A Life Well Lived: Dialogues with a “Kabouter"

Manfred Kets de Vries, a psychoanalyst, executive coach, consultant, management educator, researcher, and writer, has written a book that explores the deepest questions and concerns of human beings through the use of stories, riddles, and puzzles. The book is one of the most important books he has written for coaches, students, leaders, managers, educators, or anyone seeking a more reflective text to guide them through the multitude of questions that we face in work and in life. The kabouter, a familiar figure in Dutch folklore, challenges the traveler to question and reflect upon his life and values, guiding him toward the insights that will help them achieve a life well lived.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Manfred Kets de Vries is a multifaceted individual who wears numerous "hats" such as psychoanalyst, executive coach, consultant, management educator, researcher, and writer. However, regardless of the hat he is wearing, every question he receives revolves around a single theme: "How can I live a well-lived life?"

Throughout his extensive experience in these various disciplines, Professor Kets de Vries has come to recognize the immense significance of stories in addressing human dilemmas and offering solutions to this fundamental question. Consequently, this book stands as one of his most important contributions, particularly for coaches, students, leaders, managers, educators, and anyone seeking a thoughtful and reflective text to navigate the multitude of inquiries we encounter in both our professional and personal lives.

Professor Kets de Vries draws upon a rich literary tradition, encompassing tales of unexpected encounters with wise "others," whether they be fantastical or magical. Examples include The Little Prince, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Once and Future King, and the Harry Potter novels. By employing these narratives, he animates an exploration of the deepest concerns and questions that plague human beings. He constructs an extended Socratic dialogue between his two "selves," the first being a naïve traveler lost in the Siberian wilderness, and the second being a reflective avatar who comes to his aid.

The avatar assumes the form of a "kabouter," a familiar figure in Dutch folklore that has counterparts in various cultures worldwide and across centuries of storytelling. Through stories, riddles, and puzzles, the kabouter challenges the traveler to question and reflect upon his life and values, guiding him—and readers—toward the insights that will enable them to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032590844