Clay Water Brick
Publisher Spiegel and Grau/Random House, June 23, 2015
As a young child, Jessica Jackley had a simple desire — to help those less fortunate than herself. She started as so many of us often do, donating money to various charitable organizations, but she always wished that there could be something more: something more powerful, something more intimate and direct, something that would create a personal connection instead of a just a one-time, one-sided transaction.
That desire grew into a dream, and that dream turned into Kiva: the world’s first online micro-lending platform for the working poor. What started as an experiment ten years ago with just a handful of lenders and borrowers has since exploded into an international hub where people can lend as little as $25 to entrepreneurs in nearly 100 countries. Kiva loans top $700 million to date, the repayment rate is over 98.5%, and the platform has been heralded by headline makers such as Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and Oprah as a valuable giving resource.
“With only a dream and a lot of determination, Jessica Jackley founded Kiva, an organization that has empowered millions of people around the world. Clay Water Brick is the inspiring story of her own far-flung journeys as an entrepreneur, but it’s also a blueprint for anyone who wants to make the world a better place and find fulfillment in the process, no matter how scarce their resources or how steep the challenge.”
— Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post founder and author of Thrive
“Clay, Water, Brick is a tremendously inspiring read. Jessica Jackley, the virtuoso cofounder of the revolutionary micro-lending platform Kiva, shares uplifting stories and compelling lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, and character.”
— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take
“Jessica Jackley didn’t wait for permission to change the world, she just did it. It turns out, you can too.”
— Seth Godin, author of What To Do When It’s Your Turn
“Inspiring and insightful, Clay Water Brick is a book that you simply won’t be able to put down.
Jessica Jackley has created a timeless read for every aspiring entrepreneur.”
— Adam Braun, New York Times bestselling author of The Promise of a Pencil
“Clay Water Brick is a moving account of so many previously untold human stories, inviting the reader to think more universally about entrepreneurship and the role of business in driving positive change in the world. Jessica Jackley captures the spirit and the heart of the entrepreneur by sharing her own journey and shining a spotlight on a remarkable group of entrepreneurs from around the world and the perseverance that defines them. This is a powerful read for all, and whether you have an idea you want to pursue, an entrepreneur you can help support, or purely general interest, you will be inspired.”
— Blake Mycoskie, TOMS founder and Chief Shoe Giver, author of Start Something That Matters
