…He blinked again but ignored my remark. He kept looking into my eyes patiently. I looked back just as patiently and tried to reach his compassion level. We were exchanging friendly looks for a few moments. „How are you for money?“ He then asked…
From the novel “In Search of Achilles”
Marco van den Berg Scholten
Author of “In Search Of Achilles”, a novel about the unbehagen of the Occident.
“In Search of Achilles” is Marco van den Berg Scholten’s debut novel. The novel will be published by Köehler Books and is scheduled to be released on October 3, 2023.
What others say
Here are a some snippets from the reviews others have written on Amazon:
“A well written and intriguingly layered book about life in Groningen, Amsterdam and Berlin starting in the 1980s until early ’90s. It contains many recognizable atmospheric description that really capture those days well. The style of writing matches the language of the various ‘scenes’ the protagonist was part of: the aristocracy of the protagonist’s family, the hang-out city-life of his friends, the travellers’ life. It really makes you feel part of those scenes.”
“This book was extremely unique. We live in a world where we’ve lost many of the traditional values we’ve had in favor of new values that don’t serve us as well, and this book has a unique spin on the implications of that.”
Please have a look at the full reviews and others, on my Amazon book page.
More reviews:
“This relatively short, yet intriguing novel is a great read for anyone, who’s interested in philosophy, history and politics. It offers a somehow both historic and refreshing view into the different ways in which people deal with the emergence of the postmodern world, all against the backdrop of the perceived triumph of liberal capitalism over communism.”
Read the full review on goodreads.com.
“In Search of Achilles by Marco van den Berg Scholten is a deeply introspective novel set against the backdrop of post-Communist Europe undergoing rapid transformation. The narrative follows Johan van Geesteren, a young aristocrat struggling to find meaning and purpose in a world increasingly dominated by materialism and superficiality. Through Johan’s journey, Scholten explores themes of identity, authenticity, and the quest for personal fulfillment in a society that often values appearance over substance.”
Read the full review on onlinebookclub.org.
My latest blog articles
Fall
November 4, 2025Words come to me like falling leavesReleased soundlessly by all-knowing branchesOf my brothers: Beech and Oak,On forever returning gustsOf the aftersummer winds. I step as light as the fox at dawn;One foot in front of the other.I am carried by the kindness of the forest path,Winding the way back homeFor you and me. You also love this time of year.The invisibility of the sacred bond;We do not speak, but we will seeTwirling leaves, in prancing sunlight,Returning softly, without regret. As the woodpecker, small but sturdyHammers on his privy twig,Our eyes roam beyond the horizon:The pines across the valley are still […]
THE RIGHT HABITS
September 13, 2025Don’t leave me alone on a dark morningWhen the blue night came with a Blizzard.Dreams, more real than realityAnd reality fading, dissolvingInto the open, like words spoken.It is in naked minutes like thatWhen I yearn for the warmth of your hand. I was thrown into this bodyWith all its tall tales of want.Then I was thrown into my work,By chance rather than by choice.Little did I understand of human frailty,Of good and evil, even.Little did I know of how I would handleThe daunting load of holding soulsOf excellent young men afloatWhile the wild waves were raging all around.And little did […]
Night swelling
September 10, 2025They carry continents under the shoalThere is more depth there!In the black winds they growUntil the barrel is unleashed. In my mind I hope for clarityBut my nerves, as shot to stringsBy the music of bygonesClose the gateway into the ocean. In it rolls, in and further in.My dreams do they possess.And I, poor I, can’t hold, but tumbleIn their darkest turning codes. Awake, in light, with quiet birdsI ponder on those nightly guestsDo they clear, and clean the soul . . .Or are they clamps into the past?
Appearance on the Audio Signals podcast
August 24, 2024
Marco Ciappelli is a leading voice at the intersection of society, technology, and communication. As Co-Founder of ITSPmagazine and Creative Director, he explores how technology impacts human communication and societal identity. With a background in Political Science and Sociology of Communication, Marco advocates for thoughtful, human-centered strategies in the digital age. Through ITSPmagazine’s Redefining Society Podcast and the Audio Signals podcast, Marco delves into the philosophical and sociological effects of cybersecurity and technology. His passion for storytelling and mentorship drives his mission to inspire meaningful change and foster global conversations that connect ideas and reshape societal norms. In all his […]