"Changing the world isn't a task exclusively for the extraordinary. Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World is a collection of true-life stories of common, everyday people who have made a massive impact on the world as we know it. Hoping to inspire thousands of readers to make their own difference, "Being the Difference" is a singularly motivational read."
- Able Greenspan, Midwest Book Review
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"The author's profiles were all insightful, engaging and well-written. The scope and variety of the subjects described was equally impressive. It was amazing to read about ordinary people inspired by a moment of awareness who went on to make a difference in the world. The author described incredible people who on a daily basis do the seemingly impossible from helping those in war torn Sudan to the simple and invisible like making schoolyards a healthy and safe place for children to play. He did so in incredible detail without being too sanguine or Pollyanna-ish. He showed the reader their humanity -- thereby sharing with the reader the possibility that these acts can be duplicated by anyone, anywhere, with enough drive and most importantly, compassion."
- Writer's Digest (commentary)
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"Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World" by Darius Graham is an inspiring compilation of stories about thirteen highly motivated individuals who take volunteer work to the next level. Either driven by a personal experience or by sheer passion to help those in need, these people set out with a mission to take matters in their own hands and "be the difference. This book is for anyone who has ever had the desire to be of service to our fellow humankind. Being the Difference shows a spectrum of projects in action around the world set into motion by these selfless and generous people. It also proves we do not need huge (if any) financial backing to make a grand difference in improving the situation of someone in need. Graham offers a moving and encouraging bit of work. Reading this book has certainly stirred a desire within me to make a difference in my own community."
- Jeneke Lesak, Rebecca's Reads
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"Readers will be inspired by the woman who readily opens the doors of her one-bedroom apartment to children with nowhere else to go; heartened by the AIDS survivor who advocates fiercely on behalf of other AIDS patients unaware of their rights and options for medical treatment; encouraged by the former drug addict who continues to change lives through a play that he wrote about overcoming his addictions; and moved to tears by the woman whose tireless efforts to provide housing and employment for released offenders benefits countless of ex-convicts - including the one who murdered her oldest son.
Given the current state of the global economy and general living conditions, Being The Difference is a timely, invaluable example of just how important it is to live our lives as blessings to others; no matter how little a difference we may think we're making, what's important is that we continue to strive to make a difference - period."
- Cary Merriman, Apex Reviews
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"Thirteen different stories are presented in this book and each one
of them is inspirational and/or unique in its own way. Matt D'Arrigo is
one of the individuals who shares his story and it was the love of art
that encouraged him to found his own organization. He decided that he
wanted to spread the message about art and he walked all the way from
Oregon to San Diego before founding ARTS (A Reason to Survive). Fay
Deavignon is another person featured in the book. Her passion was
helping the less fortunate in a foreign land. She learned about the
nation of Uganda and the special problems its people faced every day
when she visited the country with her mother's caregiver. She ended up
founding Angels of Hope and she would make more trips in the future to
setup free clinics. These, and other stories like them, are each
inspirational in their own unique ways.
Change isn't always easy. But like Being the Difference
accurately demonstrates, change is, indeed, possible to achieve and
these thirteen social entrepreneurs are living proof of the important
difference that an individual person can make."
- Bryan Carey, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
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"Graham offers an inspiring voice for our generation. Being the Difference imparts the phenomenal lesson that everyday citizens can impact humanity by being, as Gandhi states, "the change they wish to see in the world." I applaud Graham for his past advocacy and the sincere mission represented by this endeavor. I am encouraged to be the difference!"
- Elijah Heyward, Youth Scholars Academy
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"Many people have a vision to start something that will change the
world, but many people never do it, because they never take the
iniative to be the difference, for this very reason, many people die a
"could've been". This book has helped me realize that you don't need a
lot of money to make a difference, nor do you need a staff of 100 to
change lives. I will suggest this to every mentor, community leader,
and leader. After reading this book, I have realized not only am I
going to be the difference, but I am going to make a difference."
- Shevrin D. Jones, www.leadnation.org
