The must-read books we’re giving this Father’s Day

There's no gift more personal than a book. Hidden in the pages you can find anything from a thriller set deep in secret passages under the White House to the ingredients for a lavish summer barbecue feast. Here are the books the Penguin team are giving to make this Father's Day special.

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Arnhem

Antony Beevor

My dad has always been a history buff with a taste for adventure, so I needed something absorbing to give him this Father’s Day. This book will take take him deep behind enemy lines, exploring a dramatic WWII battle with the kind of detail he loves.

Louise

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The President is Missing

Bill Clinton and James Patterson

My dad and I watch a lot of nail-biting action films together so this is a brilliant gift for him! The President goes missing, but what happens next? It’s a heart-pounding thriller that’ll keep him turning those pages.

Sanne

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The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage

Philip Pullman

My dad always told me that the greatest stories ever written were for children, and we spent hours reading His Dark Materials together. When a new book from Philip Pullman arrived, I knew I had Father's Day sorted. The best thing is I can borrow it once he's finished.

Sarah

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The Midnight Line

Lee Child

My dad loves the Jack Reacher books, though this one is a little different to the others. It’s got the same action, pace and twists but it also deals with current affairs, so it’ll be great for dinner table conversation. Fast-paced, shocking and full of intrigue, he won’t be able to put it down.

Nix

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Berber & Q

Josh Katz

The only food I ever trusted my dad to cook was on his trusty barbecue. Even then, I was at least 13 before I realised that barbecued food didn't have to be completely black. Packed with epic flavours and mouth-watering recipes from shish kebabs to pork rib roast, this book should help my dad hone his skills.

Felicity

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Dead Men's Trousers

Irvine Welsh

My dad loved Trainspotting (though I was definitely too young to watch the film with him when I did.) The latest instalment is sure to appeal to his wicked sense of humour. He can swap the sweater for a donkey jacket this Father's Day and go on a wild weekend with Begbie and co.

Zainab

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A Journey Through the Cycling Year

The Cycling POdcast

This year, the travel gods have answered my dad’s prayers and published a book about his favourite podcast. Filled with beautiful photographs, biking chat and even beer recommendations, it’s like it was written for him! I’m hoping it’ll inspire his next cycling route.

Claire

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A Legacy of Spies

John le Carre

My dad has always been a George Smiley fan. This Father’s Day, quiet retirements are out and Cold War spies and ghosts are in. For Smiley’s protégé Peter Guillam, at least. Dad will love it, as will anyone else who loves classic tales of espionage.

Simon

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The Kites

Romain Gary

The history of the French Resistance has always fascinated my dad, so this is the book I’ll be giving him this Father’s Day. He’ll love Romain Gary's writing; his characters are incredibly vivid and the novel really does transport you to WW2 Europe.

Julia

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The Falcon of Sparta

Conn Iggulden

Conn Iggulden’s deliciously bloody novels sparked my dad’s late love of reading. He’s branched out to countless histories and fictional retellings, but has always insisted that Conn Iggulden is the best. Bringing alive the ferocious world of ancient Persia, this is another one for his list.

Katie

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Forever and a Day

Anthony Horowitz

Watching James Bond repeats on a Sunday afternoon is a family tradition. This year, my father will be swapping the film for this explosive prequel, the story of how Bond came to earn his license to kill. Classy and action-packed, it’s an absolute must-read for all Bond fans.

Vicky

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The Man Who Climbs Trees

James Aldred

My dad was dazzled by Human Planet on TV, specifically the beautiful scenes from the forest canopy. This year I’m giving him the memoir from the man who filmed this incredible show, climbing trees, going on adventures and risking his life to tell the stories of our planet. It really is fascinating, heart-stopping reading.

Alice

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	“I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.”
	Umberto Eco

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