Every book I've reviewed since 2013, organised by theme. ★ = book of the year.
| Year | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy | Cixin Liu |
| 2018 | Factfulness | Hans Rosling |
| 2019 | 80,000 Hours | Ben Todd |
| 2021 | Liftoff! | Eric Berger |
| 2022 | Regenesis | George Monbiot |
| 2023 | The Alchemy of Air | Thomas Hager |
| 2024 | Imperium | Robert Harris |
| 2025 | A Brief History of Intelligence | Max Bennett |
Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline (2017) ★
I've read this book for the second time now and it amazed me again. The book is about a French guy with an incredibly bleak outlook on life. Gives insight into the psyche of people who would now be called "left behind." The language of Céline has rhythm and feels alive, almost a century after it was written. It is also darkly funny. I'll probably be rereading this book for the rest of my life.
Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by Cixin Liu (2017) ★
This trilogy contains The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest and Death's End. I've never read science fiction like this before. Liu has a special gift: he can use the laws of nature and the vastness of the cosmos to create credible but very exotic events on a grand scale. He completely changed the way I think about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and especially how careful we should be about exposing our presence to the universe.
Lotte in Weimar by Thomas Mann (2025)
A book about fame, about Goethe, about writing and genius. What sentences, what refined observations. This is Thomas Mann for the connoisseurs. Better to start with Buddenbrooks or his short stories before tackling this one.
Wandeling by Hermann Hesse (2025)
Beautiful and short and mystical.
Oorlog by Louis-Ferdinand Céline (2024)
Only recently discovered. Almost 100 years later, very little comes close to how Céline writes about war. Harrowing and funny and real.
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (2024)
I read this book in three days. It's thrilling, full of beautiful sentences, Ripley is an insane character, and the setting is Italy in the fifties — so what more could we want.
Kaas by Willem Elsschot (2023)
A hundred years old but still very funny. And the Dutch language use is a delight.
Max Havelaar — het stripboek (2023)
Incredibly well drawn and abridged; the entire Havelaar comes to life. I read it in an afternoon.
Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan (2022)
Remains fresh and convincing. Incredible that this was written by an 18-year-old.
Naar de haaien by Erich Kästner (2022)
Impressionistic book about life in Berlin during the Weimar Republic. At times it reminds me of the work of Céline. It was banned by the Nazis — completely Entartet — which is of course also a mark of quality.
Onderworpen by Michel Houellebecq (2021)
Old-fashioned Houellebecqian novel in which Islam becomes dominant in France. You can read this book as a serious scenario or as completely unrealistic. I read it as the latter.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2021)
Smart sci-fi, largely told from the perspective of spiders. The thought world of the evolving spiders will stay with me for a long time.
De Vreemdeling by Albert Camus (2019)
A short, peculiar book that I finished in two evenings. Intense and amoral (not immoral), like the books of Knut Hamsun and Michel Houellebecq.
De Acht Bergen by Paolo Cognetti (2019)
A beautiful book about mountaineering, friendship, and growing older.
Ball Lightning by Cixin Liu (2019)
Everything by this Chinese science fiction writer is exceptionally good. He plays with physics and technology in a way nobody else can match.
The Supernova Era by Cixin Liu (2020)
Not as good as the Three Body Problem — but who cares. The premise and conclusion are once again brilliant. Cixin Liu is a few decades ahead of his time.
Een nagelaten bekentenis by Marcellus Emants (2020)
This book appeared in 1894 and still reads like a train. Intense and oppressive. The greatest literature.
Brief aan vader by Franz Kafka (2020)
I continue to be amazed that writers have such a vast emotional life. Also gave me insights into how you can come across as a parent to your child.
Smoke by Ivan Turgenev (2013)
Basically a love story gone wrong, but what makes this book stand out are its characters. Russian literature keeps amazing me: it is often so much better than many experimental things being written today.
Father by Karl Ove Knausgård (2013)
The first of six autobiographical books by the Norwegian writer. Emotionally intense and obsessively detailed. Knausgård is the Marcel Proust of the 21st century and you can read him while he is still alive.
The Age of Spiritual Machines by Ray Kurzweil (2013)
Kurzweil's book is the most hallucinating stuff I've read in a long time. He predicts with precision how and when computers will overtake human intelligence. After reading this I became convinced that advanced artificial intelligence is real — and it is coming at us faster than we think.
