Recommended Portfolio: Profit Surrenders to Purpose

In a world where profit often overshadows purpose, Social Enterprise: How to Change the World Through Business by Josh Littlejohn—founder of Social Bite and Brewgooder—emerges as a beacon for those who believe business can be a driving force for social change. More than a manual, this book is a call to redefine business success, combining personal memoirs, case studies, and strategies for building people-first companies.

The book isn't just for entrepreneurs: it's for anyone who believes business can be fair, inclusive, and transformative. In an era of climate crisis and inequality, Littlejohn shows that success is measured in changed lives, not dividends. The story began in 2012, when Littlejohn and Alice Thompson opened a small cafe in Edinburgh, Social Bite, which hired homeless people and donated food. What started as a local gesture escalated into an international phenomenon: visits from George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio, the creation of the Social Bite Village (housing for the homeless), and the raising of £25 million to combat poverty. Littlejohn breaks down his philosophy into actionable principles: Calculate risks your way: Use creativity to overcome barriers (e.g., convincing celebrities to sleep on the streets in The World's Big Sleepout). “Help one person a day”: Small actions generate waves of impact. “No question, no answer”: Lesson learned from asking for support from figures like Bob Geldof (who wrote the prologue). The text criticizes traditional capitalism, arguing that if 20% of entrepreneurs adopted social models, problems like homelessness or the lack of clean water (addressed with his brewery Brewgooder) would have sustainable solutions. The author emphasizes job integration and the power of inspiring narratives.

Furthermore, his work style always prioritizes impact (even daily impact and helping a person) over profit; it is a particular style that, at least for him, has shown resounding success.

'Digital Capitalism' by Chris Guillebeau; Publisher: Aguilar

The book argues that traditional ways of working are obsolete and that the economic future lies in decentralized digital markets. Guillebeau explores how people can monetize skills, time, and creativity through technological platforms, without relying on traditional corporate structures. Criticisms of the book include a focus too much on the digital and neglecting the human aspect. However, it cites real stories of entrepreneurs who have broken the mold, but above all, it provides information on platforms and strategies for monetizing knowledge, such as online courses, NFTs, global freelancing, among others.

'The Mind Also Plays' by Andrés Iniesta. Publisher: Espasa

The former soccer player and others close to him delve into the challenges he faced during his career. The publication aims to share his experiences "without intending to be an example or teach lessons."

The experience of leaving his hometown of Fuentealbilla to play for Barça, the depression he suffered as a professional footballer, and the decision to leave Barcelona to join Vissel Kobe in Japan. Iniesta said he always considered himself a strong person who could endure, but clarified that throughout his career, it was always important to know what was going on inside his mind.

'When the Tyrant Ruled', by Manuel Camacho. Publisher: Cono

This is the story of Tomás de Mendoza, a Christian persecuted by the Inquisition in Portugal, who comes to live in Cartagena and earns a living as a fake doctor and slave trader. In his daily struggle, he falls madly in love with a mulatto woman, the daughter of the landlady who welcomed him to Gethsemane. A relationship filled with dramatic events.

In the background of the novel, 60 of the most exciting years in Cartagena's history pass: the capture by the pirate Francis Drake, the construction of the walls, the development of the main churches, the wealth generated by the slave trade, trade, the Benkos Biohó revolution, and the arrival of the Inquisition.

'In Love and War' by Ildefonso Falcones. Publisher: Grijalbo

In 2006, Ildefonso Falcones presented 'The Cathedral of the Sea'. Ten years later, 'The Heirs of the Earth'. Now that almost a decade has passed, Grijalbo presents the third installment of the saga. 1442. Arnau Estanyol, grandson of the protagonist of The Cathedral of the Sea, fervently serves the King of Aragon in the conquest of Naples when the family's eternal enemies take advantage of his absence to break into his palace and attack his stepdaughter, Marina, with devastating consequences for everyone. Thus begins the epic novel that covers the second half of the 15th century, years that marked the end of medieval obscurantism and the beginning of the most luminous period, the Renaissance. Arnau, a descendant of those dark years, will see how the world transforms around him. CÉSAR GIRALDO Subeditor of Portafolio

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