Believe in People: Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World Hardcover – November 17, 2020

This is an inspiring how-to book for doers. It’s for social entrepreneurs—the author’s term for change makers out there trying to find new ways to improve the world—written by one of the most effective and least understood philanthropists of our times.And unlike the author’s previous books—which are great, but drier and focused on just the facts—Koch and Hooks weave in stories and narrative that keep you turning pages. This includes stories from Koch’s life, but also the lives of many of the social entrepreneurs featured in the book. Written in first-person vignettes by them, their fascinating stories—such as from an early gay-rights activist, a former gang leader, a community organizer in recovery—bring a lot of heart and emotion to the book.Many of us are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in America today: division, a rigged economy, politics that seems broken and a general sense that things are going in the wrong direction. And in an urge to help, many turn to traditional camps in search for an answer—partisan politics, or strains of nationalism and socialism—only to be plagued by a nagging sense that these views aren’t delivering the change they’ve long promised.This book offers not only practical guidance for how you can make things better, but presents a refreshingly new paradigm for action. Koch and Hooks offer a compelling case for why empowering others, instead of attempting to control them, offers a better way to tackle the biggest issues of our times.When we believe in others, we enable them to contribute more. But to believe in others, we must also believe in ourselves. I love how this book shows the symbiotic nature of how using our gifts towards having an impact on the causes we most care about, we not only help OTHERS but WE can find fulfillment along the way, too.Strongly recommend for anyone out there trying to help others, searching for better and better ways to magnify your impact, and searching for more meaning in these dark times.

Honestly, the only way I can explain the books AWESOMENESS is to say that it’s not just a book – it’s A MOVEMENT – a movement to BELIEVE IN PEOPLE and empower them to use their talents and abilities to achieve self-reliance so they can then go and help others learn how to excel. It’s a movement with a ripple effect that is ever expanding and never ending, and as more and more people unite together in this movement to believe in people the ripples are amplified beyond measure and countless lives are impacted for the better. It’s a movement I fully believe in and wholeheartedly support!Charles Koch and Brian Hooks do an absolutely amazing job in this book of sharing how Charles, through his experience as Chairman and CEO of one of the largest privately held companies in America along with his years and years of philanthropic giving, came to understand that we will never be able to solve societies problems with a top-down approach - we can only solve them by believing in people and empowering people to use their own talents and abilities to achieve self-reliance so they can then help others learn to do the same. They share some great stories in this book of social entrepreneurs who are helping to solve some of societies more serious problems with their unique bottom-up approaches to overcoming addiction, ending the cycle of poverty, and so on. Their examples will inspire you in ways you can't yet imagine and by the time you finish the book you will be so excited to unite with others in the movement to #believeinpeople - COUNT ME IN!!!

Prepare to be surprised. I expected philosophy — there were far more personal stories. I expected politics — there was far more on community. Most of all, there was far more heart than I anticipated, a real love for people writ large and each person’s unique potential.Is this a different Charles Koch than the one in the media? In one sense, no: The vision of society is the same as I anticipated, and it’s heavy on the individual’s role and responsibility. But in a more important sense, this is a different Charles Koch indeed: The one who was always there but who, for whatever reason, struggled to express himself or, more likely, was misrepresented by politicians and pundits who didn’t understand him or actively opposed him.I’m glad I picked up his book. I hope many others do the same.

Interesting look into the development of a man gifted with material goods, an excellent education, and creative genius.I cannot pass judgment on a the 85 year old man with experiences much different than I.Seems that having a whole lot of money and education cannot prevent one from making mistakes, going down rabbit holes that do not produce the results ( hopefully) intended.Another human being...I would like to have a conversation with him.

Charles Koch created one of the most successful companies ever by listening to the people who were actually doing the work. If one grants dignity to all people, the results can be amazing. Route 495 the ring road around Wash. DC has become like Alice's looking glass. Once one is inside, one has left the real world and is in never never land. Red or Blue the game is to win over each other instead of listening to the little people and actually representing them. If Congress would read this book, perhaps they would go back to their day job and focus on the country's issues instead of wasting their time and the little people's treasure on useless power battles.

As a Philanthropist, Believe in People confirmed much of what I know, and surprised me with I didn't. The reflections of Charles Koch and Brian Hooks smartly assess the need for the private, public, and social sectors to work together and build an inclusive society through a bottom-up approach. This wasn't just a book; it was a call to action. With stories that are both personal and tactical, Believe in People left me with a renewed perspective and energy for ensuring every American has the opportunity to reach their full potential.