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dec 09, 2025

Read, set, action

Since the 1970s, as society has become increasingly individualistic and churches have emptied, people have turned less to religion and more to psychology for answers to life’s big questions and for a sense of stability. Personal development, mindfulness, leadership, happiness, major themes that dominate the world of self-help books. You see them everywhere.

 

You can’t see the book for the trees…

But which book should you read to become happy? Is there even one book that will help you fully grasp life’s lessons? In this blog, Fan Factory shares five book recommendations for the holiday season, perfect gifts for yourself and for someone else.

Let’s start by acknowledging that reading that one book won’t satisfy our hunger for certainty or meaning. These five self-help books address symptoms, challenge you to think differently, and often speak only to your personal preferences. And yet, with our noses deep in the pages and our heads full of inspiration, we expect to step back into the world ready for change and results. In practice, however, putting insights into action often falls short…

So it’s not so much about which book you read, but what you do with it. Turn what you’ve read into something concrete for yourself, what does it mean for you and the people around you? Write it down, speak it out loud!

 

 

(Dream, Dare, Do) by Ben Tiggelaar

Managing the most difficult person on earth: yourself. The first chapters explore your behavior to give you more insight into who you are and how you can bring about change. That change revolves around three central steps: dreaming, daring, and doing, explained in detail in the subsequent chapters.

 

The subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson

Down-to-earth, humorous, and brutally honest: Mark Manson gives you the tools to choose what you give a f*ck about—and therefore what you don’t. Embracing that idea is liberating.

 

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Who are we? Where do we come from? And how did we become who we are today? In his compelling narrative, Harari introduces us to a mysterious phenomenon: humankind.

 

Steeds leuker (Better and Better) by Jelle Hermus

We often don’t know exactly what we want to do with our lives, but we do know how we want to feel: freer, happier, and more fulfilled. If you keep taking small steps in the right direction, you’ll naturally end up where you want to be.

 

Happy Life 365 by Kelly Weekers

Kelly explains, with clarity and humor, how you can create your own happiness. Packed with practical exercises, examples, simple step-by-step plans, tips, tricks, and quotes for 365 days of joy.

Once you close the book, focus your gaze outward and write down three actions: what are you going to do today, based on this book, that’s different from before? Chances are you’ll need insights or support from others—so approach your manager, colleague, partner, or family member and get to work!

Read… set… action!

 

About Fan Factory

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  • Reduce unwanted turnover, boost productivity, and give every new colleague a warm welcome with your unique onboarding program.
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  • Discover where to begin to turn your employees into engaged ambassadors. The Fan Scan provides insight into satisfaction, priorities, and concrete next steps. This reduces turnover and absenteeism and maximizes employee value.

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