by Harrison, Scott (Social entrepreneur)
First published 2018
Scott Harrison chronicles his journey from morally empty nightclub promoter to social entrepreneur. At 28, Harrison lived a hollow existence promoting New York clubs, cycling through drugs, alcohol, and superficial relationships. A decade of this lifestyle left him desperately unhappy and searching for meaning. He made a radical choice to pursue the complete opposite of his former life. Harrison spent 16 months volunteering on a hospital ship in West Africa, where he discovered his purpose. In 2006, he launched charity: water with no funding and minimal nonprofit experience. The organization grew into a trusted global force, raising over $300 million and providing clean water access to more than 8.2 million people. Harrison details how charity: water disrupted traditional nonprofit models through complete transparency, innovative storytelling, and a 100% donation policy. This memoir reveals the practical challenges and personal transformation involved in building a mission-driven organization from scratch.
Genres: business, autobiography, social-issues, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, entrepreneurship, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-transformation, radical-change
Setting: Africa, New York, West Africa
Period: 2006, 2016
336 pages · Hardcover · Crown Currency