The Devex Book Club
Episodes
The food paradox: Why those who feed us can't feed themselves with Roger Thurow
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryAward-winning journalist Roger Thurow reveals how conventional farming practices are simultaneously depleting resources and failing millions of...
Vulnerability as risk: Garance Wattez-Richard on insuring the emerging middle class
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryGarance Wattez-Richard, CEO of AXA EssentiALL, discusses the transformative potential of inclusive insurance in addressing vulnerabilities, par...
Business in challenging markets: Viva Ona Bartkus on building businesses in fragile economies
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
SummaryDiscover why "business as usual" fails in the world's toughest places. Viva Ona Bartkus sits down with Raj Kumar to reveal the counterintuitive...
The Undergrowth Effect: Danny Sriskandarajah on unlocking citizen power
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From refugee camps to Oxfam's helm, Danny Sriskandarajah has witnessed firsthand how real change can happen—not in boardrooms, but on streets and in...
Design for billions: Inside the mind of Sanjay Purohit, a societal transformation expert
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to transform an idea from one that serves hundreds to millions, if not billions? Sanjay Purohit has spent his career aiming to crack...
Juan M. Lavista Ferres on "AI for Good"
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Devex Book Club podcast, President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Microsoft's Juan M. Lavista Ferres to talk abou...
Alex Amouyel on "The Answer is You"
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Doing meaningful work doesn't have to come at the expense of your whole life. In fact, Alex Amouyel argues that anyone can create a life full of impac...
Howard French on "Born in Blackness"
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reframing six centuries of world history in a single book is no easy feat. Doing it in lively, engaging prose that keeps you hooked the whole way thro...
Homi Kharas on "The Rise of the Global Middle Class"
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The middle class is the most successful group in world history, but today, it’s facing a bit of an identity crisis. The realities of automation, cli...
Rajiv Shah on "Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens"
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Like many of us, Rajiv Shah knew early on that he wanted to make an impact on the world, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. His book, "Big Bets:...
Sally Hayden on "My Fourth Time We Drowned"
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2018, Sally Hayden received a Facebook message from an unknown sender, a man claiming to be writing from inside a Libyan detention camp. The condit...
David Sengeh on "Radical Inclusion: Seven Steps to Help You Create a More Just Workplace, Home, and World"
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can you imagine a world where everyone belongs? For David Sengeh, Sierra Leone's Minister of Education and Chief Innovation Officer, the answer is "ye...
Stefan Dercon on "Gambling on Development"
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The developing world has undergone tremendous change in the last 30 years, mostly for the better. But some countries have missed the boat. Why? In "Ga...
Dan Runde on "The American Imperative"
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can America regain its position as a global leader? According to Dan Runde, author of "The American Imperative" and a a senior vice president at t...
Fatema Sumar on "The Development Diplomat"
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, Raj talks with Fatema Sumar, executive director at Harvard University's Center for International Development, to discuss her b...
Gaia Vince on "Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World"
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For our first episode, Raj sits down with Gaia Vince—award-winning science journalist, author, broadcaster, and speaker—to talk about her book, No...
Welcome to the Devex Book Club
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like every day there’s an exciting new book coming out on global challenges like poverty and climate change. Are you fascinated by books li...