Gwyneth Lewis and Annabel Abbs
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's books are: Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner chosen by the Welsh poet and writer ...
Michelle Ogundehin and Lisa St Aubin de Terán
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Ogundehin is a broadcaster, magazine editor and author also known as a presenter on TV's I...
Roma Agrawal and Kate Lister
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
WEDLOCK: HOW GEORGIAN BRITAIN'S WORST HUSBAND MET HIS MATCH by Wendy Moore, chosen by Kate Lister G...
Richard Benson and Amy Sackville
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux chosen by Richard Benson THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM by Sylvia Townsend Warn...
Julia Shaw and Hayaatun Sillem
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FUNDAMENTALLY by Nussaibah Younis, chosen by Julia Shaw YOUR LIFE IS MANUFACTURED by Tim Minshall, c...
Nicola Sturgeon and Alistair McGowan
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two books featuring teenage killers feature this time. Nicola Sturgeon MSP votes for Elif Shafak's ...
Tom Cox and Sophie Scott
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE STONE DIARIES by Carol Shields, chosen by Tom Cox HOW TO WRITE A THESIS by Umberto Eco, chosen b...
Chris Tarrant and Mike Gayle
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OPEN by Andre Agassi SONIC YOUTH SLEPT ON MY FLOOR by Dave Haslam THE SECRET HOURS by Mick HerronTel...
Sarah Waters and Walter Murch
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BEAR by Marian Engel, chosen by novelist Sarah Waters THE TRUE BELIEVER by Eric Hoffer, chosen by fi...
Rob Rinder and Juno Dawson
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS by Augusten Burroughs, chosen by Rob Rinder THE ODD WOMAN AND THE CITY by Vivi...
Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OBLIVION by Héctor Abad, chosen by Colm Tóibín FLESH by David Szalay, chosen by Zadie Smith CALL ...
Joanna Hardy-Susskind and Horatio Clare
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE TRUCE by Primo Levi, chosen by Horatio Clare THE SUN DOES SHINE by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara...
Desiree Akhavan and Rosie Wilby
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ALL FOURS by Miranda July, chosen by Desiree Akhavan UNTRUE by Wednesday Martin, chosen by Rosie Wil...
James Rebanks and Kiri Pritchard-McLean at the Hay Festival
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE IRON AGE by Arja Kajermo A SHORT STAY IN HELL by Steven L Peck STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlott...
Budgie and Juhea Kim
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NAUSEA by Jean-Paul Sartre GO WENT GONE by Jenny Erpenbeck LAURUS by Evgeny VodolazkinBudgie is best...
Xantoné Blacq and Harry Trevaldwyn
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT by Sarah Winman, chosen by Harry Trevaldwyn THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho, cho...
Josh Cohen and Nussaibah Younis
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin, chosen by Nussaibah Younis A HEART SO WHITE by Javier Marías, chosen by Jo...
Jack Thorne and Peter Kosminsky
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST by Iain Pears, chosen by Peter Kosminsky HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING ...
Douglas Stuart and Sian Eleri
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Douglas Stuart author of Booker Prize winning novel Shuggie Bain chooses his favourite book - Train ...
Lucy Speed and Sarah Mills
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave, chosen by Lucy Speed THE HUMAN FACTOR by Graham Greene, ...
Nina Sosanya and Joelle Taylor
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Actor Nina Sosanya and prize winning poet and writer Joelle Taylor talk favourite books with Harriet...
Oliver Burkeman and Sara Collins
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
MOON TIGER by Penelope Lively, chosen by Sara Collins NUMBER GO UP: INSIDE CRYPTO'S WILD RISE AND ST...
Inua Ellams and Ted Hodgkinson
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
WHEN WE CEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD by Benjamin Labatut (translated by Adrian Nathan West), chosen...
Julia Bradbury and Ramita Navai
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, chosen by Julia Bradbury A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, chosen by...
Joe Dunthorne and Iszi Lawrence
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, translated by John E. Woods, chosen by Iszi La...
Nicci Gerrard and Sean French
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Books featured:True Grit by Charles Portis Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Moominland Midwinter by Tov...
Professor Ben Garrod and Lucy Jones
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A PRIMATE'S MEMOIR (Love, Death and Baboons) by Robert Sapolsky, chosen by Professor Ben Garrod SOLD...
Sir Ian Blatchford and Charles Fernyhough
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
TOKYO EXPRESS by Seichō Matsumoto, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, chosen by Sir Ian Blatchford THE L...
Naomi Alderman and Abi Dare
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini, chosen by Abi Dare THE FIRE NEXT TIME by James Baldwin,...
Jenny Kleeman and Sam Knight
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
EDUCATED by Tara Westover, chosen by Jenny Kleeman THE WREN, THE WREN by Anne Enright, chosen by Har...
Nihal Arthanayake and Elif Shafak
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nihal has chosen Amma, the debut novel by Sri Lankan writer Saraid de Silva, which he compares to me...
Tim Spector and Tatty Macleod
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE COUNTRY OF OTHERS by Leïla Slimani, chosen by Tatty Macleod THE MAN WHO ATE EVERYTHING by Jeffr...
