Discover television presenter and reporter Tom Heap’s top books to get you out of a reading slump. Heap’s latest book, Land Smart, is out now
Tom Heap is an English television presenter and reporter best known for his contributions to the BBC’s Countryfile. In his book Land Smart, he explores how humans and nature can thrive. Check out his top picks of books below:
Argyll Shipwrecks by Peter Moir and Ian Crawford (1994)
A multilayered triumph. Each wreck’s story, from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century, reveals folly, ambition, bravery and cruelty. A poignant reminder of navigation’s importance.
Fire Weather by John Vaillant (2023)
An account of the 2016 wildfire that erased much of Fort McMurray in Canada. It reads like a thriller while stealthily building to the most potent conclusion: unfettered climate change will see the world burn.
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (1957)
A 1950s children’s book set on a Maine island, capturing nature’s beauty and power.
Coronation Everest by Jan Morris (1958)
The story of the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 from the only reporter on the spot. This book celebrates successful teamwork against the odds and is all the better for it.
The Seabird’s Cry by Adam Nicholson (2017)
Seabirds, unparalleled masters of air and sea, possess extraordinary physiology and unmatched navigational abilities that would put even the finest human geographers to shame.
Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air by David MacKay (2008)
If you read one book about energy transition, make it this one. Clear-eyed science, easy to access and delivered with wit.
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (2016)
A novel exploring the collision of science, religion and superstition.
Leviathan by Philip Hoare (2009)
Terrible yet brilliant people on the hunt for terrific animals. This account of the whaling industry, with all its monumental cruelty in search of the most extraordinary biology, boggles the mind on every page.
