1. Home Page
2. Special Deals
3. London Hostels
4. Barcelona Hostels
5. Prague Hostels
6. Edinburgh Hostels
7. Amsterdam Hostels
8. Berlin Hostels
9. Bruges Hostels
10. Brighton Hostels
11. BathHostel
12. Newquay Hostels
13. Paris Hostels
14. Group Bookings

You are here: Backpacker Resources > Travel Books > Top 5 Must Read Books in December 2011

Top 5 Must Read Books in December 2011

1. Who Said That First by Max Cryer
   

   If you’re curious about the origins of common words and phrases then you’re going to enjoy reading this collection of etymology explanations, collated and excellently put to paper by Max Cryer. Did you know that the phrase – All’s fair in love and war, originated in John Lyly’s 1579 publication – Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit? It sounded a little different back then too: “Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawless.” If you’d like to read more, check out the free chunk of this read in this month’s Book Extract.

   Who Said That First by Max Cryer is published by Summersdale (paperback; £9.99). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

2. Great Journeys from Lonely Planet
   

   IThis travel guide was put together by a travel writing powerhouse made up of Andrew Bain, Sarah Baxter, Simon Sellars and Adam Skolnick, and published in the autumn of 2011. Inside you’ll find the world's most spectacular routes, put to paper and complimented by some seriously stunning photography. We all know that the journey is half of the fun anyway and that’s what this monster of a book is all about. With more than 70 suggested itineraries and more practical planning advice than you can shake a stick at, you’ll be breaking out the rainy day credit card and booking that flight, before you know it. This is a great gift for Christmas and a wonderful pre-emptive cure for the New Year blues.

   Great Journeys is published by Lonely Planet (hardback; £29.99). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

3. The Rough Guide to London
   

   This little book is most certainly a welcome addition to any traveller’s To Read list and it’s even rather popular with residents of the Great British capital too! When travel apps just don’t cut it, the clear maps and concise word-smithery in print do the job and in this, the 12th edition of the London guide, readers can enjoy a finely honed collection of recommendations. From the obvious to the obscure, this guide does not disappoint and better still, the specialist sections on clubbing, gay scenes, the arts, street markets and shopping hot spots, cover all the bases and them some. Reassuringly, it’s all written by London-based experts.

   The Rough Guide to London is published by Rough Guides (paperback; £12.99). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

4. Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Best Hidden Travel Gems from National Geographic
   

   Not to be outdone in the round up publication game, National Geographic came out swinging with this second edition of its Journeys of a Lifetime series. Based primarily on insider accounts of the planet's best-kept travel secrets, every page in this publication takes you on a journey to some rather unusual destinations. There are handy – top 10 must see lists for the skim readers out there and some more meaty, in-depth accounts of destinations that have until now, been neglected by the intrepid backpacker. The My Secret Journey section is particularly potent and offers insight into the first hand encounters of writers around the world.

   Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Best Hidden Travel Gems is published by National Geographic (hardback; £25). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

5. Frozen Planet from the BBC
   

   You’ve no doubt seen the BBC series this book is based upon or heard a friend rave about it, and there’s a reason for this. Just when you think the BBC couldn’t top its award winning Planet Earth and Blue Planet series, it pulled this corker out of the bag – sharing with the world frozen expanses that most of us will never see in person. This book takes the best photos and commentaries from the TV series and preserves them forever in print. Inside you’ll find everything from the 24-hour summer to the penguin master thief, who steals his neighbours stones during nest building, rather than scavenge the frozen tundra himself. Unlike the series however, you’re less likely to cry with the book - the emotional woes of arctic wildlife being somewhat less poignant on paper.

   Frozen Planet is published by BBC Books (hardback; £25). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.

- Robert Savage