Books with Soul: Recommendations for the Summer

After the publication of my latest book, Empresas que crecen con alma (Companies that Grow with Soul), I want to share with you a brief list of some books that have inspired me over the past decades. Vacations are always a good time to read and let ourselves be inspired:

“The Ecology of Commerce” by Paul Hawken, 1993

Summary: Examines how businesses can play a crucial role in healing the environment while remaining economically viable. Hawken proposes a radical redesign of business practices to make them sustainable and regenerative.
Importance: A fundamental text for understanding the intersection of business and sustainability.
Growth with Soul: Highlights how businesses can thrive by being conscious and responsible.

“Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, 2002

Summary: Proposes a paradigm shift in product production and design, moving from a linear economy model to a circular one where all materials are recyclable or biodegradable.
Importance: An influential guide on sustainable design and the circular economy.
Growth with Soul: Envisions a future where businesses create value without harming the planet.

“Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman” by Yvon Chouinard, 2005

Summary: An autobiography of the founder of Patagonia, sharing his business philosophy and commitment to sustainability.
Importance: Provides a personal and business perspective on integrating environmental principles into business.
Growth with Soul: Demonstrates how a company can grow and prosper while staying true to its environmental values.

“Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist” by Kate Raworth, 2017

Summary: Raworth proposes a new economic framework that balances human needs with planetary boundaries. Her “doughnut model” offers an alternative to traditional growth economics.
Importance: Introduces innovative and accessible concepts for sustainable development.
Growth with Soul: Promotes an economy that seeks both human well-being and planetary sustainability.

“The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing for Abundance” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, 2013

Summary: A continuation of Cradle to Cradle, this book focuses on upcycling and how we can design systems that are not only sustainable but also regenerative.
Importance: Expands on the ideas of sustainable design and the circular economy.
Growth with Soul: Advocates for an approach where businesses not only avoid harm but also contribute positively to the environment.

“Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism” by Muhammad Yunus, 2007

Summary: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Yunus presents the concept of “social businesses” as a solution to eradicate poverty and create positive social impact.
Importance: Offers a practical and optimistic vision of how businesses can be a force for social good.
Growth with Soul: Illustrates how businesses can focus on social well-being alongside profits.

“Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered” by E.F. Schumacher, 1973

Summary: Schumacher challenges conventional modern economic wisdom and advocates for “economics on a human scale,” emphasizing sustainability and human well-being.
Importance: A classic text that remains relevant to alternative economic thinking.
Growth with Soul: Promotes an economy centered on the well-being of people and the environment.

“Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming” by Paul Hawken, 2007

Summary: Hawken explores the global movement of social and environmental activism, highlighting its diversity and impact.
Importance: Inspires readers to view activism and sustainability as integral parts of a broader global movement.
Growth with Soul: Emphasizes how activism and sustainability can be drivers of positive change.

“Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take” by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston, 2021

Summary: This book offers a vision of how companies can be “net positive,” meaning they generate more benefits for society and the environment than they consume.
Importance: Provides strategies and examples of companies leading with purpose.
Growth with Soul: Argues that companies can thrive by being a force for good.

These books offer a combination of theories, case studies, and practical strategies for understanding how businesses can have a positive impact and grow sustainably with purpose.