2016 BOOKS OF THE YEAR NON-FICTION


THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING BILL BRYSON DOUBLEDAY


SPQR MARY BEARD PROFILE


Ancient Rome matters. Its history of empire, conquest, cruelty and excess is something against which we still judge ourselves. Its myths and stories—from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of Lucretia—still strike a chord with us. And its debates about citizenship, security and the rights of the individual still influence our own debates on civil liberty today. SPQR is a new look at Roman his-


tory from one of the world’s foremost classicists. It explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in central Italy to a power that controlled territory from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they are still important to us.


Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to celebrate the green and kindly island that had become his adopted country. The hilarious book that resulted, Notes from a Small Island, became the bestselling travel book ever. Now, to mark the 20th anniversary, Bryson makes a brand new journey around Britain to see what has changed. Following (not too closely) a route he dubs the Bryson Line, from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath, by way of places that many people never get to at all, Bryson sets out to rediscover the won- drously beautiful, magnificently eccen- tric, endearingly unique country that he thought he knew . . . but doesn’t altogether recognise any more.


GUT


GIULIA ENDERS, DAVID SHAW (TRANS) SCRIBE


Our gut is as important as our brain or heart, yet we know very little about how it works and many of us are too embarrassed to ask questions. In Gut, Giulia Enders breaks this taboo, revealing the latest science on how much our digestive system has to offer. From our miraculous gut bacteria, which can play a part in obesity, allergies, depression and even Alzheimer’s, to the best position to poo, this entertaining and informa- tive health handbook shows that we can all benefit from getting to know the wondrous world of our inner workings.


GREAT BOOKS FROM BRITISH PUBLISHERS


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