Boom Publishers Amsterdam Philosophy & History Rights List London Book Fair 2017
Boom Publishers Amsterdam
Philosophy Marli Huijer – Discipline • Rhythm • Staying behind • We are all migrants René ten Bos – Bureaucracy is an octopus • Water • The animal genius • Astray in the Anthropocene Ad Verbrugge – Shadows of freedom • Time of discomfort • State of confusion Kris Pint – The wild garden of imagination Henk Oosterling – Where there is no will, there is a way
Paul Frissen – The secret of the last state
Arnold Heumakers – The aesthetic revolution
Stefan Hertmans – The questionable
Arjen Kleinherenbrink – Everything is a machine
Herman de Regt & Hans Dooremalen – The ring of truth
Paul Frissen – The secret of the last state
Huub Dijstelbloem – The house of Argus
History Beatrice de Graaf – Dangerous women • Theatre of fear
Marijke Barend-van Haeften and Frits Barend – Matzos and noodles
Jaap Verheul – The Atlantic pilgrim
Sjoerd Bakker – From luxury to necessity
Haroon Sheikh – Embedding technopolis
Robin te Slaa – What is fascism?
Rémy Limpach – The burning kampongs of general Spoor
Marc Dierikx – Anthony Fokker
Ad Bakker & Kees Tinga – At the front! A century of guide dogs
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Dear reader, Before you is the Rights List for the London Book Fair 2017, taken from the Philosophy and History lists of Boom uitgevers Amsterdam. In this Rights List we present some of our most important authors and most important books from recent years. We find that these authors deserve an audience outside of the Netherlands. The books presented in this catalogue all have a scope that transcends the Dutch perspective. Often (though by no means always), the Netherlands is used as a point of departure for describing and understanding developments that are also occurring elsewhere in the world. All of these authors deserve to be heard beyond our borders. Take, for instance, Marli Huijer, Philosopher Laureate of the Netherlands. The Amsterdam resident explores how we can find the right rhythm in our lives. She also looks at how we sometimes do – and sometimes do not – manage to find the discipline to accomplish what we set out to do. She naturally draws inspiration from things close to home, but many people from around the world can identify with the issues she raises. Beatrice de Graaf, whose work pertains to international security and terrorism, is also a scholar with an international appeal. Her work, which is the subject of much discussion here in the Netherlands, addresses themes that are closely connected to global problems and developments. We very much hope that our authors will also find an audience in your country. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about the authors and the books we are very proud to publish. Niels Cornelissen Philosophy publisher Geert van der Meulen History publisher
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Marli Huijer Marli Huijer (1955) was the first woman to become the Denker des Vaderlands, Thinker Laureate of the Netherlands. In addition, she is a professor by special appointment in philosophy at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and a lecturer in philosophy and professional practices at The Hague College. Huijer is using her honorary function as the Denker des Vaderlands to focus on public area as ‘interstitial spaces’ so that the voices of others who are generally less noticed can be heard clearly. Huijer’s works include Ritme [Rhythm], Discipline [Discipline] and Achterblijven [Staying behind]. She appears regularly in the media and participates in public discussions.
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Discipline Survival in a time of plenty A stimulating philosophical discourse on contemporary humankind in a world of unprecedented opportunity In Discipline, Marli Huijer examines the awkward relationship between freedom and discipline. Where does our dislike of discipline come from? What does living without discipline mean amidst an abundance of material things, relationships, sex and choices? Aren’t we capable of embracing discipline so that we have less difficulty with it? Can’t we outsource discipline? In this challenging book, Huijer shows that we should not consider discipline merely as obedience, but also as a tool for achieving what we find valuable. Discipline isn’t all that bad.
