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Muhammad Yunus

Karl Weber

Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity's Most Pressing Needs Hardcover – Bargain Price, May 11, 2010

by Muhammad Yunus (Author)

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Muhammad Yunus, the practical visionary who pioneered microcredit and, with his Grameen Bank, won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has developed a visionary 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.

In this book, 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.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

PublicAffairs
Publication date

May 11, 2010
Dimensions

9.52 x 6.36 x 0.93 inches
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Editorial Reviews

Review

CHOICE, September 2010
“In nine short, well-written chapters, Yunus provides genuine insight into global poverty and a unique perspective on the ways in which social businesses can coexist with traditional businesses to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of the world's citizens.”

Malaysia Star, July 10, 2010“’Social business is about joy,’ says Yunus. Indeed, and the book itself is joy to read. In modest prose, Yunus tells of undertakings that instill hope. He also gives a lot of ideas, along with nuts-and-bolts practical advice for people who are ready to take the plunge into the world of social business. In the years to come, it seems certain that social business will become an integral part of our economic structure and will positively change the lives of many people.” Daily Times (Pakistan), August 7, 2010“Yunus may be an astute (social) businessman, but he also has a savvy side. He is quick to point out that working for any social business does not mean lowering one’s standards, for they offer employees competitive salaries and benefits; it simply means not profiting from the poor…Yunus has a Nobel Peace Prize 2006 (shared with Grameen Bank) to show for his efforts, and is already playing around with the building blocks of a new poverty-free world order.” The Spectator, June 2010“[A] reminder that capitalism can take kindlier forms: microfinance pioneer Yunus explains how he believes social enterprise can redeem what he regards as the failed promise of free markets.” Sacramento Book Review, June 22, 2010“Giving poor people the resources to help themselves, Dr. Yunus has offered these individuals something more valuable than a plate of food, namely security in its basic form…. Dr. Yunus has invoked a new basis for capitalism whereby social business has the potential to change the failed promise of free market enterprise.” The Independent, June 6, 2010
“There are times when Professor Yunus' aims for Glasgow sound like something out of the Conservative's "Big Society" pitch. His latest book, Building Social Business, is 300 pages of Big Society pleading for people to go out there and create businesses which generate cash and contribute to the greater good at the same time.” Daily Star (Pakistan), August 1, 2010“Even a hard-core skeptic would find it difficult not to dream once the magic of Dr Muhammad Yunus' words as presented in the book start to make sense.” Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2010“I found much to admire here and in the man, whose work I have long respected. The book is a refreshingly easy read... [Yunus] fills his book with practical examples, tactics, ideas, and insights.” BusinessWorld (India), September 25, 2010
“Yunus’s approach is balanced and practical. There is no sermonising or the usual ‘we are from the not-for-profit sector and do gooders so we know best’ approach… one cannot but marvel at Yunus’s intense attempts to champion the cause of eradicating poverty. His is a case of a noted economist making a journey into the real world to face real problems and happily using his personal brand to strike tie-ups with leading multinationals to solve these problems. He needs to be read, understood; and he needs to be judged not only on his results, but on the sheer weight of his efforts. In India, good writing on the social sector is woefully inadequate. While high profile outfits such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have helped raise visibility in the sector, there is still little understanding of social business. This is an excellent read in that space.”

About the Author

Muhammad Yunus was born in Chittagong , Bangladesh, educated at Dhaka University, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University, and became head of the economics department at Chittagong University in 1972. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Karl Weber is a writer based in Irvington, New York. He co-authored Yunus’s best-selling book, Creating a World Without Poverty.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004LQ0E7I
Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs (May 11, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.52 x 6.36 x 0.93 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 422 ratings

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Karl Weber
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Karl Weber is a writer, editor, and publisher who specializes in serious works of nonfiction on topics like business, politics, social issues, and personal development. He has worked with noted authors and leaders including former president Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, secretary of defense Ash Carter, and Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm. His newest venture is Rivertowns Books, an indy publisher that uses a hybrid business model to produce worthy books on topics of social interest and importance.
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

422 global ratings

5 star		68%
4 star		22%
3 star		5%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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Tanaya IA

A world without poverty... a dream that seems not too far away

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

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!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Whittington P. Vara

Social business is simply a twist on an age old idea....

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 27, 2010

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There is no doubt that Muhammad Yunus has accomplished much via Grameen Bank and his other efforts. His concept and implementation of "social businesses" in Bangladesh are admirable, but...

A social business is merely a variation of the age old for-profit model of capitalism. He proposes that "new" businesses can be formed to target a social need where the owners are prevented from "enjoying" any profit from the business. What is preventing this from being done now! Any for profit business can decide to give their profit away or charge lower prices to minimize profit.

ALL businesses, however, must make a profit to survive. The laws of Economics demand a profit. The only way a company can survive when not making a profit is to borrow the needed funds, sell equity or receive donations. Therefore, to be self sustaining a profit must be made. The questions are: how much and what do you do with the excess profit.

Yunus also presents the "maximizing profit" business model in a distorted way. He suggests that for profit entities motivation is to make money by looking for opportunities that maximize profit. I would suggest, in the entrepreneurial world, it is reversed. Entrepreneurs look for unmet or under-met needs and then strive to develop ways of meeting those needs better than the competition. If they think they can make a profit, they proceed. There is a HUGE difference to each approach.

A perfect example of Yunus falsely "reinventing" capitalism in his new "social business" model was when the companies decided to charge the urban population more to subsidize the lower price charged to rural populations. For profit companies do this all of the time. The classical definition of market price is the price a willing seller will accept and a willing customer will pay, therefore it is common to have different prices for different markets. This is not some "revelation" only associated with "social businesses." This is a well proven strategy implemented by every successful, growing for profit business.

I also find it interesting that all of the "social business" examples contained in the book happened to be in third world markets without strong competition. I would suggest that Yunus' concept of "social business" may only be possible in these types of markets where there are large numbers of individuals with fundamental unmet needs such as food, clothing and shelter. I struggle to understand how a "social business" will thrive in the highly competitive first world markets where few unmet basic needs exist. This may limit this modified capitalistic business model to third world countries, which may not be a bad thing if it truly helps the poor and disaffected.

One final thought. In 2007, I attended the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship conference in Glasgow, Scotland. During a presentation on Social Entrepreneurship, four successful "social entrepreneurs" on a panel each declared that social entrepreneurship was a fabricated concept promoted by the educational community and was not a term they used to describe themselves. They ran businesses that HAD to make money so they could do GOOD. Each of these successful entrepreneurs made it clear that only after profit was attained could good follow. I think Yunus' "social business" concept suffers from the same misconception.

25 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Alonso

One important books to understand the MORROW.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

A book which should be on every teachers and educators shelf.

It is more than just a book dedicated for the book shelf, rather
than an encouragent to evaluate privatly owned current business
models, and community owned social businesses and enterprises.

I found this book, analytical, well researched and a guide
of things to come....

M. Hayes

Great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

Great book about developing social businesses in India. This model can be used as a template for developing your social business in any country. Charities are fine but your business needs to be self sustaining to have a future.

2 people found this helpful

andri narti radiatul mardiah

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 28, 2017

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Good

One person found this helpful

Alexander

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

VG

One person found this helpful

Conrad A.

This book should be read by budding entrepreneurs whose aim ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 5, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book should be read by budding entrepreneurs whose aim is not only to make money, but help this failing humanity.

4 people found this helpful

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Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity's Most Pressing Needs Hardcover – Bargain Price, May 11, 2010

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