Up and Doing: From Wall Street to Washington, a Life of Investing in a Better World

When everyone else says no, say yes. James Harmon has embraced that motto through a lifetime of adventures--brokering international deals, meeting the famous and the notorious alike, purchasing the song "Happy Birthday" for $18 million, and even wrangling congressional back-room dealings as CEO of the Export-Import Bank during the Clinton Administration. From the moment he arrived on Wall Street as a young investment banker in the 1970s, Harmon said yes to each new chapter. His journey begins in Italy and reaches a climax during post-Arab Spring protests in Egypt, where he works with the State Department to stimulate the local economy. At each stop, Harmon advocates for global change by examining the issues of our time, such as the economic empowerment of women and the urgent need for a carbon-free future. Harmon's words encourage us to embrace public service in ways big and small, from helping a local library to electing a president or bolstering a nation. A journey through a period of great change in American history and in one man's life, Up and Doing shows that we can grow wherever we're planted and that the best way to do well is by doing good.