Book excerpt: The failure of attempts to tackle global poverty have bred cynicism and "compassion fatigue." Eradicating Extreme Poverty provides an urgently needed fresh approach which will re-energize action on this issue. Rejecting traditional "top-down" approaches, Xavier Godinot starts from the experiences, capabilities, and strategies of the poor themselves. He argues that the first step is a close connection with poor communities followed by a commitment to take action alongside them. Life-stories from Burkina Faso, France, Peru, and the Philippines are used to show that the poor must be involved in their own liberation. After decades of failed development policies, this book outlines a radical new approach which will enliven debate amongst policy-makers, researchers, students, and academics.