Fee Mak and Ali Woods
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
REASONS TO STAY ALIVE by Matt Haig, chosen by Ali Woods ELENA KNOWS by Claudia Piñeiro, chosen by F...
Amy Liptrot and Karl Ove Knausgaard
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Norwegian author of the hugely successful My Struggle books Karl Ove Knausgaard chooses The Name...
Irvine Welsh and Andrew O'Hagan
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A new series begins at the Edinburgh International Book Festival with guests Irvine Welsh and Andrew...
Rachel Parris and Sonali Shah
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver, chosen by Rachel Parris DID YE HEAR MAMMY DIED? by Séamas O...
Sarah Phelps and Irenosen Okojie
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
RADIO ROMANCE by Garrison Keillor, chosen by Sarah Phelps PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi, chosen by I...
Helen Lederer and Ilaria Bernardini
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
BOOKS:WISHFUL DRINKING by CARRIE FISHER FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK by ALBA DE CESPEDES YELLOWFACE by REBECCA...
Gyles Brandreth and Hannah Critchlow
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth has chosen EF Benson's entertaining tale of competitive snobb...
Sebastian Faulks and Tessa Hadley
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
VOICES IN THE EVENING by Natalia Ginzburg (trans. DM Low), chosen by Tessa Hadley THE ZONE OF INTERE...
Doon Mackichan and Bruce Robinson
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded at the Hay FestivalSHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stuart ON THE BLACK HILL by Bruce Chatwin AGAINS...
Denise Mina and Simon Brett
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ABSENT IN THE SPRING by Agatha Christie (writing as Mary Westmacott) (HarperCollins), chosen by Simo...
Samantha Harvey and Darran Anderson
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
QUARTET IN AUTUMN by Barbara Pym, chosen by Samantha Harvey MRS CALIBAN by Rachel Ingalls, chosen b...
Kathryn Hughes and Dan Schreiber
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Historian and author Kathryn Hughes and No Such Thing As a Fish presenter Dan Schreiber recommend fa...
Carol Morley and Will Hislop
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE RED PARTS by Maggie Nelson (Vintage), chosen by Carol Morley INVISIBLE CITIES by Italo Calvino (...
Christopher Eccleston and Lindsey Hilsum
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
JUST KIDS by Patti Smith, chosen by Lindsey Hilsum MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor E. Frankl (tra...
Katy Hessel and Amy Blakemore
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
CHESS by Stefan Zweig (Faber), chosen by Katy Hessel MAUD MARTHA by Gwendolyn Brooks (Penguin), chos...
Andrew McMillan and Kathryn Williams
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ON WRITING by Stephen King, chosen by Kathryn Williams THE BITCH by Pilar Quintana (translated by Li...
Paterson Joseph and Richard Coles
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE LONELY LONDERS by Sam Selvon THE CHANGELING by Robin Jenkins A CRACK IN THE WALL by Claudia Pene...
Anjana Vasan and Anne-Marie Imafidon
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
BESSIE SMITH by Jackie Kay (Faber) chosen by Anjana Vasan EDGE OF HERE by Kelechi Okafor (Trapeze) c...
Joe Talbot and Nancy Medina
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO by Junot Diaz (Faber), chosen by Nancy Medina ALL ABOUT LOVE by...
Rachel Brown-Finnis and Anna Bogutskaya
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
CRYING IN H MART by Michelle Zauner, chosen by Anna Bogutskaya SKATING TO ANTARTICA by Jenni Diski, ...
Ian Rankin and Colin MacIntyre
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THE GLASS PEARLS by Emeric Pressburger chosen by Ian Rankin WIDOW BASQUIAT by Jennifer Clement chose...
Chantal Joffe and Séamas O'Reilly
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The artist Chantal Joffe picks I Capture The Castle, the English classic by Dodie Smith. Set in 1930...
Janet Ellis and Jason Arday
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janet Ellis and Jason Arday join presenter Harriet Gilbert to discuss The Cut Out Girl by Bart van E...
India Knight and Emma Dabiri
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist India Knight and writer Emma Dabiri talk to Harriett Gilbert about favourite books. India...
Nigel Kennedy and Clare Perkins
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The violinist Nigel Kennedy is in the UK playing several concerts and takes time out to join Harriet...
Cressida Cowell and Romy Gill MBE
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cressida Cowell MBE is the best-selling author illustrator of the How To Train Your Dragon and The W...
Anneka Rice and Maureen Freely
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TV presenter Anneka Rice and writer Maureen Freely share favourite books. Maureen has chosen Marilyn...
Cornelia Parker and Jeremy Lee
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artist Cornelia Parker is with the chef Jeremy Lee and presenter Harriett Gilbert, to pick their all...
Rhys Stephenson and Esther Manito
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The children's TV presenter and stand up comedian advocate for favourite books. Rhys Stevenson says ...
Vaseem Khan and Lucy Winkett
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does 'home' mean? The three book choices today reflect on what home means to different people....
Olivia Laing and Charlie Porter
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author and cultural critic Olivia Laing, whose books include The Lonely City, Funny Weather and Ever...
