Features

Perfect books for kickstarting conversations after lockdown

Not sure what you'll talk about when you're back in the real world? These fascinating nonfiction titles are the perfect ice-breakers – and brilliant reads to boot.

Two women connected by a colourful speech mark against a red background
If in doubt, talk about books. Image: Maria Ponomariova/Ryan MacEachern/Penguin

It’s hardly surprising that the frenzy for Zoom quizzes and WhatsApp chats has died down by the third lockdown: having spent a year in our homes, we’re running out of things to talk about. These days, the decision to switch the weekly shop for one supermarket to another counts as “personal news”. How, then, to have something invigorating and interesting to talk about when we can grab a coffee with a friend? Here are some books to get you chatting:

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