A Reading List for Social Impact Warriors
Ten book recommendations for anyone interested in the world of social impact.
By Caroline Barlerin
A lot of people ask me what books they should read to get into the social impact space. I love this question because there’s so much inspiration and knowledge to be gained from others who are experts in their impact areas and/or have lived many different lives.
Below are 10 of my top book recommendations (not in a particular order), spanning topics of philanthropy, microfinance, education, social justice, and more. Many should be available at your local library in addition to ecommerce sites and bookstores.
Read on and be inspired! Are any of your favorites not on the list?
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson: After graduating from Harvard Law School, Stevenson chose to set up shop in Alabama and commit himself to defending those most in need. His is a truly moving story (which became a feature film!).
Give Work: Reversing Poverty One Job at a Time by Leila Janah: The former founder and CEO of social enterprises Samasource and LXMI explained why she believed in giving work rather than charity. That might seem like a simple or obvious concept, but it overwhelmingly has not been the case in the history of impact.
Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas: Winners Take All challenges straight-on the idea that philanthropy and CSR in their current iterations are doing true good. While I don’t agree with all of his assertions, I welcome his call to critically assess how we are tackling social issues.
Rocking the Boat: How Tempered Radicals Effect Change Without Making Trouble by Debra Meyerson: This book is for anyone who wants to make positive change at their workplace but doesn’t know how. It’s an oldie but goodie.
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Muhammad Yunus: If you’re looking for a crash course on microfinance, Yunus is a great place to start, as he’s often referred to as the father of the movement. Banker to the Poor details his path to creating community development bank Grameen Bank.
Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh: Underneath this book’s blockbuster-worthy storyline is the bare reality of living in the projects of Chicago, which was much more layered than many of us probably realized.
Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol: Prepare to be shocked and outraged by Kozol’s exposé on the enormous inequalities between schools for the rich and the poor in the United States. It was originally published in 1991 but is still all too relevant.
Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever: In some ways, this is the precursor to Lean In. Read Women Don’t Ask for an academic perspective on gender inequality and lessons on how to negotiate confidently, as a woman or otherwise.
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard: Delve into the mind of the man who founded outdoor clothing company Patagonia, which is often seen as a shining example of a corporation with purpose.
Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman: The world is advancing at an increasing speed, primarily with respect to technology, globalization, and climate change. Friedman studies this phenomenon with a journalistic point of view and offers us ways to cope.
Looking for more inspiration? Here are simple steps to do good right where you are.
