• The Promise of a Pencil

  • How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change
  • By: Adam Braun
  • Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
  • Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (572 ratings)

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The Promise of a Pencil  By  cover art

The Promise of a Pencil

By: Adam Braun
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
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Publisher's summary

Adam Braun began working summers at hedge funds when he was just 16 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. When Braun asked the boy what he wanted most in the world, he simply answered, "A pencil."

This small request became the inspiration for Pencils of Promise, the organization Braun would leave a prestigious job at Bain & Company to start with just $25 at the age of 24. Using his unique "for-purpose" approach, he helped redefine the space in which business, philanthropy, and social media intersect. And a mere five years later, Pencils of Promise has now built more than 200 schools around the world, proving that anyone can create a movement that matters.

The Promise of a Pencil chronicles Braun’s journey through more than 50 countries to find his calling, as each chapter explains the steps that every person can take to ignite their own passion and potential. His trailblazing story takes listeners behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes. Driven by compelling stories and shareable insights, this is a vivid and inspiring book that will give listeners the tools to unlock their own extraordinary journey of self-discovery.

If you have ever wanted a more purpose-driven life, if you have ever felt like you could become more than your current circumstances allow, it’s time to ask yourself, "What do I want most in the world?" And through the lessons shared in this book, turn those ideas into reality.

©2014 Colleen Hoover (P)2014 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about The Promise of a Pencil

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Ignore negative reviews

This book was such a great listen. I would easily say it's one of my favorite biography to have read

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3 people found this helpful

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Promise of hope.

Engaging, insightful and hopeful. I wish all people had the drive passion and determination to create this kind of change in our world.

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3 people found this helpful

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Not Read By the Author

The story would have been more
compelling had it been read by the author. My favorite chapter was the last when I could hear the compassion and drive in the author’s voice. That’s just not delivered throughout the book. Something gets lost. Thank you for your work!

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1 person found this helpful

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Ready to change the world!

This inspiring story raises the bar in the readers to reach for their dreams and anyone can make a difference.

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1 person found this helpful

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Life changing

Would you listen to The Promise of a Pencil again? Why?

I've already listen to the book twice, there's always some wisdom or just some complement of information I like to get on the second read. This book has resulted in a life change for me because it made me realize further more that you make your dream job, it does not come to you. Also it's another example that you don't have to be only one thing, you can be more than a teacher, an economist, a lawyer...

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is definitely when the author sits down with his grand mother to tell her about the first school.

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Great premise, okay execution

We often hear about the plight of people in developing regions of the world, but seldom do people actually do something about it. Braun, to his credit, did something and launched Pencils of Promise, a charity dedicated to building schools in impoverished regions of the world. He takes readers from New York to Laos to Central America to Ghana and back again as he grows his charity. A hybrid of memoir, travel and business writing, the book tries to cater to multiple audiences.

I had a couple of issues with the book. First, the subtitle usage of 'Ordinary Person' is a huge stretch considering Braun previously worked at Bain and Company as a business consultant before starting PoP and was Ivy League-educated at Brown. He may have started very small, but he used the business management skills he learned from Bain to rapidly grow his charity to where it is now. Second, the book has multiple sections that can come across to some readers as self-congratulatory.

Despite the noted flaws, it's a good book about getting people involved in a cause. If it motivates people to donate to charities that operate in developing countries, than I'm thrilled.

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  • D
  • 03-02-23

Great story

Great story and vision and results from dreaming what can be achieved with a vision

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Inspiring

I really enjoyed this audio book from start to vision. The he stories told were very inspiring. For years I have had a dream to start a nonprofit but have felt overwhelmed by this dream. After listening to this book I feel more confident than ever and am making progress towards my dream every day.

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Life changing boom

I make a note to read / listen to this book once a quarter. For anyone who desires making in impact in their life, this book will help you make it a reality.

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  • Al
  • 01-13-22

Failures and successes

If you are thinking of starting or working for a “for purpose” aka nonprofit, AB and the journey of POP have a lot to offer. There’s a great story and many helpful “mantras” aka principles. Read it and you’ll pass it out to dreamers and for purpose friends or peers. I know I will. Thanks AB!

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