Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism

by Christopher Marquis

A compelling look at the B Corp movement and why socially and environmentally responsible companies are vital for everyone’s future—"a valuable guide to an important force" ( Financial Times )
 
"An important blueprint for how businesses can and should be both successful and a force for good."—Rose Marcario, President and CEO, Patagonia

" Better Business is the book to read if you want to put values and purpose at the center of your company. It’s an inspiring book with great insights to share."—Jerry Greenfield, co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s

Gold Medalist in the Business Ethics category, 2021 Axiom Business Book Awards and longlisted for the 2020 Porchlight Business Book Awards

Businesses have a big role to play in a capitalist society. They can tip the scales toward the benefit of the few, with toxic side effects for all, or they can guide us toward better, more equitable long-term solutions. Christopher Marquis tells the story of the rise of a new corporate form—the B Corporation. Founded by a group of friends who met at Stanford, these companies undergo a rigorous certification process, overseen by the B Lab, and commit to putting social benefits, the rights of workers, community impact, and environmental stewardship on equal footing with financial shareholders. Informed by over a decade of research and animated by interviews with the movement’s founders and leading figures, Marquis’s book explores the rapid growth of companies choosing to certify as B Corps, both in the United States and internationally, and explains why the future of B Corporations is vital for us all.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Sustainability, Academic

312 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2020

About the author

Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge and author of The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs. His research examines business sustainability and social entrepreneurship, and he has written two prior award-winning books: Better Business: How the B Corp Movement Is Remaking Capitalism and Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise (a FT Best Book of 2022). Marquis is passionate about how academic research can help people around the world address some of the biggest crises of our day — including climate change, inequality, and racism. Before Cambridge Marquis worked at Cornell for 6 years, and Harvard for 11 years. He has a PhD in sociology from the University of Michigan and previously worked for six years in the financial services industry, most recently as a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase

Reviews

[Daniel Sewell]

I bit too US focused

Being British a lot of the narrative was lost on me. I understand it’s an integral part of the story so needs to be in. Will just make a note to read the UK story when it’s written!!

[Ray]

An inspiring explanation of why B corps have been developed, and how they work. The examples make it real.

[Siena]

Even though this was a book for a class, I really learned a lot and I loved reading this book. I am so sold on B Corp changing in the world.

[Caitlyn Meyers]

This is a great history of the B Corp Movement. Since B Lab is ever-changing, the book is a little outdated now in 2024.