I turned to this book on the advice of a real non-fiction book worm, wanting to give more depth and context to my attempts to better understand the revived antisemitism in the world. And it did. It is a shocking history of persecution, discrimination and organized slaughter. One that started long before the Holocaust, longContinueContinue reading “Phyllis Goldstein – A Convenient Hatred: the History of Antisemitism (2011)”
Category Archives: Books 2014
De Prijs van een Slecht Geweten – Arend Jan Boekestijn (2010)
Boekestijn, a historian and former liberal MP, is on a mission. He is specifically interested in the (potential) damage aid does to poor countries and he formulates a detailed list of policy recommendation, making this book a great attempt to really influence the debate and policy on a practical level. Which to a certain extentContinueContinue reading “De Prijs van een Slecht Geweten – Arend Jan Boekestijn (2010)”
The Years of Lyndon Johnson, the Passage of Power – Robert Caro (2012)
Hands down the best political biography I’ve read. The book gives great insights in the man and the President Lyndon Baines Johnson was, telling the story of a turbulent era in US history through a new lens – ranging from the Cuba Crisis to the Civil Rights Act. In essence it’s a lesson on howContinueContinue reading “The Years of Lyndon Johnson, the Passage of Power – Robert Caro (2012)”
De Kracht van het Paradijs – Jonathan Holslag (2014)
The latest book by the Belgian prodigy (32 year-old professor of International Relations in Brussels). His analyses are stronger than his solutions and the book as a whole is somewhat chaotic – large parts of the book deserve better editing – but as an overview of Europa as an idea it’s a tour de forceContinueContinue reading “De Kracht van het Paradijs – Jonathan Holslag (2014)”
Herman van Rompuy – Europa in de storm (2014)
Insider’s account of Europe during the crisis, with Luuk van Middelaar probably as Van Rompuy’s ghost writer. Only for the political gourmets.
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage – Haruki Murakami (2014)
Liked it, but not as much as many of his other books, especially A Wild Sheep Chase or Kafka on the Shore.
Next Europe – Joop Hazenberg (2014)
Fine overview of the EU, with a dash of investigated journalism. It stands out for its optimism about the European project and the author’s strong belief in the possibility of top-down change.
Het kleine koude front – Michel Krielaars (2014)
Taught me some valuable lessons on the trouble Russia is in, Putin’s role and the Russian character. Terribly difficult country.
G-Zero – Ian Bremmer (2013)
Ian Bremmer is the new star of international relations, his book is clever, easy to read and has a clear concept. We live in a wold where no G-20, G-3, G-8 has the power to push through decisions. We are all on our own and should prepare for wheeling and dealing with our neighbours on a permanent basis.
Yasmine Reza- Heureux les heureux (2014)
Delightful little book consisting of intertwined stories about people struggling with modern life, ranging from banal (quarreling in a supermarket) to somewhat stranger (a youngster taking himself for Celine Dion) – that made me laugh and think at the same time. Reza is an interesting writer – I really liked her previous book L’aube, leContinueContinue reading “Yasmine Reza- Heureux les heureux (2014)”
The Officer – Robert Harris (2013)
Stunning, delightful book. Loved every page of it. It’s exciting to read and the sheer injustice inflicted upon Dreyfuss made me mad – 120 years after the whole episode started!
Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse 5 (1972)
A shock. Has all the ingredients to be an awful boy-goes-time-traveling-ferrytale , but it is nothing short of a fantastic book. Having read quite some war novels, this one took me off-guard with its beautiful and intense description of a tormented and harsh life after the US bombings of Dresden. Will never forget the refrainContinueContinue reading “Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse 5 (1972)”
Why Nations Fail – James A. Robinson & Daron Acemoğlu (2012)
It’s subtitle reads The Origins of Power, Prosperity an Poverty. And that’s exactly what I took from the book. Help is needless if a society doesn’t have working institutions, rule of law and respect for private ownership. I read the book while in Mali, a country which proves the book’s thesis to be right.
John Williams – Butcher’s Crossing (1965)
An instant hit at its reissue – and rightly so. It’ the perfect depiction of buffalo’s on the prairies of 19th century America – it made me, more than ever, wanted to live that life. Wouldn’t it be amazing to ride a beautiful horse amidst the galloping buffalo’s?
Henk Wesseling – De man die nee zee (2013)
Dutch biography on Charles de Gaulle. Probably not the best, but served its goal: to better understand the greatness of the man and the way he inspired France (by saying no).
Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman (2011)
Brilliant. If I had to choose one book to take with me to a deserted island, this is the one. It’s insightful, erudite, innovative (at least to me). It took me a while to read, because every single page is interesting and makes one think. For example; we all suffer from focusing illusion: nothing inContinueContinue reading “Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman (2011)”
PEPIJN VAN DIJK 