Seb Hunter spends a year devoting himself to charitable works, from working in an Oxfam shop to aiding asylum seekers, from walking the streets picking up litter to running in a marathon. This book is a diary of his years activities, and it makes for a very entertaining read, at times hilarious, at others heart-warming, and frequently though provoking.

It is an honest and frank account, warts and all, and nowhere does Seb come across as self congratulatory. In the process he raises awareness of a number of issues, be it the practices of charitable organisations or the unreasonable complexities associated the process of seeking asylum.

Does it all make Seb a better person, well you'll have to read the book to find out; but along the way you'll be greatly amused, perhaps occasionally angered at the bureaucracy those in need of help are faced with, and possibly be a better person for it. ( )

19 Dec 2009 - Borders closing down sale

This one was on my wishlist so I snapped it up in the Borders sale. Seb, a jobbing writer with some time on his hands, has a think about how his parents' generation almost automatically does good deeds, charity work, etc and decides to try doing the same, to see if it makes him a better person. He therefore takes up a few different volunteer jobs, including working in an Oxfam shop, litter-picking, working with asylum seekers and taking up running for charity. It's an amusing read but he does also make some serious points as well and does indeed feel he becomes a better person. I liked the bits about running, of course, which I hadn't expected, but the whole thing was a good read.

I'm going to register this on BookCrossing as it's the type of book I know BCers like to read. ( )