‘Huijer has chosen an important and topical
‘Eating too much, drinking too much,
theme, and she throws light on it from all
internetting too much… it’s become virually
sides without being dull for a moment.
impossible to control ourselves. Philosopher
A laudable achievement.’ – trouw
Marli Huijer finds that discipline has flown out of the window, just when we need it
‘Huijer gives short shrift to our prioritizing
most.’ – psychologie magazine
of freedom.’ – nrc handelsblad
Discipline. Overleven in overvloed • 2013 • 276 pages Germany (wbg) • r i g h t s Niels Cornelissen, n.cornelissen@bua.nl
original title rights sold
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Rhythm Busy, busy, busy: the average person has more and more things to do and less and less time to do them. But are we really so busy? Or might it be that our perception of time has become disrupted? We perceive time not merely as a succession of days, but as a culturally and naturally determined whole consisting of breaks and alternations. In Rhythm, Marli Huijer sheds light on the rhythms that determine life in our time. What is a disrupted rhythm and what is a good rhythm? And what is the importance of rhythms for our society? Huijer shows how the Internet, the smartphone and the 24-hour economy disrupt many of our normal rhythms. Nowadays, it is possible to go online at any hour of the day and talk with people all over the world. Working in the evening or at the weekend is no longer taboo, and has not been for quite some time. There is now more and more overlap between moments that used to be separate. This book encourages us to rediscover our own rhythm.
‘A surprising and captivating study in which Huijer links fundamental philosophical criticism with current scientific and literary observations.’ – de volkskrant
original title
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Ritme. Op zoek naar een terugkerende tijd • 2015 • 276 pages r i g h t s s o l d Germany (wbg)
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Staying behind A new philosophy for a world without borders In the philosophical essay Staying behind, Marli Huijer explores the phenomenon of ‘staying behind’ in connection with overseas migration from Europe to other parts of the world: what significance does the departure of a child, sibling or colleague have for those who stay behind? Because ‘the world is becoming smaller’ for Europeans, Huijer argues that departing and staying behind have acquired an entirely new meaning: a final farewell seems to be a thing of the past. In light of these changes, Huijer shows that in a world in which more and more people are moving those who stay behind have a decisive role to play in preserving the local material culture and political community. Those who stay behind provide the stability that is necessary for welcoming newcomers.
“In a culture that is progressing, the
spot on the Earth’s surface within a few days?
advantages are for the one who is departing.
The scope for adventure is disappearing,
But that is changing. Why would you want
and the concept of genuinely leaving for
to emigrate now that everything is available
good – as my grandparents did – no longer
digitally and you can get to virtually any
really exists.” - Marli Huijer in Staying behind
Achterblijven • 2016 • 160 pages Niels Cornelissen, n.cornelissen@bua.nl
original title rights
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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René ten Bos René ten Bos (1959) is Professor of Philosophy at Radboud University Nijmegen and will become the new Denker des Vaderlands, Thinker Laureate of the Netherlands, in April of this year. Ten Bos’ work is characterised by a deep-rooted engagement with contemporary issues: capitalism, bureaucracy, ecology, non-human animals, water, sexuality and labour. He is the author of numerous books and articles. Among them are Bureaucracy is an octopus, for which he received the Socrates Challenge Cup 2016 and Water (2015), which was nominated for the above award as well as the prestigious ECI literature award for the most literary book. He has written frequently for English-language journals in the fields of philosophy, geography and organisation and has a number of international publications.
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Bureaucracy is an octopus Survival in a time of plenty Awarded with the Socrates Cup 2016 for the best, most original and thought-provoking Dutch philosophy book Why is everyone against bureaucracy and are we really getting more and more of it? To answer this question, we have to think about the nature of bureaucracy. However, it turns out to be complex: like an octopus, bureaucracy seems capable of slipping away from anyone who tries to get hold of it. Its nature is more what you might call a ‘hyperobject’, something that is so all-embracing that we are never able to get a complete picture of it on our retinas. René ten Bos subjects bureaucracy to a philosophical analysis and describes it as the ecology of contemporary humans: it shapes us and defines who we are, as well as threatening us. Bureaucracy is human through and through, but at the same time it keeps impinging upon our human nature. Bureaucracy is an octopus is intended for everyone who is involved with organisations on a daily basis – all of us, that is.
from the jury report of the socrates cup:
‘Stylistically, Ten Bos prefers to draw
‘Wonderfully satirical, exceptionally original
inspiration from the art of the novel,
and highly accessible to a large audience.’
as evidenced by his lively use of language and inventive metaphors.’ – trouw
‘A lively study of bureaucracy that exudes the same enthusiasm for thinking, reading and narrating as Water.’ – de volkskrant
original title
Bureaucratie is een inktvis • 2015 • 192 pages France (Le Pommier)
rights sold
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Water A geophilosophical history
In this masterful book, René ten Bos examines how our relationship with water is reflected in the way we think. He notes a preference for dryness that is rooted in the thinking of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Since then, the majority of philosophers have been looking for terra firma and politicians and policymakers have loved tackling water management. Ten Bos finds this all much too arid and takes his readers along on a fascinating quest for fluid thinking, which is not only present sporadically in philosophy, but also in the sciences. Water has been selected for the shortlist for the Socrates Cup 2015 for the most urgent, original and stimulating philosophy book in Dutch in 2014. Water has also been nominated for the prestigious ECI Literature Prize in 2015.
