A review of The Poverty of the Nations: A Sustainable Solution by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus, (Crossway: Wheaton, IL), 2013, 398 pages.

I feel overwhelmed when people refer to a book as a “must read.” If I read all of the “must read” books that have been recommended to me in the past year, I would have to quit my job in order to read each one. So I will not heap one more “must read” on you in this review. However, if you are particularly interested in the issue of poverty, then I do highly recommend that you have this book in your library. I will also provide you with my advice on how you can read it quickly and still glean from its contents.

This book is an excellent example of the integration of two disciplines. Wayne Grudem is the research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary and holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Barry Asmus is a senior economist at the National Center for Policy Analysis and holds a PhD from Montana State University. Together they tackle the difficult issue of poverty, seamlessly drawing from their disciplines and setting forth a very thoughtful and comprehensively documented perspective, which provides a way forward for overcoming poverty. They describe this book as a “several-year project to combine the findings of modern economics with the teaching of the Bible in an attempt to solve the age-old problem of world poverty” (p. 21).

It is important to note what the goal of this book is and what it is not. First, what the goal is not. As a professor and a pastor, I seek to encourage my students and parishioners to have an impact in the social issues that we face in our culture. The gospel is not just the proclamation of a message; it also entails a life that gives evidence to kingdom realities. As believers, we are to be ones who proclaim a message and also live out the necessary implications of that message to those around us. Having an impact on the poverty around us is to be of importance to us. Students actively engage this issue. Our church has a Food Bank and a Benevolence Fund in order to assist those who are in need. How are we to seek to impact poverty in a way that is beneficial to our culture? Good question. Christians need to be asking this kind of question. But this book does not answer this question in a direct manner. It will offer implications, which can be helpful and encourage deeper discussions, but this is not the primary concern of the book.

Second, what the goal is. The goal of this book is much bigger than poor people in an affluent culture like the United States of America. Look at the title and see the word “Nations.” They are seeking to address poverty at the nation level. The first sentence of the first chapter sets forth their goal as “to provide a sustainable solution to poverty in the poor nations of the world, a solution based on both economic history and the teachings of the Bible” (p. 25). They state further,

“Our solution does not claim that everyone can be equally well-off. Some people will always be richer than others, and therefore some will be (relatively) poorer. But the solution we propose explains practical steps that any poor nation can take. These steps will lead the nation out of the poverty trap and into a path of ever-increasing prosperity that will often lift almost everyone in the nation to a better standard of living. This solution will permanently open opportunities for even the very poor to gain increasing prosperity” (25).

So they are writing to nations. The book is only helpful as national leaders read, understand, and implement the conclusions. It is a book that must reach the highest levels of decision-making in poverty-stricken nations for it to be effective. This is quite a lofty goal, and it is fascinating to read the way they approach this issue and develop their thesis.

To accomplish their goal, they explain seventy-eight distinct factors that provide both the reasons for why a nation is in poverty and the pathway for a nation to become prosperous. The book is organized in a very helpful format. First of all, they provide a “Detailed Contents” (outline of sorts) so that the reader can see how they are approaching the topic. This detailed summary of the contents is eight pages long. Second, they provide a five-page “Appendix” that serves as an overview of the factors that enable a nation to overcome poverty. Both of these helps enable the reader to access the aspects of the book that might be most helpful. Readers can pick-and-choose what parts of the book might be most important from their perspective. For me, the appendix serves as the perfect summary of the book. Read it and in many ways you understand the remainder of the book. It is very valuable.

A secondary goal became obvious to me as I read the book. It also serves as a warning to nations, which might be more prosperous. It was actually frightening to consider the path that the United States of America might be on. It was thought-provoking to consider new policies in my government in light of the conclusions of this book. I would dare state that the thesis of this book leads me to the conclusion that the U.S.A. is on a collision course with increasing poverty if we stay on our present path.

This is a book that can be read deeply or quickly. It is written in a very reader-friendly manner, and it is very organized. Begin by reading the “Detailed Contents” (11); then, read the “Appendix” (369-373); and, from there, read every page or pick-and-choose what you would like to read. No matter the approach you take, you will learn from this book. It is a valuable resource in this important issue of poverty. In fact, it may be a “must read,” but I will spare you that designation.