Baroque philosopher Balthasar Gracian's The Art of Worldly Wisdom consists of three hundred maxims spanning a wide range of topics relating to all aspects of life and human behavior. Gracian was a Spanish Jesuit Priest whose sermons and writings were disapproved of by his superiors. Admired by Schopenhauer and Nietzsche for the depth and subtlety of his observations, Gracian's collection of pithy insights deserves place alongside similar classic manuals of self-improvement from antiquity like the Enchiridion of Epictetus and Seneca's Letters.

Plastics have long been considered useful, providing such economic advantages as reduced cost and social benefits like increased hygiene and the preservation of food. However, plastic products have greatly contributed to climate change. Half of all plastic produced is single use. The discarded plastics are dumped into landfills and find their way into bodies of water, causing serious environmental pollution and health hazards. Addressing this paradoxical situation, Socially Responsible Plastic answers the question: can using plastic ever be socially responsible? While humanity is threatened by the environmental pollution caused by plastic, some countries are implementing and accepting environmentally friendly behaviour, while others are still falling behind. More specifically, adopting environmentally friendly behaviour is still in its infancy in developing nations. The authors look at socially responsible plastic in countries ranging from China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain, Australia and India to Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Bangladesh, with research covering tourism, waste management, the food and drink industry, and the possible advantages of responsible plastic use. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers.

Today's "machine-learning" systems, trained by data, are so effective that we've invited them to see and hear for us-and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Recent years have seen an eruption of concern as the field of machine learning advances. When the systems we attempt to teach will not, in the end, do what we want or what we expect, ethical and potentially existential risks emerge. Researchers call this the alignment problem. Systems cull resumes until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases. Algorithms decide bail and parole-and appear to assess Black and White defendants differently. We can no longer assume that our mortgage application, or even our medical tests, will be seen by human eyes. And as autonomous vehicles share our streets, we are increasingly putting our lives in their hands. The mathematical and computational models driving these changes range in complexity from something that can fit on a spreadsheet to a complex system that might credibly be called "artificial intelligence." They are steadily replacing both human judgment and explicitly programmed software. In best-selling author Brian Christian's riveting account, we meet the alignment problem's "first-responders," and learn their ambitious plan to solve it before our hands are completely off the wheel. In a masterful blend of history and on-the ground reporting, Christian traces the explosive growth in the field of machine learning and surveys its current, sprawling frontier. Readers encounter a discipline finding its legs amid exhilarating and sometimes terrifying progress. Whether they-and we-succeed or fail in solving the alignment problem will be a defining human story. The Alignment Problem offers an unflinching reckoning with humanity's biases and blind spots, our own unstated assumptions and often contradictory goals. A dazzlingly interdisciplinary work, it takes a hard look not only at our technology but at our culture-and finds a story by turns harrowing and hopeful.

There is a growing interest in firms' adoption of ethical and social marketing approaches among academics and practitioners alike. Ethical Marketing is the application of ethics into the marketing process, and Social Marketing is a concept that seeks to influence a target audience for the greater social good. Ethical and Social Marketing in Asia examines this so-far unexplored area, investigating why differing cultures and consumption behaviours require different emphasis in different markets. The diversity of the Asian countries provides a perplexing environment to the development and management of ethical and social marketing. The belief that bottom line profits is enough for a company, is often not favourably viewed by Asian countries emphasising collective, social and long term benefits for the people and country. Due to these interesting characteristics and complexities, the study of ethical and social marketing in Asia is a timely topic. The first chapters introduce Ethical Marketing in Asia, followed by case studies of how the approach is used across 14 diverse economies, geographically based on 'clusters'; North East, (China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea), South East (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia) and South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh). The second part discusses Social Marketing using the same sequence of regions and economies and the third part explores the unique link to Fairness Management in Asia, followed by a conclusion.

The impact of businesses on a country's economy extends beyond just the monetary effects of the company. The ethical standard to which a business upholds itself can have a crucial impact on the development of a country's economy Empowering Organizations through Corporate Social Responsibility addresses the implementation of businesses' ethical standards in both emerging and advanced economies, interpreting the social impact of this issue in a global context. Highlighting case studies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and strategies in business management, this book is a pivotal reference source for academics, researchers, post-graduate students, and professionals concerned with the development of the business sector.

Alongside increasing demands for transparency and accountability, business governance is transforming due to decades of economic turmoil, regulatory reform, and technological change. There is now a holistic approach to this concept, as it is no longer just about running companies and organization efficiently. Ethics and Decision-Making for Sustainable Business Practices is a critical scholarly resource that examines issues of sustainability, ethics, governance, and cultural influence in the business world. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as entrepreneurship, cost management, environmental business, and cultural diversity, this book is geared towards managers, leaders, researchers, and organizations interested in the integration of sustainable business practices.

As organizations grapple with the challenges of hiring, they must also consider how they will engage with some of the most marginalized individuals in our society, such as individuals who have a criminal history. Many individuals are interested in returning to the workplace after obtaining a conviction. However, many of these individuals will encounter substantial barriers and exclusion when attempting to access employment in various occupations and industries. For our society to function, all individuals must have an opportunity to positively contribute, and organizations can no longer sit on the side-lines. Organizations have a responsibility to engage in hiring practices that encourage entry, not exclusion. Now Hiring allows readers to consider their individual biases, as well as their organizational employment practices and processes, and assess how these factors may be altered to increase hiring for individuals with a criminal history. Young encourages readers to think more broadly about the role of organizations and the responsibility that organizations have beyond their immediate stakeholders. Most importantly, Now Hiring prompts conversation and serves as a reminder that our current system is not sustainable. As we await other long overdue changes to various systemic issues, organizations must figure out how do their part. Providing entry to the workplace after a criminal history is a place to start.

Procurement with Purpose describes a growing and powerful movement - how organisations can use the money they spend with suppliers to help address wider environmental, social and economic issues. That is not just about emissions and climate change, but includes how to address issues such as biodiversity and habitat loss, plastics and waste, modern slavery, inequality and discrimination, and more. That organisational 'buying power' is now being used to drive change across the business and political world. With case studies from leading organisations, insightful analysis of 'business purpose' concepts and practical guidance on implementing these ideas through the procurement and contracting cycle, Procurement with Purpose is a fascinating and valuable resource for anyone interested in how organisations can help protect and nurture this planet and its people.