Building Social Business: The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity’s most pressing needs by Mohammed Yunus: Muhammad Yunus, the practical visionary who pioneered microcredit and won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has developed a new dimension for capitalism which he calls “social business.” By harnessing the energy of profit-making to the objective of fulfilling human needs, social business creates self-supporting, viable commercial enterprises that generate economic growth even as they produce goods and services that make the world a better place. Here, Yunus shows how social business has gone from being a theory to an inspiring practice, adopted by leading corporations, entrepreneurs, and social activists across Asia, South America, Europe and the US. He demonstrates how social business transforms lives ; offers practical guidance for those who want to create social businesses of their own ; explains how public and corporate policies must adapt to make room for the social business model; and shows why social business holds the potential to redeem the failed promise of free-market enterprise. Available at Howard-Tilton Library
Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad: Explaining that the world’s five billion poor make up the the fastest growing market in the world, Prahalad shows how this segment has vast untapped buying power, and represents an enormous potential for companies who learn how to serve this market by providing the poor with that they need. Available at the Tulane Business School Library
How to Change the World by David Bornstein: The book that got this blogger passionate about social entrepreneurship, it’s is a must-read for aspiring changemakers (or will convert you to one if you’re not already). It follows Bill Drayton and his organization Ashoka as well as the stories of various Fellows that Ashoka supports.Available at the Tulane Business School Library.
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: The title of this hugely influential 1936 book is somewhat self-explanatory, and is relevant to everyone’s life, not just in business. It includes sections such as “6 Ways to Make People Like You” and “How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking.” It may sound like manipulation and coercion, but it’s really about being convincing and making others want to join your team. Available at Howard-Tilton Library.
Poor Economics: A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo : POOR ECONOMICS argues that so much of anti-poverty policy has failed over the years because of an inadequate understanding of poverty. The battle against poverty can be won, but it will take patience, careful thinking and a willingness to learn from evidence. Banerjee and Duflo are practical visionaries whose meticulous workoffers transformative potential for poor people anywhere, and is a vital guide to policy makers, philanthropists, activists and anyone else who cares about building a world without poverty. Available at Howard-Tilton Library
The Ten Day MBA: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught in America’s Top Business Schools by Steven Silbiger: Save yourself two years and thousands of dollars with this book, which outlines the skills taught at America’s top-ten business schools’ MBA programs. Learn about leadership, corporate ethics and compliance, financial planning, real estate, and all the latest topics in the business world. Available on Amazon.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene: The book is a practical guide for anyone who wants power, observes power, or wants to arm himself against power. It has sold over 1.2 million copies in the United States alone and is popular with famous rappers,entrepreneurs, celebrities, athletes and actors including 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris,DJ Premier, Dov Charney, Brian Grazer, Andrew Bynum, Chris Bosh, and Will Smith. The book is intended to show people how to gain power, preserve it, and defend themselves against power manipulators. Though you shouldn’t be an exploiter of power, these laws are definitely important to understand because, for better or worse, it’s how much of the world works! Available on Amazon.