Brilliant books for men to give this Christmas, recommended by publishing insiders

Why read this: Comedian, screenwriter (The Young Ones, Blackadder) and author Ben Elton has done everything and worked with everybody. Now, in this frank, forthright, and hugely entertaining book, he tells the whole story with, of course a ‘little bit of politics’.

If you're looking for: Memoir, a guide to our times – AI, social media, disinformation, tech giants.

Great for fans of: Yuval Noah Harari, Source Code by Bill Gates.

What the experts say: 

Why read this: This is the groundbreaking memoir from the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee: the story of our modern age.

If you're looking for: Memoir, a guide to our times – AI, social media, disinformation, tech giants.

Great for fans of: Yuval Noah Harari, Source Code by Bill Gates.

What the experts say: 'This memoir offers a vital, insider's account of one of the most disruptive and transformative inventions in our modern history. It is a story relevant to us all, regardless of technical background or prowess. Berners-Lee not only recounts the genesis of the web, which he famously gave away for free, but also provides a crucial, optimistic manifesto for its future, addressing contemporary issues like those around Generative AI, data privacy, and online polarisation. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in leadership, innovation and the evolution of our digital world. It is a powerful call to action to shape technology for all, not just for profit. Let's learn from his example.' Lyndon Branfield, General Counsel, Macmillan Publishers

Why read this: The Cut Throat Trial is the first legal thriller from the million-copy bestselling Secret Barrister, writing as S. J. Fleet. From an author with incomparable insider’s knowledge, this page-turner follows a trial billed as the ‘biggest of the year’, as three seventeen-year-old boys are accused of the brutal murder of an elderly teacher on New Year's Eve.

If you're looking for: Twists you won’t see coming, legal thriller, courtroom drama.

Great for fans of: The Secret Barrister, Mick Herron’s The Secret Hours, Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal, C. J. Tudor’s The Chalk Man.

What the experts say: 'Members of the jury, today I will show you the book to buy for the men in your life who were hooked/moved/haunted by Adolescence. The Cut Throat Trial covers a court case over the murder of an elderly teacher, with three seventeen-year-old boys standing accused. This is no straightforward case as all of the defendants blame one another, one refuses to speak and the whole trial is being muddled by blunders in court proceedings. Charge: A suspenseful read that puts the legal system and societal pressures on teenagers under cross-examination. Verdict: Guilty.' Will Upcott, Digital Marketing Manager

Why read this: New planets are fair game to asset strippers and interplanetary opportunists – and a commercial mission to a distant star system discovers a moon that is pitch black, but alive with radio activity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation. They named it Shroud. Under no circumstances should a human end up on Shroud’s inhospitable surface. Except a catastrophic accident sees Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne doing just that. If they escape, they’ll face a crew only interested in profiteering from this extraordinary world. If they escape. . .

If you're looking for: First contact, hard sci-fi, space survival epic. 

Great for fans of: Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

What the experts say: 'This is science fiction at its best. Tchaikovsky, known for his ability to make you empathise with spiders, builds an incredible narrative based on a crash-landing on a pitch-black planet. The tense human story entwined with the narrative from the perspective of the alien lifeforms they encounter builds to make a unique story of surviving against all odds. This might be my favourite Adrian Tchaikovksy book.' Michael Beale, Editor, Tor

Why read this: Dunky Logan, a 15-year-old brought up in a tenement flat in working-class Kilcaddie, is ditching school to be a labourer on a local farm. Dead set on becoming a hard case, he wants to work shoulder to shoulder with so-called real men. Irish Catholic Mary O’Donnell arrives at the farmhouse as the new maid. She is pregnant - no boyfriend in sight. But she’s smart, and she has a plan to get herself up in the world. As Dunky is swallowed up by a vicious cycle of violence, betrayal, and booze, Mary becomes entangled in a savage family feud. And there’s no going back, for either of them.

If you're looking for: Cult classic, Scottish literature, Glasgow setting.

Great for fans of: Douglas Stuart, James Kelman, Irvine Welsh, Graeme Armstrong, 

What the experts say: 'I absolutely loved Picador's reissue of From Scenes Like these by Gordon M.Williams, which was nominated for the first ever Booker Prize back in 1969. Set in working-class Scotland in the 1950s, this forgotten classic follows the coming-of-age story of a teenage boy navigating a world of hardy men. It's packed with wit, charm, and unforgettable characters that natter in the dark corners of cosy pubs after a hard day's graft. A rediscovered gem deserving of more readers!' Connor Hutchinson, Publicity Manager, Picador