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.
Food loss and waste and its relationship with world hunger
Yesterday was World Food Loss and Waste Day, a fitting moment to reflect on one of humanity's greatest challenges in the coming decade: social inequality, with unequal access to food being a clear...
Brief history of capitalism and its evolution towards a purpose-driven economy
The Evolution of Capitalism Capitalism has undergone various stages and transformations throughout history, adapting to socio-economic contexts and the ideas of key thinkers who have contributed to...
The “Woke Economy” and its impact on the purpose economy
In recent years, the concept of the "Woke Economy" has gained visibility in public debate, especially as companies and brands are increasingly pushed to take stances on social and political issues...