It’s that time of year when Christmas gift buying is upon us, so if you’re wondering what books to buy your friends and family, here are my books of the year of 2015.

Most likely to change the world – The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. If everyone read this book the world would be a better place. It’s a brilliant look at thinking less, taking action more and being authentic with it.

Learned most from – Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey. This was a fascinating social history of coal mining in Yorkshire, as well as a take of the decline of an Aristocratic family. I would never have read it if I hadn’t been given in and was very glad I did.

Most captivating – The Dust that Falls from Dreams by Louis de Bernieres. I haven’t blogged about this yet, but I was totally immersed in its world for the entire duration I read it.

Most changed my everyday life – Better than Before: change your habits, change your life by Gretchen Rubin. I feel like my everyday life has really improved since reading this book.

Most enjoyment from – Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This is a wonderful story of two young Nigerians making their way in the world and it was definitely one of the best books I read this year.

Most able to make a complex subject easy to understand – Happiness by Design by Paul Dolan. I love a book on happiness and this is a very interesting and well-written one on how we can make ourselves happier.

Most un-put-downable – Call me Dave – The unauthorised biography of David Cameron by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott. I quite literally struggled to put this down, that is all I’ll say.

Least enjoyment from – The Taxidermist’s daughter by Kate Mosse. I just really didn’t like this. Very unexpected as I love Kate Mosse normally.

Most surprised by, in a good way – The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt was a fascinating look at ‘why good people are divided by politics and religion’ and made me think more deeply about tribal politics than I had before.

Most surprised by, in a bad way – We of the Never Never by Aeneas Gunn. I read this as the last in a pile of Australia books after my trip there over New Year this year, but I just couldn’t get into it, despite my fascination for life in the outback and Australian history.

Would most recommend for holidays – Us by David Nicholls. I read this lying in the sun by a pool in the French countryside and it’s a strangely uplifting read.

Talked most obsessively about – My Story by Julia Gillard. I couldn’t stop telling people interested in politics to read this book about the former Australian Prime Minister. It’s a fascinating take on Australian politics and on being a woman at the top.