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Its very difficult to find a book that feels like both a sermon and a self help journal in one.

That's what Bryant's latest book does. On every page, you hear a call to the consciousness of America and every struggling American. It's a voice that rings loud and true: America is a land of opportunity for all people. But first you have to believe in yourself. "Half of poverty," says Bryant, "is a lack of self confidence. It’s a lack of confidence in your self. It’s a lack of belief. If you do not know who you are in the morning by dinnertime someone is going to tell you." So begins Bryant with the rousing air that makes you sit up and listen, like a sweating preacher in a hot church.

He's speaking the language of everyday people: He often reminds them that there’s a difference in being broke and being poor. Being broke is economic, yes. But being poor is a disabling frame of mind and a depressed condition of your spirit. And you must vow to never be poor again. If I don’t like me I’m not going to like you. If I don’t feel good about me I’m not going to feel good about you. So begins his sermon of self empowerment through self belief. And that theme resonates on every page. Inspired by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bryant lifts your heart and your mind. "Freedom and liberty and justice and fair play are not things; they are feelings!" Freedom, he repeatedly reminds us, is self determination.

Which brings us to the second key element of the Bryant message and movement: The free enterprise system provides all the tools you need to empower yourself. Whatever its flaws, capitalism and inclusion in it, is the only path to rebuilding the middle class in America. He is a staunch believer in the power of banking, finance and business in America, not for its own sake, but for the preservation of the economy for everyone, despite race, color, class or geography.

He doesn't just make that assertion; he then sets forth a practical plan to go from dependency and depression to self reliance and personal growth. A blueprint. A road map. Bryant calls it "the memo." The memo on money and business, which he says most Americans never received. Historically, the drafting of this memorandum was begun by President Lincoln in 1865 after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which he initiated the Freedmen's Bureau Bill -- with the specific intent of bringing the freed slaves in the American system of making money and building business, the American way. Sadly, that memo went undelivered after Lincoln was shot to death. Nearly 100 years later, Dr. King sought to deliver that message in the Poor People's Campaign (not the poor black people's campaign), which fought for jobs and freedom for the struggling classes of America. King too was shot to death, leaving the memo once again, undelivered.

How the Poor Can Save Capitalism is intended to delivery the Memo to the teetering classes of American's (a term coined by Bryant to show how poverty knows no class or color).

What an ambition! Through what his organization calls Project 5117, he plans to create the nation's first private banker for the poor, the working class and the struggling middle class. It contains concrete plans for creating a network of bankers and lenders and counselors to teach America the language of money, unabashedly, unapologetically. How to save. How to elevate your credit worthiness. How to start a business. How to keep your house, America's hedge fund. How to think about money. A plan for self improvement using the system we already have in place. So simple, yet such a radical movement of common sense.

If you have a family, if you want to make a brighter future for them and yourself. If you care about your community. Your country. Our future, you have got to read this book. Plan to be inspired. Plan to be moved. As Bryant sees it, this is a movement for the soul of America, no less than the fight for Civil Rights and equal opportunity. It's a rare vision and a rare voice. Listen to it. See it for yourself.

Good book by an inspiring leader, but I think the book has 2 faults; 1) while the book is billed as a way to help the poor, very frequently the author seems to bring race into the conversation. While clearly there are ties between the two and the author has a great deal of personal passion for racial equality, I think this detracts from the potential and accessibility of a book whose title and assumed focus has no direct ties to race. Instead of the book seeming like a set of problems & solutions for poverty in America, it may come off as problems & solutions for blacks in poverty in America. Whether or not this is the author's intention, personally I think this may limit the broader appeal and impact of the book. Why not present he issues and solutions in a color-blind way so as to make the book appeal to the wider population?
2) There are many sections that seem overly long and filled with 'fluff' anecdotes or rehashing of general points already made previously in the book. This is not a book heavy on stats or analysis, and reads to me more like how a politician would talk about poverty, as opposed to an economist, professor, or scientist. Perhaps that's the intent, but the book feels a little 'light' to me in terms of real content.

was informative. states problem doesn't give enough solutions. Economic and political solutions are needed. A movement or an awaking of the poor and middle class to do better at supporting each other and not outsides is needed. Jobs are needed, vocational schools are needed, and term limits for politicians to stop corruption and self interest of rich and big business over the constituents that put them in office

This book is spot on; it should be in every high school and college! Not to mention, book study groups. It's time for all eyes to be open and not asleep.

Nothing really new to see here. A bunch of feel goodery rhetoric that any halfway critical thinker has already concluded. Nonetheless, the information is good to share for those who have not already delved into the psychological aspects of what is wrong with the economy.

The book is good to have to share with others and a conversation starter, but probably won't add much for you if you are already in the mindset of purchasing this book.

I loved it. In the beginning the writing seemed a bit jagged, but then the author hit his stride and it flowed. I believe he offers practical approaches and supports his suggestions by recounting researched, historical events and data. I would highly recommend it to anyone or to any organization that would like to apply practical and meaningful change to the many problems that plague our urban cities. I would urge our politicians to read it and embrace his findings since they seem to have given up on practical approaches to problems that seem to persist and become generational over and over. Yet, they often exclaim whenever they hear criticism about something they support, "This is the greatest country of all!" I'd like to ask, "For whom...?"

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It aligns with what I hope to do as a pastor. I may assign this as a book for our High School Book Club at the church so our young people are empowered for themselves, our community, and our country. How the Poor Can Save Capitalism is a powerful tool!

This is an outstanding book from John Hope Bryant. It outlines a strategy for helping to eradicate poverty across al races, cultures and all people. It is well written and well thought out with a sound plan for achieving this. I have faith and hope that plan will be implemented to success. I highly recommend this book!!!.