A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions Paperback – September 11, 2018

For anyone who wishes to do something more with their lives, who want to help their fellow mankind and have a positive impact on their community then this is the book for you. Yunus’ arguments for zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon seem especially poignant in today’s context while the world is reeling from the impacts of COVID 19. It’s not just about being optimistic and idealistic about humankind - Yunus provides actual real examples of the selflessness of humans (along with the selfishness) to prove that as multidimensional beings we can do more good to solve the worlds problems together, if we just open our eyes, clear our heads from what’s normally consumed via mass media, and really take a good long look at ourselves, what our purposes and potentials really are as humans and the amazing social work that is being done already (but still not enough). I highly highly recommend this book for anyone who cares about actually doing something about the causes they care about even if it local or small to begin with.

I would really like to give this 4.5 stars. I think this is a book is a must read for anyone who is concerned about unemployment, low wages, high housing costs, and the climate. The half star deduction is due to a lack of information on the nitty gritty, when a social business is formed what are the people paid, how much goes to the founders, etc. Starting a social business to address a social need is a great thing to do and to redirect profits to expanding the company to meet more needs is also great, but what is a fair salary for the people running the company? Do you look at a salary spread of a certain percentage between the lowest paid worker and the highest?Even with the faults mentioned above I think this a great book to get people thinking about how we can change society to help more people and to encourage younger workers to look at going the entrepreneur route to decrease unemployment.

Great view of people innovating and using each other to plan money to those socially minded business people. His chapter on U.N. and government is good and admirable, but a bit far fetched currently.His incessant mentioning of his businesses, all with his name of course, is a bit off putting. Overall a worthy book to read and contemplate.

As an African American woman economist who has been interested in issues related to class and income for decades, Professor Muhammad Yunus new work on poverty, unemployment and sustainability is compelling, inspiring, and energizing. The book starts with facts on worldwide dysfunctions on the distribution of wealth created by the flaw that the majority of human beings are job seekers thus providing labor for the few job creators. Yunus's bold treatise states the reverse; he believes every human being is capable of becoming an entrepreneur with appropriate infrastructures, support systems, and governance. In several of his other works, Professor Yunus introduces the social business which purpose is to solve a social problem while yet operating as a business.The Nobel Peace Prize laureate describes his journey in economic system experimentation with the Grameen Bank, subsidiaries, and industries that produced sustainable change in Bangladesh. From the success of the Grameen experience, global change has evolved in both developing and developed countries.While citing evidence that youth reject the status quo of capitalism, Yunus believes that the youth will be one of three "mega -powers" to transform society. The remaining two "mega powers" are technology and good governance. He passionately states,"I want to expand the system by replacing today's optionless one-size fits all business world with a world that provides two types of businesses for people to chose from. . . traditional, profit-maximizing businesses and social businesses that aim to maximize the benefits created for all human beings. . . and I want to expand our career options by recognizing that all can be entrepreneurs creating their own work opportunities rather than relying on someone else. . ."In 261 pages Yunus presents capitalism as flawed -- but not hopeless-- with opportunities to innovate and sustain a better place to live; he discusses Adam Smith’s invisible hand and alleges that it has eluded the poor. Yunus cites twice in the book that the eight richest men in the world own more than half of the world’s wealth. On re-structuring the distribution of global wealth he uses Mark Zuckerberg's example of gifting much of his wealth to contribute to a changed world for his daughter. In the final and concluding pages of the book, Yunus discusses how each of us can be authors and promoters of change. Whether you are interested in economics, entrepreneurship, or micro-finance, Yunus’s book is thought provoking and a must read for those interested in poverty and income redistribution.#economics #poverty #entrepreneurship #micro-finance #innovation # leadership #wealth #income-redistribution #entrepreneur #self-employment #employment # labor #women #minority #business #social business

I can only recommend this book. It shows not only theoretical possibilities but social business put into action.It demonstrate the foolishness of an global economic theory that only see and serve the selfish people in the marketplace.The selfless people can act through social business and be empowered to be selfsustainable.As Muhammad Yunus has entrede the post as intérimaire change leader in Bangladesh, this book tell why the Young and poor insister on this Endeavour.

Already knew most of his ideas. Not really anything new about this book.