Ultra-Processed People – Chris van Tulleken
I didn’t know Chris’s work on TV, radio or podcasts before reading this book. My partner immediately knew “oh he’s the one with the twin Xand”. I also knew much of what he wrote having read many books in a similar vein e.g. Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, have supported the Soil Association and so on.
And yet this book did end up surprising and moving me. It brought together so many threads in a fresh and compelling way. It examines the economic incentives to ask “what is the purpose of an ultra-processed food?”, to which the answer is to make money. There are sections looking at how all the additives may confuse our appetite control, our gut flora and much more. It’s also incredibly non-judgmental which I think makes it far more approachable. A powerful read which led to me having another hard look at our food shopping habits.
Hunkeler’s Secret – Hansjorg Schneider
Another brooding short novel featuring a now-retired Inspector Hunker in and around Basel. Short, satisfying and thoughtful as it explores the role of the banking industry in Swiss society, what it means to be retired, and how Switzerland dealt with those escaping the Nazis. Great for those of us sorely missing Henning Mankell.
Death in the Blood – Caroline Wheeler
While the Horizon Post Office scandal was the largest miscarriage of justice in British history, the Infected Blood scandal was the worst treatment disaster in the NHS’ history. Thousands have died and thousands more suffer from terrible consequences of HIV, Hepatitis and more. Wheeler starkly sets out the human impact of terrible decision-making in both government and medical establishments, and even worse the attempts to avoid accountability as the impact of the errors became ever clearer. Anyone in public service should read this to help ensure we never see such disasters again.
Jason Kitcat 