This book reads as if it is a personal journal, but it is fiction based on some facts. Its protagonist, Harry Stone, is an American banker who loses his job.

Losing his job is a lucky break for Harry, although he is not aware of it at the time. While he is in this forced retirement, he learns that an old friend who is in Mongolia needs books to read. Instead of mailing the books to him, he takes them to him personally, and thus begins his true learning through his travels into Mongolia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia (Java), Jordan, West Bank and Israel. Along the way, he meets many interesting characters and lifestyles and learns about microfinance, which is a more ethical kind of finance that lends money to those in impoverished areas with the idea of elevating everyone’s life. The goal of microfinance is about helping people to help themselves.

At the center of the novel is the main character’s search for knowledge of the world and of himself. To begin with, Harry Stone originally was not born with a spoon in his mouth. Having gotten the wrong impression, he made his way in the world but could succeed neither in relationships nor in the satisfaction of being comfortable with who he is.

Then, his losing a safe and lucrative job sets his search for himself. Harry grows as a person by becoming open to all the other ways of existence and by learning life lessons from numerous people whose ideals are loftier than those who exist in the cut-throat version of the financial world he came from. He is also touched by their humanity as in the time when he contracts Dengue Fever and those around him take extra good care of him.

I enjoyed the book beginning with the part when Harry arrived in Mongolia. Before that, I hesitated about going on with my reading of it. It may just be that his earlier life was given a bit more importance than necessary; however, I can also understand the author’s point in doing this, as the difference between his life before and after Mongolia shows how the character evolved.

The author’s message to the readers is that of a humanist, and it is a fresh approach of producing a high-minded impact, at least for our times. Just for that, if small flaws exist in this book, they can gladly be overlooked.

the variety of characters Harry meets along the way. All the characters were original, with flaws sometimes, but they were all magnanimous and enlightened to some degree.

good about microfinance. I think it may just elevate the quality of life for most people on earth.

is Michael Looft, a world traveler and proponent of ethical finance.

it is interesting to read, and it taught me a thing or two about ethical finance, especially about how microfinance works.

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Created Aug 04, 2018 at 10:22pm • Submit your own review...