On September 30, 2014, Nicholas Kristof came to speak at the Philadelphia Free Library about his new book, A Path Appears, co-written with his wife Sheryl WuDunn. Nicholas Kristof is an American journalist who currently writes for the New York Times as an Op-Ed writer.  He won two Pullitzer prizes in his career. Kristof and WuDunn are known for “shining a spotlight on neglected conflicts”, and wrote multiple books such as Thunder From the East, China Wakes, and Half the Sky. Bill Clinton describes their work by saying; “Nobody clarifies the social challenges of our time, or the moral imperative to help meet them, better than Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.” A Path Appears, published in mid September, provides an interesting narrative about making a difference in the world through stories of people and organizations. The book also supplies guidance on becoming a conscientious global citizen, and ideas and instructions on approaches to giving back.

I attended Nicholas Kristof’s speech at the Philadelphia Free Library. The basis of this new book focuses on the idea that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. So many people fail to reach their full potential because they lost the lottery of birth. In an astonishingly depressing statistic, Kristof stated that a child of professionals hears thirty million more words by the age of four than a child on welfare. A person goes through a tremendous amount of development within their first few years of life. The introduction of words leads to a greater vocabulary, which leads to an increased aptitude and ability to read at an earlier age. This gives a child an incredible advantage and boost in academics, leading to a more successful future and career. The fact that a large percentage of children are not receiving the same advantages that middle class children are receiving just because of their status at birth is outrageous, yet a harsh reality. These are the types of problems that Kristof and WuDunn shed light on in their book.

Another topic he touched on was what makes people give, or the psychology behind giving. People are more likely to give if a story is attached to the problem because it connects a face to where their donations are going to go, and appeals to a person’s emotions. Kristof and WuDunn take this into account when they write. Every topic that they present in their book is accompanied by a story on that subject. Their focus on storytelling instills a sense of empathy and compassion in readers.

 Nearly all of the stories that they tell have a positive arc, another unique element to Kristof and WuDunn’s storytelling approach. This positive arc creates a sense that the problems presented, whether educational disadvantages, or lack of access to resources, can get better, something that both authors are adamant about spreading. Kristof defines himself as an optimist despite the harshness of the world that he has reported on because of the chances and opportunities that he has seen in spite of adversity.

A Path Appears’ name came from a quote from famous Chinese essayist, Lu Xun, written in 1921. Xun wrote, “Hope is like a path in the countryside. Originally, there is nothing – but as people walk this way again and again, a path appears.” How, as a Friends community, can we make a difference and make ‘a path appear’? Volunteering, advocacy, and money can all create change. To become involved in an issue does not necessarily mean that we can solve it completely. Instead, we have the ability to make a significant impact on other people, which can be equally beneficial. The next time an opportunity is presented to you to help others and create change, do not shy away from the problem because it seems too big to tackle.  Take the words of Kristof and WuDunn to heart, and look at the problem in terms of the impact you can make for individuals because you can make a world of a difference for that one person who you do help.