SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 1, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The companies Tom Epley touched turned into gold; evidenced by his brilliant career in making over a dozen failing companies successful again. A key element of his success is the ability to see through the chaos of prevailing myths and opinions, and to replace that with clarity and insight. Now, this same capability is translated into an informative, mind-stretching yet readable book which dives into the subject of aid to Africa-and the radical changes the outside world and the sub Saharan countries must embrace to create some possibility of achieving substantive and lasting progress.
Epley dissects specific issues through the lens of firsthand observation and conversations with political leaders, war lords, every day citizens and the aid community; research; common sense; and business experience. In this book he reveals his incisive analysis of the key and publicized issues such as food aid, agriculture, leaders, corruption, forced elections, HIV/AIDS, micro-programs, red tape, property rights, and lawlessness. Epley develops a slate of thoughtful, groundbreaking and radically sensible solutions that could spur genuine long-term progress.
Most everyone comprehends the waste involved in aid and development, but he highlights and explains that it's much worse than just being wasteful-it creates culture-breaking damage. The book's prevailing theme is that the development of any society must be driven from within-be indigenous. All countries which are viewed to be successful and developed made it on their own. No countries which primarily relied on externally generated aid and development initiatives and funding have exhibited substantive and lasting progress. As stated by Peter Drucker, "Good intentions are no excuse for incompetence." Africa's greatest Plague has not been drought, famine, or disease, but rather the actions and results from the outside world's good intentions
For more information, log on to www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author
"Tom Epley's iconoclasm stands out in the crowd of well meaning but tired treaties on what to do about Africa. Epley's medicine of clear but tough thinking may be hard for some to swallow, but it might actually help address the pathologies that ails this tragic continent."-Geoffrey Garrett, President of the Pacific Council on International Policy; author of The Global Diffusion of Democracy and Markets
"Tom has done a brilliant job of translating his turn-around experience into strategies that can be used to be turn around countries in Africa. This seminal piece will become part of our curriculum at African Leadership Academy. We hope it will stimulate the future leaders of Africa to look at development issues in a refreshing new manner."-Fred Swaniker, Founder & CEO, African Leadership Academy.
"Tom Epley has done more hands-on turnarounds than just about anyone. He understands how to take a strategy and execute it well."-David Bonderman, Principal, General Partner, and Founder Texas Pacific Buyout Group; former COO Robert Bass Group.
The Plague of Good Intentions * by Thomas Epley
We Broke Africa Here's How to Fix It
Publication Date: 09/10/2008
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 299 pages; 978-1-4363-5868-2
Cloth Hardback; $29.99; 299 pages; 978-1-4363-5869-9
To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7479. Tear sheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Marketing Services. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876.
For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.