There’s a sense of great luxury relaxing with a good book. And after a busy Christmas, having something that’ll take you away from it all is the best escape. Here’s a list of the latest page-turners.
The turkey’s all but demolished, Granddad’s already asleep and scraps of wrapping paper under the sofa evidence the earlier present-opening frenzy. Calm is restored. But what do you do now?
It’s the perfect moment to sit back, maybe a sip of whisky or a cold beer, and turn that first page of a new book.
But there’s a problem.
In fact, there are two problems. You don’t know what’s good. And you don’t have the time waste on a bad one. There’s nothing worse than using up valuable reading time getting into a book that turns out being one you never want to pick up again.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a shortlist of new reads for December 2018 that are fun, fascinating page-turners.
What to read in the new year – 6 books guys will love
This is an excerpt from our free downloadable Christmas e-zine Hint, which you can get here.
Mutiny on the Bounty – Peter Fitzsimons $35.00
The latest in Peter Fitzsimons’ armoury of historic tales, the Mutiny on the Bounty is perhaps one of the most famous naval yarns. But far from re-rolling old rope, Fitzsimons paints a whole new picture on this adventure at sea.
Meticulous research, and bold and enthralling story-telling bring this classic swashbuckler alive.
An ideal buy for naval history fans, but also for anyone who wants to know more about what happened in this ill-fated mission.
Theatre of the World: the maps that made history – Thomas Reinertsen Berg $59.99
There’s something about looking at a map that fills me with excitement. The promise and potential to see the places before me – it’s like travelling without moving.
But cultural and scientific author and journalist Thomas Reinertsen Berg takes things a step further. From Stone Age symbols to Google Earth, this book explores the known (and unknown) world through its own portraiture.
Perfect for the explorer at heart and the history buff at soul.
Blowing the bloody doors off – Sir Michael Caine $32.99
Right from the introduction when a young Michael Caine tells of his first encounter with legend John Wayne, you’re hooked. There’s no way possible to put this book down once you’ve started, so beware!
After starring in over 100 movies, Caine is telling it how it is, how it was and how it should be in his latest autobiography.
Full of incredible anecdotes and a wealth of life lessons, this is an easy buy for the film-lover in us all.
Shaken – drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming $29.99
Fully entitled ‘007: the official cocktail book: Shaken – drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming’, this is way more than just a book of mixed drinks.
It’s a book of detail. A clever blend of real-life anecdotes of Ian Fleming’s love of spirits and extracts from Bond ordering his preferred tipples.
From the suave Bond martini to Fleming’s terrifying fireball of a rum punch he favoured in Jamaica, this book is an insight into both the author and his creation, and where truth and fiction blend like gin and vermouth.
Brief answers to the big questions – Stephen Hawking $29.99*
Eminent theoretical physicist and influential thinker, Professor Stephen Hawking gives short, concise answers to some of the world’s biggest questions.
Is there a God? Can we predict the future? What’s inside a black hole? Will AI outsmart us?
These are some of the things Professor Hawking puts his incredible mind to and answers with aplomb and a ready wit. The perfect gift for big thinkers – or very nosy people!
* A percentage of all royalties from this book will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Stephen Hawking Foundation.
Primate Change: how the world is remaking us – Vybarr Cregan-Reid $29.99
Primate Change puts us as a species on a microscope slide and adds droplets of time to see how our very DNA has altered over the millennia.
Cregan-Reid’s thought-provoking book looks at where we came from, how we’ve changed over time and what the outlook is for mankind in a epoch of extreme change.
Will we continue to thrive, or will we struggle to survive? This is an exploration into the very future of our species.
Never underestimate the value of the downtime you get from reading. Christina and I both love books. And although we have very different tastes in literature (this isn’t her list by the way!), we enjoy talking about what we’re currently reading.
We especially like having a book to read when we’re travelling. There’s a lot of waiting around when you’re on the road – airports, bus stops, train stations – and a good book takes the pressure out of the situation.
I also find the escape a good book avails if you’re looking down the barrel of some long-exposure to family this festive period. It’s sometimes better for everyone if you can get away from it all for a little while!
Download your free copy of our Christmas e-magazine Hint here.
And if you enjoyed this story, you should check out:
– Take a Hint – our gift guide for men
– Books that have inspires us to travel
– The book guide for guys: 9 reads for the holidays
Do you have any good book recommendations? What are you reading at the moment? How do you escape the family pressure cooker over the holidays? Tell us in the comments!
