So many wonderful gift ideas to choose from, from your friendly neighbourhood historian. For the family foodie, The Emperor’s Feast: A History of China in Twelve Meals; for the military-minded uncle, Japan at War in the Pacific: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire in Asia 1868-1945; for the politically curious, Rebel Island: The Incredible History of Taiwan, and for the weebs, Anime: A History, now in a posh second edition.

And if you already have all those recent Clements history books, then there’s always something lurking in the backlist, like an acclaimed translation of The Art of War, or a Brief History of the Martial Arts. And for those planning to travel in 2026, histories of Japan and China, Tokyo and Beijing.

Other authors are available. But are they as fun?