Synopses & Reviews
Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling as a college student, he met a young boy begging on the streets of India. When Braun asked the boy what he wanted most in the world, he simply answered, “A pencil.”
This small request became the inspiration for Pencils of Promise, the organization Braun would leave a prestigious job at Bain & Company to start with just $25 at the age of twenty-four. Using his unique “for-purpose” approach, he helped redefine the space in which business, philanthropy, and social media intersect. And a mere five years later, Pencils of Promise has now built more than two hundred schools around the world, proving that anyone can create a movement that matters.
The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey through more than fifty countries to find his calling, as each chapter explains the steps that every person can take to ignite their own passion and potential. His trailblazing story takes readers behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give readers the tools to unlock their own extraordinary journey of self-discovery.
If you have ever wanted a more purpose-driven life, if you have ever felt like you could become more than your current circumstances allow, it’s time to ask yourself, “What do I want most in the world?” And through the lessons shared in this book, turn those ideas into reality.
Review
"Adam Braun is a leader amongst an emerging generation of change makers who are proving that every person can be a force for positive change. His inspiring work is truly giving children around the world hope and the opportunity for a better future."
Review
"With relentless optimism and the idealism of a seasoned traveler, Adam Braun tells an incredibly personal story about his journey from student to philanthropist. What's so extraordinary about Braun's story is how he built a simple gesture of kindness - one pencil for one child --into a movement that has inspired and influenced a new generation of philanthropists and entrepreneurs. And he's just getting started."
Review
"Adam Braun is one of the most charismatic, energetic, forward-thinking people in the world today. This book is a perfect step-by-step guide to building the life you've always wanted on your own terms. Pay attention to the details and apply them to your passions. Go now! Start reading and don't put the book down until you're finished."
Review
"Adam's story is iconic and riveting. The Promise of a Pencil will inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs and persuade readers to lead lives of purpose."
Review
"For anyone with a big dream to transform the world, this book will show you how to get it done."
Review
"Adam nails a truth we live by. The biggest difference between the person who lives their dream and the person who continues to dream is their decision to take the first step--even if the second step is unknown. Honest and entertaining. A great read."
Review
“Adam Braun has built a wonderful organization that provides education and a solid start to children around the world. His journey captured here should inspire others to similarly follow their hearts and passions in making the world a better place.”
Review
“An honest, compelling look at what it means to take the road less traveled and the rewards you will discover along the way. The Promise of a Pencil is a vivid, heartfelt account of the power of education and the ability of one person to impact the world.”
Review
"A remarkably inspiring story that shares the essential lessons to creating a life of meaning, passion and purpose."
Review
"Like his pioneering work with Pencils of Promise, Adam Braun's book is yet another gift to the world. He inspires readers to dream big and to believe in our ability to create positive change in the world, today. His lessons are memorable, accessible, and powerful. This is a must-read, and a must-re-read, and a must-keep-in-view-on-bookshelf kind of book."
Review
“A compelling and singular story filled with universal truths everyone needs to hear.”
Review
“A vivid, heartfelt account of the power of education and the ability of one person to impact the world.”
Review
“Braun takes you on a mesmerizing round-the-world adventure, while sharing the concrete steps necessary to turn your own ideas into reality. He has his finger on the pulse of what's next and when he speaks you should be listening.”
Review
“A perfect step-by-step guide to building the life you've always wanted on your own terms. . . Start reading and don't put the book down until you're finished.”
Review
"Braun's lessons are memorable, accessible, and powerful. This is a must-read, and a must-re-read, and a must-keep-in-view-on-bookshelf kind of book."
Review
"[An] exuberant testimony to the power of idealism. . . Braun’s story forcefully presents the advantages of silencing the head andlistening to the heart."
Review
"[Braun] skillfully weaves together his personal memoir and the professional challenges he faced... Informative and inspiring."
