Non-fiction
The books here are listed alphabetically by authors' surnames.
A wonderful memoir about rediscovering the night, enjoying the safety, comfort, solitude and inspiration it offers when sleep is elusive.
A beautifully told memoir on what it is like to be an immigrant in Britain and become one of our most loved and respected journalists.
Combining history and travel writing with the memoir of a young man's apprenticeship to become a master thatcher. Brilliant!
A diary of nursing on a Covid ward. It is a description of selfless, tireless, dedicated caring and it's inspiring, encouraging and uplifting.
What does it mean to live alone, isolated from society and community - and can it be achieved in our modern age?
Politicians aren't the problem, instead we have unrealistic expectations of what politics can achieve.
Part memoir, part social history, inspired by George Ewart Evan's book from 1956, this is a mesmerising account of Suffolk village life.
The books we read at school, the conversations they spark and why they matter. A great way to look again at the books we've loved over the years.
A guide to communication from the BBC's creator of the viral 'Ros Atkins on...' explainer videos.
While the threat of climate change is dire, David Attenborough also encourages us to marvel at the natural world. His message leaves the reader feeling determined, energised and empowered.
A very personal account of grief and loss, exploring how an inability to express emotion leads to destructive behaviours in young men today.
The story of Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Rosamond Lehmann as they moved to the country and how rural life changed them.
Amusing and poignant, this is a memoir of a young boy growing up when life is dominated by Britain's first female prime minister.
A fascinating and inspiring look at leadership encouraging us to change the way we have all viewed the power structure in organisations, and society.
A short diary of the early days of lockdown for playwright Alan Bennett. Wonderful!
How our animal instinct can help us cope with the challenges of modern living.
A collection of traditional sayings and superstitions about cooking, gardening, housekeeping and health for adults and children - and explaining how and why they have relevance today.
An entertaining look at the career in local journalism of Suffolk reporter, Kevin Birch.
A warm, engaging and entertaining personal story of working in police helicopters over Suffolk. Fascinating!
Part memoir, part life lessons, part introduction to faith, this is an entertaining and wide ranging read from the popular tv vicar!
Subtitled 'The Discovery of Shackleton's Endurance', it describes the search for the ship that slipped under the ice in the Antarctic in 1915.
Essays on creativity give insight, too, on the life of this extraordinary writer. Brilliant, inspiring, fascinating.
A memoir of being in a relationship with someone who is neurodivergent. It's fun and enlightening, and talks of family life in Dorset as well as giving an insight into a career in the media.
Throughout history we've been taught that humans are inherently selfish and motivated by self-interest. But is it really the case?
Wry observations and silly jokes, it's a real tonic to pore over the more than 500 pages of the best bits of Craig Brown.
Telling the story of an American team seeking to compete in the Berlin Olympics, this is a book about rowing, but it is so much more.
By 'the bloke off BBC Look East', this is an entertaining and informative memoir of life as a local reporter.
How we have to accept that there is always too much for us to do - and the future will always be out of our control. So how do we live better?
Packed with thought-provoking material, written by the head of news and current affairs at Channel Four, Dorothy Byrne.
The extraordinary story of a war veteran who flies himself to the Himalayas to climb Mount Everest.
An incredibly readable, and fascinating message seeing the world through the eyes of those who might consider themselves introverts, while also having plenty to say to those who would label themselves as extroverts.
Rich with information, observation and instruction, this book encourages us all to become more politically engaged.
A frank, moving and beautifully written memoir exploring, through the highs and lows of her career path as a junior doctor.
A very clever and interesting read combining fascinating facts about food with even more fascinating facts about economics!
A diary in the life of Plum, the dog owned by illustrator Emma Chichester Clark. This is the most beautiful book!
A fascinating, enlightening memoir about working in the fire service by an extraordinarily single-minded and determined woman.
An entertaining and insightful memoir on life as a parish vicar, and sometime broadcaster.
The story of how a couple took over the magical Island House, off the coast of Cornwall.
A memoir about keeping a cat, and then hoping to start a family and looking back on life's experiences.
A stimulating, entertaining and engaging look at a subject for our times in the light of familiar stories from the Bible, and films and books which explore this theme.
Ever since she was a child, Mya-Rose Craig has travelled the world to see birds. This is the story of her family, a passion for birdwatching, and much more.
An unusual, lyrical fictionalised biography of a true countryman. Powerful and haunting.
A beautiful, inspiring and thoughtful book about housing and what it means to be at home.
In a series of letters, Edmund de Waal relates how he explores the lavish rooms of a grand house and investigates archives to uncover layers of an intriguing and haunting family story.
