A Good Read

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - novelist, Dame Penelope Lively and comedy writer, Will Smith - discuss their favourite books by John Kennedy Toole, Barry Lopez and Kingsley Amis. ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ by John Kennedy Toole Publisher: Penguin‘Arctic Dreams’ by Barry Lopez Publisher: Penguin‘Lucky Jim’ by Kingsley Amis Publisher: HarvillFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2014.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - Irish stand-up comedian, Andrew Maxwell and Pakistani writer, Kamila Shamsie - discuss their favourite books by Doris Lessing, Anita Desai and John Steinbeck. Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai Publisher: VintageTortilla Flat by John Steinbeck Publisher: PenguinIn Pursuit of the English by Doris Lessing Publisher: Fourth EstateFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2014.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - comedian Richard Herring and actor Tracy-Ann Oberman - discuss their favourite books by Jack Womack, Rupert Everett and Kurt Vonnegut.Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Publisher: VintageRandom Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack Publisher: GollanczVanished Years by Rupert Everett Publisher: AbacusFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2014.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - journalist, Daniel Finkelstein, Baron Finkelstein of Pinner, and writer, Jill Paton Walsh - discuss their favourite books by Robert Cialdini, Michael J Sandel and Roddy Doyle.Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini Publisher: Collins BusinessWhat Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets by Michael J Sandel Publisher: PenguinThe Van by Roddy Doyle Publisher: VintageFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2014.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - former Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King and comic actor and writer, Arabella Weir - discuss their favourite books by Machiavelli, Jon Canter and Eric Newby.The Prince by Machiavelli Publisher: PenguinA Short Gentleman by Jon Canter Publisher: VintageLove and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby Publisher: HarperCollinsFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2014.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - TV presenter Fern Britton and Olympic gold medallist rower Katherine Grainger - discuss their favourite books by Harper Lee, Susan Hill and Alan Bennett. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Publisher: ArrowThe Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill Publisher: VintageThe Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett Publisher: Profile Books and Faber & FaberProducer: Beth O'Dea First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - playwright, Mark Ravenhill and DJ, Nihal Arthanayake - discuss favourite books by James Ellroy, Nadine Gordimer and Wolfgang von Goethe. Elective Affinities by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Publisher: Oxford World ClassicsAmerican Tabloid by James Ellroy Publisher: Windmill BooksJuly's People by Nadine Gordimer Publisher: BloomsburyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - author, Michael Dobbs and broadcaster, Katie Puckrik - discuss favourite books by Kevin Myers, Jennifer Egan and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Watching the Door - Cheating Death in 1970s Belfast by Kevin Myers Publisher: AtlanticA Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Publisher: CorsairOf Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Publisher: PenguinFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Harriett Gilbert. and her guests - BBC Radio 2 presenter, Johnnie Walker and BBC newsreader, Kate Silverton talk about their favourite books by Robert M Pirsig, Georgina Howell and Barbara Pym. Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig Publisher: VintageDaughter of the Desert - the Remarkable Life of Gertrude Bell by Georgina Howell Publisher: Pan MacMillanExcellent Women by Barbara Pym Publisher: ViragoFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests - broadcaster, John Inverdale and journalist, Rachel Cooke - discuss favourite books by Jan Morris, George Orwell and Meg Wolitzer. Coronation Everest by Jan Morris Publisher: Faber and FaberThe Wife by Meg Wolitzer Publisher: VintageKeep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell Publisher: Penguin ClassicsFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.