The Blue Sweater changed my perception about the effectiveness of aid being delivered by NGO's and the premise of micro-financing. Previously, I thought little about donating money to any cause that advertised helping the situation in Africa. As she showed time and time again in her book, good intentions do not necessarily translate into the necessary results that are needed in order to resolve the challenges being faced by the people of Africa and elsewhere.

I enjoyed learning about the author's personal journey of growth and how she came to use her experience and education to eventually create Acumen Fund. The stories of success and lessons learned from both a personal and organizational perspective offer insight into how there is no one answer to resolving poverty and the issues associated them.

Their approach to "to using philanthropic capital to invest in scalable businesses that serve the poor with life-changing goods and services" seems to be working. I hope more organizations can model themselves after Acumen Fund and more people can model themselves Jacqueline Novogratz.

After reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time last year, I was super excited to read Stones into School. What had happened since the publication of his last book?

One of the main things I liked about this book was the fact that it was written by Greg himself. It made this one more special and personal.

I also enjoyed learning about how he has grown personally and adjusted to how CAI has matured into the larger entity it is today. The detailed stories of his newest staff members - their journeys and accomplishments are humorous and heartfelt. I don't know how he managed to do it but he found people as passionate and devoted to the cause of girl's education as he is himself.

Other special highlights include the incredible tale of building of a school in the most remote parts of Afghanistan, learning about the devastation caused by the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, and Greg's change of mind about the US military and their role in the countries.

If you liked Three Cups of Tea, you will be sure to love Stones into Schools. It will make you both laugh and cry.

Greg Mortenson is a man who truly makes a difference. His story needs to be told so more people can become of aware of what he is doing and help his cause.