He’s been called Britain’s most opinionated man, and the king of the Sunday night sofa. The former TV host turned Amazon star has made a career out of being blunt, whether it’s by crashing supercars or managing wayward sheep on Clarkson’s Farm. But behind the rants about cyclists and the Top Gear of it all, Jeremy Clarkson can also be found behind a book.
The titles he’s picked as his all-time favourites – as revealed by the Venture Book Club – say a lot about the man himself. From the misty steppes of Mongolia to the wounded wards of a military hospital, these four books offer a glimpse into Clarkson’s unexpected literary side.
In Search of Genghis Khan by Tim Severin
“A very good book.” – Jeremy Clarkson
First published in 1991, In Search of Genghis Khan is the true story of Severin’s epic journey on horseback across Mongolia, retracing the steps of the 13th-century warlord who built the largest contiguous empire in human history. Severin, known for his hands-on approach to historical inquiry – from battling harsh terrain to navigating post-Soviet bureaucracy – brings the warrior’s world vividly to life.
The book has become a cult favourite among history buffs and travel writers alike over the years – two genres that don’t collide all that often, but somehow sync well here.
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*ed It All Up by Tom Phillips
“This book is brilliant. Utterly utterly brilliant. Apart from the epilogue which is idiotic.” – Jeremy Clarkson
Humans was released in 2018, and is a comedic romp through thousands of years of human error, idiocy, and unintended consequences. From the invention of the ladder to the Chernobyl disaster, Phillips charts the long, winding road of human history via our greatest blunders – and the result is as horrifying as it is hilarious.
Critics hailed it as a smart, satirical tonic in a world that sometimes takes its own history too seriously. The book became a minor sensation, earning accolades for its accessible style and sharp wit.
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
“If this book is not the best book ever written, what is?” – Jeremy Clarkson
Matterhorn, the debut novel by Vietnam War veteran Karl Marlantes, floored readers and critics alike when it was finally published in 2010 after decades in the making – and Clarkson is clearly among its biggest fans.
Set during the Vietnam War – one which Marlantes lived through -, the novel follows Second Lieutenant Waino Mellas and his fellow Marines as they battle both the Viet Cong and the unrelenting jungle itself. It’s a raw, unfiltered portrayal of war that puts Hollywood heroics aside in favour of visceral realism.
The New York Times called it “one of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam,” and it won the William E. Colby Award for military fiction.
Losing the Battle, Winning the War by Ben Parkinson
“A great and inspiring book from Doncaster’s bravest son. Read it in a day.” – Jeremy Clarkson
This final entry on Clarkson’s list is perhaps the most personal and heartfelt. Ben Parkinson was a paratrooper deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 when he was struck by a roadside bomb, leaving him with life-changing injuries. He lost both his legs and suffered brain damage, making his survival nothing short of miraculous.
Losing the Battle, Winning the War is Parkinson’s autobiography, co-written with his mother, Diane, detailing not only the horror of war but the immense battle that came afterward.
Published in 2021, the book became a national talking point, shedding light on the challenges faced by wounded veterans and earning Parkinson the respect of the public, the military, and, clearly, Clarkson himself. Born and raised in Doncaster, Parkinson has since become a tireless campaigner for veteran rights and disability support.