The perfect Father's Day gift guide: 11 books to pair with a book token
Finding the perfect book for a booklover can be tricky – after all, they know exactly what they like. That's why National Book Tokens are a gift beyond words, giving readers the opportunity to explore their favourite bookshop and choose the books they want to read.
For a truly special Father's Day gift that tells your favourite reader just how well you know him, pair a handpicked book with a National Book Token. We've curated a list of 11 brilliant books for every kind of reader; wrap up any of these spectacular selections with a book token for a gift that says 'I love you, Dad'.
If his weekends revolve around TV sport…
Sir Lewis: The Definitive Biography by Michael E. Sawyer
Sir Lewis follows Hamilton's path from his early days karting on local tracks to the glitz and pressure of the Formula One circuit.
He may also like: How to Win the Premier League by Ian Graham; The Racket by Conor Niland; Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2025 by Lawrence Booth; BIG DUNC: The Upfront Autobiography by Duncan Ferguson; The Formula by Joshua Robinson & Jonathan Clegg
If he's a seasoned foodie...
The BBQ Book: 80 Delicious Recipes for Fire and Coals by Tom Kerridge
Britain's best-loved chef brings us the ultimate recipes for every barbecue, from smoky charred veg to flavour-packed marinated meats.
He may also like: The Doctor's Kitchen by Dr Rupy Aujla; Easy Air Fryer by Jamie Oliver; The Best of the Hairy Bikers; Caribe: A Caribbean Cookbook with History by Keshia Sakarah; Greenfeast by Nigel Slater; Picky by Jimi Famurewa
If he's addicted to his phone...
Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates
This memoir takes us back to Bill Gates' beginnings, from his childhood in Seattle to the pivotal moment he dropped out of Harvard at the age of 20 to devote all his energies to Microsoft. The book ends in the late 1970s when Microsoft, still with only a dozen employees, signed its first deal with Apple.
He may also like: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams; Supremacy by Parmy Olson; Code Dependent by Madhumita Murgia; The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt; Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke
If he's an intrepid traveler...
Lonely Planet 100 Weekends in Europe
He can discover the best of Europe – one weekend at a time – with this collection of 100 short trip itineraries with maps to feed wanderlust and inspire his next getaway.
He may also like: Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad; The Great British Bucket List by Richard Madden; Atlas of Paranormal Places by Evelyn Hollow; Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
If he always guesses whodunnit...
A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith
When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms at exactly two minutes to seven on a sunny May morning in 1901, his mind is so full of his latest case – the disputed authorship of bestselling children's book Millie the Temple Church Mouse – that he scarcely registers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep…
He may also like: Strange Pictures by Uketsu; We Solve Murders by Richard Osman; A Death on Location by Richard Coles; Murder on Line One by Jeremy Vine; The Appeal by Janice Hallett; The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov
If he's an eco-enthusiast...
Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness by Sir David Attenborough & Colin Butfield
Everyone's favourite naturalist shares the story of our last great, critical wilderness, and the one which shapes the land we live on, regulates our climate and creates the air we breathe.
He may also like: Weird Walk by Stewart Lee; Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane; The Life-Affirming Magic of Birds by Charlie Bingham; Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton; Ingrained by Callum Robinson
If he's reel-y into cinema...
Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey by Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade reflects on his cinematic legacy as only he can: in conversation with himself.
He may also like: Box Office Poison by Tim Robey; The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks; The Queer Film Guide by Kyle Turner; Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval & Amanada Koval; The Godfather by Mario Puzo
If wants stories that reflect the times we live in...
Manny and the Baby by Varaidzo
Set in London 1932 and Bath 2012, this Jhalak Prize-shortlisted novel is about what it means to be Black and British now and in the past.
He may also like: River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure; Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan; The Eyes of Gaza by Plestia Alaqad; Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin; Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart; Revolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye; Middle England by Jonathan Coe; Universality by Natasha Brown
If he loves a good scare…
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror edited by Jordan Peele
Featuring an introduction by Jordan Peele and an all-star roster of beloved writers and new voices, Out There Screaming is a masterclass in horror, and – like Peele's spine-chilling films – its stories prey on everything we think we know about our world, and redefine what it means to be afraid. Very afraid…
He may also like: Never Flinch by Stephen King; Barrowbeck by Andrew Michael Hurley, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones; Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix; No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill; Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez; Model Home by Rivers Solomon
If he's a history buff…
Sword: D-Day – Trial by Battle by Max Hastings
Sword offers a searching analysis of why British troops did not reach Caen on 6 June, as Montgomery had promised Churchill that they would – and the story of the brigadier who was sacked for that failure.
He may also like: A History of Britain in Ten Enemies by Terry Deary; A History of the World in 47 Borders by Jonn Elledge; Unruly by David Mitchell; A History of the World in Six Plagues by Edna Bonhomme; How to Kill a Witch by Claire Mitchell & Zoe Venditozzi; Heatwave: The Summer of 1976 by John L Williams; James by Percival Everett; The Light of Day by Christopher Stephens & Louise Radnofsky; Nero by Conn Iggulden
If he can never hear you over his music...
John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
John & Paul begins in 1957, when two teenagers in suburban Liverpool meet and decide to play rock 'n' roll together. It ends twenty-three years later, when one of them is murdered. In between, we see them become global stars, create countless indelible songs, and play a central role in creating the modern world.
He might also like: Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir by Mark Hoppus; Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock by Christoph Dallach; Where We Come From: Rap, Home & Hope in Modern Britain by Aniefiok Ekpoudom; My Family and Other Rock Stars by Tiffany Murray; Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music edited by Paul Bradshaw
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