We’ve all had a good look at books, and frankly, they’re outdated. All that paper is SO eco-unfriendly, and packing 10 John Grisham thrillers into the holiday suitcase takes up valuable space for more important sombreros.
E-book readers help solve all these problems, and we’ve trekked through the virtual internet library to see the best tomes on offer (we even got shushed by the robot librarian). Don't have an e-book reader? Check out our reviews group test here.
1.) QI: The Pocket Book of General Ignorance
Stephen Fry knows everything, we can all agree on that. So stuff him in your pocket and get ready to throw out little known fact-ettes about horses and atoms at all your dinner parties.
He may be like Marmite to some people, but a man who can make billions while still riding around in balloons has got to have a decent method or two for making money, and that must be worth a read.
3.) TubePros “Unleash the power of YouTube!” screams the ad on this book. Well, don’t necessarily unleash it, but learning how to cash in on your ‘hilarious’ videos can’t be a bad thing.
4.) 131 Ice Cream Maker Recipes We’ve included this just to find out if there’s anyone brave enough out there to use an e-book while attempting to create home-made ice cream. 131 times.
5.) Quantum theory cannot hurt you A common problem: you wake up worrying about how vast the universe is. Then you realise you don’t know how it works. So you quickly download an ebook that simplifies it nicely for you. And sleep much better that evening.
6.) The Damned Utd Every man will at some point be given a rubbish football book at Christmas; it’s a fact of life. Buy this (sort-of) fiction about Brian Clough’s battle at Leeds United and you’ll be in for a treat on the train that you’ll actually enjoy.
7.) The Iliad by Homer Nothing says ‘I’m intelligent’ than reading some poetry from 750 BC. Impress people cooing over your futuristic e-book reader by looking like you’re brushing up on some clever stuff at the same time.
8.) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle With a film of the famous detective coming out soon, if you haven’t already checked out these stories you might want to have a quick gander before the movie re-births the story of Holmes / ruins an iconic character.
9.) Follow the Roar by Bob Smiley Excellently named author aside, the lay-off of the world’s most famous golfer, Tiger Woods, thanks to injury is an ideal time to brush up on the great man’s exploits.
10.) Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks You might be looking to escape the cold winter by heading off to sunnier climes, so what better to read by the pool than a book published to celebrate the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth?
11.) Travel the World Free by Gerald Mitchell If you’re thinking of getting away and taking your massive digital book collection with you for a while, then learn the best way to get into the travel industry to get paid for your excursions.
12.) Parky: My Autobiography If you’re getting an aged relative an e-book reader for Christmas, then this is a must have as a debut title for them to get their (false) teeth into. Though you’ll probably end up having a quick squiz into Parky’s life yourself, let’s be honest.
13.) Heat: How we can stop the planet from burning by George Monbiot Appease the guilt of all the wrapping paper and leftover food you’ll be throwing away by learning about how we can combat global warming. Will also help you feel better about yourself after the New Year’s hangover as well for a bit of an enviro-bonus.
14.) Necrophenia by Robert Rankin Rankin has built up a cult following in both hardback and paperback, so digi-back (it’ll catch on) has got to be the logical next step.Plus it includes the strap: “One in three people is actually dead!”, so you can’t really go wrong.
15.) The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick We’re betting there are some of you out there that didn’t even know this movie was based on a book. It is, and it won’t even take you that long to read as it’s a short story. And don’t worry, there are no pictures of Tom Cruise.
Price:£1 16.) The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells Catch up on your iconic literature by reading all about the man who wasn’t there... best conditions for reading include a bright room, shut curtains and avoiding the film loosely based on the plot: “Hollow Man”.
Price:£7.99
17.) A Darker Domain One of the hotter titles around at the moment sees a plot based on a real kidnapping woven into this electronically page-turning thriller.
Plus it includes Scottish heiresses from the 80’s as well as modern-day police personnel, which has to be a winner.
18.) The Dreaming Void by Peter F Hamilton Any book set over a thousand years into the future has got to feature either: a) space travel or b) a threat to civilisation. Thankfully this one has both, and is perfect future-fodder for your next gen reading.
19.) Roget’s Thesaurus Sometimes you’re stuck for a word meaning another word. You need a thesaurus! Given you’ve got mountains of space on your e-book, you might as well throw some useful tools in there as well. This one might be basic, but on the plus side, it’s free.
20.) A Doll’s House If you’re into Scandinavian playwrights from the 19th Century, then this play is for you before Christmas hits. If you’re not, then get a bit of culture into your e-book reader by blasting through this revolutionary play.
21.) Remember, Remember by Ed Cooke Get some help remembering all those facts and numbers you never could by using this tome to bash them into your cranium.
Not literally, obviously, and you’ll be able to name all the British kings and queens in no time, which will impress your Mum.
22.) The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver After being made into a film, this book found a whole new audience, and for good reason. Treat yourself to a bona fide suspense-ridden trip over the holidays, but make sure you hide it when you continue to read it under the table at Christmas dinner.
23.) The World According to Clarkson by Jeremy Clarkson You might think he’s the next PM or not deserving of the air time he’s given, but Clarkson’s continued presence on the best selling lists make this a must-have (you might want to tell people you’ve bought this, as it’s a certain gift from many Grandparents).
24.) Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell You might know Orwell from his famous books 1984 or Animal Farm, but this collection of essays and shorter pieces is perfect for a few minutes reading when you want to whip out the e-book reader on a bus ride.
Price:£8.99
25.) Necropolic: London and its Dead by Cathering Arnold If you’re like many and temper the stress of the London commute with a good book, then pack this digital volume into your reader and freak yourself out with information on how London has dealt with its dead from pre-historic times.
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