‘René ten Bos uses crystal-clear arguments in
‘René ten Bos’ daring reinterpretations cast
this erudite and gripping, highly disturbing
new light on the history of philosophy,
geophilosophical history.’ – nrc handelsblad
capitalism and our culture in the broadest sense of the word.’ – filosofie magazine
‘The book is undoubtedly original and takes a look at Western philosophy from an unexpected perspective.’ – trouw
original title
Water. Een geofilosofische geschiedenis • 2015 • 352 pages Niels Cornellissen, n.cornelissen@bua.nl
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
The animal genius A different anthropology What is actually the difference between humans and animals and how do we relate to each other? In a highly engaging style, Ten Bos shows how people deal with animals and how they think about animals. He outlines his own vision – such as with respect to ‘animal rights’ – which makes the book a worthwhile read for philosophers, biologists, conservationists, animal lovers, politicians, policymakers and journalists. ‘The animal genius is a playful and experimental book. Though what it attempts to achieve is not entirely clear, it is precisely this tactic that enables Ten Bos to avoid falling into disciplinary pitfalls. By inserting philosophy into the gaps between the disciplines, he sheds light on all kinds of limitations. As such, the book can also be seen as a treatise on knowledge politics. The animal, as depicted by Ten Bos, is academically explosive.’ – krisis journal for contemporary philosophy
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Het geniale dier • 2008 • 304 pages
Astray in the anthropocene Ten Bos addresses one of the most academically discussed subjects of recent years here. According to some, we are living in a new age in which man (anthropos) is the first species to be exerting an impact on the climate, the oceans and the Earth itself. And this impact is usually disastrous. In this sense, the Anthropocene is an alarming or apocalyptic concept: a wake-up call to all of mankind. At the same time, there are also opponents of the concept who deride it as a ‘slogan’ or ‘ideology’. He argues that the concept points to a large-scale disorientation in our society where – since the introduction of GPS and other navigation tools – we literally are no longer capable of finding our way without technological aids. According to Ten Bos, the alarmism and apocalyptic thinking that manifests itself in a concept like the Anthropocene do not help the world plot a better course. The position he takes in this book is that we must learn to be open to exploring other forms of navigation.
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Dwalen in het antropoceen • nyp • 180 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Ad Verbrugge Ad Verbrugge (1967) is a philosopher and musician. He is a senior lecturer in social and cultural philosophy and philosophy of economics at VU University Amsterdam. He is also the co-founder and chairman of Beter Onderwijs Nederland (BON), an association that works to improve the quality of education in the Netherlands. To the general public, he is known for his book Tijd van Onbehagen [Time of discomfort] (2004) and as co-host since 2012 for Het Filosofisch Kwintet [The Philosophical Quintet], a philosophy-oriented television programme presented by Human.
‘When assessing large-scale cultural developments, we are forced to assume general motives, tendencies and connections – if we do not want to live our lives blindly and act accordingly. Especially philosophy cannot escape the task to reflect on its own time, at least when it takes itself seriously and experiences life as the source from where the need to philosophize emerges and where it returns to.’ – Ad Verbrugge in Time of discomfort
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Shadows of freedom A philosophical reflection on radicalisation and terrorism
Ad Verbrugge takes a closer look here at one of the most important issues of our time: the radicalisation of youth. Just as in his bestseller Tijd van onbehagen [Time of discomfort], Verbrugge once again superbly captures the spirit of the times. Verbrugge defines the phenomenon of radicalism as broader than jihadism alone and sees it mainly as a darker side to our Western ideal of freedom. In a world in which everyone can do what they want, a coherent narrative is lacking. The priests of radicalism offer wandering souls a home that they no longer can find in a free society, with all of its merits. Verbrugge contends that we first have to look at ourselves as a society. Only then will we be able to understand how radicalisation occurs and what we can do to combat it.