The Wandering Earth by Cixin Liu (2018)
Sublime collection of short stories about aliens and possible futures of earth and the universe. All rooted in physics, but tending towards the bizarre and cruel.
Imperium by Robert Harris (2024) ★
A book in which we follow the rise of Cicero in the final days of the Roman Republic. I enjoyed everything: the political game between the ambitious Romans, the descriptions of the city, the speeches of Cicero. This is simply a very, very good book that brings Rome to life. It's the first part of a trilogy.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer (2024)
Shirer was an American journalist who lived in Germany into the late 1930s. It gives tremendous insight into how Hitler won over Germany, built a state within a state, and then reshaped all of Germany into a machine of destruction.
Opstand by Marijn Kruk (2024)
Contextualises the rise of the far right like no other. Unique because Marijn combines a deep knowledge of right-wing extremist ideology with on-the-ground reporting. Reads like a train and has a surprisingly optimistic conclusion.
Rubicon by Tom Holland (2020)
This book about the heyday and fall of the Roman Republic is thrilling and vividly written. The great Romans like Sulla, Marcus Antonius, and Julius Caesar truly come to life. Never before had I read a book about classical antiquity with so much pleasure.
Revolutionaire tijden by René Koekkoek (2020)
Smoothly written book about the era of revolutions at the end of the 18th century: how the American, French, Haitian, and Batavian revolutions arose and influenced one another.
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie (2016)
Compelling portrait of an amazing woman who tried to make Russia a modern country. She embodies the enlightenment and corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (2016)
Amazing history of the brothers who mastered the first airplanes. Shows why innovation happens because of the perseverance of just a few driven individuals.
The Ancient Greeks by Edith Hall (2016)
Places the Athenian Greeks of the 5th century BC in context. Reminded me of the importance of culture — in a country as well as a company.
Swan King — Ludwig II of Bavaria by Christopher McIntosh (2016)
Besides Ludwig himself, I found so many interesting things: the relationship between Ludwig and Wagner, how Bavaria lost its independence to Germany.
The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson (2016)
Shows why Churchill was the right man at the right time. Without Churchill, WWII may have turned out very differently.
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (2015)
Big surprise of 2015: a book full of new insights about what makes humans human. Except for the last chapters, which are downright bad, this is an insanely interesting book. Also a page-turner.
Einstein by Walter Isaacson (2015)
Einstein didn't just change physics — he was also one of the first Germans to realise that Hitler didn't have good intentions. A tremendous biography.
Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson (2014)
The best way to teach history may be through telling about the lives of interesting individuals. I've always found history a bit boring — but because I liked Franklin so much I wanted to know everything about the American declaration of independence.
A Revolution of the Mind by Jonathan Israel (2014)
Before reading this book, I didn't realise there was a radical and a "moderate" enlightenment. Through this book I started to appreciate individuals such as Spinoza, d'Alembert and d'Holbach who kickstarted independent thinking and democracy in Europe.
Newton by Peter Ackroyd (2013)
Ackroyd writes with wit about this very strange man and his very powerful ideas. It amazes me how certain people can rise so far above all the rest of humanity that they seem to belong to a different species.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (2013)
Viktor Frankl describes how he survived Auschwitz by his optimistic disposition. The psychological lessons he draws from his extreme experiences are worth everyone's attention. This is history and self-help all in one.
History of a German by Sebastian Haffner (2013)
Want to know how the Nazis took over power? An unsentimental first-hand account of the increasingly tense atmosphere in Berlin between 1914 and 1933. You can't read this stuff in history books.
A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett (2025) ★
Through this book you will truly understand the enormous difference between humans and current generative AI. Max Bennett takes an archaeological tour of human intelligence by zooming in on the five "intelligence leaps" we had to make. Extremely high density of interesting facts — I will almost certainly reread it in 2026.
The Secret of Our Success by Joseph Henrich (2023)
Fascinating book about the mutual influence between human culture and our genes. Humans have an incredibly small mouth, weak jaws, and few intestines — because over hundreds of thousands of years we've learned to partially digest our food outside our body through culture.
