Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism

Reviews (See all 106) Write a reviewfor this

It's a hit!

Enjoyable read. Yunus explores both micro and macro solutions to poverty. His description of a 'social business' is in fact identical to the way I ... (show more)

Enjoyable read. Yunus explores both micro and macro solutions to poverty. His description of a 'social business' is in fact identical to the way I personally define a 'social enterprise' though he uses the latter to encompass a much broader sphere of operation. As such the idea does not appear particularly new, but Yunus more closely defines and operationalizes the concept than I have seen before, elucidating through the fascinating in-depth example of Grameen-Danone. His macro level arguments are less detailed and rigorous and reach more strongly into philosophy and idealism but are still interesting and inspiring to read.
The book has been written for wide readership and will be accessible to pretty much anyone. The downside of this is that the arguments are not always analytically rigorous or complete and are more based on strong, well formulated and articulated hypotheses and examples (though he does argue against the major counter-arguments for certain aspects of the social business model). However the purpose of the book is more to open the reader's mind to a non-traditional conceptualization of the way the world works and to inspire a different way of thinking - something which the book certainly achieves. (show less)

 

 

by Sonny Bardhan

No, it's a flop!

This book has several 5 star ideas, but ultimately is too long in it's prose. Dr. Yunus , Nobel Prize winner, describes his concept of a "Social Bu... (show more)

This book has several 5 star ideas, but ultimately is too long in it's prose. Dr. Yunus , Nobel Prize winner, describes his concept of a "Social Business" in this book. A social business operates exactly as a for profit entity, but has social goals rather than a goal of maximizing profit. To facilitate this all investors agree to receive only their original capital back after which the business pays no further dividends and reinvests all its' profits into it's social goals. I find this an intriguing idea as this construct is superior to a standard charity since it is perpetual and it's growth is determined by it's management instead of fund raising. I felt the descriptions of a social business stock exchange were somewhat far fetched, as I am not sure how one would value a social business since it has no dividend stream.

The book contains a heartwarming story of Grameen Danone a JV between Grameen Bank and Danone to improve nutrition of poor children by creating a food which is inexpensive and nutritious. I think that Social Business is a powerful idea and I hope that it can be applied successfully such as Dr. Yunus has done with Grameen Bank in Bangladesh (show less)

 

 

by Marc Smith

More Reviews

• 
  

  This book pushed my inspiro-meter's needle to red. It's a must read for anyone under the illusion that:

  a) gargantuan problems like poverty are too big to do anything about;
  b) laziness among the poor is a primary reason for the persistence of poverty; and
  c) capitalism is evil by nature.

  This work will disabuse you of all three notions. For those not familiar with Yunus, he won a nobel peace prize for having inventing "micro-lending". He runs a bank that gives tiny loans, ... (show more)

  This book pushed my inspiro-meter's needle to red. It's a must read for anyone under the illusion that:

  a) gargantuan problems like poverty are too big to do anything about;
  b) laziness among the poor is a primary reason for the persistence of poverty; and
  c) capitalism is evil by nature.

  This work will disabuse you of all three notions. For those not familiar with Yunus, he won a nobel peace prize for having inventing "micro-lending". He runs a bank that gives tiny loans, without collateral and at low interest rates, to the poor, so that they can start small businesses for themselves. In turn, over the last three decades, the borrowers have managed to repay their loans on time at a rate that would put any 1st world western bank to shame. As a result, the bank has helped *millions* of people pull themselves out of poverty, and at the same time created extensive community structures among the poor that didn't exist previously. This fact serves as overwhelming evidence that poverty has in most cases little to do with laziness, and everything to do with a lack of discretionary capital. The poor are poor because they're poor.

  The tactics that Yunus employs are pure capitalism, but the ends he to which employs them are different. Whereas most companies try to maximize profit, the businesses Yunus runs, starting with his bank, seek to achieve some kind of social goal. Importantly, he builds his "social businesses" to be financially self-sustaining, so that they don't have to rely on philanthropy or any other unreliable or riddled-with-outside-agendas sources of capital. Yunus, having successfully started many such businesses, has now written this book to explain how it all works and to exhort others to do it as well.

  Yunus is a rare species: a keenly practical thinker with strong, selfless ideals. The only reason the book doesn't get five stars is I think it could've been organized a little better. But the content is 5 stars all the way: it's extremely rare that I find myself crying for joy, reading a book over breakfast, but I found myself having to take breaks to wipe the tears from my eyes reading this one. (show less)

   

   

  by Nicholas Bentley on Mar 15, 2009 at 06:30PM

  Already read

  Is this review helpful? yes no
   
• 
  

  This is a truly remarkable book about a completely new angle to the fight against poverty. The books brilliance is, however, overshadowed by the brilliance of its author – Professor Mohammad Yunus.

  Professor Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and you will clearly understand why this happened after reading the book.

  I had the pleasure of watching Professor Yunus speak a couple of years ago in Denver – and he has had a special place in my heart ever since.

  When I heard about his bo... (show more)

  This is a truly remarkable book about a completely new angle to the fight against poverty. The books brilliance is, however, overshadowed by the brilliance of its author – Professor Mohammad Yunus.

  Professor Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and you will clearly understand why this happened after reading the book.

  I had the pleasure of watching Professor Yunus speak a couple of years ago in Denver – and he has had a special place in my heart ever since.

  When I heard about his book about “social business” I was slightly skeptical as a long time liberal. After reading it - and especially understanding how it complements capitalism beautifully – I stand corrected.

  You will feel invigorated after reading the book – and you will clearly understand what a remarkable man Professor Yunus is.

  It is difficult to find a man that has meant so much to so many people in such a profound and positive manner.

  Highly recommended. (show less)

   

   

  by Henrik John Brandt on Sep 13, 2009 at 10:01PM

  Already read

  Is this review helpful? yes no
   
• See all reviews
  Write a review