Books

Editors: Wayne Visser and Nick Tolhurst

Publisher: Greenleaf, 2010.

Description:

The World Guide to CSR is the first book to provide comparable national profiles that describe the evolution and practice of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR) for more than 60 countries. Each regional and national profile includes key information about the relevant CSR history, country-specific issues, trends, research and leading organisations. The book is an edited volume, with expert contributors from around the world, all of whom have been screened and selected on the basis of their qualifications and experience in CSR. Each regional/country profile includes the following subsections:  CSR in context,  Priority issues, Trends, Legislation and codes, Organisations, Case studies,   Educational institutions, and References.

Academic citation: Visser, W. and N. Tolhurst (eds.) (2010) The World Guide to CSR: A Country-By-Country Analysis of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, Sheffield: Greenleaf.

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Free downloads: Contents and more information.

Author: Wayne Visser, on behalf of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership

Publisher: Greenleaf, 2009.

Description: The Top 50 Sustainability Books is a high-impact, full-colour distillation of the best thinking to date on the pressing social and environmental challenges we face as a society. This unique title draws together in one volume some of the best thinking to date on the pressing social and environmental challenges we face as a society. In addition to profiles of all 50 titles, many of the authors share their most recent reflections on the state of the world and the ongoing attempts by business, government and civil society to create a more sustainable future. By featuring these and other seminal thinkers, the book distils a remarkable collective intelligence — one that provides devastating evidence of the problems we face as a global society, yet also inspiring examples of innovative solutions; it explores our deepest fears and our highest hopes for the future. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to tap into the wisdom of our age.

Academic citation: Visser, W. (2009) The Top 50 Sustainability Books, Sheffield: Greenleaf.

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Author: Wayne Visser, on behalf of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership

Publisher: Greenleaf, 2009.

Description: Landmarks for Sustainability is a high impact, quick reference guide to many of the most critical events and initiatives that have shaped our world, and the sustainable development agenda, over the past 20 years and more. These include high profile historic events – like the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Rio Earth Summit, the anti-globalisation protests in Seattle and Genoa and the collapse of Enron – as well as more subtle but no less important developments, such as trends in fair trade, ethical codes and sustainable investment. Each of the 20 chapters follows a similar easy-access design, with inspiring quotations, compelling photographs, a timeline of associated events, a narrative description of trends, and spotlight features of specific initiatives or events, including charts, fact-boxes and suggestions for further reading and websites. Also included is the world’s most comprehensive sustainability timeline, listing and dating 185 key sustainability-related events and initiatives that occurred between 1919 and 2008.

Academic citation: Visser, W. (2009) LANDMARKS FOR SUSTAINABILITY: Events and Initiatives That Have Changed the World, Sheffield: Greenleaf.

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Author: Wayne Visser

Publisher: Yourpod, 2008.

Description: This unique collection brings together 22 poems by South African poet and writer, Wayne Visser, including the already popular and much cited “I Am An African”. There are poems inspired by countries (Botswana; Egypt; Ghana; Namibia; South Africa and Tanzania). There are tributes to the people of Africa (e.g. First People; Little Foot; Mandela and De Klerk), its sacred places (Okavango; Sterkfontein Caves) and its natural bounty (Baobab; Canyon of Mirrors; Ode to the Elephant). And there are various poems about the great continent itself (Africa Calls to Me; God Bless Africa; I Know a Place in Africa; I Weep for Africa; Prayer for Africa; Separation). The collection is dedicated to the people of Africa, who never cease to amaze and inspire - with their colourful diversity, warm humanity, unquenchable hope, tireless resilience and indomitable spirit.

Academic citation: Visser, W. (2008) I Am An African: Selected Africa Poems by Wayne Visser, Coventry: Yourpod.

Ordering: Available for purchase at yourpod.co.uk.

Free downloads: Selected extracts for Pdf download.

Making A Difference

Purpose-Inspired Leadership for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR)

Author: Wayne Visser

Publisher: VDM, 2008.

Description: In the face of unprecedented global challenges like poverty and climate change, can individuals make a difference? This book reveals what motivates people to devote their time and energies to addressing social, environmental and ethical issues. Based on in-depth research among corporate sustainability and responsibility (CSR) professionals, it shows the pivotal role of values, inspiration, expertise, empowerment, strategic thinking and social contribution among "purpose-inspired leaders". Using extensive illustrative quotations, different types of CSR change agents are identified, including experts, facilitators, catalysts and activists. The implications for business of better understanding these CSR leaders is explored, as well as the opportunities for future academic research. The book concludes with a call to personal action by making a positive difference and leaving a meaningful legacy.

