The Power of Half Book Review: What a Book!

The Power of Half: One Family's Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back, by Kevin and Hannah Salwen.

I LOVED this book!!! My 60th birthday is so close I can taste it, and I have been reflecting on my life. Have I done anything good? Have I been a charitable person? Have I set a good example for my children? Is it too late for me to set that example for my children and grandchildren? I hope it's not!! And let me tell you this book is a great place to get the brain juices flowing.

I do believe that helping others is a huge thing. There is a quote in this book, "He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself" (Michel de Montaigne, French essayist). I BELIEVE this!!! I believe that a person who looks for and does things to help others whenever possible is a healthier person mentally and physically! The person helping out is not sitting around thinking how miserable they are, focusing on their problems. If you do not believe me, then when you are having a bad day, get up, get dressed, and go to an animal shelter for a couple of hours. Ask if you can volunteer to walk dogs, brush dogs or just pet them. See if you are not a happier person when you leave. Okay, maybe you do not have my passion for animals, find a soup kitchen. Serve food with a smile on your face, go to a senior center, read to someone who can no longer read themselves... There is something you can do and I guarantee you will be a more fulfilled happier person for doing it!!

The Salwen's did not do this gesture of selling their house and donating half to help others to be in the spotlight. In fact they really wanted no part of the spotlight, but changed their minds when convinced it could help the cause. The Salwen's make it very clear in this book that no one expects you to sell your house or do anything that is not possible for you to do. They made this decision for the family connection it gave them. Read the book to understand, but let's face it, in this age of TV, video games, iPods, phones that do almost anything, and other isolating technology, who is not losing a piece of their connectivity with their families?

If you have ever said the words, "I should do something" or "I should do more", but haven't because you have no plan, then this book may be for you. This book will help you see things differently. I could go on and on, but I hope you will have the enjoyment of reading the book as I have.


I loved the organization that the Salwen's chose to work with. They chose after serious deliberation, the Hunger Project (thp.org). I liked this organization because I agree with their theory. The Hunger Project is very strict about how things happen. They realize that funding is needed, but they require that the natives do the work. In this way, they teach the people to be self sufficient and not become dependent on hand outs. This in turn leaves the villager with pride in their accomplishments and the ability to teach their children to work and have pride and self esteem in what they do. Such as the adage: give a child a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a child to fish and you feed them for life. I like this!! I do believe when you hand over stuff to a person long enough and expect nothing in return, you take away their pride, self esteem, and in the end their belief that they can function independently.

My personal heart to help does not take me out of the U.S., not out of my state, not even out of my community. There is so much that can be done probably within less than 30 miles from your front door.
This is a GREAT read!! Read it with with your spouse, your family, or alone. It will encourage you and make you think. There is so much more that I have not even touched on. Kevin Salwen and his daughter Hannah Salwen wrote the book. Hannah is an amazing 14 year old girl when this journey starts. The input that she brings to this book will just blow you away!!

Let me leave you with a few websites that Hannah included. These can help lead you to find a place to volunteer that will be a good fit for you or for you and your family. This will not only help you, but others at the same time.

www.learningtogive.org (click on youthworkers, and go to the youth activities section).
www.sharesavespend.com (teaches children about money, has some great ideas in their packet of "Discussion Starter Fun Cards.". Some are better for younger children, some for older.
www.feelgoodworld.org ( a good one about the realization that just giving food to people does not solve their problem, but helping to give them their power back and inspiring them to get out of poverty!
You can also just google volunteering and it will help you find places in your area.

The main thing is to DO!! Don't just think about it, go and do it!! Hannah says my dad always tells me, "All you can do is all you can do". I say the operative word there is DO!!!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!! I cannot wait for my three girls to read it.

You can find The Power of Half in any local bookstore or online. You can also visit their website at www.ThePowerofHalf.com . I would love to hear what this book motivates you to do.


*I received a copy of this book for my review. The opinions expressed in this review are those of my moms. I do also intend on reading this amazing book!