Despite the hustle and bustle of Westminster in 2021, several of the UK’s top politicians found the time to immerse themselves in a good book. The political landscape was filled with dramas, the Labour’s election supermajority, tax hikes, and various initiatives, making it a busy year for politicians.

Nonetheless, POLITICO reached out to senior politicians and political authors, asking them to recommend the best book they read this year. Here are some of the books that these politicians, across the spectrum, found time to enjoy amidst their hectic schedules.

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, recommended The Country Girls trilogy by Edna O’Brien, praising it as a beautifully written pioneer work on women’s sexual awakening. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, suggested A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, a tale of four friends in New York dealing with issues of money, addiction, and trauma.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair enjoyed T.J. Stiles’ biography of American Civil War cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer, Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak, also a former prime minister, found Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit by Eric Schmidt, Henry Kissinger, and Craig Mundie to be the most thought-provoking book he read this year.

Other notable mentions include The Restless Republic by Anna Keay, recommended by former Prime Minister John Major, and How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn’t by Ian Dunt, recommended by MP and assisted dying legislator Kim Leadbeater. Political journalist and author Isabel Hardman suggested Julia by Sandra Newman, while Lib Dem leader Ed Davey recommended Golden Hill by Francis Spufford.

The list goes on, with politicians and writers sharing their favorite reads, spanning from historical fiction and political biographies to crime stories and science fiction. Regardless of the genre, these books provided a much-needed escape and some food for thought in the hectic world of politics.

In sum, even in the midst of political drama and busy schedules, these politicians found solace, inspiration, and insights in the world of literature. Their diverse reading list reflects the wide range of interests and perspectives in Westminster, and might just offer some intriguing additions to your own reading list.