10 Ways to Read Your Way to Corporate Social Responsibility

Becoming a socially responsible business requires work. It involves understanding complex terminology, analysing successful CSR strategies, evaluating current business practises, and sometimes bringing in the experts. However, there is no reason that the process cannot be enjoyable as well.

For avid readers, one way to make this process more fun is to start reading books about corporate social responsibility. There is a diverse collection of literature on the subject. However, for the sake of brevity, here are ten unique and important reads:

1. The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility

   This is a great starter book for people looking to learn the basic terms, concepts, codes, and guidelines.

2. The Purpose Economy: How Your Desire for Impact, Personal Growth and Community Is Changing the World

   The author sheds light on why so many businesses are adopting CSR practises. This is a good read if you want to understand the mindset behind corporate social responsibility.

3. GREEN GIANTS: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability into Billion-Dollar Businesses

   This book highlights companies that have used sustainable business practises to both improve consumers' lives and increase business profits.

4. The 10 Principles of Food Industry Sustainability

   If you work in the food industry, you might be interested in learning about how sustainability efforts impact the interactions between consumers, producers, and manufacturers.

5. Changing Business from the Inside Out: A Tree-Hugger's Guide to Working in Corporations

   According to Amazon.com, this book is the "first practical, authoritative insider's guide to creating a career in corporate responsibility". For those interested in being a driving force behind their company's CSR efforts, this book should be especially beneficial.

6. Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World

   Written by Gary Hirshberg, the co-founder of Stonyfield Farm, this book offers entertaining anecdotes and a CEO's perspective on the benefits of social responsibility.

7. Small Business, Big Change: A Microentrepreneur's Guide to Social Responsibility

   Both small and large businesses play an important role in creating a more socially responsible economy. Find out how smaller businesses can successfully adopt CSR methods.

8. The World Guide to CSR: A Country-by-Country Analysis of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility

   This book analyses CSR efforts in almost 60 countries and could serve as a particularly useful resource for international businesses.

9. Investing in Corporate Social Responsibility: A Guide to Best Practice, Business Planning & the UK's Leading Companies

   If you are looking for UK business role models, this would be a good place to find inspiration.

10. The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility (Oxford Handbooks)

    This handbook presents a more academic, research-oriented approach to CSR.

Whether or not you decide to read any of these books, remember that becoming a socially responsible business does not always have to involve hard work. It can also be fun!