From the Booksellers
Our booksellers discuss self-help and non-fiction and give us their top recommendations.
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A BOOK I LOVED
DANNY (Quinn’s Bookshop): The book I most enjoyed reading recently is Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About it. Written by Pete Wharmby, an ex-teacher and public speaker diagnosed with ADHD and autism in adulthood, this is a clear, candid and engaging account of the autistic experience of life and the difficulties that arise from navigating a world designed for neurotypicals. There has been a boom in the number of people seeking assessment for ADHD and autism as we develop a better understanding of the complexity of autistic traits and how they present themselves, especially in high masking individuals, which makes this timely and essential reading. KIRSTY (Kibworth Books): The Archaeology of Loss: A Companion for Grief by Sarah Tarlow. Nothing can truly prepare us for the devastation of grief. For Professor Sarah Tarlow, an archaeologist who had spent her professional life studying death and grieving, the same was true when she faced the loss of her husband, ending his own life following an undiagnosed illness. An extraordinary and devastating story told with uncommon honesty, this is certainly not an easy read. It is, however, a remarkable book written by a remarkable woman. It offers compassion, companionship for anyone navigating loss, and – at heart – a celebration of love in all its complexity. We were honoured to hear Sarah talk about the book at a bookshop event in 2024 and we have been thinking about her words ever since. A BESTSELLER DANNY: One of our bestselling self-help books is The Joy of Being Selfish by Michelle Ellman. We are discovering that people-pleasing has been ingrained into us from childhood and, twinned with ever-increasing demands from friends, family, work and life in general, people are becoming dangerously depressed, stressed and exhausted. This book champions the merits of prioritising ourselves again, and learning to use that powerful two letter word: NO. KIRSTY: Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day. Perhaps best known for her compelling podcast How to Fail, related book and her brilliant novels, Elizabeth Day is also – by her own admission – a friendship addict. In this brilliant book she embarks on a funny, moving and candid examination of friendships. She considers, what is behind our tendency to elevate romantic love above platonic, how should we handle ghosting in friendships, or the ‘frenemies’ who delight in things going wrong for us. And, what does it really mean to be a ‘good’ friend? A thoroughly thought provoking read, this is an important book for anyone who wants to reflect on their own relationships – for better or worse. A DAZZLING DEBUT DANNY: A new book I think people should know about is Women Are Angry by Jennifer Cox. In this book, psychotherapist Jennifer Cox walks us through the life stages of a woman, and how we are taught to appease, pander and remain selfless and grateful through each, using fictionalised case studies based on narratives she has heard over and over from the women in her therapy room. A furious, impassioned and fiercely motivational call to action: our internalised anger is making us physically and mentally ill, and it’s time for that to change. KIRSTY: Read Yourself Happy: How to Use Books to Ease Your Anxiety by Daisy Buchanan. If there’s one thing you’re planning to do more of in 2025, might we suggest reading? And no, this isn’t just because we’re booksellers. It’s because we, much like Daisy Buchanan, know that books are good for you. Fact. Aside from being a best-selling author and host of the chart-topping You’re Booked podcast, Daisy is a lifelong ardent reader. In this new book, Daisy shares the literary spaces which have offered her comfort and solace over the years, interviews fellow authors such as David Nicholls and Emma Gannon, and provides curated reading lists to help you navigate your way through 2025 with peace, calm and happiness. If there’s one book to preorder this January, this is it. |
Issue 24
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