Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs

This is undoubtedly Yunus’ best and most useful book for it gives detailed advice to the interested reader how to create and run a social business. This doesn’t mean his first two books were simply anecdotic; they are fascinating reading and highly instructive as to how this man himself started out and landed one of the greatest social businesses so far created on the globe: Grameen Bank.I think that without knowing ‘the story’ one would simply be short of believing that it can be done, that we can really erase poverty by the novel institution of ‘social business.’ In fact, this extraordinary man was facing multiple obstacles, and while some of them were to be expected, the main obstacle was always and repeatedly lack of faith, lack of insight that the poor are trustworthy loan takers, and business partners. He didn’t want to establish a bank, he started out with working with banks, standing as a guarantor, and increasingly the banks were unwilling to cooperate with the argument that the poor ‘do not qualify for loans.’ As there was no real cooperation thus with banks, he simply resorted to the ultimate solution: to start a bank all by himself.I especially liked the Introduction of the book which is written in a very fluent style, outlining and anticipating the main ideas presented in the book.

One of the most useful books I have read and referred to on many occasions. As our cohort from the Workforce Development Advocate program of the California State University of Sacramento completes a long journey with this book Building Social Business: The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs by Muhammad Yunus. Yunus is also the co-founder of Grameen Danone and Veolia. The cohort had shared this book by presenting the information given in each chapter.This was one of the best ways to actually cover an entire book.Yunus dreamed of helping others and to end poverty. He created a micro-credit system to help poor woman establish a business in Bangladesh. This system is also known as Social Business. Some of his stories that he shares in the book are from some amazing people that are all trying to make a living. This second chance has made that happen. This book covers all that is needed in order to start-up a small business.I recommend this book to anyone wanting to start a business. It is also a great book to have in a business and marketing program at the high school level. I also recommend that any student looking for a community service project, entrepreneurship or social business.

I usually do not take the time to rate and review any book.I will invest my time in doing this now with this title, because I found it so much interesting and inspiring to people who wish to actively do something to improve the world we live in, to make it a fairer world and to cure poverty and other social diseases.I have been a witness of the decay of capitalism in modern times. As an economist, I agree with Mr. Yunus that something is not working well in our "systems", there is poverty all around the world and crisis episodes, such as the one we are still getting out, only exacerbate this and other social problems.Entrepreneurship has been a key element in our world's transformation. It brings together creativity, will, needs and dreamers to find a new way to address new or existing markets in a way actual enterprises do not do it. If you are a person who wish to start out a project, if you are involved right now in the Social Sector or if you just want to help improve the community you live in, this book is just meant to be yours.In its pages, Mr. Yunus describes in depth his concept of "Social Business", the building brick of a new kind of capitalism, a more social, more human and more environmental friendly type."Social Capitalism" Theory will re-define the "Homo Economicus" person to a new agent which looks out for generating Social Value and not only individual proftis. His concept is a squared and sounding theory and, most amazingly, has proved to be working in the distant country of Bangladesh. More than communicating an economic theory with a new approach, he's trying to open our eyes and show us that poverty can be alleviated and, with it, so much human suffering.At the end, it is all about Hope, of giving us back Hope that a better world can be created... and Bangadesh is leading the way, for the first time, a Developing Country is leading the race! A New World can be built, a world without poverty. What is needed is sharing new ideas and inspiring examples to move "dreamers" to take a more active role in their society's transformation. This books is those two things.You will really enjoy it!

A must read for everyone, specially if you want to do something for the world. Muhammad is a true visionary in this days.

Excellent book and an excellent Idea to eliminate poverty world wide.

Brilliant book !

Building Social Business is a wonderful and truly inspiring book.I'd recommend it to any enterpreneur, student, company worker... or anyone who believes in a much better world and wants to be part of it.

A book which should be on every teachers and educators shelf.It is more than just a book dedicated for the book shelf, ratherthan an encouragent to evaluate privatly owned current businessmodels, and community owned social businesses and enterprises.I found this book, analytical, well researched and a guideof things to come....