Five Books Every Social Entrepreneur Should Read

Social entrepreneurship is like a road trip. A trip with bends, contours, all shades of weather, and, depending on what you eat or drink on the way, a lot of stops. It's a journey that forces us to learn, unlearn and relearn while making our fair share of mistakes along the way.

As changemakers, social entrepreneurs have chosen to put purpose before profit and make our world a better place; a difficult task in a world filled with forces daily plotting to dehumanize humanity.

It's not enough to be passionate about making the world better, you need consistent empowerment to do so. And that comes with knowledge. For most social entrepreneurs, our knowledge plug today comes from various channels such as social impact documentaries, TV interviews, podcasts, and of course, books. If we rely solely on our experience to learn everything, then our impact rate would be slow.

Julius Caesar was right when he said, "Experience is the teacher of all things." But not all experiences have to be yours. Not all mistakes are necessary. By studying the journey of others, you can learn a lot easier and faster.

It's like a time machine. Reading enables you to visit the past and learn from events that happened long before you appeared on the scene. Many of the people you need to learn from are either dead or too far from you, both geographically and socially. But they have written books.

That's why I'll be sharing a list of books for social entrepreneurs. These are not my only favourites but those I have read, summarised, and learned things from that I could use in my journey.

To be clear, none of these books is going to give you a comprehensive answer. But they can inspire you to start your journey and learn from those who have learned from the past and contributed to the present. That said, let's dive in.

1.???Start With Why by Simon Sinek

When Simon Sinek gave that blockbuster TED talk in 2009, he etched his name in the hallways of social entrepreneurship. His book, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action will introduce you to one of his core ideas, The Golden Circle.

Drawing from history and a host of inspirational stories in contemporary times, Sinek reminds us that inspiring others, building organisations, and leading movements require us to first define why we do what we do. Those who start with Why can navigate the whats and hows.

2.??Building Social Business by Muhammad Yunus

If you are not new to the social impact space, chances are that the name “Yunus” sounds familiar. That's because, in 2006, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering microfinance and founding Grameen Bank.

Yunus’ work spans decades of dedicated service to humanity and if you’re looking for someone who understands the dynamics of social enterprise, he’s your plug.

His 2010 book, Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs explores what it means to be a social business.

It chronicles how social entrepreneurship has evolved over the years. The book also reveals a practical road map for starting and growing your social enterprise. Consider this as Social Entrepreneurship 101.

3.??The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change by Adam Braun

This book diarizes the incredible journey of the author who, while visiting India, had an encounter that inspired him to establish Pencils of Promise, an organization he began with only $25 that has built over 200 schools worldwide.

If the secret of successful people is in their stories, then Braun’s story is a treasure-trove of secrets embedded in his behind-the-scenes with business tycoons and town chiefs, renowned celebrities, and local heroes.

4.?Originals: How Nono-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant

This inspiring title from Adam Grant, a professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, uses contemporary stories to illustrate the importance of courage in innovation.

Adam Grant tells the story of Warby Parker’s founders, the TV show, Seinfeld and Martin Luther King Jr.

The book proves that nearly all of us have original ideas, but the majority of people lack the courage to pursue these ideas in spite of harsh criticism. Consider this a jab of courage to pursue your unlikely idea.

5.??Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life?by George Eliot

This classic comes at #5 because I have learned to save the best for the last.

George Eliot’s?Middlemarch?is unique.

First, it’s a novel. Second, it was published in 1871; long before social entrepreneurship became a thing. The novel explores society, self, human relationships, art, religion, science, and politics; showing what it means to live a meaningful life, even when it may not be extraordinary.

It ends with a compelling quote every social entrepreneur should paste on the cavass of their minds, “For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”

Books are not just ink and pulp. They are a collection of invaluable lessons scribbled through time. Each sentence is an expression of lessons that took the author blood, sweat, tears, time to learn. When we fail to appreciate their sacrifice, we risk repeating their mistakes and we miss the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants.

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