A Trillion Trees by Fred Pearce (2022)
Nuanced book full of insights about trees and forests that were entirely new to me — including the fact that the albedo effect of afforestation in certain areas can lead to net warming. The most efficient reforestation is done by nature itself, not by people planting trees.
Wilding by Isabella Tree (2021)
Spectacular book about a gigantic estate in West Sussex that was suddenly returned to nature. The speed at which animal species return is astonishing.
The Elements by Theodore Gray (2015)
A beautiful book about all the atoms that exist. Gray's descriptions are consistently short and fresh and funny. After reading this you'll look at the world with new eyes.
747 by Joe Sutter (2015)
Joe Sutter designed the 747 in the late sixties. A thrilling book about the golden age of aircraft design, from which you can learn a great deal about how aeroplanes are designed.
Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik (2014)
We take concrete and glass and steel for granted — they've become invisible in our world. But these materials are the result of a long quest for perfection. It made me see the world with fresh eyes.
Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman (2014)
The basic concepts about atoms and molecules and light and relativity remained unchanged since the 1960s — and because Feynman is the ultimate explainer of physics, this book is still a very good introduction.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (2013)
Tells about science in a way that doesn't feel like science, but storytelling. Entertains by telling humorously about the life and times of the scientists behind major discoveries.
The Evolutionary World by Geerat Vermeij (2013)
Moved me deeply because its scope is so vast in time and space, but the formulas it uses are supremely simple. Vermeij elegantly shows how competition between predator and predated shapes nature as well as civilisation. This is a book Darwin would have written a blurb for.
The Nvidia Way by Tae Kim (2025)
Glorifying in places — after a while that becomes off-putting. What does stick: the culture that Huang has created: top 5 emails, management egos being crushed by public feedback, an enormous number of whiteboards in all meetings. Marvellous.
Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick (2024)
A decent book with practical ideas about how to think better about AI. Not groundbreaking, but because everything is laid out in a book, you're forced to spend a few consecutive hours with this enormously large subject.
Novacene by James Lovelock (2024)
The epilogue of his remarkable life, managing to formulate deep insights in a compressed manner. Topics include the Gaia hypothesis, the steam engine as a turning point for humanity, and artificial intelligence.
The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian (2022)
A practical dive into why algorithms repeatedly do things we don't want or intend. Christian interviews hundreds of people, which gives it real weight.
Human Compatible by Stuart Russell (2019, reread 2022)
The first book I read about AI that doesn't just dissect the arguments of "AI deniers" but also comes up with a credible solution for programming fundamentally good AI. If there is one book you should read about artificial intelligence — this is it.
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport (2019)
This book describes how we should deal with social media and the screens around us. A real recommendation for virtually everyone.
Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark (2018)
Slightly weird but original introduction to artificial intelligence and its risks. Has very interesting thoughts on the nature of consciousness.
Pattern on the Stone by Daniel Hillis (2016)
The best introduction I know of to how computers actually work down to their foundations. Very readable for non-programmers. The simplicity and power of a recursive algorithm is a thing of beauty.
What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelly (2014)
Kelly shows how technology is a "force" which cannot be stopped: most inventions happened simultaneously all over the world. I'll be rereading it in the years to come.
How to Create a Mind by Ray Kurzweil (2014)
We can create an artificial mind in the near future — after reading this book, I know for sure. Kurzweil explains how we are entering a new era of parallel computing, based on neural networks.
Our Final Invention by James Barrat (2014)
A long introduction to the danger of strong artificial intelligence. Barrat interviews the key players in the AI scene. Even Elon Musk recommends this book.
Smarter than Us by Stuart Armstrong (2014)
A short, concise, funny introduction to the future dangers of strong artificial intelligence. Strong AI will happen, and we're better off if we're prepared.
Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson (2025)
This is THE analysis we need to make things cheaper.
Regenesis by George Monbiot (2022) ★
Of everything I've read in recent years about agriculture, this is the most visionary, practical, and poetic book. One sacred cow after another is toppled. With a starring role for fermentation.
Choked by Beth Gardiner (2022)
A personal look into the world of a silent killer: dirty air. No other book makes it so clear that air pollution is a mega-problem (~8 million deaths per year) that we must solve as quickly as possible.
