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Dear Readers,
Since Leaving Microsoft to Change the World was published in 2006, I have met thousands of you in cities across the globe during what turned into a longer-than-expected book tour! I have been incredibly touched by people's reactions to the book and am thrilled to know that so many individuals share my belief in the power of education. I have always thought that the world needs more "action-oriented optimists" and together many thousands of us have created such a community around both Room to Read and Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.
Room to Read has experienced explosive growth as a direct result of your interest and action. What began as a vision to share my love of reading with children of a rural Nepali village has quickly become a global movement of promoting literacy and education. In 2007, we opened our 5,000th Reading Room and will add 1,900 more by the end of 2008! Thank you for helping us bring the lifelong gift of educations to 1.7 million children (and counting) worldwide!
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World is now published in 16 languages and was named by Amazon as one of the Top Ten Business Memoirs of 2006. As a first-time author, I thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me. As I travel the globe to speak to various organizations and groups, I look forward to meeting many of you and hope you will help us to spread the word about Room to Read's work by sharing the book with your friends, families and co-workers. Namaste, and thank you!
The Story
In 1998, John Wood was a rising executive at Microsoft when he took a vacation that changed his life. What started as a trekking holiday in Nepal became a spiritual journey, and then a mission: to change the world one book and one child at a time by setting up libraries in the developing world. He was soon driven to leave his career with only a loose vision of the change he wanted to bring to the world.
Over the next five years John would make the unlikely marriage between Microsoft business practices and the world of non-profits to create Room to Read, an organization that has created a network of over 5,500 schools and libraries throughout rural and poor communities in Asia and Africa.
The organization is now one of the fastest growing, most effective, and award-winning non-profits of the last decade. John has been recognized in the worldwide media as a "21st century Andrew Carnegie," building a public library infrastructure to help the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the lifelong gift of education.
In His Own Words
See John describe the book in his own words in this short video:
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Windows Media (6.94MB) QuickTime (35.6MB, requires QuickTime Player) |
Click here for a sneak peak of Chapter 1 (PDF, 118kB).
Praise for Leaving Microsoft
Publishers Weekly May 29, 2006 (Starred Review):
"It's a rare business book that not only provides savvy insights for better business practices but transcends the category altogether, to rank as an infectiously inspiring read. Wood takes the reader on an engaging journey . . . Wood endears himself to the reader with his introspection and honesty . . . Marked by sincerity and savvy, this is the kind of book that business colleagues will discuss with their acquaintances, spouses and friends."
Geoffrey Moore, author of Crossing the Chasm and Dealing with Darwin:
"In every life there are a handful of defining moments, junctures at which you and you alone define the person you become. So much of modern literature is an elegy of regret about failing to recognize these moments or lacking the courage to grasp them. John Wood did neither."
Invite John to speak at one of your events!
Razor-sharp business acumen honed at Microsoft, combined with a passion to change the world makes John Wood a unique, inspiring and popular speaker with universal appeal. His charismatic presentations focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, business, education and literacy, philanthropy and women's empowerment, as well as motivational messages about finding your passion in life, thinking big, and proving that anyone, with focused vision and determination, can make a significant impact on the world.
Click here for John's speaker biography.
To arrange a speaking engagement with John, please contact Lisa Hotchkiss at Room to Read: lhotchkiss@roomtoread.org or +1 (415) 561-3331.
