• Giving

  • How Each of Us Can Change the World
  • By: Bill Clinton
  • Narrated by: Bill Clinton
  • Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
  • 3.6 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Giving  By  cover art

Giving

By: Bill Clinton
Narrated by: Bill Clinton
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.50

Buy for $13.50

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Here, from Bill Clinton, is a call to action. Giving is an inspiring look at how each of us can change the world. First, it reveals the extraordinary and innovative efforts now being made by companies and organizations and by individuals to solve problems and save lives both "down the street and around the world". Then it urges us to seek out what each of us, "regardless of income, available time, age, and skills", can do to help.

Bill Clinton shares his own experiences and those of other givers, representing a global flood tide of nongovernmental, nonprofit activity. These remarkable stories demonstrate that gifts of time, skills, things, and ideas are as important and effective as contributions of money.

Clinton writes about men and women who traded in their corporate careers and the fulfillment they now experience through giving. He writes about progressive companies going green, about promoting fair wages and decent working conditions around the world. He outlines what we as individuals can do, the steps we can take, how much we should consider giving, and why our giving is so important.

Bill Clinton's own actions in his post-presidential years have had an enormous impact on the lives of millions. Through his foundation and his work in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, he has become an international spokesperson and model for the power of giving.

"We all have the capacity to do great things," President Clinton says. "My hope is that the people and stories in this audiobook will lift spirits, touch hearts, and demonstrate that citizen activism and service can be a powerful agent of change in the world."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2007 William Jefferson Clinton (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

What listeners say about Giving

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    67
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

compelling pitch

First, nothing beats listening to a book that is written and read by Bill Clinton. Setting aside politics, he's simply a great narrator. More importantly, his message is one that let's you know that you can help improve the world. Clinton takes the listener through a wide range of examples that he has seen, that have helped make the world a better place. If you are wondering how you can make a difference, this book will help answer the question.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Buy the hard copy book - the listen lacks

I love Bill Clinton's voice and narrations. His first book is excellent and a must listen... this book is more of a read if you are interested but do NOT listen to it. Again Clinton's narration is pleasing but the subject matter is NOT made for the audible format. Yes Bill..Giving is a noble trait ... and we get it. This is more of a book of lists and giving organizations than you can donate to. Great reference material but NOT a book for entertainment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Well Worth Reading - Regardless of Affiliation

In my opinion, this book is a "must read" for everyone. We all (or the vast majority of us) go about our daily lives and we fail to give thought not only to how much need there is in the world, but even more so to all of the resources that are out there that make it so easy for us to be involved. While having lunch with a friend, I mentioned that I was reading this book. She said, "Oh, I would never even pick up a book written by Bill Clinton, and I can't believe you would." I spent the better part of the remainder of our time together touting this book and all of the good that could be done if everyone in America would read and make application of it. Regardless of your political affiliation, or the lack thereof, you can and will benefit from reading this book.
I was especially impressed with the idea of directly involving children, as Mr. Clinton describes that he and Hillary do with their nephews. My son has always witnessed me doing and giving, but now, even at the age of 21, we are going to change this concept. He is in college, so I am going to provide the resources, but he is going to research what charity/organization he will support, and then I've asked that he report to me on the good that is being done -- and on a regular basis. It is the same concept as "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." Teach your children to give, and it may just become a way of life.
At times, especially in the last couple of chapters, the writer gets a little deep, but the positives of the books far outweigh the negatives.
Please take the time to read this book. Share it with others. Involve your children and your family in some of the wonderful opportunities for giving back that are set forth in this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Buy the hard copy

As much as I enjoy a good Clinton speech, this is not the book that shows off his talent as an orator. It's more like a catalog of all the great giving institutions. I think the premise of the book is great, but you need the hard copy to underline and highlight names of the wonderful organizations, so that you can figure out which ones to support with money, time or goods. The examples of the "social entrepreneurs" are inspiring, but a written handbook would be much more useful as a reference for your own pursuits.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 10-19-07

Terrible.

A litany of public service projects and NGOs laced with shameless political grandstanding. Reminiscent of a never-ending Clinton State of the Union address or political acceptance speech. Don't waste your money.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Let me say first that I am a great admirer of President Clinton. I voted for him (twice) and was saddened when he left office. As a narrator he is simply superb.

But there are two problems with the audiobook: First, the book's nature is more of a reference text than an inspiration. It's ultimate goal is to provide you ways to be philanthropic. Having the physical information in front of you is ultimately more useful than just an audio narration. Inspiration from this book may goad you to go out and buy the physical book itself as a reference text.

The second problem with the book is that some of the examples cited show a naivete surprising for a man such as Mr Clinton. For example: he continually cites the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation. Mr Gates built his wealth via predatory business practices that even today are being attacked in courts around the world. This is, essentially, blood money, and much akin to what Carnegie and Frick did 100 years ago when they built their empires and then relinquished them later in life. Reading about this was a true turn-off and it happened so early in the book that, to me, called into question a lot of what was written later.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A perfectly written book

A great book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book to be read with perfect intonations and inflections and I found the whole story to be highly intelligent. I found great relation in the protagonist and I further highly recommend this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I didn't enjoy this book.

I didn't enjoy this book. I probably approached it the wrong way but I was looking for a way on how Clinton left The White House dead broke and somehow to the Clinton Foundation to $197 million in investments. It wasn't a how to book on that at all. It was more of campaign speech that didn't age well. (he spent way too much time talking about light bulbs that would save the world but in reality were leapfrogged by LED lightbulbs.) Also the Harvey Weinstein name drop didn't age well either. I would just recommend listening to old campaign speeches to be honest.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

By now a bit outdated

It read bit like laundry list. Some ideas are still relevant today but overall it is a bit dated. Fortunately Clinton has a great voice to get you through the book. If you read it yourself you would probably struggle finishing it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring but....

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes and no.
The book is very inspiring but somewhat less applicable in my Danish society than it would be in America. I liked the last chapters most since they were about more international and broad issues.

Danish society is so that the population is less devided economically than the American society. Against the impression of most Americans, Danish (and European)

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Bill Clinton himself is very compelling and trustworthy. I always loved his voice and he is a good story teller.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It would be a documentary, but I would definately be interested.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!