40 Books Social Entrepreneurs Could Not Resist Sharing To Grow The Business For Good Movement
With the trials and tribulations that come with embarking on the path of social entrepreneurship, how can we effectively help changemakers rejuvenate and replenish their energY?
This was the question that led to the ideation of the Reignite Retreat, which brought together 50+ social entrepreneurs to disconnect from their day to day work and instead embrace their community on gorgeous Bundjalung Country, at Midginbil, New South Wales.
Hosted by Impact Boom and GoodNorth, the retreat helped participants connect on a deeper level with likeminded individuals who are on a similar journey and hoping to make a difference. Coming from far and wide, participants enjoyed nourishing meals, beautiful nature walks, camping, yoga, and fireside yarns, which led to people making lifelong friends through sharing their diverse lived experiences.
With a wealth of knowledge, it is no surprise that many participants at the retreat would share a passion for books and resources, spanning a myriad of genres in both the fiction and non-fiction categories.
On the final day of each retreat, to help participants walk away with a new read, each group became in a book swap, allowing everyone to share the books they have found informative or inspiring which may resonate with other members of their community. We decided there was no way we could keep this treasure trove of books just for ourselves.
To help you become inspired, here is a complete list of the books recommended by leading changemakers and social entrepreneurs who attended the 2024 Reignite Retreat.
Highlights from the Retreat
Retreat 1: 26th-28th July
(1) Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
“A series of heart-rending yet ultimately uplifting essays…. A lasting gift to readers…. unlike other writers who have reported from the front lines of mortality, Sacks did not focus on his illness, his medical ordeal or spirituality, but on “what is meant by living a good and worthwhile life — achieving a sense of peace within oneself.”
Heller McAlpin, Washington Post
(2) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
(3) The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks
(4) Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari
The highlights for me were connecting on so many levels:
To country through Arabella, Tara, and Mark.
To myself through Steve’s yoga.
And to all of you lovely people!
Thank you for an awesome event which leaves me looking forward, invigorated for the next chapter.
- Eric
(5) In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park with Maryanne Vollers
(6) Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe
“We have only been on two feet for 250,000 years. The Earth is our oldest computer, surrender yourself and it will reveal the way.”
Arabella Douglas, Currie Country
(7) Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life by George Monbiot
(8) The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist’s Guide to the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres & Tom Rivett-Carnac
(9) Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
“With a mix of masterful storytelling and the latest science, she shows that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence. And far from simply urging us to work harder for the sake of working harder, Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose.”
Arianna Huffington, New York Times bestselling author of Thrive
(10) The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama XIV & Howard C. Cutler
A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey
“The only barriers we have in front of us are the one’s that we place on ourselves.”
Thank you for the reminder! Looking forward to next year!
- Tanya
(11) A Bad Period: 28 days of life-changing chaos by Teresa Russell
(12) Buyer Personas Book: Gain Deep Insight into Your Customers' Buying Decisions and Win More Business by Jim Kraus & Adele Revella
"Most marketers acknowledge the importance of understanding their prospective customers, yet they often struggle to initiate a reliable process to do so. This book serves as the ultimate solution—a comprehensive guide akin to a "know your customer bible"—empowering you to make sales and marketing decisions grounded in an accurate understanding of your buyers and why they make the buying decisions that they do."
Joe Pulizzi, Author of five best-selling marketing books including Epic Content Marketing and Content Inc.
(13) A Room of One's Own / Three Guineas by Virginia Woolf
(14) The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Mark’s grounding session around the fire today felt like the string that pulled many things together for me. Very moving, felt like it moved everyone. Calm + connection… a perfect reset!
Thank you to all
- Anthony
(15) The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earth’s Resources by Javier Blas & Jack Farchy
(16) Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media by Amy McQuire
‘When we speak of truth-telling in Australia, we need writers who are courageous, honest and dedicated to the cause. Amy McQuire’s Black Witness epitomises these qualities. Her coverage of colonial violence, the incarceration of First Nations people and our warriors of resistance, is exceptional. McQuire is a message stick, and we are in awe of her unwavering spirit.’
Tony Birch, Aboriginal Australian author, academic and activist
(17) Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential by Shirzad Chamine
(17) The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
“You are not a brain, you are a spirit!”
- Anonymous retreat participant.
(18) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k by Mark Manson
(19) Becoming a Changemaker: An Actionable, Inclusive Guide to Leading Positive Change at Any Level by Alex Bud
(20) The Bridge: A nine step crossing into authentic and wholehearted living by Donna Lancaster
(21) The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding by Robert Hughes
(22) The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön
“Chodron demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives.”
Publishers Weekly
Retreat 2: 29th-31st July
(23) The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? By Seth Godin
The black cockatoo’s floating around the campground are a grounding inspiration. I see them like the ideas generated here, floating, flying, and landing.
Reignite participant.
(24) The Communication Book: 44 Ideas for Better Conversations Every Day by Mikael Krogerus & Roman Tschäppeler
(25) All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
An extraordinary work of Australian literature about who we are as a nation. This book deserves to be a classic in our literary canon. Profoundly moving, riveting, tender and heartbreaking. What a read. Tracey Lien is a major new voice in our literary landscape and I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Bravo’
Nikki Gemmell, Australian bestselling author of The Bride Stripped Bare and Dissolve
(26) The Essential Tao: An initiation into the heart of Taoism through the authentic Tao Te Ching and the inner teachings of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Cleary
Radical rest…
Thank you for teaching us Arabella. The wisdom you’ve shared was truly generous, inspiring and deeply felt.
- Reignite Participant
(27) Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek
(28) Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
(29) Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss
Arabella, Tara, and Mark,
Connecting us to nature, the trees and to the silence within us all… where all the answers reside.
A beautiful experience.
- Retreat Participant
(30) Being NEO: Embrace Your Inner NEO and Change the World by Dr. Ross Honeywill
(31) Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention - and How To Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
‘A gripping analysis of why we’ve lost the capacity to concentrate, and how we might find it again. STOLEN FOCUS won’t just capture your attention—it will keep you thinking and rethinking long after you’ve finished it. Johann Hari is one of the most insightful critics of our modern malaise, and he’s written the book the world needs to win the war on distraction.’
Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife.
(32) How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self by Dr. Nicole LePera
To all,
May you all continue to inspire, motivate, and support each other every day.
- Tara
(33) Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip & Dan Heath
(34) Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
(35) Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Borne in the spirit of common community, social enterprise brings one soul to a common meeting place to be reignited.
- Reignite participant
(36) The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
(37) The Yoga Minibook for Energy and Strength by Elaine Gavalas
(38) My Cool Treehouse: An Inspirational Guide to Stylish Treehouses by Jane Field-Lewis
(39) Biophilia: You + Nature + Home by Sally Coulthard
Reignite Retreat = connection, collaboration, listening, learning, and inspiration.
- Reignite participant
(40) Fair Food: Stories from a Movement Changing the World edited by Nick Rose
Thank you Tom, Luke, Camille, Indio (and team) for convening such an amazing group of awesome humans!
So many takeaways, too many to capture, but some words that stick are:
Connection
Self leadership
Kindness
Community
Transition
Collaboration
Storytelling
Sharing