Can all of life's problems be solved with a dog? This is a wonderfully funny and terribly sad story of family, loss and healing.
A collection of intriguing words, each with a fascinating and entertaining story behind it. Something for every day of the year.
One of the much-loved voices of the food scene in Britain today, this is Grace Dent's story of growing up with a hunger for life.
Looking back over the 20 years since Jimmy Doherty and his wife bought land outside Ipswich and turned it first into a farm, and then into a wildlife park. Entertaining and uplifting.
The calming voice of Monty Don speaks to us through the pages of this new book with details about the wildlife he enjoys as well as the plants in his garden, through the seasons in this particularly challenging year.
A beautifully packaged, beautifully told story of the beginnings of a bookshop in Tuscany.
The author investigates the murder of her great-great aunt in Great Yarmouth in the 19th century.
An amazing photographic history of shipwrecks on Britain's south-west coast.
The award-winning writer Margaret Drabble has used her love of jigsaws as a theme for her memoir, a family history.
A warm, engaging and 'down-to-earth' account of ambition and success. Beautifully written. Loved it.
An extraordinary sweep through first nights in history and how they changed the world.
Some people are great at facilitating discussions and aiding decisionmaking. What can we learn from them?
This memoir by the leading authority in disaster management is fascinating, moving and life-affirming.
An extraordinary story of a couple's survival when their boat capsizes in the middle of the ocean. A beautiful book!
A junior doctor's story of life, death and grief in a time of pandemic. Powerful, moving, horrifying and beautifully written.
"This book is an opportunity for you to take part in creating the future of humanity, confident that despite the seemingly daunting nature of the challenge, collectively we have what it takes to address climate change now." So say the authors, who were both involved in the Paris Agreement of 2015.
A collection of recipes for favourite duck dishes, as well as some surprises, and the story of the farming family behind this special breed.
An interesting and thought-provoking read, subtitled 'Life in the post-human landscape'.
Exploring the lives of women working and living in the natural environment and the qualities they need to survive and thrive.
A wonderful account of the meaning of the houses, and homes, to this much-loved author.
This memoir about buying and running a hardware shop delves into the history of DIY as well as providing compelling and amusing tales of customers we can all relate to!
A gentle, reassuring and thought-provoking consideration of what it means to take time to heal.
A beautiful exploration into the world of Jim Edie and all he created at Kettle's Yard.
A fascinating and thought-provoking account of how algorithms are affecting every part of our lives today.
A wonderful, rich, multi-faceted peek into the life of Eileen O'Shaughnessy, wife of George Orwell who contributed much more than has previously been acknowledged.
A stunning tale of a potter's passion for his craft. Beautiful images, lots of information, and a powerful insight into a discipline and an attitude to life.
Part nature writing, part travel writing, meeting the people trying to save birds and wildlife in peril.
A humorous and intriguing discovery of what dogs mean to us, and what we might give them in return.
Powerful, distressing, inspiring, challenging, uplifting, disturbing... This is the most extraordinary book. Read it!
A fabulously entertaining and encouraging read about having the courage to create!
Exploring why there aren't more women in leadership roles, by asking women who are leaders.
The experience of rearing an abandoned baby magpie brings self-knowledge and acceptance to the author in this beautifully executed memoir.
A no-holds-barred account of facing and overcoming addiction. It's raw, honest, hopeful, with humour, and spirit. I couldn't put it down.
If you (or someone you know) have a heightened sense of empathy, notice tiny details that other people don't or often feel overwhelmed in a busy environment, you'll also find this of interest.
A compelling and convincing argument about how we should revisit our attitude towards acquiring 'things' and following fast fashion.
A beautiful and accessible introduction to growing your own food.
A translator's diary of the decisions he makes and the challenges he faces in a typical assignment. Fascinating!
The most astonishing personal account of understanding and coping with depression. An uplifting, inspiring and moving read which you want to pick up again as soon as you put it down.
Recalling the life and career of the woman who found the prorogation of Parliament unlawful, and who was known for her unusual brooch.
A beautiful account of the life and work of the artist and printmaker Angela Harding.
The new book from the much-loved printmaker, Angela Harding looking at the changing light in nature through her prints and drawings.
Moving through the seasons, delighting in the natural world with the illustrations of printmaker Angela Harding.
An informative and very readable account of the key moments in the history of the National Health Service.
When Liesl Herbst escaped Austria at the start of the Second World War, she was a champion tennis player. Her story is powerfully and compellingly told by her granddaughter.
Hospitality has become a lost art but here we learn the importance of simple meals, shared with others.