Electrify by Saul Griffith (2021)
Infectiously written book about the opportunities to electrify the US and thereby save money, reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution. One of the most interesting lessons: financing will be crucial.
The Switch by Chris Goodall (2018)
One of the best books on why solar power is fundamentally different from fossil fuels — because it is a technology, not a resource. A technology can be relentlessly improved.
Don't Even Think About It by George Marshall (2015)
Marshall tells like no other why people so often get at each other's throats about climate change. This book isn't about physics but about the psychological reasons people become "climate deniers."
The Infinite Resource by Ramez Naam (2014)
Simply the best book on the environment, resources, and innovation. It both deeply acknowledges the ecological mess we're in, and forcefully asserts our ability to innovate our way out of it.
Tomorrow's Table by Pamela Ronald & Raoul Adamchak (2014)
A plant geneticist and organic farmer explain the subtle science behind genetic engineering. Should be #1 on the reading list for everyone with an opinion on GMOs.
The Bet by Paul Sabin (2014)
A must-read for anyone in the environmental movement. Tells the story of the famous bet between the ecologist Paul Ehrlich and the economist Julian Simon.
Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter Diamandis & Steven Kotler (2013)
A compelling case for technological optimism. An antidote for ecological pessimism because it gives actual examples of how the world is made a better place.
Intelligent Wachsen by Ralf Fücks (2013)
The definitive German/European book about "intelligent growth." Argues persuasively that sustainability can never be achieved by changing people's behaviour alone, but instead by radical innovation.
How to Feed the World by Vaclav Smil (2025)
Rather dry material, as always with Smil, but a good overview of how the food system works.
Food, Body, Mind by Wendy Walrabenstein (2024)
Inspired me to eat more healthily.
Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken (2023)
A brilliantly written, personal look into the world of large food multinationals and "ultra-processed" food. Also shows how the food industry funds food health research, thereby rendering it essentially worthless.
How Not to Die by Michael Greger (2023)
If you want to avoid the major diseases of affluence and simply live longer and healthier, the consensus points towards a diet rich in whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit.
Waarom ik 40 jaar biefstuk en kaas at, en toen veganist werd by Sofie Mulders (2023)
Smoothly written book by a meat-eating Flemish journalist who discovers that farming relies on the beastly treatment of animals.
How to Create a Vegan World by Tobias Leenaert (2022)
My biggest insight: only once you actually start eating plant-based can you truly open yourself to the gruesome violence of factory farming. Behaviour precedes change in consciousness.
Ooit aten we dieren by Roanne van Voorst (2022)
Smoothly written book about the inevitable shift to plant-based eating.
We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer (2019)
A book about the impact of eating meat on the world and the climate. It's staggering how large the share of livestock farming is in climate change: 51% of all CO2-equivalent emissions.
The Craving Mind by Judson Brewer (2025)
A doctor who uses meditation techniques to treat addicts. If you're addicted, you're governed by the feeling that you NEED something NOW. Through meditation you can come to realise this more quickly. This year I've dived deep into meditation and it is truly a universal elixir.
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff (2025)
The most underrated aspect of reading books is this: spending a longer time with an idea. Reading is a form of meditation.
The Happy Runner by David & Megan Roche (2025)
The best book about running that I ever read. It begins with the basics: you're good as you are.
Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy (2025)
There will always be a market for repackaging Buddhist truths. Not the best I know, but there is a unique urgency to it.
Intentioneel Leven by Ernst-Jan Pfauth (2024)
A concise and polished intro to the best ideas for boosting your quality of life. Every generation needs to be told again. And EJ does that well.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel (2020, reread 2023)
I've reread this book three times. Investing is a skill that EVERYONE can learn. It's mainly a matter of not letting yourself be rattled.
Ten Rules for Talking by Tim Harkness (2023)
How do you have a good conversation? A sports psychologist examines the conditions. With insights that had never occurred to me before.
4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (2022)
An anti-productivity book: you're not going to get through everything on your to-do list in your lifetime, and you must learn to live with that. A plea for focus on what you truly want to finish.
Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan (2022)
Fascinating book about how substances in plants (including coffee) influence our brains. Like Pollan, I went without coffee as an experiment, and only then does it become apparent that we're all massively drug-addicted.
