What's so really special about this book?

A "Hand Up" not a "Hand Out" skilfully shows how rather than doing everything for other people you can actually help them more by helping them to help themselves, to enable them to do things for themselves; they then feel better and they in turn can help others, and, of course, you feel happy because you were able to help them.

Something else I need to tell you -
there is something here for everyone - no
exceptions.

Young people can gain heaps as they are inspired by wide visions of their potential placed before them. Young adults in the media spotlight are often seen as role models and they too can benefit from a read of this book.

Retired people can see new possibilities - they have the life experiences, and now the time - and it is much more rewarding to help, to empower others, to pass on their skills and their experiences.

Those who are having a rough time at present - due to misfortune, or hardship, or whatever can also be inspired and benefit from the read. "How to Get Out of the Mud" is the title of one chapter.

Anyone who wants to help make the world a better place - near or afar or both - can be inspired, empowered to make a start. You can apply the concepts and principles to your own situation. Results are easily achievable.

All in the business world can gain much (whether it is by way of profits, human relations, morale, staff retention, effectiveness or whatever) by following the principles enunciated throughout this book. It is not a text book. It is a practical down-to-earth account showing ways that businesses can prosper - whatever the business, even not-for-profit organisations. Astute mangers see the benefits of win / win situations.

In summary, every one can gain so much from a read of the book. The book can be picked up and a few pages read at a time. In any sequence, just like a newspaper where many people start with the sports pages at the back. There is plenty to inspire.

Everyone is seeking happiness! (even if they are not conscious of it!). This book shows how to gain that happiness, and to keep it! There is no limit to the happiness that can come your way.

An aid worker working in Asia has commented that she found the book of great interest - in that it reminded her of many things that (even for aid workers) are easy to forget in the busy-ness of life.

Community workers on the Indian Sub-Continent and in Africa devoured the book and requested additional copies - they could clearly see the relevance to the situations they were working in also, and how the principles enunciated in the book could be applied effectively to real-life situations, bringing hope and real help to people.

And in Australia, too, community workers and those working in agencies have responded enthusiastically by arranging distribution throughout their networks. Parents have requested additional copies to pass on to members of their extended families, to friends and associates.

When we see the evening TV news we may feel powerless in the face of world events. The book leads us to what each of us CAN do.

Who needs to communicate, to listen effectively? Everyone, of course. And every day. The chapter on Helping Skills is applicable to personal relationships, family life, to the work environment - in fact everywhere where there are people. Even this chapter alone makes the book as worthwhile in itself.

And also,

A "Hand Up", not a "Hand Out" isn't some book you'll read once and place on the shelf. It will become your compendium that you will want to pick up again and again, and you will also share it with others.

Now, in case you don't know anything about me:

• Currently "retired" but actively, these days life centres around caring for my 87 year-old mother. Over a period of 30 years and during my holidays I have travelled to well over 60 countries, more than once to a number of them, and on all continents except Antarctica. I have travelled at the 'grass-roots' level, meeting the locals in their everyday lives. Rather than staying in the larger cities I have sought out and preferred out-of-the way places, even remote ones, where I have often encountered very basic conditions. I have REALLY travelled, not just been overseas.
• I've come to understand the importance of listening to people, maintaining an empathy with them, and how critical it is to be culturally sensitive in whatever projects one undertakes.
• I am convinced through and through of the fundamental goodness and helpfulness of people all over the world, irrespective of background, of environment or of circumstances.
• In my Professional career I've worked as a Telecommunications Engineer for 31 years, but my empathy is with those in need or struggling, whether it be overseas, or next door, or just down the street. My view, my vision is global, but my feet are firmly based on reality, and in the training I received from earliest years where my parents had to struggle to survive and to support and educate every one of our large family. We were taught to share, to live within our means, to be accepting and to be grateful. I am eager to pass on to others the training, and the life experience, I have received.
• And I've come to appreciate the blessings of living in a country such as Australia and the consequent responsibilities we all have in making our world a better place to live in. When we all work together, impossible dreams become reality.
• I am active serving my local community through Kiwanis International.

So now, if you've read this far then...

... I have to assume you're interested in getting a copy of this book straight away. So what I'm going to do now is tell you just some of the reasons why you would want to read my brand new book in the first place, A "Hand Up", not a "Hand Out".

This book is unique. There is much for everyone, whether you are in industry, at school, retired, do household duties or are in business, or work in one of the helping professions or simply want to make a real difference to our world, to make it a better place to live in.

After reading my book, here is what you will know:

• The best outcome is attained when we assist others to make the necessary changes in their lives (page 11)
• How a young doctor far from home and in a completely different environment was able to give a tremendous "hand up" to a visitor with infected feet (pages 20 - 21)
• How our happiness and wellbeing is inextricably bound up with the happiness and assistance we can give to others (page 24)
• The simple yet profound story about the starfish. - It made a difference for that one. (page 27 - 28)
• "One person can't change the world but one person can change another person's world." (page 29)
• How it is much better to extend a helping hand and find that it wasn't needed in that instance than to hold back and lose the opportunity of lightening someone else's load. (page 35)
• The pervasive and enduring effects of Gratitude (page 36, 43-44)
• The simplest and most effective means of empowerment (page 40)
• Happiness is chosen in advance (page 46)
• One way of empowering people is through the provision of microcredit (page 48)
• The story about The Little Red Engine that Could (pages 51 - 53)
• Our subconscious mind - how it works, the effects it has (page 55)
• The Train of Life (page 58 - 59)
• The power of Persistence (page 60)