Almost summer vacation! Even though the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating yet… But hey, who cares. With our summer book tips from this year you will also get through a rainy summer. Here they are again:the best popular science books of the past year, according to the editors of Kennislink.
Beer in the Netherlands
By Marco Daane
Like a quarter of the Dutch, are you not going on holiday this summer, but are you staying at home? Then set out together with Marco Daane's book 'Beer in the Netherlands' and discover the history of Dutch beer. In this biography Daane presents the complete beer history, which inspires you to taste the richness of this part of Dutch history.
Daane describes the long history of Dutch beers in a neutral way, but knows how to put fun facts into the story in an ingenious way. Did you know, for example, that there was great competition between the Dutch beers and the beers from the north. The fierce competition even led to armed confrontations, and a real 'slaughter' in the sixteenth century!
You don't have to leave the Netherlands for fun facts, a nice glass of beer and a journey through beer history! – Daniëlle Veldhuis, editorial intern NEMO Kennislink –
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Wine from Dutch soil
By Geert-Jan Vis, Denise Maljers and Stan Beurskens
And if you prefer to drink wine? Then there is the book Wine from Dutch Soil, by Geert-Jan Vis, Denise Maljers and Stan Beurskens (who previously received a review on Kennislink). The wine book is not an encyclopedia full of facts, but a collection of great stories. It concerns both the Dutch winegrower and Dutch wine.
The authors are investigating, among other things, to what extent the climate and the soil influence the taste of the grapes and their juice. They had quite a few questions about this themselves, and they take you on their quest for the answers. In passing they also tell you about the Dutch geology, the formation of the soil, and the Dutch climate.
The result is a book that is enjoyable to read, and that you learn something from. For example, did you know that the Netherlands has 200 vineyards?
– Marlies ter Voorde, editor Earth and Climate –
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Holiday in your own language
By Gaston Dorren
During your vacation you usually skip the sights in your own hometown. A shame really, because even close to home there is plenty to see and experience. The same goes for our language:we hear Dutch around us all day long and therefore hardly notice its surprising idiosyncrasies.
In 'Holiday in your own language', tour guide Gaston Dorren takes you on short trips through Dutch. He makes you look up to striking curiosities, points out unexpected beauties and explains wonderful irregularities.
A fine collection of lightly written columns. Ideal for a sunny holiday in Bad Hintergarten or a long drive to the Costa del Sol. Can you immediately explain to your travel companions why it is actually quite logical that we say 'Lille' to the French 'Lille'. – Erica Renckens, editor 'Talking about language' –
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Fan-tas-tic to be here! Improve your use of language
By Christine Liebrecht
How can you ensure that what you have to say gets through to the other person? You often have to put in a little more effort for that. Because very often we use language quite unconsciously. And that while you can sort a lot of power with the right wording. Just think of the language of Wilders or other eloquent politicians.
That's what the booklet is about Fan-tas-tic to be here! by Christine Liebrecht. On the basis of countless examples, she gives tips to strengthen your language. For example by using punctuation marks:fan-tas-tic, or soooo nice! But you can also touch your listener more quickly with emotions and humor or with irony (You say fantastic, but you mean terrible).
This booklet is not only useful for people who work in communication, but actually for anyone who wants to become more aware of their language use. Nice and light because of the many examples and therefore very suitable for the campsite. If you are looking for more in-depth information, you can always consult Liebrecht's dissertation (or the article on Kennislink). – Mathilde Jansen, editor Linguistics –
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Never too busy again
By Tony Crabbe
It is one of the best-selling books of the moment:'Never Too Busy' by Tony Crabbe. Apparently in these busy times we make massive time to read his book. Now do something with the dozens of advice that are in the bulky work. Being busy, according to the business psychologist, means that you don't have your priorities in order. We no longer have focused attention on what we do, we are easily distracted. We spend hours a day getting rid of mail, updating whatsapp conversations, updating online profiles and extending our to-do lists. As a result, we have done a lot at the end of the day, but have not spent our time very usefully.
In the first part of his book, Crabbe gives tips and advice based on research to free up more time. Only check your email at certain times of the day. Start with your most difficult task. Don't be afraid to get bored. Concentrate on the 15 most important people in your life (have fewer friends).' And in the second part, he goes into more detail about how to spend the freed hours. How do you want to organize your life? What is important to you? Take the time to think about this. You also make an entire weekend free for a weekend with friends, why not allow yourself that? A practical and inspiring book that you will fly through. Definitely worth your spare holiday hours! – Anne van Kessel, editor Biology –
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The Water Book
By Alok Jha
With an unprecedentedly wet month of June just behind you, you might have your belly full of water for a while. At the same time, holidays are often dominated by water fun:swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling or just hanging out by the water with a book. Then 'The Water Book' is an excellent choice.
Without taking a step, you sail to Antarctica, go into space to find water on the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies, let yourself be carried away by the gulf currents deep in the oceans and travel to the beginning of time to learn how water originated. And all without the need for a towel (or an umbrella). Read a more in-depth review of the book here – Esther Thole, Chemistry editor –
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August von Bonstetten. A Swiss soldier sketches 's-Hertogenbosch 1815-1824
By Jac. Biemans
Diaries are always nice to have in the suitcase. In this copy, the nineteen-year-old soldier August from a Swiss aristocratic family opens up about his life in the barracks city of 's-Hertogenbosch. He hates his days of drills, parades and standing guard.
