Summer reading: Staff Picks

Our resident Senior Designer, Bert Melhuish, enjoys creating beautiful books for Summersdale’s readers. When not immersing himself in the design world you can find him at home with his wife and kids or hurtling around on his motorbike. Here are Bert’s tips for the best summer holiday reads.

My first pick is Life Hacks: Handy Hints to Make Life Easier by Dan Marshall. This had to be my top pick because I illustrated it! I worked closely with Dan on this book containing a plethora of hacks that can revolutionise the way you live your life. Its more than 130 hacks teach you everything from how to make more room in your wardrobe to how to survive being knocked down by a car. The design of this book has a blueprint style with how-to, instructional style diagrams. The text is tongue-in-cheek and humorous, whilst still being informative about each hack. It is a perfect gift for anyone, your dad… your gran… your dog’s previous owner… Everyone should have a copy.

My next pick is Conspiracy Theories: A Guide to the World’s Most Intriguing Mysteries by Jamie King. Now, I love a good conspiracy and this book has it all, from Area 51 to Freemasonry to Swine Flu. There are over 100 conspiracies packed into this book, and Jamie King explains the roots of each theory, presenting the facts as well as posing his own questions. This book is a must for any budding conspiracy theorist.

My third and final choice is Bushcraft: A Family Guide – Fun and Adventure in the Great Outdoors. As well as being visually appealing it is packed full of everything you need to know when enjoying the outdoors with your children. Learn how to make a shelter, forage for food and create tools using the things that only Mother Nature provides. Teach your kids the basics of how to survive in the wild – you never know when it will come in handy. Note: I do not endorse abandoning your kids in the wild (though it is tempting sometimes).