Books We Love: our pick of current non-fiction
Our top recommendations for fans of non-fiction.
The Hedgerow Cookbook
Caro Willson and Ginny Knox
There’s free food all around us, if we know how to look. Growing wild in hedgerows, meadows and woodlands are hundreds of edible plants and flowers.
Caro Willson and Ginny Knox explain how to harvest nature’s bounty legally and safely, and then turn your finds into delicious meals, tempting sweet treats, tasty accompaniments and delectable drinks. With more than 100 recipes, there’s plenty of inspiration.
National Trust, £12.99
Going With The Boys
Judith Mackrell
In WWII, six women journalists proved that reporting from the front line was no longer a “job for the boys”. Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, Sigrid Schultz, Virginia Cowles, Clare Hollingworth – first to break the news of Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 – and Helen Kirkpatrick changed the rules of war reporting for ever. Judith Mackrell’s new book tells the gripping stories of their courageous adventures.
Picador, £20
12 Birds To Save Your Life
Charlie Corbett
Nature has a powerful ability to heal, as author Charlie Corbett discovered. The joyous song of the skylark rescued him from dark times following the death of his mother, reaffirming his place as part of nature’s greater whole. Through 12 characterful birds, from the cheerful house sparrow to the solitary curlew, he shares how we can allow nature to restore us by reconnecting with the wildlife in our midst.
Michael Joseph, £14.99
No Dogs On The Bed
John Holder
Dog lovers everywhere will rejoice at artist John Holder’s captivating portrayal of life with our four-legged friends.
“Paws” to enjoy the unique brand of doggy mischief displayed by the naughty-butnice pooches in these beautifully rendered cartoons.
Depicting the highs and lows of canine companionship, they’re sure to raise a smile or outright laugh of recognition. It’s the perfect gift for a dog devotee.
Quiller Publishing Ltd, £12.95
The Magic Box
Rob Young
The 20th century was a golden age of British television. Remember “Quatermass”, “Brideshead Revisited”, “Children Of The Stones”? Throughout the 1950s to the 1980s, those programmes and thousands more held up a mirror to society, gave us a sense of ourselves and broadcast that image to the watching world. Rob Young captures a unique era in our shared past and considers how that influence is still felt today.
Faber & Faber, £20
Through The Looking Glasses
Travis Elborough
Perching our glasses on our noses to bring the world into sharp focus once more, how many of us give a thought to how they came to be? Travis Elborough’s fascinating account goes from Ancient Greeks to Google Glass, surveying along the way a cast of characters from mediaeval monks to stars of the silver screen. What an eyeopening read!
Little, Brown, £16.99