Recommended Reading from Ncourage Bookshelf

A curated collection of books I often recommend to clients, leaders, and anyone interested in thriving at work and in life. These are evidence-based, practical, and deeply insightful — the ones I return to again and again.

Many are available in English and Dutch. If you have a book you’d recommend that’s helped you let us know.

Recommended Reading from Ncourage Bookshelf

A curated collection of books I often recommend to clients, leaders, and anyone interested in thriving at work and in life. These are evidence-based, practical, and deeply insightful — the ones I return to again and again.

Many are available in English and Dutch. If you have a book you’d recommend that’s helped you let us know.

Work & Well-being

Books on building healthy workplaces, finding meaning in work, and working with focus and flow.

Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & George Ward

A research-based guide to why workplace well-being is not just “nice to have,” but essential for performance, retention, and innovation.

Gelukkig Werken

Onno Hamburger

A practical workbook and guide to creating more happiness and engagement at work, with practical exercises you can apply right away.

Deep Work

Cal Newport

A manifesto for regaining focus in an age of distraction — perfect for professionals who want to do meaningful work without burning out.

Getting Things Done

David Allen

The gold standard for personal productivity. Simple, clear systems to get mental clutter out of your head and focus on what matters.

Work & Well-being

Books on building healthy workplaces, finding meaning in work, and working with focus and flow.

Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & George Ward

A research-based guide to why workplace well-being is not just “nice to have,” but essential for performance, retention, and innovation.

Gelukkig Werken

Onno Hamburger

A practical workbook and guide to creating more happiness and engagement at work, with practical exercises you can apply right away.

Deep Work

Cal Newport

A manifesto for regaining focus in an age of distraction — perfect for professionals who want to do meaningful work without burning out.

Getting Things Done

David Allen

The gold standard for personal productivity. Simple, clear systems to get mental clutter out of your head and focus on what matters.

Stress, Resilience & Mental Health

Practical tools for managing stress, worry, and emotional well-being.

Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Catherine Pittman & Elizabeth Karle

Explains how anxiety works in the brain and gives step-by-step techniques to calm the amygdala and retrain your thought patterns.

The Happiness Trap

Russ Harris

An accessible introduction to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Learn how to stop struggling with difficult thoughts and create a values-driven life.

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brene Brown

Encourages wholehearted living and self-compassion — a must-read for anyone who struggles with perfectionism or shame.

Stress, Resilience & Mental Health

Practical tools for managing stress, worry, and emotional well-being.

Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Catherine Pittman & Elizabeth Karle

Explains how anxiety works in the brain and gives step-by-step techniques to calm the amygdala and retrain your thought patterns.

The Happiness Trap

Russ Harris

An accessible introduction to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Learn how to stop struggling with difficult thoughts and create a values-driven life.

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brene Brown

Encourages wholehearted living and self-compassion — a must-read for anyone who struggles with perfectionism or shame.

Lifestyle & Brain

Science-based guidance for protecting your brain, memory, energy, and health throughout life.

Why We Sleep

Matthew Walker

Eye-opening research on the power of sleep for memory, mood, and physical health. It might just change how you prioritize bedtime.

Take a Nap! Change Your Life

Sara Mednick & Mark Ehrman

A practical guide to the science of napping — including when and how long to nap for maximum benefit to mood, alertness, and health.

The Menopause Brain

Lisa Mosconi

Explores how hormonal changes affect the female brain and what women can do to support cognitive and emotional well-being through midlife.

The New Menopause

Mary Claire Haver

A practical, empowering guide to navigating menopause with knowledge, nutrition, and self-advocacy.

Lezen, Weten en Niet Vergeten

Mark Tigchelaar

Smart techniques for reading faster, remembering more, and applying what you learn — great for knowledge workers and lifelong learners.

The Blue Zones Solution

Dan Buettner

Lessons from the world’s longest-lived communities on how to eat, move, and live for vitality and longevity.

Lifestyle & Brain

Science-based guidance for protecting your brain, memory, energy, and health throughout life.

Why We Sleep

Matthew Walker

Eye-opening research on the power of sleep for memory, mood, and physical health. It might just change how you prioritize bedtime.

Take a Nap! Change Your Life

Sara Mednick & Mark Ehrman

A practical guide to the science of napping — including when and how long to nap for maximum benefit to mood, alertness, and health.

The Menopause Brain

Lisa Mosconi

Explores how hormonal changes affect the female brain and what women can do to support cognitive and emotional well-being through midlife.

The New Menopause

Mary Claire Haver

A practical, empowering guide to navigating menopause with knowledge, nutrition, and self-advocacy.

Lezen, Weten en Niet Vergeten

Mark Tigchelaar

Smart techniques for reading faster, remembering more, and applying what you learn — great for knowledge workers and lifelong learners.

The Blue Zones Solution

Dan Buettner

Lessons from the world’s longest-lived communities on how to eat, move, and live for vitality and longevity.

Culture & Motivation & Life Phase

Books that help you understand human motivation, culture, and meaning.

The Culture Map

Erin Meyer

Essential reading for anyone working across cultures. Explains how communication, decision-making, and trust differ globally — and how to bridge the gaps.

Dagboek van de Ziel

Boris Groys

A reflective and poetic exploration of meaning, purpose, and the inner life — perfect for slowing down and looking inward.

Culture & Motivation & Life Phase

Books that help you understand human motivation, culture, and meaning.

The Culture Map

Erin Meyer

Essential reading for anyone working across cultures. Explains how communication, decision-making, and trust differ globally — and how to bridge the gaps.

Dagboek van de Ziel

Boris Groys

A reflective and poetic exploration of meaning, purpose, and the inner life — perfect for slowing down and looking inward.

Connect with Ncourage

"*" indicates required fields

Name*