Bullshit Without Borders: Let’s Change the Way We Change the World

A discussion with visiting author and organizer Susan M. Davis, with local book coach and mentor, Nina Miller.

Bullshit Without Borders is for the next generation of change-makers 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.

About the Author:

Susan M. Davis has spent three decades wading through the murky waters of global development—and isn't afraid to tell you what's lurking beneath the surface. Her book, Bullshit without Borders, uses humor and hard-won wisdom to dissect everything the aid industry gets wrong—and make the case for doing it better. She has held senior roles at international water charities, a USAID contractor, and a family foundation She founded Improve International, a consultancy focused on learning from failure in development. Her work spans 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. She co-teaches a social impact course at Georgia Tech and lives in the DC metro.