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Schaduwen van vrijheid • nyp • 160 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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State of confusion Sacrifice of love
In State of confusion, Verbrugge presents a stimulating line of thought that explains the global popularity of the erotic bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey. He argues that post-modern man is in a state of confusion regarding the most elementary form of community – a romantic relationship. It is precisely in the context of this (erotic) love that a desire for community emerges which clashes with our virtual consumer culture. In laying out his ideas, Verbrugge draws inspiration from a wide range of traditions and thinkers: from the Dionysian Mysteries, Plato’s Symposium and Aristoteles’ virtue ethics to the mediaeval chivalric romance, Foucault’s concept of biopower and Houellebecq’s Elementary Particles. At the same time, State of confusion is an original philosophical treatise that is less a product of theoretical curiosity and more a work of existential necessity – which is also how the book should be read!
‘Ad Verbrugge shows himself to be one of
‘One of the most intriguing books I’ve read
the leading philosophers in the Netherlands.’
this year.’ – Wim Brands in boeken
– de groene amsterdammer
‘The style of the book is inspired and erudite.’ – filosofie & praktijk
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Staat van verwarring. Offer van liefde • 2013 • 240 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Time of discomfort Philosophical essays about a culture adrift
At the beginning of the new millennium, a number of societal problems have emerged that can no longer be understood based on the usual concepts and categories. Examples of these include the phenomenon of senseless violence and the tension between religion and culture. In seven closely connected essays, philosopher Ad Verbrugge makes it clear that the problems with which post-modern Western society is struggling can be understood as manifestations of a culture adrift. Drawing on philosophers from the Western tradition, from Aristoteles and Hegel to Heidegger and Fukuyama, he criticises the discourse that has been dominant in the political and societal debates over the past decades. While his tone can range from reflective and sombre to forceful and engaged, Verbrugge always attempts to shed light on the various aspects of a subject for the sake of accessibility and clarity. More than once, he takes a clear stance in a current societal debate or in a debate that he finds should be taking place.
‘An example of what philosophy can be when it doesn’t lose sight of its purpose.’ – de groene amsterdammer
‘A refreshing lack of soft moralism.’ – nrc handelsblad
original title
Tijd van onbehagen • 2006 • 286 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Kris Pint The wild garden of imagination Selfcare as a happy science An essential guide that helps you look at yourself in an entirely new way – no longer through the lens of neoliberal stereotypes – and live a good and true life. In The Wild Garden of Imagination, Kris Pint shows us how we can escape the economization of the self. He has invented an art of living for everyone who is sick of defining themselves in terms of competition, innovation and profit maximization. `An excellent book. In a limited amount of pages, the author manages to playfully convey profound insights.’ – Paul Verhaeghe, professor clinical psychology and psychoanalysis, and author of Love in aTime of Loneliness and Identity. KRIS PINT is a poet and a philosopher. He is professor of cultural philosophy at the University of Hasselt.
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De wilde tuin van de verbeelding • 2017 • 136 pages
Henk Oosterling Where there is no will, there is a way Japan and the art of thinking Japanese philosophy, as explained by one of the most original philosophers in the Netherlands: Henk Oosterling, expert on Japan and former kendo-champion. In Where There is No Will, There is a Way, Henk Oosterling familiarizes the reader with the basic principles of Japanese philosophy. He shows how we perceive Japan, how Japan perceives us and what these intercultural exchanges could mean for a future world where themes like sustainability and cooperation will prove to be crucial. is a teacher at the Eramus University of Rotterdam and the director of Rotterdam Vakmanstad. An earlier work by him is Radical Mediocrity (2000).
