Recommended Reading
Mike Southon and Chris Best – The Beermat Entrepreneur (Prentice Hall, 2005). Fast becoming a classic, this book and its fantastic authors were the inspiration for my own book. Pacy, down-to-earth and easy to read, Mike and Chris take you through the real-world stages of setting up a small company. I can honestly say I found this book indispensable when growing my business.
Gary Hamel – `The Future of Management’ (Harvard University Business School, 2007). My favourite management book by my favourite `guru’, Gary Hamel. This short but concise book had me locked in from the moment I opened it. It challenges us to adopt a 21st century version of management, one which embraces radical decentralisation, empowerment and staff involvement.
Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant `Forces for Good - The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits'. An in-depth American academic study looking at high performing organisations. Unlike most European academics texts however, this one, like most American managment books communicates in a really engaging way. The implications of this research are huge for social enterprise I feel. Six simple messages, one great book. A `Good to Great' (Jim Collins' seminal text on business managment) for our sector..
Felix Dennis – `How to Get Rich’ (Random House, 2006). While you may not want to get seriously rich, Felix Dennis’ eccentric but engrossing book what needs to be said about application, commitment and total focus on your purpose. Dennis is a publishing magnate who has famously made and spent many fortunes. He also, rather winningly, is spending his retirement writing poetry, the thing he loves to do most of all.
David Taylor `The Naked Leader’ (Bantam Books, 2003). This is the kind of leadership book I like, talking about the soul of the leader, as well as his or her qualifications or range of attributes. It’s an inspiring book for social entrepreneurs not least because it places leadership into the emotional space in which most of us operate, rather than the dry theories of academia. Always nourishing.
Richard Dobbins and Barrie Pettman `The Ultimate Entrepreneurs Book: A Straight Talking Guide to Business Success and Personal Riches’ Capstone, 1998. An old book now but one I always find myself turning to. Two self-made millionaires reveal the secrets of their fantastic business achievements and personal fortunes.
Liam Black and Jeremy Nicholls `There’s No Business Like Social Business’. The Cats Pyjamas, 2004. This is the best book (other than mine!) in the social enterprise field which is aimed at people actually trying to run better businesses. There’s a no-nonsense approach here which is also nuanced and mindful of the particular circumstances of the social entrepreneur.