Best for: People who enjoy clever bits of history, and geography. In a nutshell: Defoe explores the origins and collapse of 48 countries. Worth quoting: “Note: if your plan involves the British coming to your rescue at any point, then it is a Bad Plan. Can’t emphasise this enough.” “…countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They’re all equally implausible once you get up close.” Why I chose it: I’m a sucker for geography and weird historical facts. What it left me feeling: […]