Description
Rebel with a Cause is the 2010 bestselling autobiography of Sir Ray Avery, ghostwritten in collaboration with prominent New Zealand journalist Paul Little. The memoir charts Avery’s extraordinary, improbable journey from a neglected, homeless street kid in the United Kingdom to an acclaimed New Zealand scientist, millionaire businessman, and globally recognized humanitarian.
A Traumatic Childhood
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- Details a bleak upbringing marked by extreme poverty, foster homes, and institutional neglect, mirroring an Angela’s Ashes-style childhood.
- Recounts running away to live on the streets, surviving on his wits, and overcoming early trauma to eventually train as a scientist.
Scientific Success and “The Garage”
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- Follows his migration to New Zealand, where he built a highly successful career as a pharmaceutical scientist and became a millionaire.
- Explores his unorthodox approach to development from his home garage in Mt Eden, Auckland, where he established a global network of experts working for free to solve massive medical problems.
Global Philanthropy and Legacy
- Focuses on his life-saving work in developing nations like Eritrea and Nepal, notably serving as the Technical Director for the Fred Hollows Foundation.
- Chronicles his inventions of low-cost, disruptive medical technologies—including cheap intraocular lenses for cataract surgery and highly efficient, inexpensive infant incubators.
- Outlines the philosophy that earned him the 2010 New Zealander of the Year award and a subsequent knighthood, while offering a candid, sometimes humorous look at his colorful personal life and his critical views on traditional aid agencies.
Paperback. First-Edition. 268 Pages. Very-Good Condition.
