Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year

The Atlas of Happiness author tells Simon about her favourite authors, which include Kate Atkinson, Jill Murphy, David Niven, Naomi Alderman, Siri Hustvedt and Bill Bryson  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Atlas of Happiness is a round-the-world trip through 33 international happiness concepts, from the bestselling author of The Year of Living Danishly, Helen Russell. Feeling terrified of that upcoming job interview? Take inspiration from the Icelanders and get some fietta reddast, the unwavering belief that everything will work out in the end. Lost your way in life? Make like the Chinese and find your xingfu, or the thing that gives you real purpose. Too much on your plate? The Italians can help you learn the fine art of dolce far niente, aka the sweetness of doing nothing at all. Overwhelmed by busyness and disconnected from nature? The Swedish have a solution – just find your smultronställe, or 'wild strawberry patch', your perfect escape from the rest of the world. From Australia to Wales, via Bhutan, Ireland, Finland, Turkey, Syria, Japan, and many more besides, The Atlas of Happiness uncovers the global secrets to happiness, and how they can change our lives.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Legendary journalist John Simpson tells us about his favourite books and authors  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sir Michael Parkinson talks us through his favourite books  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian Robin Ince tackles our book Q&A.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A very thoughtful chat with Robin about his latest book - I'm A Joke And So Are You - A Comedian's Take On What Makes Us Human. Covering brains, death and the voices inside your head. Yes, your head.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An undiagnosed broken back, turning up to Woodstock in a VW Beetle, and 6 of the best on his bare arse. The legendary frontman of The Who tells all about his autobiography Thanks A Lot Mr Kibblewhite  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A taster from our next pod...about life on tour with The Who - and news of the new Keith Moon film  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sir Parky pops in to chat about his friend, the flawed footballing genius George Best- the focus of his new memoir.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John Simpson has been the BBC's World Affairs Editor for more than half his fifty-two year career. The legendary journalist tells us about his new novel Moscow, Midnight. MP Patrick Macready has been found dead in his flat. The coroner rules it an accident, a sex game gone wrong. Jon Swift is from the old stock of journos - cynical, cantankerous and overweight - and something about his friend's death doesn't seem right. Then days after Macready's flat is apparently burgled, Swift discovers that his friend had been researching a string of Russian government figures who had met similarly 'accidental' fates. When the police refuse to investigate further, Swift gets in touch with his contacts in Moscow, determined to find out if his hunch is correct. Following the lead, he is soon drawn into a violent underworld, where whispers of conspiracies, assassinations and double-agents start blurring the line between friend and foe. But the truth will come at a price, and it may cost him everything.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Find out the writing and reading habits of this week's authors. Cressida is the multi million selling creator of How To Train Your Dragon. And Edward has compiled a book of maps which chart the rise of exploration. They talk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cressida Cowell is the multi million selling creator, author and illustrator of How To Train Your Dragon. Her latest book is the second in the Wizards Of Once series. Edward Brooke-Hitching is the author of the critically acclaimed books The Phantom Atlas and Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports . The son of Franklin Brooke-Hitching, collector of the largest and most comprehensive library of British exploration and discovery ever accumulated, he is also a writer for the BBC series QI and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. His latest book is The Golden Atlas - charting the evolution of maps and exploration.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The reading habits of bestselling author Ian Rankin - covering the likes of Charles Dickens, Alistair MacLean, RagnarJonasson...and Jilly Cooper  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

See if Matt can keep his sh*t together in front of his all time favourite author...Ian Rankin comes in to chat about his new bestseller In A House of Lies - the 22nd Rebus novel.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The author of the multi million selling Jack Reacher thrillers talks about his reading and writing habits.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.