Angels in Africa: Profiles of Seven Extraordinary Women, by Beth O’Donnell. This arresting book tells the stories of seven African women working to overcome devastating problems in their communities. Through dazzling photographs and first-person accounts, their lives demonstrate the strength of the human spirit.

The Covenant with Black America, edited by Tavis Smiley. In this book, published in 2001, African American leaders identify ten areas in which individuals and communities can help the African American community, and challenges readers to get involved. It was followed in 2007 by The Covenant in Action, which gives an update on projects now happening in response to that challenge.

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, by John Wood. An executive who’s made it his business to bring books and schools to children around the developing world chronicles his life and work, from the start-up years at Microsoft to his life-changing decision to leave and found “Room to Read”—an enterprise he manages with “the efficiency of General Electric and the compassion of Mother Teresa.”

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder. This is the story of doctor, professor, infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, and world-class Robin Hood Dr. Paul Farmer. In medical school Farmer found his life’s calling: to diagnose and cure infectious diseases and bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. This is a book that will make you cry and cheer at the same time.

Unbowed: A Memoir, by Wangari Maathai. In this inspiring memoir, Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, tells of her life as a political activist, feminist, and environmentalist in Kenya. Despite numerous run-ins with the brutal Moi government, in 1977 she established the Green Belt Movement, which spread from Kenya across Africa to help restore indigenous forests while assisting rural women by paying them to plant trees in their villages. Her courage and determination helped transform Kenya's government into the democracy in which she now serves.

Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty, by Muhammad Yunus. In 1983 Muhammad Yunus established Grameen, a bank devoted to providing the poorest of Bangladesh with miniscule loans, supporting the spark of personal initiative and enterprise by which the poor could lift themselves out of poverty forever.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations...One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson. In 1993 Mortenson was a mountain climber wandering lost and emaciated in Pakistan. Rescued by rural villagers, he promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash promise grew a one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban. In a region where Americans are often feared and hated, his success speaks for itself—his Central Asia Institute has built fifty-five schools.

It's Not Okay with Me, by Janine Maxwell. On 9/11, Janine Maxwell owned one of the largest marketing companies in Canada. The events of that day sent her into a deep depression and to the darkest parts of Africa in her search for the meaning of life, until God told her to close her business and wait. What happens next is a roller coaster ride from the board room to the streets of Africa, where Janine finds herself standing face to face with the AIDS pandemic and trying to understand what to do with 15 million orphans left in its wake. Her book provides insights into Africa in a way that is fresh and filled with hope.

Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide to Making a Difference Around the World. Providing information on how to plan, fund, and start a grass roots charity, this travel guide features personal accounts of volunteer experiences, reviews of volunteering organizations, and images of working volunteers.

365 Ways to Change the World: How to Make a Difference One Day at a Time, by Michael Norton. Great to give as well as to keep, this ultimate idea-a-day handbook can help anyone make a difference through do-able acts of conscience and kindness.

Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America, by Ronald J. Sider. Ron Sider calls on Christians to examine their priorities and their pocketbooks in the face of the tendency to overlook those among us who suffer.

How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, by David Bornstein. What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social change. They are, writes Bornstein, the driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up—and remake our world for the better. This book tells the fascinating stories of these remarkable individuals.

How to Save the World in Your Spare Time, by Elizabeth May. Whoever said you can’t fight city hall never had access to a book like this. An invaluable guide as well as a fascinating glimpse into the life of a tireless campaigner for the planet, May’s book can show anyone how to fight for a cause.

The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, by Jeffrey Sachs. From one of the most important economists in the world, legendary for his work around the globe on economies in crisis, comes a landmark exploration of the roots of economic prosperity and the path out of extreme poverty for the world's poorest citizens.

The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change, by Tim Flannery. Mammologist and paleontologist Flannery presents a straightforward and powerfully written look at the connection between climate change and global warming. The heart of the book is Flannery's belief that our environmental behavior makes us all "weather makers" who "already possess all the tools required to avoid catastrophic climate change" if we can shift away from our current global reliance on fossil fuels.

Capitalism at the Crossroads, by Stuart L. Hart. Is the business sector more then just a entity that creates products and jobs? The author of this book believes that the corporate sector can be the catalyst for global development, and argues that there is no conflict between making the world a better place and make a profit. He gives the reader a scenario in which business owners can reap incredible growth while sowing tremendous improvement in people's lives.

Captitalism As If the World Matters, by Jonathan Porritt. When first published in 2005, this book, by one of the leading eco-warriors of our time, shocked both a generation of environmentalists and a generation of business people by brushing aside their petty squabbles and artificial battle lines with a powerful argument that the only way to save the world from fuel shortages, climate change and environmental catastrophe is to embrace a new type of capitalism, and to do it quickly. In this revised and updated edition, Porritt extends his argument and answers his critics by providing fresh evidence and case studies, including the role of corporations like Walmart and General Electric in our sustainable capitalist future. He also looks at China and the global impact this economic giant may have as it grows into the most environmentally damaging—or perhaps the first sustainable—superpower of the 21st century.

It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living, by Crissy Trask. Surveys find that over 80 percent of Americans agree with the goals of the environmental movement, but sadly, most Americans admit to doing little more than basic recycling when it comes to action. Why this great divide between intentions and acts? Author and environmental consultant Crissy Trask seeks to answer this question—and solve the disparity—with a book that makes it easy to be an environmentalist, no matter how busy or hectic your lifestyle.

Power to the People: How the Coming Energy Revolution Will Transform an Industry, Change Our Lives, and Maybe Even Save the Planet, by Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran. The author of this timely book highlights the trends he believes will transform the energy game: liberalization of the energy markets, the increasing influence of the environmental movement and recent innovations in hydrogen fuel-cell technology—big batteries that produce electricity by combining hydrogen fuel and available oxygen—that will be our salvation, he asserts, because this technology makes possible small, clean power plants that can be located close to homes and factories, enabling power to flow not from on high but from the grassroots.

Books for Kids

Beatrice’s Goat, by Page McBrier. A young girl's dream of attending school in her small Ugandan village is fulfilled after her family is given an income-producing goat. The book is based on a true story about the work of Project Heifer.

Get Involved! A Girl’s Guide to Volunteering, by Erin M. Hovanec. Describes the many different types of volunteering available to girls and suggests how to participate, from babysitting and first aid to painting murals and keeping the environment clean.

A Kid's Guide to Giving, by Freddi Zeiler. In this inspiring and motivating book, Zeiler challenges teens to make a difference by contributing to charitable causes. Her enthusiastic, personal appeal offers advice on selecting a charity and deciding whether to donate money, useful items, or time. No matter how grand or small the offering, the author stresses the intrinsic and tangible rewards of giving.