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday (2020)
Keeps hammering away page after page until you're converted and you start to love the obstacles in your life. Recommended for everyone who sometimes talks themselves into a rut.
Atomic Habits by James Clear (2020)
A good book that teaches you to zoom out on how you organise your daily life. A practical start for a life with more intention.
Principles by Ray Dalio (2018, reread 2019)
The central premise: if you want to reach a goal fast, you must constantly review your progress towards it. This includes brutal honesty about yourself.
Grip by Rick Pastoor (2019)
In my view the best productivity book there is. An added advantage is that afterwards you never need to click on online clickbait about working smarter, because you already know the basics.
Minimalisme by Dennis Storm (2019)
This short book set me off on a gigantic decluttering rage that continues to this day.
Small Talk Survival by Liz Luyben (2019)
Practical book about small talk that helped me start conversations with random people more quickly (and leave the conversation in a sympathetic way).
Deep Work by Cal Newport (2017)
The best book I've ever read about how to concentrate in the connected age.
Designing Your Life by William Burnett (2017)
A very practical book to help you make better choices about your career. I wished I'd read this when I was 18. I will be giving this as a birthday present for the years to come.
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (2014)
If we look at the long arc of history, violence is in a long and steady decline. There are six independent "megatrends" at work here, and Pinker does a great job explaining them all.
The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker (2014)
As much about psychology as it is about language. When writing, assume you're pointing things out to a friend.
The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon (2013)
Solomon has not only experienced years of intense depression, he has also spoken to anyone who knows anything about the science behind this illness. Makes a strong case for the use of antidepressants.
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt (2013)
Haidt opened my eyes with this fantastically written book about morality. My political preference has more to do with my initial gut feeling than rational grounds. Humans can "switch" between altruistic and egoistic "modes."
The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins (2020)
A practical guide to getting rich. Super-short summary: save half your income, invest it in index funds, start early, and don't be tempted to buy things you don't need.
Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman, Joe Knight & John Case (2018)
The book you should read when you have no background in finance and accounting, yet want to understand 80% of it.
The Long and the Short of It by John Kay (2017)
By far the most accessible book about how to think about risk and investing. It opened my eyes.
The Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary (2024)
Published as a Google Doc. A super-practical overview of systems and insights for running a SaaS startup. However often I reread it, something useful always comes back.
Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt (2024)
An entertaining and insightful book about strategy. Main idea: a strategy is a matter of (1) making a choice and then (2) putting all your eggs in that basket.
What You Do Is Who You Are by Ben Horowitz (2024)
The only thing that matters for your company's culture is how you behave as a leader. A bit disappointing overall.
Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson (2024)
Nicely practical Silicon Valley startup book. Don't take everything literally, but there are things in it worth copying.
How to Be a Founder by Alice Bentinck & Matt Clifford (2022, reread 2024)
Finally a book about entrepreneurship and startups NOT written by maniacal Americans! Recommended for all beginning tech entrepreneurs.
High Output Management by Andy Grove (2018)
The blueprint for how to increase "leverage" as a manager. Made me think clearly for the first time about what a manager should and should not try to do.
Netflix Culture Deck (2018)
This may be the best PowerPoint that has come out of Silicon Valley. Hire the best people so they can minimise bureaucracy, which makes it a great place to work.
Work Rules by Laszlo Bock (2018)
Opened my eyes to the possibilities of improving a company's culture and hiring practices.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (2018)
Fun, yet slightly too long story about the genesis of Nike. The book is at its best when Knight tells about athletes.
So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport (2018)
Great case against "follow your passion" career advice. Instead, focus on your capabilities first — what are you really good at?
Zero to One by Peter Thiel (2014, reread 2018)
Thiel explains why entrepreneurs should strive for a monopoly, not competition. Reading Thiel is sometimes frustrating, but always exciting.
The Fastned Story (2014)
The story of one of the most ambitious Dutch startups, Fastned, through the eyes of its cofounder Bart Lubbers. An entertaining and energising read.
Other Rivers by Peter Hessler (2025)
A fascinating insight into how dramatic the changes in China have been since the nineties.
Finding Ultra by Rich Roll (2025)
The story of Rich Roll, who after an alcohol addiction changed course and became a triathlete. He managed to complete five Ironmans in a week.
