Recommendations: Read All About It

We’ve all heard the catchphrase “Knowledge is power”.

Indeed, education plays a powerful role in helping us to create a positive impact in the world.

So if you’re looking for books that will expand your world, challenge your perspectives, and tell a compelling story at the same time….

Look no further.

Whether you’re passionate about international development, learning about the “nitty-gritty” of social impact, engaging in social entrepreneurship or improving your leadership skills, we hope that insights from the following books build on your knowledge and inspire you to continue driving change in your community.

1. LEAN IMPACT by Ann Mei Chang

Lean Impact draws on the best practices from The Lean Startup and directs our attention to a new purpose — radically greater social good. The same principles of being customer-focused, building minimum viable products, and driving fast iteration through data-driven approaches apply, but innovation in the social sector presents some unique challenges.

Inspired by her experiences across Silicon Valley, government, and nonprofits, Ann Mei Chang offers practical tools and strategies, supported by vivid insights from interviews with nonprofits, social enterprises, companies, government agencies, foundations, and philanthropists around the world. Lean Impact will be an essential guide for anyone who seeks to maximize social impact and scale.

2. FACTFULNESS by Hans Rosling

When we are questioned about global trends, eg. what percentage of the world’s population live in poverty; why the world’s population is increasing; how many girls finish school — we systematically get the answers wrong. In Factfulness, Professor of International Health Hans Rosling, together with his two long-time collaborators, Anna and Ola, provides a radical new explanation of why this happens.

They reveal the ten instincts that distort our perspective.

It turns out that the world, for all its imperfections, is in a much better state than we might think. But when we worry about everything all the time instead of embracing a worldview based on facts, we can lose our ability to focus on the things that threaten us most.

Inspiring and revelatory, filled with enlightening anecdotes and moving stories, Factfulness is an urgent and essential book that will change the way you see the world and empower you to respond to the crises and opportunities of the future.

3. THE MOMENT OF LIFT by Melinda Gates

Over the last twenty years, Melinda Gates has been on a mission. Her goal, as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been to find solutions for people with the most urgent needs, wherever they live. Throughout this journey, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, you need to stop keeping women down.

In this heartwarming and candid book, Melinda shares the lessons she’s learned from the inspiring people she’s met through her work and travels around the world.

Melinda’s unforgettable narrative is backed by startling data as she presents the issues that most need our attention―from child marriage to lack of access to contraceptives to gender inequity in the workplace.Throughout, she demonstrates how there has never been more opportunities to change the world―and ourselves.

By introducing us to remarkable women, she shows the power of connecting with one another.

When we lift others up, they lift us up, too.

4. START WITH WHY by Simon Sinek

Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?

START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way — and it’s the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

Drawing on a wide range of real-life stories, Sinek weaves together a clear vision of what it truly takes to lead and inspire. This book is for anyone who wants to inspire others or who wants to find someone to inspire them.

5. A WORLD OF THREE ZEROS by Muhammed Yunus

In A World of Three Zeros, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yunus offers his vision of an emerging new economic system for a world with zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions. He declares it’s time to admit that the capitalist engine is broken — that in its current form it inevitably leads to rampant inequality, massive unemployment, and environmental destruction. We need a new economic system that unleashes altruism as a creative force just as powerful as self-interest.

He outlines the key components of this new engine and how it is being built from the ground up in some of the poorest parts of the world through launching social businesses. Yunus explains how global companies like McCain, Renault and Danone got involved with this new economic model through their own social action groups, describes the ingenious new financial tools now funding social businesses, and sketches the legal and regulatory changes needed to jumpstart the next wave of socially driven innovations. And he invites young people, business and political leaders, and ordinary citizens to join the movement and help create the better world we all dream of.

Now go forth and uncover some inspiration- Share this list with others to keep turning ideas into maximum positive impact.

Kim is a chocaholic, social innovator and music lover. She is passionate about harnessing her skills and collaborating with others to make the world a better place. She loves innovation, all things startup and is always buzzing with new ideas which fuels her drive to strive towards unleashing her greatest potential and lead a purposeful and meaningful life. Having volunteered for multiple not-for-profit organisations, partaking in a few startup programs (SEED Incubator, Atto Accelerator, hackathons), she is keen to continue developing her understanding of the world by leveraging her knowledge and connections to create a community that is inclusive and impactful.

As an aspiring human right’ lawyer and social entrepreneur, she is excited to launch People of Purpose- empower others with the resources, skills and connections to be at the forefront of social change by pursuing their purpose.

Head to https://www.peopleofpurpose.co/ to follow Kim’s journey on changing the world.

Check out Kim’s creative https://www.instagram.com/ourimpactmatters/

WORDS: KIM NGUYEN
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTIN HUME ON UNSPLASH