Eight books to gift this Christmas: RICH Holiday Wish List 2024

Weg uit het Witte Huis. Presidenten met pensioen. 

Peter van der Heiden | Boom | August 2024

Weg uit het Witte Huis. Presidenten met pensioen (After leaving the White House. Presidents after retiring) by Peter van der Heiden offers a captivating and surprising glimpse into the lives of American former presidents after their time as head of state. What happens when a powerful president suddenly becomes a "regular" citizen? From charity work and writing to unexpected career switches and personal challenges: the book reveals how these former presidents deal with the transition to a life outside of the limelight. Using wit and sharp observations, Van der Heiden paints a unique picture of this peculiar life stage. This gift will definitely provide you with something to talk about during the holidays! Order your copy.

Aurelius Augustinus – De regel

Vincent Hunink and Paul van Geest | Uitgeverij Noordboek | March 2024

Aurelius Augustinus – De regel (Aurelius Augustinus - The rule) is a wonderfully accessible edition of the classical work of Father Augustine, translated and annotated by Vincent Hunink and Paul van Geest. This timeless text offers wise insights into coexistence, responsibility and internal balance, which are relevant even today. Thanks to the translation and the commentary, the book is a valuable introduction for beginners while also offering new insights to seasoned appreciators of philosophy and theology. The Latin source text has also been included. Order your copy.

Rampen (Disasters)

Lotte Jensen | Amsterdam: Prometheus | April 2024

Disasters have been crucial to the history of the Netherlands. Take the St Elisabeth flood of 1421, for example, where people, animals and villages drowned. The landscape changed permanently. Or take the Bijlmer disaster of 1992, where an airplane crashed into the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood. The country was rocked by a wave of shock. The public's reactions to disasters follows the same patterns strikingly often, though there are also differences. This richly illustrated book shows how Dutch society directly and practically reacts to disasters and how these then live on in cultural memory. Paintings, monuments, books, documentaries and films pass on knowledge as well as myths to subsequent generations. From the All Saints' flood of 1570 to the North Sea flood of 1953, from the Delft Explosion of 1654 to the Enschede fireworks disaster of 2000, and from the medieval plague epidemic to the recent COVID pandemic. Order your copy.

Oorlogsboeven - Alledaagse criminaliteit tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog

Jan Julia Zurné  | Walburg Pers | March 2024

Oorlogsboeven - Alledaagse criminaliteit tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog (Petty (war) criminals - Everyday crime during World War II) by Jan Julia Zurné shines a fascinating light on a lesser known aspect of wartime: petty criminals using the chaos of war to commit crimes. From theft and black market dealing to swindling and other crimes; the book shows how regular people would sometimes be seduced - or forced - into criminal behaviour in times of scarcity and uncertainty. Zurné uses compelling stories and strong analyses to bring to life a fascinating bit of hidden history. This book is great for history lovers interested in personal histories and surprising insights from World War II. Order your copy.

Leven voor een leer - Anna Terruwe (1911-2004) 

Marit Monteiro | Amsterdam University Press | November 2024

In September 1945, Anna Terruwe opened a neurologist's practice in Nijmegen. She came into conflict with religious authorities about the moral responsibilities of Catholics with mental health problems. She then made a name for herself as the founder of the ‘theory of affirmation’, which revolves around strengthening each other's sense of self-worth through honest mutual attention. Based on sources Terruwe explicitly kept out of her archive, Marit Monteiro highlights Terruwe's relationship with her teacher and mentor Willem Duynstee. He wrote extensive reports on ‘communications’ she thought she received from Jesus. Monteiro shows how functional these ‘communications’ were for Terruwe’s professional ambitions and her position as a Catholic psychiatrist in a secularising society. Order your copy.

Typisch Gelders?

Dolly Verhoeven| Boom geschiedenis| december 2024 

Why did the Romans live here for centuries yet leave so few visible traces? What explains the divide between Reformed Protestants in the northwest and Catholics in the south? And why do so few people truly identify as Gelderlanders? Discover the secrets of Gelderland in this beautifully illustrated book filled with short, engaging stories about the largest province in the Netherlands. Answering 25 questions, this book offers a fresh perspective on Gelderland's rich history and culture. A must-read for residents, visitors, and anyone curious about what truly defines Gelderland. Order your copy.

Beuys Land

Gerd Ludwig and Frank Mehring | Edition Lammerhuber |March 2024

Gerd Ludwig's photographs show how the Lower Rhine influenced Joseph Beuys' art and life. In 1978, Ludwig captured Beuys in his native region. In 2021, Frank Mehring reconnected these images via a cycle route along their original locations. Freddy Langer wrote an essay on the journey, art, ecology and Beuys' connection with nature. Mehring highlights how the region shaped Beuys' vision, energy and international success, while photography made his ephemeral works permanent.

Ruud Lubbers - Een slag anders

Lennart Steenbergen en Johan van Merriënboer | Boom | November 2024

This biography, written by Johan van Merriënboer and Lennart Steenbergen, paints a comprehensive picture of Ruud Lubbers, the Netherlands' youngest prime minister in 1982 and a defining figure in modern history. With his pragmatic style, Lubbers led the Netherlands through the difficult years of economic crisis, austerity and political division. He introduced sustainability thinking, played a key role in the creation of the Maastricht Treaty and worked towards economic recovery.

Besides his political successes, the book also highlights the challenges and controversies in his career, including his time as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. This penetrating biography shows Lubbers as a visionary but sometimes controversial statesman who had lasting impact on the Netherlands and Europe. Order the book.