Skip to content
Responsive image
Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories

THE PROMISE OF A PENCIL

Adam Braun

How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change

The inspiring memoir of a young man who traded a lucrative career in finance to found Pencils of Promise—the groundbreaking organization that started with $25 and has now built more than 150 schools around the world.
Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling as a college student, he met a young boy begging on the streets of India who would change his life. When Braun asked the boy what he wanted most in the world, he simply answered, “a pencil.” This small request became the inspiration for the organization Braun would one day start, taking him on a journey through more than fifty countries and into the heart of self-discovery. His unique “for-purpose” approach reversed the traditional non-profit playbook, and in doing so helped redefine how modern movements are created. The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey to find his calling; each chapter explains the steps that every person can take to discover a meaningful life. His trailblazing story takes readers behind the scenes with CEO’s and village chiefs, business moguls and world-famous celebrities. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give readers the tools to unlock a sense of purpose, passion, and meaning in their own lives.

Adam Braun is the Founder and CEO of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning nonprofit organization that has built more than 150 schools across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and delivered over 10 million educational hours to children in poverty. PoP was founded with just $25 and has grown under Braun’s stewardship with his unique approach that blends nonprofit idealism with for-profit business principles. In 2012, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List.
Available products
Book

Published 2014-03-18 by Scribner

Book

Published 2014-03-18 by Scribner

Comments

Chinese (complex): Business Weekly Publications Japanese: Asuka Shinsha Korean: Book House

For anyone with a big dream to transform the world, this book will show you how to get it done.

Adam Braun is one of the most charismatic, energetic, forward-thinking people in the world today. This book is a perfect step-by-step guide to building the life you've always wanted on your own terms. Pay attention to the details and apply them to your passions. Go now! Start reading and don't put the book down until you're finished.

Adam Braun is a leader amongst an emerging generation of change makers who are proving that every person can be a force for positive change. His inspiring work is truly giving children around the world hope and the opportunity for a better future.

THE PROMISE OF A PENCIL debuts at #2 on The New York Times Bestseller list (general nonfiction) April 6

With relentless optimism and the idealism of a seasoned traveler, Adam Braun tells an incredibly personal story about his journey from student to philanthropist. What's so extraordinary about Braun's story is how he built a simple gesture of kindness - one pencil for one child --into a movement that has inspired and influenced a new generation of philanthropists and entrepreneurs. And he's just getting started.

Adam’s story is iconic and riveting. The Promise of a Pencil will inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs and persuade readers to lead lives of purpose.

Adamnails a truth we live by. The biggest difference between the person who livestheir dream and the person who continues to dream is their decision to take thefirst step--even if the second step is unknown. Honest and entertaining. A great read.