Books remain a reliable choice during the Christmas season, offering comfort and reflection when people are searching for meaningful gifts. This selection brings together recent titles that appeal to readers with interests ranging from public health to technology and fiction.
NHS maternity care under scrutiny
Delivering the Truth: Why NHS Maternity Care is Broken and How We Can Fix It Together by Dr Lorin Lakasing (£16.99) draws on more than 30 years of experience at St Marys Hospital in London. Dr Lakasing outlines repeated failures in maternity services, noting that independent investigations have exposed the same issues for over two decades. The book argues that mothers and babies continue to face risks due to staff burnout and uneven care standards. Dr Lakasing stresses the need for reform through transparency and informed choice. She highlights that pregnancy should be approached individually, remarking that no two pregnancies are the same. She says, “Turning things around will require the three groups who have damaged the system to recognise and address the part they have played in the progressive erosion of NHS maternity care and work together towards meaningful progress. This will take decades so politicians who want quick fixes in time for the next general election should think twice before they promise anything to the electorate.” The book diagnoses the problems and offers proposals aimed at long term improvement. Available from major retailers.
Guidance for people dealing with fear and anxiety
Face Your Fears: 7 Steps to Conquering Phobias and Anxiety by Christopher Paul Jones (£10.99) offers practical advice from a Harley Street practitioner who overcame significant fears himself. Jones draws on clinical hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing to explain how phobias develop and how emotional patterns can be changed. The book focuses on common fears such as flying, spiders, public speaking and heights, as well as claustrophobia, agoraphobia and generalised anxiety. Jones presents exercises designed to bring quicker relief than traditional approaches. Actress Naomie Harris has spoken positively about the techniques, and GQ has noted Jones’s success in helping people overcome challenges from stage fright to workplace anxiety. Suitable for readers looking for clear methods without technical jargon.
Exploring ethics and the role of animals in history and religion
Animal Theologians by Andrew Linzey and Clair Linzey (£27.49) brings attention to religious thinkers who placed animals within moral and spiritual debates. Edited by the directors of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, the anthology highlights figures such as John Wesley, Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas K Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer. The book addresses Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Quaker perspectives while challenging the historical neglect of non human creatures in theological writing. Clair Linzey notes that many theologians discussed God without acknowledging animals, and the collection works to correct that absence. Published in 2023 by Oxford University Press, it has been described as a valuable resource for readers interested in religious ethics.
Their companion title, Animal History: History as If Animals Mattered (£20.00), released in September 2025 through the Journal of Animal Ethics, presents 14 essays that reframe animals as active subjects within historical narratives. The editors argue that an animal possesses a biography as well as a biology, urging historians to reconsider long standing assumptions. Both books appeal to environmentally minded readers.
A look at the rapid evolution of modern technology
Visionaries, Rebels and Machines: The Story of Humanity’s Extraordinary Journey from Electrification to Cloudification by Jamie Dobson (£14.05) traces the development of modern technology from early electrical experiments to contemporary artificial intelligence. Dobson, co founder and former chief executive of Container Solutions, draws on his background in software engineering to explain how invention, chance and individual ambition shaped technological progress. The book includes figures such as Alessandro Volta, Thomas Edison and Jeff Bezos while reflecting on how these changes influence society. Published in June 2025 by Right Book Press, it has been recognised for its accessible and engaging style.
Suspense for readers searching for escapism
The Hunting Command by Macalister Stevens (£7.77) provides a thriller set across European locations and two timelines separated by 12 years. The story centres on an attack on a United States vice presidential motorcade in Vienna and the subsequent investigation. Austrian detectives and covert operatives drive the narrative as the plot expands into a broader political conflict. First published in 2015, the novel maintains pace through concise writing and shifting perspectives. Available digitally and in print.
Support for aspiring authors aiming to market their work
The Authority Guide to Marketing Your Business Book by Chantal Cooke (£9.99) outlines 52 approaches for promoting a business title. Cooke brings experience from more than 25 years in broadcasting and journalism to help writers develop visibility and reach targeted audiences. The guide covers topics such as pitching, credibility building and early planning before publication. Testimonials from authors describe the book as a practical resource for navigating the promotional stages of authorship. First published in 2016, it remains relevant for writers preparing to launch a professional title.
This collection offers choices for readers interested in public health, psychology, theology, technology or fiction. Each book has been verified through reputable publishers and author sources to ensure accuracy in the details provided.