The High Sierra by Kim Stanley Robinson (2024)
A love letter to the beautiful High Sierra mountain range in California. Reads like a breeze.
Bier by Rick Kempen (2024)
Beer gets tastier when you read about it. Everything about the brewing process is laid out neatly.
Prins van liefde by Samuel Vermeulen (2024)
A ridiculously candid, precise, well-written book about growing up in the Bhagwan cult.
XTC, een biografie by Philippus Zandstra & Wietse Pottjewijd (2024)
The Bhagwan actually introduced XTC (MDMA) to the Netherlands in the eighties. Also a fun look into the rise of the Dutch dance scene.
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (2022)
Storytelling at its absolute best. The most insane, colourful, thrilling, gripping book I've read in years. The deranged, deadly, intoxicating world of scuba diving, with digressions from the Vietnam War to the dark world of Nazi submarines.
Endurance by Alfred Lansing (2022)
About Shackleton's failed journey across Antarctica and the miraculous escape — I finished it in two days. Astonishing what people can physically endure when there's a good leader nearby to keep morale high.
Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado (2023)
A rugby team from Uruguay crashes in the high mountains of the Andes. A large number of them manage to survive — I won't say more about how exactly.
Swimming Across by Andy Grove (2019)
A wonderfully open and honestly written autobiography of the Intel director. Grove grew up in Nazi-occupied Budapest during WW2 and managed to escape during the communist occupation.
The Silent World by Jacques Cousteau (2019)
Insanely adventurous, romantic, and thrilling book about the beginning of the diving era. All boundaries were explored and naturally it went wrong the whole time.
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard (2019)
Very enjoyable and often inspiring book about the history of the Patagonia brand.
The Everything Store by Brad Stone (2019)
A very good book about the creation of Amazon. Particularly the drive of Jeff Bezos and the good strategic choices he repeatedly manages to make are well described.
Eating the Flowers of Paradise by Kevin Rushby (2017)
Rushby follows the route of "Qat," a mild drug, and ends up in the most remote areas of the Yemeni mountains.
Heat by Bill Buford (2017)
A very interesting book about a former New Yorker writer who explores the world of New York restaurant cooking.
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis (2017)
An incredible book about high-frequency trading and how stock trading is secretly rigged to the advantage of a small group of people. Confirmed my earlier beliefs that the world of finance is parasitic on the economy.
Going Solo by Roald Dahl (2017)
Dahl tells about his experience fighting in WW2 at a very young age. These stories are so incredible and written so well.
Eat and Run by Scott Jurek (2017)
Next to "Born to Run" this is the most inspiring book I've ever read about running. Also interesting: Jurek turned vegan during his career.
La Bonne Table by Ludwig Bemelmans (2017)
A funny memoir from a waiter, writer, and painter who worked in the best restaurants in New York at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Boy Behind the Curtain by Tim Winton (2017)
The way he writes about those Western Australian plains and the ocean made me long for Australia and its empty coasts again.
Legionnaire by Simon Murray (2018)
Intense book about life in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria in the 1960s. Life in the legion is both horrible and beautiful.
De Warnow by Hans Steketee (2020)
A remarkably thrilling book about the disappearance of a Dutch ship with hippies.
Zonder de top te bereiken by Paolo Cognetti (2020)
Not as good as The Eight Mountains. But a short book that takes you to the — for me — new world of the Himalayas.
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (2020)
Stories from entrepreneurs continue to fascinate me. This classic is certainly worth your while.
The Portuguese by Barry Hatton (2020)
Portugal fascinates me. This is THE book about Portugal and its history. Very entertainingly written.
Hiking with Nietzsche by John Kaag (2020)
Good introduction to the "ascetic" thinking of Nietzsche. The only irritating thing is that Kaag drags his entire family life along.
Uitgewoond by Cody Hochstenbach (2023)
A tremendous filleting of the ideal of homeownership. Large-scale social housing for all income groups is the way forward. A bit like Vienna does it.
Met ons gaat het nog altijd goed by Peter Hein van Mulligen (2023)
A pleasantly contrarian book by the chief economist of Statistics Netherlands about the flourishing Dutch economy. Shows how much richer we've become in recent decades without actually realising it.
