Letters to Ruben

Over a year I wrote more than forty letters to my seventeen-year-old son. They are short reflections on topics ranging from the familiar to the social and political. Topics that are part and parcel of both the daily lives of adults and young people in contemporary society. I am not looking to indoctrinate but rather to share points of view and sincere reflexion for considering part of our reality with a more critical and reflective viewpoint.

The book, which originated as something special and private between a father and son, is aimed at both young people and adults who wish to go beyond the superficiality and haste of our times. Readers will find in it an opportunity to reflect a little more on the "platitudes" that we often take for granted.



Rubén Llop holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Barcelona, a PhD in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Deusto, a Degree from IESE in Barcelona (Management Development Program and General Management Program), IMD in Lausanne (International Management), INSEAD in Fontainebleau (Top Management Programme), HBS (Harvard Business School, Leading Change and Organizational Renewal, jointly with Standford Business School) in Boston (Advanced Management Programme) and a Master's Degree in International Trade (CEDEIN).

Dr Llop is Executive Coach Certified by the International Coach Federation, ICF, and has recently completed a doctoral thesis in Philosophy at the University of Barcelona. He has been a CEO and General Manager in a number of industrial and service companies in the United States, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Brazil and Argentina. He has also sat on various boards of directors (among them Naturgas and Hidrocantábrico). Full Time Professor in EADA and Associate Professor in Deusto Business School (in the areas of Management Skills Development, International Negotiation and national and international Change Management programs) he has contributed to various international publications and lectured on business management and contemporary ethics.



Introduction

Week 1. Why am I writing to you?

Week 2. Student or learner

Week 3. Pleasure of happiness

Week 4. Happy birthday

Week 5. Nationalism

Week 6. Essence or existence

Week 7. Consumer capitalism

Week 9. My 50th birthday

Week 10. You're home

Week 11. Grandfather Esteban

Week 12. On democracy and the constitutional state

Week 13. On rights and obligations

Week 14. Xenophobia and other 'stupidophobias'

Week 15. Immigration and crime

Week 16. God and gods

Week 17. Values and criteria

Week 18. Ethic or ethics

Week 19. Merry Christmas

Week 20. Happy New Year

Week 21. Drugs and other 'escapes'

Week 22. Me vs. us

Week 24. Capitalism and the environment, an article

Week 25. Reason and emotion

Week 26. On hate

Week 27. On love or better yet, loves

Week 28. On the political system

Week 29. Contemporary democracy and capitalism

Week 30. Short vs. long term

Week 31. The community of residents

Week 32. Your plan for the future - Leading your life

Week 33. Contemporary capitalism…

Week 34. Responsibility and blame

Week 35. Tolerance and intolerance

Week 36. A shovelful of lime and another of sand

Week 37. Loyalty, honesty, commitment

Week 38. Freedom and its limits

Week 39. Intelligences and stupidities

Week 40. The tumbler toy syndrome

Week 41. Your plan for life

Week 42. The Good Life

Epilogue

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

About the author

Index by topic

Individual aspects

Unpublished letters

Family aspects

Social aspects

Corollary