Washington, DC

Book Event: Bullshit without Borders

America/New_York (EDT)
until 7:30 PM
Busboys And Poets · Washington

Book Event: Bullshit without Borders takes place on Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM (EDT) at Busboys And Poets in Washington, DC, and runs until 7:30 PM. Entry is free; the listing is on Luma.

About this event

Susan M. Davis launches her book *Bullshit without Borders* on Global Handwashing Day. The event features an informative examination of how charity often fails and offers a radical rethink of global aid strategies. Visitors will hear about shocking truths regarding poverty alleviation systems from the author's decades of experience.

Full description from organizer

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day. Come celebrate with a lively book event launching "Bullshit without Borders: Let's Change the Way We Change the World" by Susan M. Davis; published by Ripples Media.About the book (available for sale now): Kirkus Reviews: "An informative, invitingly readable examination of how charity goes wrong and how it might be fixed." Amazon #1 Hot New Release in Philanthropy & CharityFor the next generation of changemakers who care too much to settle for just good intentions. The system of “saving the world” is broken—and it’s time to call bullshit. After seeing good intentions lead to bad outcomes in 30 countries, international development veteran Susan M. Davis is challenging the sacred cows of the aid industrial complex. She urges a radical rethink of how Global North outsiders approach social impact, starting with listening to the people closest to the problem. Drawing from three decades of experience, from a scrappy startup that became Water.org to managing a multi-million-dollar USAID contract, Davis reveals the shocking truth: the system designed to end poverty may be perpetuating it. For example, half of all charitable water projects fail today, just as they did in the 1980s. Bullshit without Borders is a provocative, self-implicating, and often hilarious exposé of the weird world of global aid. Davis pulls back the curtain on: The Voluntourists: Why the feel-good fantasy reinforces power imbalances. The Celebrity Foundations: How vanity projects drain resources from effective grassroot organizations. The Alphabet-Soup INGOs: How billion-dollar agencies measure success by activities completed rather than lives transformed over time. With unflinching honesty both endearing and uncomfortable, Davis uncovers the sector’s most oft-repeated mistakes. Each chapter closes with a C.R.A.P. (Curious Reflection and Provocation) to encourage a mindset reset. Essential reading for anyone brave enough to question how those with privilege can truly “help” others and those determined enough to do better. We've been trying to change the world for a long time. It's time to change the way we do it.

Category
Literary
Tickets
Luma
Organizer
Personal
Time zone
EDT
Updated

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Details

When
Thu, Oct 15, 2026 · 5:30 PM (EDT) · until 7:30 PM
Where
Busboys And Poets
Address
Busboys And Poets, 4251 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206, USA
Price
Free
Genre
arts, books

Questions

When is Book Event: Bullshit without Borders?
Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM EDT.
How much are tickets for Book Event: Bullshit without Borders?
Entry is free.
Where is Book Event: Bullshit without Borders?
Busboys And Poets, Busboys And Poets, 4251 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206, USA, Washington, DC.
Where can I buy tickets for Book Event: Bullshit without Borders?
Tickets are sold on Luma. This page links straight to that listing; no tickets are sold here.
What time does Book Event: Bullshit without Borders end?
It runs until 7:30 PM.

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