The best books to read this summer, as chosen by the editors of Esquire
Whether you’re at the beach, in the bush or heading somewhere cold, now is the time of year to lose yourself in a really good book. We pick out the best new releases.
WHAT BOOKS SHOULD YOU READ THIS SUMMER?
If you made a New Years resolution to read more, chances are, you’ve been asking yourself this question. And while bookshops are one of our favourite places to linger, even we’ll admit that scanning shelves upon shelves of novels for something interesting to read often results in judging a book by it’s cover, and leaving with the most impressive looking tome. This isn’t to say that flamboyant covers don’t conceal good reads, but it’s worth doing some research and figuring out what you’re willing to invest in.
To help you on this journey, the editors of Esquire have thumbed through the best new releases, from non-fiction to memoirs and and even a story behind one of the decade’s biggest sports exposes. Read on to see what we’re reading—and what you might enjoy, too.
Concussed: Sport’s Uncomfortable Truth
By Sam Peters
One of the biggest stories in sport this year has been the code-agnostic issue of concussion, and the duty of care sporting bodies owe to players who experience head injuries. Written by British sports journalist and whistleblower Sam Peters, who, in 2014, transformed the issue of sport-related concussions in rugby into a global conversation, this book asks hard- hitting questions the AFL and NRL have been tiptoeing around for years. $39.99
Frank Moorhouse: Strange Paths
By Matthew Lamb
Fierce intellectual, passionate libertarian, champion of freedom of speech and sexual self-determination— Australian literary giant Frank Moorhouse was the quintessential 20th century bohemian. Yet when it came to his personal life, the writer was extremely private—biographer Matthew Lamb was one of the few people invited to spend time with him in his home, and this memoir is all the richer for it. For anyone who, like Moorhouse, thirsts for ‘revenge against normality’. $45
Tremor
By Teju Cole
Your favourite writer’s favourite writer,
Teju Cole’s stories are propelled by ideas rather than conventional plots, and his latest effort Tremor might just be his most experimental, expansive work yet. The autofictional novel orbits around Tunde, an art history professor who partakes in more debauchery than you might expect from someone of his stature. Set in Massachusetts on the eve of the pandemic, it’s a read that will challenge, massage and reward your mind. $32.99
Understanding the World
By Sandra Rendgen
From election results to the dating preferences of various suburbanites, there is no limit to the things that can be communicated through an infographic. And at a time when the world is as messy and complex as it is now, the value of such graphs cannot be understated. Bound to tickle the statistician and the graphic design nerd in equal measure—as well as anyone with an interest in the way modern life works—this visual atlas brings together the coolest and most creative data- driven masterpieces of the 21st century. $95
The In-Between
By Christos Tsiolkas
One of Australia’s most decorated, incisive authors is back with his eighth novel, which tells the story of two middle-aged men that meet online and embark on a vivifying relationship after vowing to give up on love for good. While the plot is electric, it’s the audacity of Tsiolkas’ writing that will make you want to devour this. Like he did in The Slap and Damascus, here, the Melbourne-based writer dives fearlessly into a story that’s as personal as it is universal. $32.99
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