Book Review

Books

Views on Life

By Kate Duggan

Biographies, memoirs and life lessons…

Who the Hell is….? Various Authors

Academic books aren’t always the easiest of reads. They can feel inaccessible to anyone without a degree in the subject. This series aims to put that right – each book is written in plain, jargon-free English. The series covers key historical intellectuals such as Plato, Rousseau, Marx and Nietzsche. You’ll learn about the events that shaped each person and where they got their ideas from, and take a closer look at three of their key theories.

Slug Hollie McNish

As you’d expect from this hugely popular poet, there’s plenty of humour, honesty and straight talking in Slug. No subject in McNish’s life is out of bounds it seems – she covers everything from birth, periods and motherhood to sex and death. Slug is not a typical poetry book – it’s sprinkled with prose and short stories. If you offend easily, it may not be for you, but if you want to dip into a book that feels like a private conversation with your best friend, Slug is out now.

More Than a Woman Caitlin Moran

Caitlin Moran’s second memoir picks up where the first left off. Moran brings her trademark wit as she explores what it means to be a middle-aged woman in modern Britain. She also lets us in on some of the most difficult challenges she’s had to face over the past few years, including helping her teenage daughter battle an eating disorder. It can feel a little smug at times, but on the whole More Than a Woman is well worth a read. Choose Your Own Autobiography Neil Patrick Harris

The clue to this one is in the title – rather than a straightforward ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ memoir, this one gives the reader the chance to choose what to read about next and, in some cases, in which direction Harris should have headed. Will you end up starring in Doogie Howser MD or eaten by piranhas? Only you can choose. Hilarious, insightful and original, this is a great holiday read.

Captain Tom’s Life Lessons Captain Tom Moore and Wendy Holden

In 2020, Captain Tom set out to raise money for the NHS. He soon became a household name. A number one single followed, as did his bestselling autobiography, Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day. In Captain Tom’s Life Lessons, he shares some of the things he learned over his 100 years. There’s no preaching or lecturing, just bucketloads of warmth, humility and quiet humour.

Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet Kate Pankhurst

Kate Pankhurst has written several children’s books about fantastic women in history. This one focuses on environmental heroes. You’ll read about Jane Goodall and Anita Roddick, alongside lesser-known figures such as Wangari Maathai and Ingebord Beling. Each minibio is accompanied by full-colour illustrations. Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet may be aimed at young children, but parents, grandparents and teachers are sure to enjoy it just as much.