Beautiful to look at and to hold, this is a fascinating and engaging diary of nature in both city and countryside from this award-winning writer.
An entertaining and enlightening presentation of the impact of mathematics on our daily lives and how we might respond to the figures we confront.
Sailing alone in the Atlantic, Heiney takes time to remember his son's life. A beautiful book which is moving and insightful.
Something for everyone with personal recollections of farming and family life, fascinating facts about Christmas traditions, rare breeds and life on tv!
As we get increasingly bewildered by the lies, fake news, algorythyms and the glut of information on the internet, this is the perfect antidote.
With previously unpublished photography and new research, this is an analysis of how the Bloomsbury Group came to be.
A wonderfully moving and informative memoir about a new life in Shetland, responding to motherhood, illness and the natural environment.
A soothing and inspiring collection of thoughts about how to rid ourselves of some of the clutter of our lives.
A fascinating memoir about life in a nuclear submarine revealing details about the type of people who can spend months under water, with no daylight, in cramped quarters and living with a constant threat.
A story of a life in science exploring the wonders of plants and trees. Compelling and fascinating.
A fascinating account of the heroic efforts of yachtsmen volunteers in the second world war.
Just like viewing an exhibition of diaries collected through the centuries. There are beautiful images and just enough information to tantalise, intrigue and fascinate.
These diaries of a junior doctor have been described as 'hilarious and heartbreaking'. What will we all think?
After a successful career in journalism, and raising a large and happy family, the author leaves it all behind and becomes a teacher. Brilliantly inspiring and entertaining. Haven't been able to stop telling people about this book!
A fascinating and thought-provoking look at how taking delight in what we see, feel and hear can transform us mentally, emotionally and physically.
After her mum died, broadcaster and writer Emma Kennedy struggled to know how to grieve and how to remember their relationship, until she was given dozens of old letters.
This is an unassuming little book which is packed with gems of information. There is something for everyone, whether you want to improve your family relationships or give better direction to the employees of your large company.
A beautifully told account of buying a house and garden in Suffolk, and the author's thoughts on gardens in literature, art and society.
A hotel opened its doors to the homeless of Shrewsbury during Covid. This is an account of what happened.
This is a disturbing, distressing, powerful and challenging read exposing the war crimes against women. Brilliantly written.
A beautifully written personal response to the changing attitudes to farming through three generations, and an impassioned plea for the future.
Part cultural history, part memoir, this book is packed with information and indulgence about publishing, bookselling and reading. Not to be hurried!
Tips on how to cope with winter - memoir, research and travelogue. Very interesting, and helpful!
A moving, challenging and inspiring account of how a young mother felt led to help the people of Syria, and how the vision grew.
The entrepreneurial spirit could be the answer to society's troubles, if we change our outlook and motivation.
This beautifully presented book is full of fascinating information about books, writing, life, and gardening.
A raw and honest, but entertaining and very informative memoir about grief.
A perfect gift at coming-of-age, looking at the younger lives of people through history.
Musings on what we mean by gardens and what they could become, by the much-loved nature writer.
A memoir of mental illness which extolls the beauty and value of nature, and celebrates the work of John Clare. So much to enjoy.
Essays detailing a very personal response to the wonders of animals, plants, the natural world - this will delight time and again. A joy to read.
Stories about how the vision and application of engineers have influenced so many areas of modern life. Fascinating and inspiring.
Sad and funny, wise and honest, this book tells how one family confronted dementia.
A readable and inspiring guide on how the arts can help us emotionally, mentally and medically to be healthy, happy people!
A funny, warm and accessible insight into what's involved in interviewing people making the news, from the 'Newsnight' presenter.
Written by a palliative care doctor who is also a masterful storyteller, this book explores intimate questions about the process of dying. A powerful, astonishing and moving read.
A challenging, emotional but ultimately uplifting book which urges us all to make a difference.
A beautiful record of the work of the award-winning children's book illustrator.
Part memoir, part case studies, this is an inspiring and enlightening compelling account of the life of a neurosurgeon.
An extraordinarily detailed biography of this extraordinarily successful writer. Fascinating.
The story behind house numbers, street names, postcodes but also politics, power, kings and governments, managing disease and overcoming poverty. A great read!
A mesmerising memoir about discovering the self within the flat landscapes in Britain.
A quirky, entertaining and enlightening view of women's careers in the 1950s through to the early 90s.
A fascinating and thought-provoking memoir inviting us all to take time out to regroup and recuperate.
Behind the scenes of many of the key interviews at BBC Two's 'Newsnight'. Fascinating!
