Profiles of Individuals Seeking to Improve Social Conditions Worldwide

How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
by David Bornstein

Social entrepreneurs are people with new ideas for tackling major problems who are “relentless in the pursuit of their visions,” writes David Bornstein, a journalist whose articles have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly and The New York Times. In this book, he profiles several such people who have designed innovative environmental, health, and other programs throughout the world. Mr. Bornstein says that many individuals and organizations are increasingly focusing on prompting systemic change and shifting behaviors and perceptions, rather than on merely providing direct services.

This book describes how several people came up with, and then put into place, programs to improve social conditions. Among them are projects that involve bringing electricity to rural parts of Brazil; an emergency-response system for children in India; a network of vocational-training and assisted-living centers for disabled people in Hungary; and a college-access program in the United States. The book also describes how Bill Drayton founded Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, an organization in Arlington, Va., that supports fellows who are confronting problems worldwide.

Mr. Bornstein discusses some of the common practices of innovative organizations and characteristics of successful social entrepreneurs. In addition to having “remarkable stamina,” the author says that many leaders possess the ability to correct their mistakes, share credit with others, and work in multiple disciplines.

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016; http://www.oup.com; 336 pages; $28; I.S.B.N. 0-19-513805-8.