August fills his spare time with dinners with befriended families or drinks and playing cards with friends, he witnesses fights and falls hopelessly in love. But his favorite pastime is painting – his colorful works illustrate the book – and without his brushes he would have become depressed. Fortunately, he is not in a country where the weather always seems to be lousy.
The book gives a special and personal insight into the past and also deals with the context. Why is the Swiss actually an officer in the Dutch army? After his military service, August would devote himself completely to the arts and develop into a painter not without merit. Fortunately. – Marjolein Overmeer, Humanities editor –
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Why cola is more expensive than milk
By Bas Haring
Well, why is cola actually more expensive than milk… I found the title of this book so intriguing that I couldn't pass it up, and recommend that you throw it in your suitcase this holiday.
Because of his own curiosity and ignorance, philosopher Haring approaches the theme of economics in a wonderfully practical way. No complicated economic arguments here! You will learn everything about how we make 'the economy' together on the basis of concrete examples. From cola and underpants to the wealth of Van Persie.
He also turns common assumptions into questions:Are we indeed rich because of the poverty of others? Is buying fair-trade coffee better? This book contained quite a lot of eye openers; for you too? – Marloes van Amerom, editor of Society –
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Nutrition myths
By Martijn Katan
The holidays are just the time when you don't want to be busy with good food and just want to enjoy yourself. It is precisely at such a moment that it is nice to open up 'Nutrition myths' by food researcher Martijn Katan. The supposed adverse effects – and also the supposedly beneficial effects – of eating and drinking are often not based on hard science, the back cover already reveals.
It doesn't have to be so frantic, Katan makes clear on the basis of seventy myths about food and drink that he debunks. Fructose is not poisonous or addictive, fruits and vegetables are healthy but probably won't prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease, and stories about the harmfulness of E numbers are not true. That breathes, right? Happy Holidays! – Mariska van Sprundel, editor Brain &Behavior –
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Dark Net
By Jamie Bartlett
This summer, take a journey into the dark recesses of the internet with Jamie Bartlett's 'Dark Net'. This journalist and researcher makes a tour of the internet, where you surf anonymously after installing a program on your computer. The dark net is mainly known for the trade in child pornography, drugs and weapons.
But Bartlett shows that a lot more is happening and that we can learn a lot from the dark web. For example, he calls the SilkRoad 2.0 marketplace the most flexible, dynamic and consumer-friendly market he's ever seen. Bartlett shows the jet black and destructive as well as creative side.
If you've never been on the dark net, this book is a real eye opener. It is well written and an excellent introduction, as I wrote on Kennislink before. – Robert Visscher, editor of Technology –
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How life arises. At the intersection of biology and quantum theory
By Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe McFadden
I often work during the summer holidays. I don't want to do that this summer. But with the book 'How life arises' I can enjoy a holiday and broaden my horizon at the same time. Because the 360-page 'How life arises' offers a relatively (!) accessible insight into quantum mechanics and in particular the living processes on earth.
They choose a robin as their guide, a very special bird, because he can detect the earth's magnetic field. Orienting itself, with Africa as its ultimate goal, is what this animal does with a biological compass, driven by quantum mechanical processes! The authors guide you through this new science by shooting over all kinds of fields themselves. They always explain the important basic concepts, before applying quantum theory to the building blocks of life.
Just as quantum particles can shoot through barriers, the knowledge about quantum mechanics through this book also reaches the world outside the fortress of physics research. Thanks to scientists who continue to experience the world as a creative wonder. – Annemieke van Roekel, editor Earth &Climate –
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'What if...'
By LOOK
Haven't we all thought about what your life would be like if you hadn't met the love of your life by chance? Or what if you had chosen a different study programme?
The magazine KIJK takes this concept and speculates about it thoroughly in the book 'What if...'. Not on 'individual' scenarios, but on major events. What if the earth stops spinning, what if the Nazis had won WWII or what if we legalize all drugs?
In fifty, sometimes imaginable, but in most cases completely bizarre images of the future, the authors explore what the world would look like together with experts. And that is often as surprising, fun as it is educational to read. There is even a special summer question:what if we abolish holidays? – Roel van der Heijden, editor of Physics &Technology –
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Real Quantum
By Martijn van Calmthout
Actually from last summer but then for some inexplicable reason he didn't make our list. So now it is, because popular newspaper journalist Van Calmthout wrote – with inspiration from physicist Leo van Kouwenhoven – a very readable book about quantum mechanics; not the subject that most people consider relaxing reading.
Because of the pleasant style and the special form:a fictitious conversation with Einstein and Bohr (which we also liked to experiment with at Kennislink), you at least think you understand. My favourite:the explanation of how quantum effects enable migratory birds to see magnetic fields.
Main message:Physicists have wrongly always pretended that the quantum world was incomprehensibly strange and distant from our real world. Quantum mechanics is easy to explain, and more importantly, our world is only a special form of that quantum reality and the quantum effects are present and observable all around us. – Sanne Deurloo, editor-in-chief NEMO Kennislink –
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