A recently published book features 15 business stories that you won’t want to miss

 

Intelligence (not artificial), determination, tenacity, a thirst for adventure in some cases and careful planning of work and investments, dreams  and much more besides. While these characteristics may vary from case to case, they form a common thread linking the stories of every individual who truly wishes to be called an entrepreneur. The book ‘Gli imprenditori e il bene dell’impresa’ (Entrepreneurs and the good of the enterprise), edited by Luca Antonelli, Mario Fontanella Pisa and Federico Visconti and written by various authors, unfolds through 15 specific stories.

The idea behind the collection is that entrepreneurs are an irreplaceable asset for economic development. They invest, innovate, create jobs and  produce. It has always been this way, especially in Italy, and it always will be. The book is the outcome of a study of fifteen family-run businesses, all of which have a particularly prominent entrepreneurial element. Industrial specialisations, stages of development, geographical areas and structural dimensions all have their own distinct character, yet they are all connected by a common thread: a willingness to take risks, a commitment to the demands of the job, a drive for innovation, and strong ties with employees. The central theme is a recurring guiding principle: the good of the company. Nothing mythical or idyllic, but all very real.

The book marks one of the first steps taken by CIVIS, the institutional centre at LIUC dedicated to culture, innovation and entrepreneurial values for development. CIVIS was established in early 2025 thanks to a grant from the Villoresi Poggi Foundation. It recounts the stories of entrepreneurs and businesses from the province of Varese, which serves as a model for other regions due to the variety of businesses and sectors it covers, including metalworking, packaging, high-tech systems, components, textiles, moulding, plastics, food, electronics and biomedicine. Above all, however, readers find themselves exploring a world with roots in a not-so-distant past. This world has experienced both defeat and victory, and its culture of production and work still has much to teach us. In short, it is a story well worth reading.

Gli imprenditori e il bene dell’impresa

Luca Antonelli, Mario Fontanella Pisa, Federico Visconti

Carlo Cattaneo Free University, Guerini NEXT, 2026