Parliamentarians share their summer recess reading recommendations

NewsPress Release

This year marks the Publishers Association’s 125th anniversary and to mark the occasion, parliamentarians were asked to provide recommendations for a Summer Reading List for Parliamentarians ahead of summer recess.

All the following titles have been nominated by MPs, Peers, journalists and Publishers Association staff as their recommended reading for summer. The list celebrates the capacity for books to educate, inspire and entertain.

The Prime Minister, three Speakers, Shadow Chancellor, Shadow Home Secretary, Secretaries of State for Education; Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; Health; Transport; Justice; Work and Pensions; Scotland & Ireland plus the Leader of the Liberal Democrats have all contributed.

Some have recommended inspiring books that speak to important issues. Home Truths by Liam Halligan, Welcome to Britain: Fixing Our Broken Immigration System by Colin Yeo and Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel all feature.

While others have chosen to nominate brilliant novels including The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, A Song for the Dark Times by Ian Rankin and The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell have all been selected twice.

Several biographies have made the list including Fantastically Great Women Who Worked Wonders by Kate Pankhurst, Full Time: The Secret Life Of Tony Cascarino by Paul Kimmage, The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell and The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro.

In more general non-fiction there is a range of titles including Kleptopia: How Dirty Money Is Conquering the World by Tom Burgis, The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh, Destined for War by Graham Allison and More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran. The Anglo Saxons by Marc Morris was selected twice.

Stephen Lotinga, Chief Executive of the Publishers Association, said:

“We are thrilled to share this list of recommendations to mark the Publishers Association’s 125th anniversary. Parliamentarians have chosen a wide range of interesting and fabulous literature to ensure that everyone can have a much needed relaxing and enjoyable summer recess – filled with brilliant books to read.”

The Publishers Association thanks Nickie Aiken MP for her support producing the reading list.

You can read the complete Summer Reading List for Parliamentarians here.