Morele Ambitie by Rutger Bregman (2024)
Provocatively written, but I largely agree with the content.
Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson (2024)
One of the most interesting insights: it's not at all a problem if there's an overlap between an altruistic act and self-interest.
Beledigende broccoli by Tim 'S Jongers (2022)
Read these essays and interviews about the humiliation of the least fortunate in the Netherlands in the name of meritocracy and the laughter will leave your face.
De Onmisbaren by Ron Meyer (2022)
"A punch to the stomach of a book, it opened my eyes and moved me." Why is there so little striking in the Netherlands by indispensable but poorly paid workers?
Open Borders by Bryan Caplan (2021)
A smart graphic novel about the many advantages of immigration. Astonishing that not more writers collaborate with illustrators to bring their ideas to life.
Them and Us by Philippe Legrain (2021)
Smoothly written overview of all the science around immigration from a European perspective. Convinced me that immigration is positive — but that the debate is currently being conducted the wrong way.
One Billion Americans by Matthew Yglesias (2021)
A plea to triple the US population from about 330 million to 1 billion to maintain global influence and create enormous economic growth. A visionary book.
Het recht van de snelste by Thalia Verkade & Marco te Brömmelstoet (2020)
One of those books that made me see the world with new eyes. The dominant role of the car in our language and the collective "looking away" at hundreds of victims per year — brilliantly described.
Identity by Francis Fukuyama (2019)
Not the best book by Fukuyama, but I fully agree with his plea for healthy nationalism as a remedy for identity politics.
Nederland mijn vaderland by Zihni Özdil (2018)
If you read one book about integration in the Netherlands — read this book.
Het rijk van de schaarste by Hans Achterhuis (2013)
Achterhuis takes us on a tour through history and philosophy to show why scarcity shall always be with us — and in fact is the human condition.
Focus by Marc Hijnk (2025)
About the improbable origin story of ASML. Success depends on a few crucial individuals who dare to take enormous risks. How do we increase the percentage of such people in the Netherlands?
Impro by Keith Johnstone (1979, read 2025)
A delightfully contrarian book about improv theatre, the shadow side of education, and status signals. The individual is good; the school system ruins them!
Liftoff! by Eric Berger (2021) ★
Never have I read such a well and thrillingly written book about the early years of a startup. Everything about this book is cool: the rocket technology, how to deal with bureaucracy, Elon Musk as boss, dealing with setbacks. The human as creative problem-solver at their best.
Skunk Works by Ben Rich (2023)
Rich tells the legendary story from the inside of how the most extreme aircraft of the twentieth century were built under pressure of the Cold War. Simply a marvellous book about work ethic and the mentality of test pilots.
Human Frontiers by Michael Bhaskar (2023)
About the question of whether the speed of technological progress stagnated long ago. Someone born in 1900 witnessed the invention of the aeroplane through to the first moon landing in 1969. What is the equivalent for someone born in 2000?
Meals to Come by Warren Belasco (2023)
Follows the debate between writers and scientists about the future of food. For centuries, the "Cornucopians" and the "Malthusians" have been at each other's throats. In the 1920s people were already thinking about brewing proteins using yeast!
Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance (2015)
Musk is the greatest innovator of this time. The sections about the early years of SpaceX are almost unbelievable. Page-turner.
Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson (2014)
As a good writer/thinker/creator you need two broad skills — wild creativity for new ideas, and tunnel vision to execute them.
The Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser (2014)
Cities are awesome. Ideas, innovations, wealth — everything is supercharged in a metropolitan environment.
Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson (2014)
Subtle, balanced book about how the internet is changing our lives for the better. Thompson acknowledges the dark side but resists doomsday thinking.
Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham (2014)
Beautiful essays about nerds, cities, startups and Silicon Valley. Highly recommended — if only to improve your essay writing capabilities.
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch (2021, reread)
A fundamentally optimistic book — inspired by Karl Popper — that has been underappreciated since it appeared in 2011. An artillery barrage of ideas and perspectives.
The Precipice by Toby Ord (2020, reread 2021)
How do we reduce existential risk? This book will cure you of your provincialism. One of those books you must reread to let it fully sink in.
Doing Good Better by William MacAskill (2020)
How do we spend our money as efficiently as possible? This book makes you realise how good you have it and how, with a bit of thought, you can donate much more effectively.
