Looking for new inspiration in the new year? Who better than social entrepreneurs to inspire us see the world in surprising ways, put ideas into meaningful action, and imagine what a radically better future can look like — and what role we can all play.
Introducing 6 new books in 2021, all by U.S.-based Ashoka Fellows:
Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up
By Sara Horowitz
Sara Horowitz, a former labor lawyer, founded America’s first freelancer’s union to help independent workers access benefits, including insurance, and gain a political voice. In her new book, Sara explores the history and future of mutualism and the next economy. Read our interview with Sara in Forbes.
Remake the World: Essays, Reflections, Rebellions
By Astra Taylor
Astra Taylor started a membership organization of people in debt pushing back against exploitative practices and reframing debt from personal to collective. Check our conversation with Astra on the link between debt, democracy, and human freedom (and more).
Required Reading: Climate Justice, Adaptation and Investing in Indigenous Power
By NDN Collectiv
Nick Tilsen is creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms. He started NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power through philanthropy and narrative change, including celebrating and resourcing Indigenous changemakers.
To My Beloveds: Letters on Faith, Race, Loss, and Radical Hope
By Jennifer Bailey
Jennifer Bailey is a reverend in her faith tradition and founder of Nashville, TN-based Faith Matters Network. In her new book, Jen shares reflections on grief and loss, renewal, and the radical hope that sustains us through cycles of change and changemaking. Listen to our conversation with Jen.
True Cost Accouting: Balancing the Scale
By Paula Daniels, Barbara Gemmill-Herren, and Lauren E. Baker
Paula Daniels works to shift billions in food procurement dollars towards prioritizing the well-being of humans, animals, and the planet. In her new book, she shines a light on a powerful new tool: the “true cost” accounting framework. Read our interview with Paula in Forbes.
Why Play Works: Big Changes Start Small
By Jill Vialet
Jill Vialet and her Playworks colleagues work to make sure every child has an opportunity to play every day. In her new book, Jill reflects on 25 years of championing play in schools and board rooms. Here’s our interview with Jill on why play is essential, especially now.
___
Other recent books by Ashoka Fellows in the United States include:
- Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy and You’re More Powerful than You Think, by Eric Liu
- Community Paralegals and the Pursuit of Justice, by Vivek Maru
- Dare to Matter: Your Path to Making a Difference, by Jordan Kassalow
- Democracy May Not Exist but We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone, by Astra Taylor
- Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer, by Bren Smith
- Engage, Connect, Protect: Empowering Diverse Youth as Environmental Leaders, by Angelou Ezeilo
- Forked: A New Standard for American Dining, by Saru Jayaraman
- How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations, by Marc Freedman
- KaBOOM! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play, by Darell Hammond
- Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity and the American Promise, by Eboo Patel
- Real Belonging: Give Siblings Their Right to Reunite: Camp to Belong, by Lynn Price
- Recess Rules and Substantial Classrooms: Redefining the Substitute Teaching Experience, by Jill Vialet
- The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America, by Ai-Jen Poo
- The Alternative: Most of what you believe about poverty is wrong, by Mauricio Lim Miller
- The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, by Sean Sherman
- Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair, by Danielle Sered
Inspired to follow new ideas for a better world? We curate a weekly email brief (it’s brief, made for busy changemakers!) lifting up news and insights from social entrepreneurs, plus invitations to conversations with Ashoka Fellows and young changemakers in 90+ countries on timely topics. (This is all free.) Sign up here.
