Category Archives: Books

Heretic. Why Islam must change to join the modern world – Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2015)

Right in the beginning of her book Hirsi Ali admits thats she was wrong to state, as she did in her last book, that Islam can’t be reformed. The Arab Spring is the reason of her striking U-turn and has fueled Ayaan’s hope that reform is possible. The central thesis of ‘Heretic’ is that the fundamentalContinueContinue reading “Heretic. Why Islam must change to join the modern world – Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2015)”

Dit kan niet waar zijn – Joris Luyendijk (2015)

Set up as an anthropological study, Luyendijk spent  a year and a half in the London City interviewing around 200 bankers, so-called quants, recruiters and everyone willing to participate in his experiment -published as a blog on The Guardian website. His mission was to get answers to questions as ‘What Happened?’ and ‘Have adequate measuresContinueContinue reading “Dit kan niet waar zijn – Joris Luyendijk (2015)”

Essentialism, the disciplined pursuit of less – Greg McKeown (2014)

Without bringing surprising new insights, this books makes a compelling case for achieving more by doing less. ‘Less but better’, clarity and focus as guiding principles for a good life. A real ‘essentialist’ knows to set priorities, to say ‘no’ more than he says ‘yes’ – in order to perform better, to have more impact inContinueContinue reading “Essentialism, the disciplined pursuit of less – Greg McKeown (2014)”

The Meaning of Hitler/ Anmerkungen zu Hitler – Sebastian Haffner (1978)

This little gem was first published in 1978 and dissects the Führer’s life in 7 thematic chapters, with simple titles as Life, Successes, Treason etc. Simple maybe, but it’s quite a special approach To start with, Sebastian Haffner (pseudonym for Raimund Pretzel) only needs 300 pages to describe the complex person of Hitler – whichContinueContinue reading “The Meaning of Hitler/ Anmerkungen zu Hitler – Sebastian Haffner (1978)”

The Islamist Phoenix – Loretta Napoleoni (2014)

Tells the stunning success story of IS in Iraq and Syria and explains the drivers behind the creation of a  Caliphate that, under the leadership of Al-Baghdadi, invites all Sunni Muslims to join the new Holy Land. IS has made maximum use of the total chaos in the region, the fitna (civil war) within the Islamic community between Sunni’s and Shi’ites and hasContinueContinue reading “The Islamist Phoenix – Loretta Napoleoni (2014)”

HhhH – Laurent Binet (2009)

Sublime historical thriller about the murder of ‘the blonde Nazi Beast’ Reinhard Heydrich,  or, as Hitler liked to call him, ‘The man with the Iron Heart’. Remembered me of Slaugtherhouse 5, with a zest of the painful humor of La Vita e Bella, that I couldn’t put down (really!). The structure of ultra short chapters,ContinueContinue reading “HhhH – Laurent Binet (2009)”

En nu laat ik mijn baard staan – Leen Zevenbergen (2007)

I had expected more insights and surprising lessons from the Dutch management book of the year 2007. The book stresses the importance of creativity, inspiration and how to have more fun in your job as manager and leader, by breaking through the barriers set by big corporates, the with-coming expectations and the limitations of workingContinueContinue reading “En nu laat ik mijn baard staan – Leen Zevenbergen (2007)”

Whoops! – John Lanchester (2010)

With great wit Lanchester describes what went wrong during the prelude to the financial crisis and who is to blame (answer: the risk takers, i.e.bankers, but also you and me). In plain language CDO’s, securitization and the difference between debt and deficit are explained, helping to better grasp the painful reality: Why everyone owes everyoneContinueContinue reading “Whoops! – John Lanchester (2010)”

Good to Great – Jim Collins (2001)

With millions of copies sold this management classic has taught managers all over the world how to run their business and how to go from a good to a great company. There are some really valuable concepts in it (as the hedgehog principle and type-5 leaders), but reading it a decade and a half after publicationContinueContinue reading “Good to Great – Jim Collins (2001)”

The Churchill Factor – Boris Johnson (2014)

On every page the pleasure Boris Johnson must have had writing about his hero is palpable. I already knew Johnson as a smart and skilled politician, but judging by this book, those skills are at least matched by his writing qualities. The book combines erudition with humour and was a great joy to read. Churchill’s life and accomplishments are almost too colourful toContinueContinue reading “The Churchill Factor – Boris Johnson (2014)”

Phyllis Goldstein – A Convenient Hatred: the History of Antisemitism (2011)

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)”

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)”