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Against the Flow by Dennis Heijn, published on 17 April 2024
The key question for this thrilling novel is: does the end justify the means?
When the passionate climate defender Pino realises that his job at the World Wildlife Fund is only confirming his sense of powerlessness, he and three of his friends decide to take radical action. They kidnap the son of the CEO of Shell with the aim of forcing the fossil fuel industry to face up to its responsibilities and alter its course.
The kidnappers make a point of generating as much publicity as possible, which leads to many surprising twists in the usual interplay between the kidnappers, the family, the board of Shell, the police and the media. The world looks on as the drama unfolds, wondering whether the end will justify these drastic means.
Against the Flow is Dennis Heijn’s debut novel. A thrilling and compelling tale into which he skilfully mixes suspense, moral dilemmas and the author’s own experiences with his father’s kidnapping. The film rights for Against the Flow have already been sold in advance of publication.
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
What Do You Really Want? by Sandra Klijn, published on 15 January 2024
What Do You Really Want? is a book designed for those who recognize that it’s time to change direction but find themselves uncertain what to do next. “My current occupation no longer aligns with who I want to be, and I’m eager for a transformation, yet I don’t know which steps to take first.”
If you find yourself uncertain about whether you’re in the right place, it doesn’t necessarily imply that you’re in the wrong job. In fact it’s more probable that you’re experiencing a lack of purpose, dedication, and alignment with your fundamental values. This disconnect stems from the disparity between the person you aspire to be and how your current job aligns with that vision. The solution to this mismatch lies in gaining insights into your desires and understanding how they, in conjunction with your skills, personality, and behavior, constitute the essential pieces of the puzzle for a vibrant and fulfilling work life.
Sandra Klijn is a keynote speaker, trainer, university teacher and researcher. During her PhD research, she identified the factors that lead to feeling energized at work.
Available in book stores worldwide, click here to order a copy at Amazon.
Forebearers of the New Society by Jelleke de Nooy van Tol, published on 5 December 2023
Paul Hawken's book Regeneration was the inspiration for a book filled (stuffed) with examples of regenerative initiatives, entrepreneurs, and organisations from the Netherlands and Flanders. 296 pages with 13 chapters, 95 main stories, and close to 600 small boxes with information on regenerative farming, food, health care, education, economy, and many, many more fields.
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
The Fourth Scenario by Jac Hielema, published on 1 September 2023
"All men are part of one collective reality, and part of one collective economy since the nineteenth century. We are all in the same situation, so we all have to solve the problems together."
In The Fourth Scenario, Jac Hielema delves into the foundations of the Western social philosophies and the various options to create a society. He discovers that there is a fourth method to exchange and assign land, labor, and capital, besides the other three: capitalism, communism, and the combination: the social market economy. This fourth scenario allows for an economy that is regulated outside of the market and the state, with love, from within, and in consultation.
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
Guidebook Human Recharging Stations by Renate van der Veen, published on 1 March 2023
Renate van der Veen is an accomplished coach and facilitator for dialogue and energy-giving gatherings and meetings, where you don't come home exhausted and drained. Her book is about the latter (and partially also about the former). A wonderfully illustrated and beautifully designed book (compliments to graphic designer Marie-Louise de Bruijn), which explains the social and practical elements are the foundation for a gathering with more connection in a practical, clear and concise manner. More connection with other while you are more anchored to be yourself at the same time. That sounds like a paradox but it actually is inextricably connected.
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
Free, Equal, and Together by Damaris Matthijsen, published on 1 October 2022.
I was involved with the writing of Damaris Matthijsen's first book as an editor. In Free, Equal, and Together, the founder of Economy Transformers presents a new foundation to create an economy and society that benefits all humans and the Earth. When the original publisher backed out of the project it was clear for me that I would be the publisher of this powerful plea.
‘Damaris is the Kate Raworth of the Netherlands.’ - Leonie van der Steen, Squarewise
'This book is one giant advocacy for life.' - Herman Wijffels
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
Sugarcoated Organization Problems by Cedric Muchall and Lennard Toma, published on 1 April 2022.
It must have been late 2020, when I was still working as an editor at Boom Publishers and our web editor alerted me to the online articles from Lennard Toma. Contradictory and widely read. When I met him (via Zoom, we had already entered the pandemic) he was mostly impressed by my T-shirt (which featured a unicorn), so he thought it would be a good idea if I would be involved in the production of this book.
When I left Boom Publishers and started working as an independent editor, I continued to work on the book with Cedric and Lennard, until they said that I should be the publisher too. Sure, okay, they are quite convincing fellas. Initially, they had written a book in which they expose all the completely stupid habits in organizations (having meetings anyone?), but gradually they added a second part with a more positive approach: which aspects are important for a better, more human, and enjoyable collaboration?
These two parts are now called Sugarcoated Organization Problems, but the Dutch title translated roughly as Company. Shompany. or Company. Noodle Disc. It’s silly, but completely logical if you consider the title of their first book 99 Problems But The Boss Ain’t One. Together these two parts form a very good management book on better and more fun organizing.
Available (in Dutch) in book stores across the Netherlands and Flanders.
Singing Rumpelstiltskin by Ben Sims, published on 1 March 2022.
When I met Ben Sims around 2005, we immediately had a connection. I was in an ambitious and instrumental group with two Dutch friends, and all of a sudden we had a singer. A singer from America with a long musical career. He sometimes told us stories about his encounters with people like Isaac Hayes, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. But, impressive as the were, these stories remained nothing but anecdotes.
More than fifteen years later, Ben felt the urgency to put his life story on paper, and share it, if only with his children (four), his grandchildren (eighteen), and his greatgrandchildren (four). Throughout 2020 and 2021, he recorded fragments of his life experiences on his iPhone, while I transcribed these fragments. In his impressive autobiography, Ben Sims chronicles his childhood in the forest ghetto of Cleveland, Ohio, his development as a young Black man in racist America, his career with the US Air Force, his musical encounters, all the discrimination he had to overcome in his life, and how he remained positive and hopeful nonetheless. He treats every new day like the best day of his life.
A week after I could give the author a copy of his book, he passed away.
The book is available through Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions