Don’t be boring this Christmas. Don’t just buy whichever book happens to be top of the book charts this month – every unimaginative person will be giving the very same thing. Let me help you instead.

I think my dream job might well be a “professional book picker” where I would just spend all day reading good books and recommending the pick of the bunch. I don’t get paid for this [yet], but I do enjoy reading and can vouch for everything suggested here…

For the last couple of years I’mve put together a list of books to buy for the adventure loving / sports loving / entrepreneur in your life.

• Here was last year’s list.
• Here’s the year before, focused only on adventure books.
• Here is a list of compulsory adventure reading. If you haven’t read all of these and you are a fan of adventure and travel, then get reading!
• A bunch of business books perfect for any wannabe entrepreneur / blogger / full time bum
• I can’t vouch for all these (yet), but I asked Twitter for its collective wisdom on what short beautiful novel I should read.

This year I have also recommended a few good books on Instagram:

One for the climbers: best climbing book I’mve read for a couple of year. â € Makes a way better fist than most at answering the old “why?” question.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Jan 23, 2017 at 6:15am PST

I opened this book and was cross: I’md planned to write EXACTLY this book! But it is great: http://www.wildthingspublishing.com/ It reminds visitors of responsibilities, promotes the Mountain Bothy Association [I urge anyone who stays in a bothy to join], and cannot help but stir the adventurous blood. I am jealous, and quite annoyed, but nonetheless congratulate the team on this fine book. Chapeau.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Jan 30, 2017 at 1:44am PST

Compulsory reading if you like bike travel. https://bromptonjunction.com/shop/home-is-elsewhere-heinz-stucke-50-years-around-the-world-by-bike-book/ 50 years, 196 countries, 648000km, 100000 photos… Heinz Stücke is THE patron saint of long distance adventurers.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Feb 2, 2017 at 5:24am PST

I found this a thought-provoking book, if you’re interested in connecting more with nature.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Apr 14, 2017 at 10:17am PDT

Planning…

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Jun 16, 2017 at 1:13am PDT

My favourite music biography. I’md love to write a travel book in this style. Witty, wise, honest. â € (I love “A Grand Don’t Come For Free”‘s story and I’mve regularly fan-stolen phrases from it to use in my own blogs and books. It always makes me smile when people call me out on them having spotted them.)

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Jan 6, 2017 at 2:50pm PST

A word-lover’s guide to the landscape. I adore this book, and it is teaching me a lot about the land I live in.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Jun 17, 2017 at 3:08am PDT

Big and bold. Robert Macfarlane’s new book just landed on my doorstep. First impression: lavishly beautiful.

A post shared by Alastair Humphreys (@al_humphreys) on Oct 5, 2017 at 3:52am PDT

I also read loads of books that I don’t mention either on my website or on social media. My life is very compartmentalised: I have my ‘adventure life’ which I shout endlessly about online. Then I have my real life, ordinary stuff, family, friends, taekwondo, sport, treehouses, angst, and all sorts of books.

Here then is a broad spread of what I’mve read this year. These are only some of the books I have read in the past 12 months, books that I definitely endorse. Please note this is not necessarily “Adventure Alastair” endorsing them, so maybe check the description first to see if you will enjoy them or not.