Review
“Braun combines his laid-back storytelling style with simple yet sage advice….The Promise of a Pencil is engaging, instructive and inspiring reading for anyone who wants to change his or her life, change the world, or simply feel better about humanity.”
Review
"[Braun's] trailblazing story takes readers behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give readers the tools to unlock their own extraordinary journey of self-discovery."
Review
"A playbook for aspiring social entrepreneurs, offering a vision for uniting business and philanthropy around a “for-purpose” mission powered by social media."
Review
"Braun shares his story of how he started Pencils of Promise, what he learned from Wall Street that has helped him...how he’s leveraged social networks to generate donations, and his best career advice."
Review
"[A] page-turning debut."
Synopsis
From one of
Forbes's "30 Under 30" and
Wired Magazine's "50 People Who Are Changing the World," the inspiring memoir of a young man who traded a lucrative career in finance to found Pencils of Promise--the groundbreaking organization that has built more than 125 schools across the developing world.
Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, where privilege was the norm, Adam Braun always dreamed of a career on Wall Street. While studying economics and entrepreneurship at Brown University, his future path seemed inevitable, until he started traveling to some of the most impoverished regions of the world asking a child in each country what they wanted most. In India, a young boy begging on the street answered, "a pencil." The powerful simplicity of this response altered Braun's life--and his purpose--forever.
Upon graduation he accepted a job at a prestigious consulting firm, but his passion for global education was too strong to ignore. In 2008, starting with just $25 of his own money on his twenty-fifth birthday, Braun left his job to demonstrate that one school could be built through the power of many small acts. His "for-purpose" approach turned the nonprofit paradigm on its head and blazed a new path for how modern movements are created. Today, Pencils of Promise has become a leader in social media for social good, and the official charity of many business moguls and celebrities, including Justin Bieber.
The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun's journey to find his calling and the lessons learned along the way.
Synopsis
From one of
Forbes’s “30 Under 30” and
Wired Magazine’s “50 People Who Are Changing the World,” the inspiring memoir of a young man who traded a lucrative career in finance to found Pencils of Promise—the groundbreaking organization that started with $25 and has now built more than 150 schools around the world.
Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling as a college student, he met a young boy begging on the streets of India who would change his life. When Braun asked the boy what he wanted most in the world, he simply answered, “a pencil.”
This small request became the inspiration for the organization Braun would one day start, taking him on a journey through more than fifty countries and into the heart of self-discovery. His unique “for-purpose” approach reversed the traditional non-profit playbook, and in doing so helped redefine how modern movements are created.
The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey to find his calling; each chapter explains the steps that every person can take to discover a meaningful life. His trailblazing story takes readers behind the scenes with CEO’s and village chiefs, business moguls and world-famous celebrities. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give readers the tools to unlock a sense of purpose, passion, and meaning in their own lives.
Synopsis
The riveting story of how a young man turned $25 into more than 200 schools around the world and the guiding steps anyone can take to lead a successful and significant life.
Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling he met a young boy begging on the streets of India, who after being asked what he wanted most in the world, simply answered, “A pencil.” This small request led to a staggering series of events that took Braun backpacking through dozens of countries before eventually leaving one of the world’s most prestigious jobs to found Pencils of Promise, the organization he started with just $25 that has since built more than 200 schools around the world.
The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey to find his calling, as each chapter explains one clear step that every person can take to turn your biggest ambitions into reality, even if you start with as little as $25. His story takes readers behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give you the tools to make your own life a story worth telling.
*All proceeds from this book will support Pencils of Promise.
About the Author
Adam Braun is the Founder of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning for-purpose organization that has built more than 200 schools across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and delivered over 30 million educational hours to children in poverty. PoP was founded with just $25 and has grown under Braun’s stewardship with his unique approach that blends nonprofit idealism with for-profit business principles. He has been a featured speaker at the White House, Clinton Global Initiative, and United Nations. All proceeds from The Promise of a Pencil will go to support Pencils of Promise.