Must Read: Books for the commute
(Photo: Getty)
Every Wednesday on the Sarah Brett show we hear about some of the best books to read right now.
This week Alex Holmes, from book review podcast Mostly Lit, brings us his top four books to read on your commute.
Have you read any of these books or have another favourite to recommend? Comment below to let us know what you think.
(Photo: Abby Moss)
The 392 by Ashley Hickson-Lovence
"Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a PhD student at the University of East Anglia and The 392 is his debut novel, set entirely on the 392 bus from Hoxton Station to Highbury Corner.
"The book documents the 36 minute journey through the different perspectives of commuters on the bus as they see a suspected terrorist board the bus and loiter at the front. It speaks to all that anxiety you have when there's a tense environment in a city, especially when it comes to terror threats.
"The 392 has made me think about the stories of other people. I was sitting on the train the other day, looked up from my phone and thought everybody on here is living completely different lives to me. I was focused on getting to my destination but you don't know where somebody else had come from or where they're going, how they're feeling. I find that fascinating and really enjoyed exploring the multiple perspectives in this book.
"I think it's a perfect book for the commute as it's nice and gentle, but you can still be invigorated!"
(Photo: Orion)
Louis & Louise by Julie Cohen
"This book took me by surprise and is a gentle read for the commute.
"It's a story looking at life through two different perspectives and genders. Louis and Louise are the same people, the only thing separating them is that one was born male and the other female.
"They come from a business family who pretty much built the community in their small town in Maine, US.
"Louis and Louise looks at how gender sets you up for life, influences the path you take and the choices you make in life as well as the decisions people make for you based on your gender. Ultimately through the book you realise gender doesn't mean much at all because the decisions you make are going to be made regardless of the pressures people put on you.
"Louis and Louise are both born in 1978 and the book follows them all the way up to 2011. One example is when they are both 30, Louis is married with no kids and Louise is unmarried but has a daughter, so how does that affect the dynamic with their parents?"
(Photo: Penguin)
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
"If you like non-fiction, Digital Minimalism would be an ideal book, especially if you're one of those people looking around you on public transport and wondering why everyone is looking at their phone.
"I really enjoyed this because Cal Newport is a maverick, he doesn't have any social media presence himself and this book in particular is about minimising the way we use social media and technology and why that would be better for your job, life and mental health.
"He asks why we have to have so many apps on our phone instead of just the ones we need. For instance, he’ll say why have Amazon, eBay and other shopping apps when you could delete all of them and go on the computer just when you want to buy stuff."
(Photo: Penguin Classics)
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
"Kahlil Gibran is a philosopher and this classic book documents a prophet coming to a town where they have all sorts of questions for him about pain, love and beauty and he gives these really idiosyncratic responses which you can then meditate on.
"Even if your commute isn't very long, you can pick up the book, read any page and have a think about it. It's a great little book for provoking deep thoughts.
"I think we are all guilty of looking at fellow commuters as strangers and not thinking outside ourselves at all - you barge past people or sit in a priority seat then zone out and fail to notice somebody in need. A bit of philosophy from Kahlil Gibran can help you to be a bit more compassionate to those around you."
Listen: Author Will Wiles speaks to BBC Radio 5 Live
One final suggestion for your commute is Plume by Will Wiles. Click below to listen to his conversation with 5 Live's Clare McDonnell.
