Find the Right Words for Christmas: Our Topflight Titles for the Season

The nine books to sit comfortably under any Christmas tree. [Find the Right Words for Christmas] Dear Reader, It’s all getting rather exciting now at Waterstones Towers as the runners and riders for the season’s absolute must-have titles finally emerge. [Land Rover] [SAS] Classic, somewhat adventurous, highly practical: it seems only apt that the splendid Ben Fogle is the author behind [Land Rover: The Story of the Car That Conquered the World], his serenade toward Britain’s perhaps most iconic vehicle. The days of the Defender may be over but its legacy proudly lives on in this engaging, fact-dripping account, taking the reader from its humble origins on the proving grounds of Anglesey to becoming the ride du jour of farmers and famous alike. Another similarly iconic pillar of the British armed forces receives due attention in Ben Macintyre’s frankly excellent [SAS: Rogue Heroes], his history of the regiment’s founding and action during the Second World War. It takes true reputational clout – the kind of clout penning [Agent Zigzag] provides – to secure the archival access Macintyre enjoys here, and the result (based around the SAS war diary) is surprisingly even-handed, focusing just as much on the regiment’s failures as its successes, painting a compelling account of the sometimes complex characters who shaped a new model of warfare. [Find out more] [Jamie Oliver's Christmas Cookbook] As the prospect of the year’s most complicated dinner looms ever closer, it’s probably no surprise to watch [Jamie Oliver's Christmas Cookbook] blast its way up the charts. Oliver is no stranger of course to superlative food writing, but he’s in his element here with the volume The Independent put at the top of their pile as the best guide yet toward a stress-free but flavour-rich Christmas. The range of recipes alone is worthy of admission (and at the book's current Half Price it's a steal), but its Oliver’s practical advice that shines through, from seamless scheduling to what to do with those mountains of leftovers. [Find out more] [Born to Run] We all knew that a memoir from Bruce Springsteen would be one of 2016’s cornerstone releases, but it’s probably true to say few predicted just how good the book would be. Self-deprecatory and entirely aware of all the paradoxes stardom brings, Springsteen’s account - ‘neither sensational nor self-serving’, according to The Guardian – has swiftly established itself at the very top tier of rock’s great autobiographies. ‘An utterly unique, endlessly exhilarating, last-chance-power-drive of a memoir.’ – Rolling Stone [Find out more] [Worms to Catch] 2016 marks the third consecutive year to find Grimsby’s favourite son amongst the pack leaders for our Christmas number one. For most, a superbike track injury requiring spinal surgery would spell probably the end to any further derring-do but not so Guy Martin, who after signing himself out of hospital a mere four days later, embarked on a series of extraordinary exploits, including shattering one world record and cycling almost 3000 miles across the United States. It’s all life-affirming stuff that fully confirms Martin’s status as a national treasure. [Find out more] [Nigel: My Family & Other Dogs] [Peggy & Me] Two tales of canine kinship now for your attention and both are equally affecting. Fans of the BBC’s Gardeners’ World will be instantly familiar with Nigel, Monty Don’s ever-present (and ever-watchful) golden retriever: their obvious bond forms the heart of Don’s often moving account of a life spent and shaped by the dogs at his side. It’s a book that so easily could have descended into the mawkish, but instead with typical intelligence Don really gets right inside why these animal relationships are so important. Meanwhile, you’ll discover a surprisingly open Miranda Hart within the pages of [Peggy and Me], the first book proper from the writer and comedian since 2012’s incredibly successful [Is it Me?] Although rather more light-hearted than [Nigel] – Hart’s eternal ability to defuse any belief she might have in her own talent is often hilarious – the moments delving into her real self-doubt and anxieties, soothed only by Peggy’s steadfast presence, are compelling and only make you regard Hart more. [Find out more] [Keeping On Keeping On] [Writing Home] and [Untold Stories] are as good as it gets. These twin volumes of extracts from the diaries of Alan Bennett are both strokes of observational genius, drawing in all manner of incident from this polymath’s extraordinary life and delivering the kind of memoir that redefined the genre. Now [Keeping On Keeping On] marks the trilogy: this third collection picks up from 2005 on, finding Bennett on top form with a whirlwind of projects and the misadventures of advancing age to add to his arsenal of comic anecdote. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, often acerbic, drenched in empathy and probably describes more about the human condition than fifty other books combined. Long may Bennett reign. [Find out more] [Muhammad Ali: A Memoir] Our final choice is a relatively late publishing release. Even today, Michael Parkinson’s near-legendary series of interviews with Muhammad Ali make compelling viewing: Parkinson - certainly in the seventies at the top of his game – encountering an on-fire Ali fizzing with wit and presence. [Muhammad Ali: A Memoir: My Views of the Greatest] breaks down not only the background and reality of those sometimes confrontational interviews but Parkinson’s retrospective thoughts around ‘the most remarkable human I ever encountered'. The entire account is spellbinding and a true reminder of Michael Parkinson’s journalistic prowess. [Find out more] As almost any of these could potentially walk away as our Christmas number one, all nine choices are probably as close to a guaranteed list of gifting glory as we dare suggest and don’t forget our [Christmas shop] is still open for yet more inspiration. With all best wishes, Your friends at Waterstones [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] [YouTube] [View email online]. Sadly replies to this particular email will not be read or generate any responses, but we always welcome feedback and any queries or thoughts are best addressed to our customer support booksellers using our [online form]. You might also find the answer on our [Help pages]. 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