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Frustratingly simplistic and impractical
I'll preface this review by saying that I'm a practitioner in the space that Giridharadas is critiquing. His central thesis, about "changing the world" through foundations and impact investing, is one that I wanted to agree with. I believe this industry is overdue for a wake-up. I think that's why I was so disappointed with this book.
Giridharadas takes an extremely simplified view toward the "change-making" industry. His examples are inflammatory and seem to prove a point, but he doesn't interrogate the underlying premises of his thesis. For instance, he tears apart the "market-based" approach to solving problems, decrying McKinsey's way of solving problems as narrow-minded. This is a valid criticism, but he fails to ask a deeper question: Why did this way of problem solving come about? What are its merits? How can we fix it?
He continues to gloss over nuance throughout his book, undermining many points in what should be a compelling argument. He believes wealthy donors do not deserve to be "met where they are" but misses the opportunity to ask why Darren Walker had that approach to begin with. (Likely because donors won't listen to you at all if you come out the gate swinging.) He never asks the college grads why they picked McKinsey instead of the federal government, instead decrying McKinsey's influence without unpacking how it got to such a position.
His needless barb toward Bill Clinton's "bro" style belies a deeper insecurity on the part of the author, which likely will resonate with readers. Much of this book is the same: An antagonistic take-down of elitism. Yes, that is valid, but it's largely an emotional argument. It lacks any substance.
In failing to suggest a single solution, he perpetuates the problem. Regardless of what he says, Giridharadas is an elite who worked at McKinsey. At least the folks he profiled in his book are actually doing something.
September 2018 · Books