Book Review Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

When media outlets published a report which would have us believe that only content and not the amount of time our children spend on-line has an impact on their well-being, I decided it was time for a touch of sanity and turned to Matt Haig's Notes on a Nervous Planet.

In this treasure trove of observations on the modern condition, its challenges and paradoxes, Haig draws on his own challenges, past and present, and on disparate sources, from Tolstoy to Yuval Noah Harari, C.S. Lewis to Zadie Smith and Lao Tzu to Dave Eggers, to provide real insight into the interaction between modern technology and society and the extent to which the former can undermine or even usurp the latter.

Whilst discussing the disruptive path which we are seemingly almost inexorably called to follow by the impact of technological ‘progress’, in his own passionate, but humorous and humane style, Haig also emphasizes that there is still the possibility for us all to take stock, take time, tune out of the madness that is upon us and tune in to the beauty and joy that life can still serve up.

Published by Canongate: £12.99

Book Stop recommended reads for the new year

Mad Blood Stirring by Simon Mayo

Historical fiction by the renowned BBC broadcaster set in 19th century Dartmoor Prison. New in paperback from Transworld £8.99

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

A beautiful edition of a beautiful book from a bestselling US literary author.

Faber & Faber £20

The Spy and the Traitor by Ben MacIntyre

Latest offering from the modern master of true-life espionage stories. Penguin Viking £25

The Traders of Tavistock Part 2

Second volume of Linda Elliot's photographic history. £5.99

The Ice Monster by David Walliams

More great storytelling from one of the UK's favourite children's authors. HarperCollins £14.99

Review and recommendations by Simon Church, Book Stop, Tavistock