HENK OOSTERLING
F` or Oosterling, thinking and acting, form and content are as one. In Where There is No Will, There is a Way, he propagates something he calls ‘acting and thinking on an intercultural level’.’ – trouw
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Waar geen wil is, is een weg • 2016 • 464 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Arnold Heumakers The aesthetic revolution How the Enlightenment and the Romantics invented Art Through sparkling and penetrating analyses of poets and thinkers such as Shaftesbury, Baumgarten, Rousseau, Kant, Hamann, Hemsterhuis, Herder, Moritz, Schiller, Goethe, Schlegel, Novalis and many others, Arnold Heumakers describes how the Romanticcontemporary vision of art arose and developed. In The aesthetic revolution, he shows magnificently how autonomy and engagement – apparently polar opposites – still determine how we experience art and literature even today. ‘The reader benefits from the erudition of the author, who quotes abundantly from the Romantic canon. Schiller, Novalis, Hölderlin – who still reads them? Thanks to Heumakers, these dead German poets and thinkers come alive again.’ – trouw is a freelance critic for newspapers, and recently retired as a lecturer in cultural science at the University of Amsterdam. His previous published works include Schoten in de concertzaal [Shots in the concert hall] and De schaduw van de Vooruitgang [The shadow of progress].
ARNOLD HEUMAKERS
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De esthetische revolutie • 2015 • 502 pages
Stefan Hertmans The questionable About the obscene in culture Phenomena such as peep shows and excessive film violence demonstrate something to us that is fundamental to the human spirit, something that also appears in veiled form in religion and moralism. What makes us think and what sets our thoughts in motion is itself questionable, casting a shadow of doubt over our thinking. ‘Days later, the book is still asking questions and it permeates your thoughts and conversations.’ – trouw magazine STEFAN HERTMANS has produced a large oeuvre that includes essays, theatrical works and literary publications (both prose and poetry). His book Oorlog en terpentijn [War and turpentine] won him the 2014 AKO Literature Prize.
original title
Het bedenkelijke • 2015 • 204 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Arjen Kleinherenbrink Everything is a Machine Arjen Kleinherenbrink is not afraid to face up to the Big Questions. In this crisply written book, he shows us once and for all how our reality really works. Kleinherenbrink explains that reality is one big machine where every part has a specific function. The time is right for a new kind of philosophy: machinism. ARJEN KLEINHERENBRINK is a postdoctoral researcher of philosophy at the Erasmus University. He specializes in contemporary French philosophy. He writes philosophical essays and articles, has translated Gilles Deleuze’s work and gives readings to diverse audiences.
original title
Alles is een machine • 2017 • 260 pages
Herman de Regt & Hans Dooremalen The ring of truth How the illusion of understanding undermines our thoughts The authors show how people sometimes accept ideas as true that are really complete nonsense, simply because they feel that they understand it. The ring of truth is the follow-up to their very successful book What nonsense! about science and the paranormal. ‘It is nice to read this book and then examine your own opinions again.’ – teth (magazine for hypnotherapy professionals) about What nonsense! is a philosopher at Tilburg University. He has worked at the University of Cambridge (UK) and at Princeton University (USA). Together with Hans Dooremalen, he wrote the popular book Wat een onzin! [What nonsense!], and he wrote Stof tot denken [Material thoughts] with Maurice Schouten about the problem of consciousness. HANS DOOREMALEN works as a philosopher at Tilburg University.
HERMAN DE REGT
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Het snapgevoel • 2015 • 204 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Paul Frissen The secret of the last state Critique of transparancy A controversial book in which Paul Frissen contests the conventional wisdom that the state should always be transparent. According to him, the right of states to have secrets is necessary in order to protect citizens’ privacy. Based on interviews with thirty (former) secret service staff, Frissen elaborates upon the anthropology of the state secret. ‘In direct opposition to the spirit of the times, Paul Frissen makes a convincing case for the ‘Right to Darkness’. This book captivated me.’ ***** – de volkskrant ‘An important contribution to the debate on democracy.’ – liberales.be is dean and vice-chairman of the Netherlands School of Public Administration in The Hague and professor of public administration at Tilburg University. His previous works include De staat van verschil [The state of difference] and De fatale staat [The fatal state].
PAUL FRISSEN
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Het geheim van de laatste staat • 2016 • 272 pages
Huub Dijstelbloem The house of Argus The watchful gaze in the democracy According to Dijstelbloem, we are currently transitioning from a vocal democracy to an ‘ocular’ democracy: where it used to be about the voice (as a conveyer of ideas and projects), it is now about the eye (the supervisor on what the government is doing). In his reconstruction, Dijstelbloem shows how we, as civilians, can develop a counterforce against the imagery of the political establishment. In order to do this, we must develop a skill as public detectives. (1969) is a professor of scientific and political philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and, as a researcher, he is connected to the Scientific Council of the Legislation. Together with Willem Schinkel, he founded the Institute of Public Imagery.
