Customer Reviews

Companies With a Conscience: Intimate Portraits of Twelve Firms That Make a Difference

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I just read this book for a course I'm taking, and while it is a little outdated it is the best look at "socially responsible" business people that I have been able to find. I would like to find out what these companies are up to today and hope the authors have an update in mind.

Finally! An entertaining and perceptive book about socially responsible companies that clearly shows how some of the best in the business are combining ethics and profitability over the long haul. The chapters on Ben & Jerry's, Patagonia and Celestial Seasonings reveal insight that I have not seen elsewhere - largely because of the insider's perspective that the authors gained from studying these firms so closely for over 10 years. But the chapters on lesser-known enterprises like ShoreBank, Sunrise Medical and America Works may be the real gems, detailing the various ways they are really improving their customers' lives while functioning successfully under the constraints of a for-profit world. (Of course, as a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, I am obviously partial to the chapter that describes how community minded the team is!) This is truly a great read, and will definitely prove valuable to anyone who would like to imbue their business with the kind of values that are all too rare today.

A terrific little book that's inspiring and entertaining for both employers and employees. I'm glad to know it's ending up on the required reading lists of so many business schools. As someone who runs a fairly large company, I found the chapter on "The 13 Lessons of Conscientious Leadership" a great addition to my "managerial toolbox ".

Don't know about now, but just as an example, according to a report in 1998, Espirit made some of its clothes in sweatshops paying as little as $0.13 per hour and horrible working conditions. You call that a socially responsible company?