What are the best, most readable, most inspiring and most give-able books this season?  Manda's solstice list of her favourite Fiction and non-Fiction books read in 2021. Plus a bonus handful of must-listen podcasts. 

Here we go, people of the podcast - the books and their links. I've linked through Blackwells, because I used to love Heffers (part of the same chain) when I was in Cambridge.  Do obviously feel free to support your local bookshop. 

KSR: The Ministry for the Future

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Ministry-for-the-Future-by-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/9780356508863/

Cory Doctorow - Walkaway

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Walkaway-by-Cory-Doctorow/978178669307/

Victoria Goddard The Hands of the Emperor 

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Hands-of-the-Emperor-by-Goddard-Victoria/9781988908144

Mick Herron SLOUGH HOUSE - 7th Jackson Lamb thriller

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Slough-House-by-Mick-Herron/9781529378665/

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Iron-Widow-by-Xiran-Jay-Zhao/9780861542093

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fates-and-Furies-by-Lauren-Groff/9780099592532

NON-FICTION 

Davids Graeber and Wengrow - THE DAWN OF EVERYTHING : a new history of Humanity 

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Dawn-of-Everything-by-David-Graeber-D-Wengrow/9780241402429/

TAMSIN OMOND: Do/Earth: Healing strategies for humankind

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Do-Earth-by-Tamsin-Omond/9781914168000/

All We Can Save, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K Wilkinson 

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/All-We-Can-Save-by-Ayana-Elizabeth-Johnson-editor-Katharine-K-Wilkinson-editor/9780593237083

Finding the Mother Tree https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Finding-the-Mother-Tree-by-S-Simard/9780241389348/

Tomorrow is too late - Grace Maddrell https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Tomorrow-Is-Too-Late-by-Grace-Maddrell/9781911648321/

The Future Earth - Eric Holthaus
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Future-Earth-by-Eric-Holthaus/9780062883162/

Recapture the Rapture - Jamie Wheal
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Recapture-the-Rapture-by-Jamie-Wheal/9780062905468/

Mariana Mazzucato Mission Economy
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Mission-Economy-by-Mariana-Mazzucato/9780241419731

PODCASTS

The Hive: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-hive-podcast/id1387510537/
Upstream: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/upstream/id1082594532/
Emerge: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/emerge-making-sense-of-whats-next/id1057220344/
Frontiers of Commoning: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/frontiers-of-commoning-with-david-bollier/id1501085005/
Outrage and Optimism: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/outrage-optimism/id1459416461/
What Could Possibly Go Right: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-could-possibly-go-right/id1520465627/
Your Undivided Attention: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-undivided-attention/id1460030305/
EcoCiv : https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ecociv-podcast/id1511996189/
Farmerama: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/farmerama/id1031542491/
Farm Gate: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/farm-gate/id1490590788/
The Lodge Cast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lodge-cast/id1530950902/
Reasons to be Cheerful: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reasons-to-be-cheerful-with-ed-miliband-and-geoff-lloyd/id1287081706/
Tom and Thelma Look Left: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thelma-and-tom-look-left/id1553737688/