From a psychopathic ancient warrior to a ruthless media mogul, a sex-change travel writer and insider accounts of Westminster, Balmoral, prison and Bake Off… These are the 22 best non-fiction books to read this summer

How Not to Be a Political Spouse?

Sarah Vine

HarperElement £10.99, 320 people

If you think political memoirs are full of boring policies and unwelcome excuses, think again. In this stirring account, star journalist and Michael Gove’s ex-wife Sarah Vine reveals what life is like as a Westminster WAG and what really happened during her split from best friend Samantha Cameron.

Achieve victory through political scandal; Stay here to discover the woman who survived it all. KS

Guys, Wait Until You Hear This!

Liza Minnelli

Hodder & Stoughton £25, 448 per person

Willkommen, bienvenue, Welcome to the campy and heartbreaking world of Cabaret star Liza Minnelli. From the moment he was born, photographs of him in the arms of his mother, Judy Garland, appeared in newspapers around the world. Thus began a life lived entirely in the spotlight, during which she won an Oscar, was addicted to drink and drugs, and had relationships with some of the biggest stars of the age. You’ll find your jaw on the floor as Minnelli takes you through the trappings of Hollywood, a truly wild love affair with Peter Sellers, and the steamy highs of Studio 54. J.C.D.

locals

Lydia Wood

Wand £20, 208 per person

With the World Cup firmly underway, London’s pubs are packed with people sinking £8 pints in the hope England can prevail this year. So with more than 3,000 pubs in the capital, how do you choose your favourite? Lydia Wood set out on a mission to sketch every pub in London and this fun little book is a collection of drawings, thoughts and musings on each ‘local’. Perfect for inspiration. KS

Official

Andrew Lownie

William Collins £10.99, 512pp

Future dictionaries should include a picture of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor next to the words debauchery, corruption, immorality and, most importantly, authority. The story of his fall from grace dominated the headlines last year, mostly thanks to Andrew Lownie’s excellent book. This is the result of a four-year investigation into the affairs of the King’s brother and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, which revealed their amorality. Undoubtedly the most important book of the last year, if not the century. J.C.D.

Alexander

Edmund Richardson

Bloomsbury £25, 480 per person

Edmund Richardson’s superb biography of Alexander the Great, subtitled ‘God, King, Man’, shows the deification, sublime grandeur and ultimate humanity of the young man who conquered much of the known world. In a style as readable as any novel, Richardson explores how Aristotle’s tutelage transformed Alexander into one of the greatest philosophical and strategic minds of ancient times. KS

Being Old and Learning to Love It

Prue Leith

Short Books £20, 240 per person

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to truly age gracefully, look to chef and author Prue Leith. Part memoir, part reflection, Leith’s latest book is an honest account of the challenges but ultimate joys of aging. With her 80-year-old wit and candor, she explores all the important topics: retirement, fashion, travel, gardening and sex. KS

Another World

Melvyn Bragg

Wand £22, 272 per person

There are few sounds as familiar as the soft northern tones of Melvyn Bragg. In this second memoir of what will become a trilogy, he paints a sparkling portrait of his journey from working-class Wigton to romping with state schoolboys in the cloisters of Oxford University. There are first loves, heartbreaks and real touching moments. Fascinating. J.C.D.

Pledge

Eli Sharabi

Swift Press £10.99, 208pp

This heartbreaking and shockingly vivid account of what it was like to be an Israeli hostage in the wake of the October 7 attacks is a must-read. Eli Sharabi, who was taken from his family, was held captive in cells, tunnels and sewers for 491 days in the hope that he would see his wife and daughters again. His story is one of superhuman resistance and dignity in the face of terrible oppression. KS

Everyone Loves Our Dollars

Oliver Bullough

W&N £25, 336 per person

Few of us deal with coins or notes anymore, but in the criminal underworld, cash is still king. Oliver Bullough is an excellent investigative journalist and here he takes a hard look at the murky world of money laundering. He deftly breaks down the finances of cartels, human traffickers and sly dealers and shows that becoming a criminal has never been easier. J.C.D.

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Boris Becker

HarperCollins £10.99, 352pp

It was the tennis scandal that shook the world. German prodigy Boris Becker, who won Wimbledon at the age of 17 and went on to win five more Grand Slam titles, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on bankruptcy charges. Becker tells a confessional story about his life in prison and how he confronted the mistakes of his past in order to build a new life. With Wimbledon in full swing, now is the time to dive in.

Arctic War

Hugh Sebag-Montefiore

William Collins £30, 816 per person

Don’t be fooled by its volume size: This book’s 800 pages contain a story of such extraordinary courage, drama, and triumph that you’ll be left wanting more. Sebag-Montefiore reveals the treacherous journeys of Allied naval and merchant sailors, submariners and soldiers to transport weapons to Russia while being hunted by German aircraft and submarines in the Arctic. It’s creepy stuff. KS

Anhydrous

Tom Gilbey

Square Peg £20, 304 per person

Tom Gilbey rose to social media stardom after running the London Marathon and tasting a different wine with each mile. Now, in his memoir, he shares his tips on how to get the most out of your bottle. Gilbey shares his wisdom on reading a label and talking about wine without sounding like a sycophant, as well as his wisdom on listing 100 approved wines. If, like many of us, a wine list presented to you makes you cringe in fear, then this book is for you. Raise a glass to the wine shop! J.C.D.