Welcome to the Novacene by James Lovelock (2020)
Hard to summarise, but an ambitious book about climate change and artificial intelligence full of original insights.
80,000 Hours by Ben Todd (2019) ★
The book that inspired me to start this newsletter. It gives the perfect framework for deploying your career as effectively as possible for a better world. I want to give this book to everyone constantly.
The Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday (2021)
How do you write a classic? A long plea to radically choose quality as a writer. Slow over fast.
The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto (2021)
How do you write a comprehensible piece? Start with the conclusion! The reader then naturally becomes curious about how the writer arrived at this conclusion.
Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick (2022)
A more practical book on writing the ultimate nonfiction book doesn't exist. My lesson: ask for specific feedback, early in the writing process.
Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit by Steven Pressfield (2022)
The title sums it up: nobody is waiting for your writing. So you'd better get to the point quickly.
Jagen, verzamelen, opvoeden by Michaeleen Doucleff (2021)
This book has all the ingredients to be terrible. But despite all its shortcomings, it should be read by all parents. This insight alone is gold: your task as a parent is not to entertain children, but to entice them to help with the housework.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish (2020)
A practical guide to dealing with children. This thin booklet — with comic strips — you simply must read if you have children. No excuses.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry (2020)
Forces you to think about your relationship with your children. After reading it, you can hardly avoid becoming a better parent.
Get Together by Bailey Richardson & co. (2022)
A nice short guide to building communities published by Stripe Press. Recommended!
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (2022)
Worth it if you're actually going to organise gatherings. The ratio of pages to insights is on the high side.
This Is Marketing by Seth Godin (2020)
Marketing is really a way to communicate effectively. A good book for beginners, full of interesting insights.
Brand the Change by Anne Miltenburg (2020)
Good starting point for newcomers to marketing. Aimed at mission-driven companies.
Cosmos — Fantastic remake of the Carl Sagan original. Neil DeGrasse Tyson takes the viewer on an epic journey through the universe and the history of the Earth.
The Internet's Own Boy — Beautiful and gripping reconstruction of the life of Aaron Swartz, the hacker who committed suicide after the American government prosecuted him.
Pandora's Promise — Nuclear energy isn't bad — the current reactors just aren't well designed. This documentary by Robert Stone changed my mind about nuclear energy.
Time to Choose — Best documentary I've ever seen about climate change and the solutions, by Charles Ferguson.
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) — Was it the oil industry? The car lobby? To find out, you'll have to watch this yourself.
Revenge of the Electric Car (2011) — Sequel to the above. With Elon Musk trying to sell his first car, the Tesla Roadster.
Going Clear — The best documentary I've ever seen about what it means to lose your mind through group pressure. Scientology gets away with criminal practices in the US.
The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager (2023) ★
About the bizarre history of the Haber-Bosch process, which has enabled us to make artificial fertiliser for a century. Plus lots of Nazis, the creation of IG Farben, poison gas in WWI, and the collaboration between Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch. This has all the ingredients for a Netflix series!
Factfulness by Hans Rosling (2018) ★
Forget the news — it's about data, data, data. This book shows how the world is really doing. Most of your assumptions are probably not correct. The best introduction I have read to what prosperity is and how people and countries are really developing.
Empires of the Sky by Alexander Rose (2022)
A book about a forgotten technology seen through the lens of Graf von Zeppelin, who was absolutely convinced that the Zeppelin was better than the aeroplane. Interesting to read how self-evident it was a hundred years ago that a new technology brought deaths with it.
Alle lust wil eeuwigheid by Peter Claessens (2022)
Of all Nietzsche biographies, I find this the most gripping — and it can be read in two days.
Eenzaamheid by Boudewijn Büch (2022)
Büch gets a kick from visiting libraries on the most obscure remote islands to discover the most obscure books and footnotes. Quite recognisable. I find this all very fun to read.
Dreams of Earth and Sky / The Scientist as a Rebel / Disturbing the Universe by Freeman Dyson (2018–2019)
Collections of essays, many written for the New York Review of Books. These essays by one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century belong, in my view, among the best essays ever written. About science, scientists, waging war, space travel, progress, colonisation.