Thanks to extensive travels and listening to a lot of audiobooks while hiking I read 174 books this year. This was down on the pandemic records of 308 in 2020 and 210 in 2021 but still a pretty decent tally. As usual more than two thirds were history or travel related, with the others a mix of biography, fiction, essays, and politics. These are the ones that stayed with me the most…

Biography

Johnson at 10: The Inside Story by Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell
Anthony Seldon has written about every British Prime Minister since John Major so has some knowledge and perspective on the role, and what makes a successful Prime Minister. Boris Johnson failed on most counts but I was surprised to learn about a few things that did go well, in this comprehensive and well written history of his tenure.

I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge
Probably the funniest book I’ve ever read, or more accurately listened to, with Steve Coogan narrating the autobiography of his alter ego Alan Partridge. It is consistently great, but the chapter on his Toblerone addiction was particularly memorable.

American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
Justifiably regarded as one of the greatest biographies ever written, this is the source material for the film Oppenheimer. It is a brilliantly written story of an incredible life, told in compelling detail. As impressive is that the three hour film covers basically the whole of this long book, with little lost in translation to the big screen.

Waco : A Survivor’s Story by David Thibodeau and Waco by Jeff Guinn
This year was the 30th anniversary of the terrible events in Waco which made headlines around the world. I became somewhat morbidly fascinated and read and watched a lot on the subject. The two clear standouts were the comprehensive and even handed Waco by Jeff Guinn, and the more personal and understandably subjective account by David Thibodeau, one of the most prominent survivors. The whole thing was an avoidable tragedy, with the government responsible for much of what happened.

Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart
One of the best books on politics of the many I’ve read. Rory Stewart shows the reality of politics in the UK over the past decade, from the centralist approach of Cameron through Brexit and beyond. He is brutally honest about the failures of the political system, and candid about the personalities involved.

History

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Thomas F. Madden
More of a lecture series than a book, but this was one of the best accounts of the end days of the Roman Empire that I’ve come across. It gave a reasonably equal amount of attention to all the period, rather than tailing off as many books do, and brought these interesting times to life well. I also enjoyed his series of talk on the Medieval World parts I and II.

Israel : A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis
There are many histories of Israel, I read a fair few during my time there, and this was easily the best. For a relatively new country it has a lot of history, brought to life well here.

The Making of the Modern Middle East by Jeremy Bowen
A fascinating history of this ever volatile region written by the BBC’s long serving Middle East correspondent. It switches brilliantly between the big picture and individual stories, drawing on Jeremy Bowen’s personal experiences.

Stalin’s War by Sean McMeekin
A powerful and compelling revisionist history of WW2 demonstrating the importance of the relationship between the Soviets and the US. The Soviets received far more equipment and financial support from the US than their more obvious ally Britain. US support was in large part responsible for the Soviet Union becoming a superpower after WW2. Well researched and told, this offers a completely different perspective from the usual story told.

Russia : From Rulers to Revolution and Russia : Rise and Fall of the Soviets by Martin Sixsmith
Actually BBC Radio 4 series but available as audiobooks so I’ve included them. Before he was the author of Philomena, Martin Sixsmith was the BBC’s Soviet Union then Russia correspondent for many years. He brilliantly tell the modern history of this ever fascinating country, including Russian music and literature, and extracts of his BBC reports.

Travel

Walking the Nile by Levison Wood
There are few endurance records left to claim, and though Levison Wood didn’t quite claimed the title of the first person to walk the entire length of the Nile (due to civil war), he came mightily close. He had quite the adventure in the process, told well in his entertaining account.

Bad Lands : A Tourist on the Axis of Evil by Tony Wheeler
The best travel book I read this year, a classic combination of humour and interesting information. Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet, visited the original three Axis of Evil countries (Iran, Iraq, and North Korea) along with others including Myanmar, Cuba, and Libya, and brought back plenty of stories and insight.

Bliss(ters): How I Walked From Mexico to Canada One Summer by Gail Francis
Interesting and entertaining but reading this definitely put me off ever walking the epic 4,270km long Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to Canadian borders through California, Oregon and Washington State. There was almost unbearable heat and lack of reliable water sources through the desert sections, bear encounters, and injuries, but the lack of solitude is most off-putting to me, particularly given the characters described also walking the trail.

Music

Surrender : Forty Songs, One Story by Bono
One of the best music autobiographies I’ve read, actually listened to, with the audiobook being the best format as it includes the music Bono references. He uses forty U2 songs to structure the story of his life, heavy on U2, his wife Ali, and his advocacy efforts. It’s beautifully and poetically written.

Nothing is Real: The Beatles Were Underrated And Other Sweeping Statements About Pop and Overpaid, Oversexed and Over There: How a Few Skinny Brits with Bad Teeth Rocked America by David Hepworth
A pair of highly enjoyable books by the reliably excellent David Hepworth, a lifelong music writer with an ear for a witty turn of phrase and entertaining anecdote. Nothing is Real is a collection of his music writings over the years, while Overpaid, Oversexed and Over There charts the adventures of British acts breaking (or attempting to) America from the 1960s and 1980s. Listening to the audiobook versions read by the author was a bonus.