perhaps, sir, you will someday come back with books.’” - John Wood, in Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
And return with books he did - to the tune of more than 2 million copies and counting. If the title of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World seems a bit ambitious, that's because author John Wood is just that: ambitious. Following a 1998 trip to Nepal, Wood made a decision to leave his job as a Microsoft executive to change the world by improving access to books and education in developing countries. He soon launched Room to Read, building schools and libraries first in Nepal and later in Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, and - most recently - South Africa. (Even early on, he seemed intent on exceeding the reach of Windows across the globe!) In addition to distributing millions of books, Room to Read has established 3,374 libraries, 221 schools, and 108 computer and language labs as of autumn 2006. The organization has funded more than 2,300 long-term girls' scholarships. Less than a decade after inspiration struck in Nepal, nearly 1.2 million children have been impacted worldwide. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World describes Wood's transition from Microsoft executive to founder of Room to Read. It is equal parts memoir and call to action. Although Wood includes a number of fun anecdotes, some of them involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and current CEO Steve Ballmer, he seems more intent on inspiring than entertaining. Wood describes his struggle with a dilemma many readers will recognize - a feeling of being trapped between choices of career and financial success and doing something to have a positive impact on the world. Although Wood chooses to leave his job, he hints that the choice needn't be one of mutual exclusion. The advice he provides in the book, in fact, is geared as much for those entrenched in their careers as it is readers with the pluck and opportunity necessary to shun unfulfilling corporate lives for more meaningful existence. Among Room to Read's strengths is its business-like focus on efficiency and results. In the book, Wood emphasizes the practical importance of this approach in managing charitable organizations. The non-profit sector is littered with organizations high on worthy goals but lacking in tactical implementation and results. From the beginning, Wood sought to extract the lessons he learned in the corporate world and use them at Room to Read. Set tangible goals; quantify results; be willing to shift direction and tactics in response to poor results. Wood also stresses the importance of gaining commitment and involvement among the communities being served. Teach them and empower them; build capacity along with schools. The charity world cannot embrace this strategy too quickly. A quick read, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World inspires by way of mountain vistas, book-bearing yaks, big dreams, positive results, and grateful smiles. Wood and the team at Room to Read are doing wonderful things. His book will inspire others to do the same. << Find this Book on Amazon.com >>
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![[Book Cover Page: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World]](images/books/leaving-microsoft.jpg "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World")