An extraordinary story of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, beautifully told.
A fascinating and very readable account of the pursuit of truth by this respected scientist and theologian.
Spirituality isn't just about faith or religion, says this author, and it is something inbuilt in all of us. She explains more through her studies and personal experience.
A charming and entertaining memoir which details a bygone era of Hollywood, Disney and stardom. Beautifully told.
A fascinating history of the magazine and the people who created it.
An entertaining and informative investigation into how the problems of feminism are also the problems of men.
How understanding animals can save your life - a doctor explains in this fascinating personal journey of discovery.
A compelling, difficult read about sudden illness and how life can take an unexpected turn. Difficult but at times humorous, this is an incredible read.
An inspiring, uplifting and energising account of some good news stories behind the headlines.
A memoir about doing nothing! Fascinating.
This is a comprehensive, fascinating and very readable guide to the foundations of the nation of England.
A memoir on childhood and family as the author presents his guilt and grief in having recently lost two sisters, interwoven with a contemplation of sibling relationships in history and literature.
Lovely to read more about the bizarre experiences and quirky take on life from the comedian Bob Mortimer.
A brilliantly compelling account of finding a passion for working at sea as one of the industry's few female fishermen.
Learning lessons on life from sporting champions.
So many of today's problems could be resolved if we'd just listen more carefully to each other. Lots of lightbulb moments in this fascinating, inspiring and enabling read!
A compelling and affirming memoir of overcoming tragedy and trauma while progressing a hugely successful career in magazine journalism.
A fascinating presentation of what the events and movements of this decade really meant to women's lives at the time.
An inspiring, challenging and moving memoir by an NHS surgeon who volunteered in war zones for more than twenty years.
Reaching a crossroads in her life, Vanessa O'Brien rose to her friend's challenge to climb a mountain.
The author, a radio talk show host, encourages us all to explore what to do when our opinion might be wrong.
An in-depth study of the mechanisms of memory which features fascinating examples of lessons to be learnt through literature and authors.
Subtitled 'Overcoming in Uncertain Times' this is a balm, a comfort, an encouragement and a challenge from the former first lady of the USA.
This is a beautiful book dedicated to recording and celebrating the nests of some of our most familiar birds. It is full of exquisite lifesize illustrations accompanied by fascinating short accounts of the process of finding the nests and discovering details of the birds and their offspring.
A moving, engrossing memoir where the author explores her conflicting responses to her upbringing in Scotland.
A powerful and uplifting book, giving each man’s story of family and friendship, purpose and hope after they each lost their daughters to suicide.
When comedian Rachel Parris was invited to give an inspiring speech, she didn't know where to start. So she asked the audience.
A warm, engaging and fascinating memoir of a writer, and a bookshop owner.
The essential guide to the story of the phenomenal Lee Miller, with brilliant photography included.
A brilliant introduction to some of the pioneering, innovative and inspiring leaders of our time.
A very enjoyable and informative read which, with great clarity, reminds us why it's important to be engaged with politics and politicians.
The true story of the friendship between a World War II veteran and a young archaeologist searching for the lost landing craft off the French coast.
A very readable book investigating what their choice of clothes say about the artists we know so well, with lots of pictures!
An engaging, entertaining and inspiring account of a young woman undertaking the world's most challenging horse race.
A collection of the cartoons from the Daily Telegraph's 'Matt'. Surprisingly uplifting!
An inspiring, enlightening and uplifting memoir by the award-winning documentary maker and reporter.
A handbook, a manual...a letter from a friend. This is a wonderfully warm, wise and witty guide to starting to write.
A wonderful read telling the story of the life of this extraordinary designer, and she shares the lessons she's learnt along the way.
Glorious pictures with a marvellous account of this famous garden, delighting in the history of its transformation by writer Vita Sackville West and diplomat Harold Nicholson in the 1930s.
A profoundly moving and important record of how the much-loved writer Michael Rosen battled covid, told through prose poems and letters.
Exploring the stories and the people behind churches and cathedral throughout the country. Engrossing and fascinating.
One hundred women share their stories of what achievement means to them.
An extraordinary book which aims to explain quantum physics to the lay person - and it does so with the most wonderful storytelling.
A very readable and fascinating guide to the creative process and how we all might tap into our innate creativity and gain huge benefits from doing so.
A powerful but very readable guide to the extraordinary life of our seas, and what we can do to protect them.
A deeply personal account of what it is to lose your soulmate after a long and happy marriage, and nursing her through a terrible illness.
A fascinating and inspiring account of life editing a national newspaper, while seeking to achieve a personal challenge!
