‘For those of us similarly saved by, shaped by, the books we have loved, McGirr’s beautiful essays will be deeply fortifying. The sensibility that ties them all together is both edifying and intimate; this, too, is a book that will save.’

‘His anecdotes will make you laugh out loud. If you haven’t read any books by him before, seek them out.’

‘Books that Saved My Life captivated my immediate interest…[It] roams widely across genres…This is not a prescriptive book, instead one where McGirr shares tales of connection.’

‘[A] gentle, joyful take on a roll call of authors from Joseph Conrad, Charlotte Bronte and Shakespeare to Nelson Mandela and J. K. Rowling.’

‘Readers will come for the humour, but they’ll stay for McGirr’s haunting memories…brimming with lyrical insight and earthy humour, this debut is a rare treat.’

‘A fine, pared-down elegance…takes us to the heart of his sometimes complex meanings…I love the modesty of this book, its honesty and lack of pretension…Subtle, humble, wry and courteous…The moment of illumination often comes quietly or humorously, or stealthily towards the end of the essay, leaving the reader with a surprisingly powerful choke of emotion or with a laugh. It’s a deeply personal collection that calls on a formidable line-up of authors…There are so many gems in this collection.’

‘From the first essay, McGirr’s book feels like that of a man happy to have had the most wholesome of prayers answered: for a loving family, a happy home, satisfying work and travel. It is difficult…not to find the gratitude a little infectious…McGirr’s essays are often like good sermons, with their small bits of wisdom expressed simply.’