I have read Leen’s book, Building a Startup Without Going Crazy, and appreciate its emphasis on mental health and its impact on entrepreneurs. I believe this is an important contribution to our journey as entrepreneurs. In our entrepreneurial lives, we often struggle with conflicting values and experiences that place tremendous pressure on us. We all react differently to these unique pressures, and sometimes they pull us into a struggle for survival. This is almost always internalized, and we rarely show it to others because of its stigma. I hope this book will encourage us to be more open and honest about these challenges and allow others to help us navigate the maze of mental illness.
This book is a must-read for any entrepreneur.

I really appreciated the book for what it’s trying to accomplish. The book has very short “chapters” that explore a topic and provide a question, tip, or assignment for reflection after each one. I valued the wide range of topics and found it helpful to read about Leen’s experiences and how some of these issues manifested in his life. I read it straight through, but it would also work well as a group study book or as a daily devotional-style read. Well worth reading for anyone in the startup world or business in general!

As a growing entrepreneur, this was a very enjoyable book to read. At times, it was confrontational but always touching. The short stories, written in an easy and engaging style, made it a quick read—I finished it in just a few evenings.

When I read the book, I began to recognize myself in many of the stories. Online, we often see entrepreneurs portrayed as needing to constantly achieve, accompanied by massive profits and turnover. But we tend to overlook the joy and inner world of the individual. Leen de Bruyne has written a book that shows, in a fun and accessible way, how to enjoy entrepreneurship without it coming at your expense.

Hey Leen,
I just finished your book! Thank you for sharing your experiences. Your writing is clear, and it’s such an engaging read.

I’m not a startup founder myself, but I transitioned into the business world from finance a few years ago. Now, the company is entering a new phase, and I’m finding surprising parallels in your lessons.

Your insights on mental health—balancing somewhere between happiness and challenges—resonate deeply. Learning from mistakes, the search for soul and spirit, and your conclusion on joy and peace hit home.

What makes your book stand out is the mirror you hold up to yourself: your mental journey and your struggle with conflicting emotions. That honesty makes it both relatable and educational. Thank you!

This morning, we started the MT consultation at WZU Veluwe with inspiration from Leen de Bruyne’s book, Building a Startup Without Going Crazy. The book’s common thread is the importance of good mental health, written specifically for founders.

What an authentic, inspiring, and easy-to-read book, Leen!

Building a Startup Without Going Crazy is an enjoyable and thought-provoking book that’s easy to read.

It feels like I can hear Leen talking—it’s such a natural and engaging read. Although the book is written from a startup perspective, its lessons apply to life in general, making it valuable even for non-entrepreneurs like me. It’s full of beautiful insights, moments of recognition, and good questions that encourage self-reflection.

I’m halfway through and excited to see what’s next!

An extremely practical and experience-based book that will resonate with countless entrepreneurs and other high-performance groups.

It doesn’t promise a step-by-step plan for a better life but instead offers experiences, insights, and patterns that help me put my entrepreneurial life into perspective daily.

For entrepreneurs who struggle to find relaxation outside of work, this is an absolute must!

What an authentic, inspiring, and easy-to-read book, Leen!

Hello Leen,
I watched your talk at Startupbootcamp on Monday, and it was fascinating. I haven’t seen many people be this genuine in front of an audience. Thank you for sharing your insights and your journey.

Leen, it was great to see you in Konstancin, Poland, yesterday. Thank you for your message—it moved me!

Your openness about your experiences and your journey was inspiring. I’m going to order the book to learn more!

I wish I had read a book like this before starting my business! It might have prepared me better for the highs and lows of running a startup. It’s really well written, and I thoroughly recommend it!