HUUG DIJSTELBLOEM
`This is a topical book. It offers valuable insights into the nature of the contemporary democracy and perhaps even a way out of the crisis it has found itself in. Contains surprising new perspectives.’ **** – trouw
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Het huis van Argus • 2016 • 180 pages
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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Beatrice de Graaf Professor Beatrice de Graaf holds a chair in the History of International Relations & Global Governance at Utrecht University. In 2016 De Graaf will be visiting fellow at St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge University. She frequently appears in the media as a commenter and expert on terrorism and security. She is a welcome guest in television shows such as: De Wereld Draait Door, Pauw, and other talkshows.
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Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Dangerous women A portrait of ten militant women When it comes to war and terrorism, women are not usually the first thing that come to mind. Yet women have been involved in violent movements for a long time. This book examines the lives of ten militant women. Since the women’s liberation movement and improved opportunities starting in the 1970s, the role of women in terrorist organisations has increased. The left-wing revolutionary group the Red Army Faction had many women in leading positions, with Ulrike Meinhof being the best known example. Since that time, the number of female terrorists has grown significantly, though the roles they fulfil depend greatly on the type of organisation: fighter, messenger, girlfriend or suicide bomber. A factor that is just as important in the radicalisation process of women is the way in which they are portrayed by the media and counterterrorism agencies. This almost always involves enormous stereotyping. ‘Beatrice de Graaf gives us an unbiased and unclichéd portrait of ten terrorists: from those who were demonised, like the American Angela Davis, to those who were underestimated, like the Moroccan-Belgian Malika El Aroud.’ – de volkskrant original title
Gevaarlijke vrouwen. Tien militante vrouwen in het vizier • 2012 • 208 pages Geert van der Meulen, g.vandermeulen@bua.nl
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Theatre of fear The fight against terrorism in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and the United States Sixteen people died. Buildings were blown up or evacuated. Yet no new laws on terrorism were adopted and the responsible ministers withheld information. In the Netherlands in the 1970s, violent activism and terrorism were hushed up as much as possible. During the same time, extremists were also active in West Germany, Italy and the USA, with attacks claiming dozens of victims. There, however, the governments launched large-scale operations to hunt down the terrorists with the help of helicopters, road blocks, FBI teams and national reserve troops. Which strategy was the most effective: the Dutch strategy or that of the other countries’ governments? Is it even possible to measure the effectiveness of a counterterrorism policy? De Graaf based her research on the archives of secret services, the minutes of ministerial councils and interviews with official and former activists. She comes to important conclusions that cannot be ignored by those involved in the fight against terrorism today. ‘The interesting thing about this highly informative book is that De Graaf’s primary focus is the way in which the government influences image creation and the relationship between ‘performative power’ and the intensity of the terrorism.’ – de groene amsterdammer
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Theater van de angst: De strijd tegen terrorisme in Nederland, Duitsland, Italië en Amerika • 2010 • 412 pages r i g h t s Geert van der Meulen, g.vandermeulen@bua.nl Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
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HAROON SHEIKH
Haroon Sheikh Embedding technopolis
Jaap Verheul The Atlantic pilgrim
EMBEDDING TECHNOPOLIS
In Embedding Technopolis, Sheikh examines the tension between worldTURNING MODERNITY INTO A HOME wide traditions that have existed for hundreds of years and the explosive technological developments of modern times. Mankind’s Faustian ambition to control everything through technological means has ejected many people out of the meaningful worlds they used to inhabit, which were shaped by traditions. Sheikh questions what the reactions are to all these modern developments. HAROON SHEIKH (1980) studied public administration, political science and philosophy in Leiden and Oxford. He is head of research at Dasym and connected to the Ethos Institute of the Free University. He has published The Rise of the East at Boom Publishers as well.
original title
SJOERD BAKKER
Embedding technopolis • 2017
John Lothrop Motley and the American discovery of the Netherlands In 1856, John Lothrop Motley (18141877) published The rise of the Dutch republic, which was the result of years of research into the Dutch Revolt and the Golden Age. It became an international bestseller. Motley viewed Dutch society as a historical example of independence. Thanks to The rise of the Dutch republic, the Netherlands were seen as the cradle of freedom and Republicanism and therefore as the birthplace of essential aspects of American society. JAAP VERHEUL is lecturer and researcher at the University of Utrecht. He teaches cultural history of the twentieth century and cultural history of the United States.