Academic citation: Visser, W. (2008) Making A Difference: Purpose-Inspired Leadership for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR), Saarbrücken: VDM.

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Free downloads: Selected chapters for Pdf download.

Editors: Wayne Visser, Dirk Matten, Manfred Pohl & Nick Tolhurst

Publisher: Wiley, 2007.

Description: With over 100 expert contributors writing over 400 entries, this book provides a jargon-busting, easy-to-use guide to the plethora of CSR concepts, codes and organisations, including core terms like business ethics, CSR, corporate governance and corporate sustainability, key terms like climate change, corruption, environmental management, globalisation and human rights and definitions for  concepts like social entrepreneurship and standards like ISO 14001 and the UN Global Compact.

Academic citation: Visser, W., D. Matten, M. Pohl & N. Tolhurst (eds.) (2007) The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Complete Reference Guide to Concepts, Codes and Organisations, London: Wiley.

Ordering: Available for purchase at amazon.co.uk, amazon.com and kalahari.net.

Free downloads: Selected chapters for Pdf download.

Editors: Wayne Visser, Malcolm McIntosh & Charlotte Middleton

Publisher: Greenleaf Publishing, 2006.

Description: This book is a contribution to the evolving academic voice on corporate citizenship in Africa. The chapters have been broadly grouped by theme, beginning with the Introduction and Overview, followed by sections on Leadership & Governance, Community & Environment, Health & HIV/Aids, Industries & Sectors, Supply Chain & SMEs, and finally, Globalisation and Conclusions.  This book is directed to Africans and others, living both on the continent and abroad, who share an interest and a passion for Africa and want to play a role in helping to tackle its challenges and embrace its opportunities.

Academic citation: Visser, W., M. McIntosh & C. Middleton (eds.) (2006) Corporate Citizenship in Africa: Lessons from the Past, Paths to the Future, Sheffield: Greenleaf.

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Free downloads: Selected chapters for Pdf download.

Author: Wayne Visser

Publisher: ICFAI University Press, 2005.

Description: Business operates at the frontiers of society and is confronted by the triple imperatives of social responsibility, environmental sustainability and economic justice, companies will need to adapt or die. This book is an anthology of writing on the search for new visions of business and work for a fairer and more sustainable future. It explores such diverse subjects as ethical investment, community economics, sustainable companies, humanistic capitalism and meaningful work, as well as regional perspectives on corporate citizenship in Africa.

Academic citation: Visser, W. (2005) Business Frontiers: Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Economic Justice, Hyberabad: ICFAI University Press.

Ordering: Available for purchase at amazon.com.

Free downloads: Pdf chapters for download.

Authors: Wayne Visser and Guy Lundy

Publisher: Aardvark Press, 2003.

Description: This book challenges those who are choosing attitudes that knock South Africa down rather than build it up. It is intended to encourage the rising tide of South Africans who have a positive approach and a belief in the country’s future. The book gathers together a wealth of facts, figures and real-life stories in a style that’s easily readable. Together they form a set of compelling reasons to believe in South Africa, its people and its future and rekindle the fire of optimism that many people felt after the nation’s political miracle in 1994.

Academic citation: Lundy, G. & W. Visser (2003) South Africa: Reasons to Believe, Cape Town: Aardvark Press.

Ordering: Available for purchase at kalahari.net.

Free downloads: Pdf chapters for download.

Authors: Wayne Visser and Clem Sunter

Publishers: Tafelberg Human & Rousseau, 2002.

In a analysis of the principles driving modern business, this book demonstrates that the predatory behaviour of the lion is symbolic of the way most companies are run today. But the world cannot go on like this. They argue strongly for an alternative and more positive vision involving sustainable business in both a social and an environmental sense. In order to achieve this, companies will need to change - as they call it 'shape-shift' - from the tooth-and-claw logic of lions to the more caring, holistic philosophy of the elephant.

Academic citation: Visser, W. & C. Sunter (2002) Beyond Reasonable Greed: Why Sustainable Business is a Much Better Idea, Cape Town: Tafelberg Human & Rousseau.

Ordering: Available for purchase at amazon.co.uk.

Free downloads: Pdf chapters for download.