Niamh Cusack & Elly Griffiths
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Niamh Cusack chooses Lila by Marilynne Robinson part of a group of novels set around the fictional I...
Susanna Hoffs and Nina Wadia
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nina Wadia is a well known face on British TV and film. She was part of the smash hit comedy Goodnes...
Andi Osho and Nikita Gill
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The actor-comedian and the poet advocate for their favourite books. Andi chooses The Flatshare by Be...
Merlin Sheldrake and Jo Marchant
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake (of 'Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Min...
Hal Cruttenden and Daisy Buchanan
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The comedian and the writer talk to Harriett about favourite books, including one of Orwell's less w...
Zing Tsjeng and Yomi Ṣode
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist, broadcaster and author Zing Tsjeng and poet Yomi Ṣode join presenter Harriett Gilbert ...
Gill Hornby and Paul Burston
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The two writers talk about their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Gill Hornby has chosen Commo...
Donna Leon and Margaret Heffernan
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The author of the Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery series, Donna Leon, is joined by writer-entrepr...
Katherine May and Liz Berry
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author Katherine May and poet Liz Berry talk to Harriett Gilbert about their favourite books. Liz lo...
Sophie Raworth and Patrick Ness
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The newsreader and the writer chat about books with Harriett. Sophie and Harriett's choices take on ...
Janet Street-Porter and Felicity Ward
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The broadcaster and comedian discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Janet's choice is The Bl...
Philippa Perry and Anil Seth
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Psychotherapist writer Philippa Perry and Professor of Neuroscience Anil Seth join Harriett Gilbert ...
James Marriott and Jude Rogers
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Columnist at The Times James Marriott and arts journalist for The Guardian Jude Rogers discuss favou...
Kate Bryan and Mark Steel
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Art historian Kate Bryan and comedian Mark Steel talk to Harriett Gilbert about their favourite book...
Adrian Chiles and Martyn Ware
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week broadcaster and writer Adrian Chiles and musician and sound artist Marty Ware join Harriet...
Agnes Poirier & Nikki May
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Agnes Poirier the French writer and broadcaster and British-Nigerian novelist Nikki May introduce us...
Ellie Gibson and Frank Turner
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Co-host of the 'Scummy Mummies' podcast Ellie Gibson and musician Frank Turner pick their favourite ...
Shaparak Khorsandi and Anne Hegerty
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian and author Shaparak Khorsandi and Anne Hegerty AKA "The Governess" on the ITV quiz show 'Th...
Philippa Forrester and Dwayne Fields
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter Philppa Forrester and explorer Dwayne Fields discuss their favourite books with Harriett G...
Heidi Regan and Neil Delamere
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comedians Heidi Regan and Neil Delamere discuss their favourite all-time books with Harriett Gilbert...
Ria Lina and Otegha Uwagba
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The comedian Ria Lina - who's appeared on the BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News for You an...
Patience Agbabi and Andy Miller
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Poet Patience Agbabi and the writer and podcaster Andy Miller advocate for their favourite books. An...
Damian Barr and Ben Fergusson
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writers Damian Barr and Ben Fergusson recommend books to Harriett Gilbert. Damian chooses the secon...
John Wilson and Chloe Petts
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster John Wilson and comedian Chloe Petts choose books to recommend to Harriett Gilbert. Joh...
Duncan Campbell and Mark Hodkinson
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writers Duncan Campbell and Mark Hodkinson discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Dun...
Salena Godden and Rob Biddulph
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Salena Godden chooses Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys, a book she's re-read many times an...
Melanie Reid and Andrew Cotter
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Columnist Melanie Reid adores This is Not About Me by Janice Galloway, a tragicomic account of her t...
Sophie Hannah and Viv Groskop
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sophie Hannah and Viv Groskop join Harriett Gilbert to talk about books they love.Sophie, an Agatha ...
Petroc Trelawny and Stuart MacBride
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The broadcaster Petroc Trelawny, host of the Radio 3 Breakfast show, and the crime writer Stuart Mac...
Dr Alex George and Ella Al-Shamahi
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a guide to spiritual enlightenment and preaches the importance ...
Rob Newman & Sarfraz Manzoor
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Rob Newman and writer Sarfraz Manzoor talk about favourite books. Rob loves John Berger's n...
Dreda Say Mitchell & Emma Gannon
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Novelist Dreda Say Mitchell and the writer and podcaster Emma Gannon talk about their favourite book...
Omid Djalili and Nikita Lalwani
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A novel about compassion set against the backdrop of the Aberfan disaster is comedian and actor Omid...
Julie Hesmondhalgh and Elaine C Smith
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Hesmondhalgh is a well known face on television and stage. Recently she has been in The Pact o...
Joanna Scanlan and Sabine Durrant
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BAFTA winning actor Joanna Scanlan champions The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe's tale of Ke...
Jessica Fostekew and Molly Naylor
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Jessica chooses The Heretics: Adventures with the Enemies of Science, by Will Storr, provok...
Alistair Petrie and Alex Wheatle
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Actor Alistair Petrie, from TV series Sex Education, found Joan Didion's meditation on grief, The Ye...