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De Atlantische pelgrim • 2016 • 928 pages
Marijke Barend - van Haeften and Frits Barend Matzos and Noodles
Sjoerd Bakker From luxury to necessity
FROM LUXURY TO NECESSITY
What do computers and smartphones have in common with HOW FOUR TECHNOLOGICAL railways, electricity, and the REVOLUTIONS CHANGED OUR LIVES automobile? Each triggered a technological revolution that radically changed the way in which we live, work, eat, shop and enjoy ourselves. From luxury to necessity shows how these technological revolutions affected everyday life and led to new consumer practices. The book’s historical perspective helps us to understand how new and existing consumer practices evolve with technological innovation. is an independent researcher and consultant. He has published numerous papers on innovation and socio-technical transitions. Sjoerd holds a PhD in Innovation Studies from Utrecht University.
SJOERD BAKKER
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From luxury to necessity • 2017
The fates of the families Barend and Van Haeften Television producer Frits Barend was born to a Jewish family that suffered through the Holocaust, while the Dutch-Indian family of his wife, historian Marijke van Haeften, survived the Japanese camps. Together, Van Haeften and Barend tell their life stories, which is also the history of the war: never before have the experiences of a Japanese prison camp and the persecution of the Jews been interwoven in one family history. FRITS BAREND is a reporter, a television and radio host, a columnist and a publisher. MARIJKE BAREND-VAN HAEFTEN is a historian who specializes in colonial literature during the time of the East Indian Company and the West Indian Company. original title
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
Matzes en mie • 2017 • 220 pages
Robin te Slaa What is fascism?
Rémy Limpach The burning kampongs of general Spoor
Its origin and ideology Even today, ‘fascist’ is still a popular term of abuse. But what exactly is fascism, and what attracted people to it? What drove the people who committed these crimes? It is impossible to understand the history of fascism, and therefore that of the 20th century, without exploring its underlying ideals and their historical origin. This is an accessible book about the fascist ideology by Robin te Slaa, author of various publications on fascism. is a historian and publicist. He is frequently asked to participate in debates on right and left-wing extremism. ROBIN TE SLAA
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Wat is fascisme? Oorsprong en ideologie 2016 • 250 pages
Excesses or structural extreme violence? Since 1969, the official stance of the Dutch government has been that only incidental excesses took place in the former Netherlands East Indies, with the exception of intelligence sections and the Captain Westerling’s commandos. In this ground-breaking book, Swiss-Dutch historian Rémy Limpach proves the contrary. RÉMY LIMPACH earned his doctorate at the University of Bern with a dissertation on extreme Dutch military violence during Indonesia’s war of independence. He works for the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH).
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De brandende kampongs van generaal Spoor 2016 • 928 pages
Ad Bakker & Kees Tinga At the front!
Marc Dierikx Anthony Fokker A life in flight
A century of guide dogs The very first school for guide dogs was founded a hundred years ago (1916) in Germany. Initially intended for veterans, blind citizens also later became eligible to receive guide dogs. The successful phenomenon spread to the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. At the front! is the story of the special relationship between the blind and their guide dogs. AD BAKKER is an instructor of Dutch for foreigners. His writing style is fluid and accessible. KEES TINGA is head instructor at the Royal Dutch Guide Dog Foundation (KNGF Geleidehonden). He has compiled a unique archive on guide dogs.
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Vooraan! Honderd jaar blindengeleidehond 2016 • 160 pages
An international film adaptation! The life of Anthony Fokker (18901939) was short but action-packed. This book describes how the aviation pioneer survived many accidents in his own planes before becoming an important aircraft manufacturer, thanks to World War I. Fokker’s private life was also full of ups and downs. This biography reads like a novel. MARC DIERIKX is a senior researcher affiliated with the Huygens Institute of Netherlands History who has written numerous books on aviation history.
Anthony Fokker. Een vervlogen leven 2014 • 416 pages
original title
Boom Publishers Amsterdam | Philosophy & History
23
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