Summer is a time to relax and refresh. For a lot of people, that means picking up a good book. But with so many books out there, where do you start?
How about with these recommendations from GLOBIS MBA faculty?
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, By Jacqueline Novogratz
Recommended by Suzuka Kobayakawa
This is a must-read for those who are interested in social entrepreneurship.
If there are social issues that you want to address, but you are struggling with where to start, this book is the summer reading choice for you. Written by the founder and CEO of Acumen, this book will give you insights and courage. Its vivid, inspiring stories make you feel as if you are next to the author, hearing voices of women at a bakery shop in Rwanda, dancing in the dark while it’s raining in Kenya, and sharing confusion, sadness, anger, patience, and hope with her.
It is not just about doing good—it’s about business and viable business models that can provide for the social good. Jacqueline founded the Acumen Fund to expand social impact, applying business principles to social change, after earning her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
The Blue Sweater changed my life. Because of the book, I moved to Africa, worked in Nigeria, and met many extraordinary people. Then I developed a graduate course in Social Venture Management at GLOBIS University in Japan. As the book has encouraged me, it gives you the power to step forward and take an action. What more could you ask for in a summer reading recommendation?
Man’s Search For Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
Recommended by Brian Cathcart
If you are looking for inspiration to find your personal mission, try this classic.
A trained psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl shares his survival of a concentration camp during the Holocaust, and the philosophy he developed from this experience. In the end, it is finding and focusing on what really matters—creating purpose and meaning—that helps him keep on living despite the most difficult of circumstances. But the journey through Man’s Search for Meaning makes that simple takeaway incredibly impactful.
The book sold more than 10 million copies, was translated into twenty-four languages, and is considered one of the top ten most influential books in US history. While not a light summer reading book, for those of you striving for meaning, a spark, an inspiration to take the next step, this is highly recommended. It changed my life, and I hope it sparks a change in yours.
Don’t see anything you like? We have plenty of other book reviews to browse!
Related Articles
How Recruiting Companies in Japan Are Connecting Foreign Grads with Global Careers