An open and honest account of a mental breakdown, and recovery with the Wordsworths in the Lake District.
Taking a year to explore knitting throughout the British Isles - a beautifully executed account of a journey through social history and creativity.
The Booker-winning author unpicks seven short stories by Russian writers and shows us how to read and write. Brilliant!
Why do we all feel so tired?! This book provides the answers and some solutions, with essays presented in a very readable, accessible A-Z format!
There are 22 gardens spanning Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, each with glorious photography and a detailed account of the notable features as well as a short history of the owners and designers. Glorious!
A bewitching memoir about a woman coming close to death after giving birth, then reevaluating her life. Beautifully written.
An uplifting and stimulating essay delving into the power of stories urging us all to nurture democracy, tolerance and progress.
A powerful memoir of a charcoal burner in Dorset who was once a city advertising executive.
Why are women still so underestimated and overlooked in today's world? This makes fascinating, though often shocking, reading.
A gripping read about an extraordinary life reporting at the frontline of world events over several decades!
This is such a difficult read which cannot but leave the reader moved and altered.
The author was invited to spend a night in a museum in Venice and to write about the experience. Intriguing and thought-provoking insight to a writer's life.
A solo sailing voyage from Land's End to Greece - inspiring and uplifting. Loved it!
A moving and mesmerising account of a man stepping out of society for the life and lifestyle he has chosen.
Wonderfully informative and inspiring account of Orwell's appreciation of the natural world, leading us to explore many other facets of his life and ours.
An open, honest and, nonetheless, engaging account of a sad childhood spent away from home, in the care of abusive teachers.
Rory Stewart tracks his entry into politics and ministerial roles while sharing his insight into Parliament. Brilliant, enlightening, worrying but ultimately hopeful.
The follow-up to 'Love, Nina', this is the diary of Nina Stibbe at 61, taking time out from her marriage, back among her literary friends in London.
Many people have forged their own interpretations on why and how we tell stories, but this book seeks to do so by making sense of the human brain.
Beautifully written account of home and where identity is allied with the rural landscape.
Why failing is important, and how we should learn to embrace it!
Interviews with writers asking them to name their favourite books and what they mean to them.
A very readable and practical guide to resisting visual manipulation all around us and instead make our visual landscape inspiring and empowering.
Two men have been sleeping in the trees at Regent's Park for five years. The author takes them food and befriends them. Astonishing and beautiful book!
With beautiful photography, this is the compelling and inspiring story of how Xa Tollemache learned to garden at Helmingham in Suffolk.
A fascinating and moving account of the life of this respected biographer, beautifully written.
How we built it, how it can help us, and how we can control it. A very readable, reassuring and enabling approach to the subject!
A charming, wry memoir from the lovely Stanley Tucci with recipes, cocktails and scripts of conversations!
A very enjoyable account of how one young man took a walk round Britain to get his life back on track.
Capitalism is dead and we are being ruled by the techno feudal overlords. Readable, accessible and a little bit terrifying.
An entertaining, but ultimately disturbing, investigation into conspiracy theories. We must all play our part in finding and telling the truth.
Why is everyone so rude? And what does this mean for our society, and for our future?
A memoir of famlly and loss, grief and suicide, and also determination, courage and belief.
A powerful account of how nurses look after us all, and what we can learn from them. Inspiring, disturbing and challenging.
An honest and revealing memoir of an unusual childhood from the journalist and BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter, Justin Webb.
A gripping account of the fates of the granddaughters of Queen Victoria.
An amusing and charming account of life running a second-hand bookshop in a small town in America.
Recalling the lives and times of female journalists who broke down barriers in Fleet Street in the 1970s and 1980s.
Why the Rule of Life outlined by St Benedict is relevant for us today.
The life of a teacher presented as a perfect mix of humour, poigancy, angst, frustration and inspiration. Had me laughing out loud!
The third in the series following the curative powers of the long walk immersed in nature. This time on a Scottish path.
The story of before and after the incredible memoir 'The Salt Path' became a bestseller. This is another extraordinary read.
An extraordinary and inspiring memoir of how a couple face the loss of everything they've held dear by going on a very long walk!
A memoir revealing how books and writing saved an unloved, adopted child and turned her into a talented, successful, much-loved author.
Agatha Christie's life never fails to intrigue and fascinate, and this is a warm, informative and entertaining new biography.
A wonderfully enthusiastic and accessible introduction to birdwatching, and the author Hamza Yassin.
A fascinating story of a life well lived by the judge of tv's 'The Great British Sewing Bee'.
