Liked it, but not as much as many of his other books, especially A Wild Sheep Chase or Kafka on the Shore.
Category Archives: Books
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)”
Karl Ove Knausgard – Father (2009)
First in a series of 6 – describing in detail the author’s life. Almost on a daily basis. Liked the serenity and the beautiful sentences, but am not tempted to read the other 5 volumes.
Antifragile – Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2012)
An eye-opener on how systems should work to be able to confront the future (not robust, but anti-fragile), from a man I regard as a kind of a hero. Completely independent, extremely smart, but also horrible a presenter and storyteller, as I learned first-hand during a workshop on this book. Anti-fragilty is now part ofContinueContinue reading “Antifragile – Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2012)”
De Fatale Staat – Paul Frissen (2013)
Theoretical book that reminded me of the books I read as student political sciences – eloquent and painted with broad strokes.Revived my interest in complexity. Main notion is the political necessity to learn to reconcile with tragedy.
Todo lo que era sólido – Antonio Munoz Molina (2014)
Essays on Spain in times of crisis – have enjoyed the beautifully written, dense Spanish sentences, again demonstrating the uniqueness the baroque writing of Spanish authors. Molina is clearly a leftist, blaming the capitalist conspiracy for Spain’s trouble.
Stiekem kan hier alles – Eefje Blankevoort (2007)
A book on the surprisingly modern and liberal lives of ‘normal people’ in Teheran that gave me a peek behind the façade of religious conservationism as created by the secret police. Of great help to better understand the country during my trip in Iran.
PEPIJN VAN DIJK 