Elizabeth II

Robert Hardman

Macmillan £22, 448 per person

As the only biographer to have interviewed every senior member of the Royal Family, Robert Hardman is guaranteed to offer new insights into our monarchs. His descriptions of the Royal Family, their staff and our late monarch, ‘What was he really like?’ It contributes somewhat to answering the question. Filled with drama, intrigue, humor and sadness, this wonderful book will liven up your holidays more than any period drama. KS

What We Ask Google

Simon Rogers

Torva £16.99, 288 per person

In a world that often feels divided, it’s nice to know that there is at least one thing that unites us: our Google searches. Google’s data editor Simon Rogers compiled the universal questions we all ask. It’s encouraging to read that there was a spike in searches for ‘how to help a bee’ in the UK in June, or parents wanting to know how to get their babies to sleep at 2am. KS

Jan Morris

Sara Wheeler

Faber £25, 432 per person

If the mid-life transition from man to woman isn’t the most interesting aspect of life, then you know you’ve lived it to the fullest. Jan Morris certainly did that. Intelligence, talent and fiery ambition enabled Morris to become the world’s most famous journalist at the age of 26, accompanying Hillary and Tenzing to climb Everest. His career as one of the world’s greatest travel writers continued apace and he became James Jan after having five children with his beloved wife, Elizabeth. Suffice to say, he encountered a few challenges along the way. This wonderful biography is truly ’20. An impartial portrait of someone who lived in the 19th century. J.C.D.

How to Live Like a Stoic?

Tom Hodgkinson

Bloomsbury Continuity £16.99, 224pp

Tom Hodgkinson discovered the key to success: grit. The philosophy, which began in Athens in 303 BC, preaches that the way to move forward in the face of difficulties is to remain calm and try to control only what is within your power. This book is full of philosophies to ponder, and Hodgkinson combines his own deep thoughts with wise quotes from ancient people. After all, these are words that must be lived by. KS

I’m Still Here

Amanda Barrie

Mirror £10.99, 288pp

Amanda Barrie, a late veteran of the Carry On movies, looks like she’s been slapped in her life. When he confronted his estranged father’s girlfriend in a shop in Manchester he ‘did as usual, knocked her to the ground and hit her head on the floor’. If a perverted co-star pinched her butt, she would receive ‘two direct blows to the center of her skull.’ The latest victim of his anger was Gordon Ramsay (great view). His memoirs are read with enthusiasm, from Carry On and Corrie to finding happiness with his wife in the countryside. J.C.D.

muv

Rachel Trethewey

History Press £22.99, 272pp

The Mitford brothers have long been crowned the most interesting British family of the 20th century. Two of them were hardline fascists in Hitler’s inner circle; one was a best-selling humorist, the other an ardent communist. Shelves of books have been written about these ugly sisters, but what about their mother? Sydney Redesdale (Muv, to her children) turns out to be as resilient, eccentric and tragic as these colorful characters, and this biography finally gives her the attention she deserves. J.C.D.

The Stolen Crown

Tracy Borman

Hodder & Stoughton £26,448 per person

The death of Elizabeth I caused something of a crisis in 1603. With no child or immediate family to succeed her, the queen’s final hours were surrounded by advisors who insisted that she choose an heir. Legend has it that with his last breath, King Henry VI of Scotland died. He named it James. In her latest book, Tracy Borman sees this version of events as a fiction created to support James’ claim; The truth was much more complex. KS

Murdoch’s Bonfire

Gabriel Sherman

Simon & Schuster £25, 256 per person

Rupert Murdoch has long been the most powerful media mogul on the world stage, and his empire spans all nations and commands political influence from Tipperary to Timbuktu. The question of who among their children would take over tore the family apart. Interviewing more than 150 sources, Gabriel Sherman tells the story of backstabbing, pride, and sacrificing the people you love for the sake of unrivaled power. A modern-day drama as dark as a Shakespearean tragedy and as gripping as a thriller. J.C.D.

Tart

Slut Chef

Bloomsbury £10.99, 352pp

This summer brings the finale of the popular cooking comedy-drama The Bear, and if you’ve still got the appetite to go behind the scenes in the world’s hottest kitchens, look no further than Tart. This sexy and visceral book lifts the lid on the misadventures of love and lust that go hand in hand with working 60-hour weeks in windowless kitchens surrounded by sweaty, screaming men. The result is a truly delicious read. KS

servus

Emma Southon

Hodder £25, 448 per person

If you could get into a Tardis and travel back in time, there wouldn’t be much to recommend staying in Ancient Rome. If you were a soldier, a senator, or even an emperor, you’d probably live a life full of anxiety and meet an extraordinarily grisly end. In this eye-opening history, Southon focuses his gaze on the lowest stratum of Roman society: slaves, revealing horrific tales of gladiators, sex slaves, and servants beaten to death. J.C.D.