Parliamentarians share the book they recommend their colleagues read
The Publishers Association is delighted to present the 2024 Winter Reading List for Parliamentarians. The annual list, contributed to by 75 MPs and Members of the House of Lords, sees parliamentarians sharing a wide range of books ahead of the Christmas parliamentary recess.
In the introduction to the Winter Reading List for Parliamentarians, Publishers Association President and CEO of Bonnier Books UK, Perminder Mann, writes:
‘There is bound to be something for everyone in this year’s list, which sees recommendations of classics, new non-fiction releases and some favourite novels. […] we are thrilled to have received such a wide range of suggestions from politicians across the Houses of Parliament and hope their choices bring some festive reading pleasure.’
Dan Conway, CEO of the Publishers Association, said:
“Reading books is one of the best ways to relax, learn and become inspired. We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm we’ve found from parliamentarians when we asked which book they would recommend to their colleagues. Our Winter Reading List for Parliamentarians shows the breadth of fantastic books published in the UK and that we have a parliament full of passionate readers.”
- Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism and Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms recommended A Nasty Little War: The West’s Fight to Reverse the Russian Revolution by Anna Reid.
- The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, chose If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor.
- Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee picked The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman.
- Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, which won the 2023 Booker Prize, was recommended by three parliamentarians – The Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP, Baroness Lister of Burtersett CBE and Antonia Bance MP.
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is recommended twice. The 2022 novel was chosen by Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, and Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio.
- The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, chose Great Britain? by Torsten Bell, and stated that it’s “A powerful and well-argued analysis of the UK’s economic challenges, and what the potential solutions might be”.
- The Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing recommended The Art of Ex.plan.ation by Ros Atkins.