Book excerpt: Social Entrepreneurship in Education chronicles the twenty-five-year history of entrepreneurs who responded to the call of A Nation at Risk and helped launch an education industry. It tells the story of these 'education entrepreneurs' and the lessons they learned, using entrepreneurial skills to tackle public problems and improve outcomes for millions of students. This book demonstrates, firsthand, the importance of mentorship and profiles the individuals behind the businesses, highlighting the skills and characteristics that one must possess to successfully execute and operate enterprises in education. It reflects on the development of a burgeoning industry and illuminates the possibilities for applying a private sector mind-set to education. This book is fundamental for understanding the ins and outs of utilizing social entrepreneurship to improve education for American students.