No matter who you are, 2020 hasn’t been easy; so this Christmas we’re seeking solace in books that bring us hope. From life-affirming memoirs to bold manifestos and moving meditations on nature, these stories are the perfect gift to remind a loved one (or yourself) that there are better days around the corner.
Recommendations
9 Vintage stories of hope, in time for Christmas
The Courage to Care by Christie Watson (2020)
From the bestselling author of The Language of Kindness, Christie Watson shines a timely light on the remarkable extent of a nurse’s work; and on patients and their families – including her own – who show exceptional strength in the most challenging times.
Lowborn by Kerry Hudson (2019)
Dubbed ‘totally engrossing and deliciously feisty’ by none other than Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, Kerry Hudson’s deeply personal exploration of poverty will forever change your perspective on what it means to be ‘poor’ in modern Britain.
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald (2020)
From essays on headaches and high-rise buildings to hunting mushrooms and catching swans, fans of Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk and newcomers alike won’t be disappointed by this captivating collection of essays on humanity’s ever-shifting relationship with the natural world.
Without Ever Reaching the Summit by Paolo Cognetti (2020)
Part travel journal, part love letter to one of the most spectacular places on earth, this is the story of author Paolo Cognetti’s awe-inspiring 40th birthday trip, travelling with two friends – plus a couple of mules and guides – to a remote Himalayan region where Nepal meets Tibet.
Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (2020)
In the struggle for equal rights, 2020 has brought both hope and despair, and also some much-needed time for self-reflection. This workbook from the globally bestselling author of How To Be An Antiracist, provides a series of activities and exercises to help us all do the vital work of becoming part of the solution, not the problem.
A Life in Nature by Mark Hamer (2020)
At the age of sixteen, Marc Hamer left home with only a rucksack on his back, and started walking. By day, he observed the animals and birds. By night, he slept under hedges, in woodlands and on riverbanks. This beautiful, meditative book feels essential right now, as a celebration of living peacefully and finding joy in the natural world around us.
A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi (2020)
By turns harrowing and humorous, this coming-of-age memoir tells of Mohsin Zaidi’s experience growing up queer in a strict Muslim household. Brimming with hope and humanity, it’s an inspiring story of family, faith and breaking through life's barriers.
Homie by Danez Smith (2020)
A mighty anthem about the saving grace of friendship, Homie will knock your socks off. Danez Smith’s startlingly original collection of poetry meditates on identity and intimacy, in a country overrun by violence, xenophobia and disparity, and in a body defined by race, queerness and diagnosis..
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2017)
What makes life worth living in the face of death? At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. This vital, heartbreaking memoir is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality.
