Our pick for some fireside reading
Reinventing Fire: bold business solutions for the new energy era
By Amory Lovins
Hardback, 352 pages,$34.95
ISBN: 1603583718
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Published: October 2011
A detailed and comprehensive blueprint for introducing new-generation energy technologies, this book provides a practical vision for shifting from fossil fuel dependency to low-carbon alternatives. A must read for business leaders, as well as policymakers.
Defending the Social Licence of Farming: issues, challenges and new directions for agriculture
By Jacqueline Williams and Paul Martin (eds)
Paperback: 224 pages, $55
ISBN-10: 0643101594
Publisher: CSIRO
Published: February 2012
How food is made is becoming an increasingly important issue at the supermarket shelves. As farmers feel that pressure, this practical book details farm-based strategies and experiences that promise to make our food chain more socially and environmentally responsible.
The Future of Value: how sustainability creates value through competitive differentiation
By Eric Lowitt
Hardback: 272 pages, $32.95
ISBN: 1118074521
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: September 2011
Using sustainability to help companies outperform their competition always makes for a compelling case. Lowitt does a valiant job of identifying which tools and strategies are best suited for making that case. Plenty of pragmatic insights to create value in today’s challenging marketplace.
The Map of Meaning: a guide to sustaining our humanity in the world of work
By Marjolein Lips-Wiersma and Lani Morris
Paperback: 238 pages, £21.95
ISBN: 1-906093-65-5
Publisher: Greenleaf Publishing
Published: September 201
A clear, no-nonsense presentation for individuals looking to live and work in a way that’s “meaningful”. Plugging into this basic human desire, the authors draw on the work of philosophers, psychologists and sociologists, as well as using illustrative case studies. A helpful rejoinder to the “economic gain = happier life” formula.
Economic Policy and Human Rights: holding governments to account
By Radhika Balakrishnan and Diane Elson
Paperback: 272 pages, £19.99
ISBN: 1848138742
Publisher: Zed Books
Published: November 2011
Progressive economics meet human rights advocacy in this challenging account, which focuses in on nitty-gritty issues like public expenditure, taxation and international trade. Based on comparative case studies of the US and Mexico, the authors defend heterodox economics – but only when shaped by a strong human rights flavour.
Kingdom Calling: vocational stewardship for the common good
By Amy Sherman
Paperback: 256 pages, $16
ISBN: 0830838090
Publisher: IVP Books
Published: January 2012
The authorities at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral could have done well with reading this robust response from the Church to trends of privatism and materialism. Although targeted primarily at signed-up Christian believers, there are insights and inspiration for non-religious readers too. A genuine, inspiring call to faith in action.
Creating a Sustainable Organization: approaches for enhancing corporate value through sustainability
By Peter Soyka
Hardcover: 432 pages, £46.99
ISBN: 0132874407
Publisher: Financial Times/ Prentice Hall
Published: February 2012
The opportunities for adding value through sustainability are out there. Managers just need to choose the right strategies, and then manage and measure them effectively. This actionable guide aims to help do exactly that, with particular attention to stakeholder, investor and performance management issues.
Evolutions in Sustainable Investing: strategies, funds and thought leadership
By Cary Krosinsky et al
Hardcover: 512 pages, £45
ISBN-10: 0470888490
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Published: January 2012
Leaving few stones unturned, this comprehensive account provides investors with a road map for delivering attractive returns within sustainable parameters. Drawing on interviews with leading practitioners, the authors replace old, negative approaches to sustainable finance with a more upbeat, opportunity-orientated take. A fine antidote to prevailing pessimism about financial markets.