David Bornstein

The number and range of examples in this book show that it really is possible for individuals to make a substantial impact not just on the world around them but even on how it works. From creating and branding a child rescue line in India to establishing a network of more lasting medical care in Brazil the social entrepreneurs showcased by David Bornstein represent the impact leaders can have on the problems of the world. What I appreciate most about this book is that he shows how the most show more effective activators combine modern leadership and organizational methods with personal passion and persistence. It's not a right-wing vs. left-wing problem; McKinsey consulting is mentioned as often as the UN. Boorstein does rely almost entirely on social entrepreneurs from Ashoka for his examples. Clearly this organization has developed a model that works, but to what extent are there other equivalents not funded by Ashoka. show less

A fairly detailed account of some of the most effective social action initiatives, many of them supported by social entrepreneurs like Bill Drayton, who founded an organization Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, to identify and support to self-motivated and dedicated social activists in different countries. This shows the difference between those of us who are merely well-intentioned, and those few remarkable individuals who are determined to make a difference, and to not take 'no' for an show more answer. show less

首先，要感谢Junxiu推荐了这本书。（这些年读书都有点抓瞎的感觉，没有特别喜欢的作者，也没有特别关注的内容，所以都是到New Arrival或者Top Seller里随便淘的。还是朋友推荐比较好，也算是有的放矢了。）
show more 因为在图书馆找到了英文版，所以看得慢了些。中文版我没有仔细读，不过浏览了一下，觉得吴士宏的翻译还算中规中矩，算是可以读的了，但还是属于那种可以再从中文翻译回英文的翻译。没条件读英文版的，这里是中文版的链接：http://lz.book.sohu.com/serialize-id-5287.html。
在开始阅读之前，我对social entrepreneur这个词，有些想当然的误解。"Social entrepreneurs are transformative forces: people with new ideas to address major problems who are relentless in the pursuit of their visions, people who simply will not take "no" for an answer, who will not give up until they have spread their ideas as far as they possibly can."
作者的分析，并没有独到的地方。比如对于NGO （Non-Govenmental Organization）以及citizen sector在近二十年的大量涌现的原因分析。（读的时候，感觉真像GRE阅读，呵呵。莫非作者是在ETS出过考题？） show less

The book profiles a diverse set of social entrepreneurs around the world who apply innovative, grassroots solutions to major social problems — from rural electrification in Brazil to home-based AIDS care in South Africa. Bornstein draws out common traits, strategies, and systemic practices among these change-makers, arguing that individual vision + persistence + the right organizational approach can lead to large-scale social transformation.