It’s that time of year again when the great and the good tell you about all the marvellous books they are planning to read poolside at their luxury villa on the Adriatic over their idyllic extended summer vacations.

Many of them have also helpfully recommended the best books which just happen to be written by their colleagues, relatives and friends. 

Once again we decided against asking a range of higher ed celebrities for their book choices as they might not have come up with the right answers or may have even thought we were serious about the whole thing. So here is our entirely self-generated list of the best higher ed books of the past year or so which will be ideal reading for academics and administrators on their summer hols:

Mickey Mouse Degrees:  a Compendium. A comprehensive listing of all the so called low value courses identified by government ministers in recent weeks. (3pp) See also Cartoon Qualifications, below.

Postcards as Proxies – Higher Education consultant Hugh Jones presents his passion for postcards all about universities with some surprising findings. Richly illustrated. Few words but excellent value for money (it says in the blurb).

I’ve Got a Brand New Combine Harvester – a critical analysis of the representation of agricultural economics in the Archers (a huge hit with all social scientists this one).

Fleetwood MAC – the implications of the Migration Advisory Committee report on student populations in towns in the north west.

Douglas Blackstock: A Life in Quality Assurance, Volume 2 – The second part of this rigorously researched biography on the shy and now retiring Glaswegian QAA Chief from his earliest days as militant campaigner for standards to his time in the trenches during the quality wars through to leading the line on HERA and ultimately to telling lots of other countries how to do it properly. Plus all the time he has spent going to plenty of Scotland matches.

Boffins and their Backgrounds – a detailed study of Zoom and Teams background choices and what those fake office settings, loyalty to their institutions, and 70s sitcoms and game shows tell us about academic attitudes to communications and engagement. See also the companion piece Professors and their Pets, a lush coffee table photojournal of cats, dogs and other animals which have unexpectedly appeared in Zoom calls.

The OIA Catalogue of Complaints. All the best complaints from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. Whether justified or not, this bumper book has the lot. Who can forget the case “Industrial Action – CS05199A Partly Justified”, the remarkable “Coronavirus – CS11808F Not Justified” and, of course, “Accommodation – CS012407 Partly Justified”

Ding Dong Merrily. A detailed and rigorous academic study of university clocks and clocktowers and their cheery chimes from around the higher education world. Featuring Birmingham’s ‘Old Joe’, Heidelberg’s ‘Young Luther’ and Sydney’s ‘Knackered Keith’.

What Has The OfS Ever Done For Us? In this witty stocking filler some amusing higher ed types riff on the theme of the famous Monty Python Life of Brian sketch, ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’ With hilarious consequences. Note, over 18s only, contains very strong language and adult themes.

Understanding University Pensions (Eighth Edition, now in 13 comprehensive volumes)

Boffins and their Bookshelves. From the people who brought you Boffins and their Backgrounds… building on the popular bookcase credibility social media trend this book takes it all to the extreme and offers a detailed bibliography for a cross section of notable academics who have appeared on national TV in front of their bookcases.

Meet the Apprentices – a collection of biographies of all those who have successfully completed apprenticeships with Alan Sugar. With a new foreword by Gillian Keegan.

The Past, Present and Future of Data Futures – this one has been eagerly awaited for over a decade now. A comprehensive history of everyone’s favourite data collection and delivery programme. Publication delayed (again and again and again….).

Franchising for Fun – a comprehensive guide to getting the most out of sub-contracting degree courses for pleasure and profit (note, this books is absolutely not endorsed by either the OfS or the QAA).

No Money – recently discovered manuscript in which Martin Amis provides a grim sequel to his classic 1984 novel, this time set in the financially challenged university sector.

At the High Table Again – More of Nigella’s recipes for entertaining in College. Guaranteed to spice up the residential experience.

The Secret Agents – a surprising tale about the way in which one university secured significant growth in its international student recruitment thanks to a network of undercover agents in South East Asia who remained entirely unknown to anyone until recently.

You Go Daddy! All you need to know about domains – How to stay ahead in the vital online environment by remembering to renew your website hosting subscription.

PQA: An idea whose time has come. Yet Again? No, really, you think so this time? (Ninth Edition, newly updated)

Foundation Year by Isaac Asimov – a recently re-discovered science fiction classic in which a group of students in a remote part of the galaxy embark on their initial level 0 studies with ambition to progress academically and change the galactic empire. Note that the follow up, Second Foundation Year, is no longer in print.

Please Feel Free – a handy guide to free speech on campus including pointers on platforming.

A Passage to India –  a new guide to navigating the latest legislation in India as you try to set up a branch campus.

Dons on the Catwalk – a review of all the best in contemporary academic gowns and hoods produced by the Burgon Society and featuring many of the UK’s most popular professors gowned up in the latest 19th century fashions.

Cartoon Qualifications with Mickey and Friends – A comprehensive prospectus of Mickey Mouse Degrees through the ages. From the diminutive rodent’s first bachelors degree through to his and Minnie’s double PhD award in the 60s. Sumptuously illustrated. Second edition with a new chapter on the latest awards to be celebrated in the media.

The Sign of Four Star: Sherlock Holmes and the REF – unfortunately, publication of this long-awaited tome has been delayed but it is going to be really good, honest. 

The Friday Timetable Club – very much in the Richard Osman vein, this light and somewhat bureaucratic tale has been credited with starting the whole ‘cosy campus’ genre (see also Murder at Matriculation) and features a group of very stressed administrators trying to fit too many students into too few classrooms without anyone having to teach on a Friday (or a Monday, ideally).

And a few other best sellers and favourites recommended by some people we met on the way to the pub:

• Hoods from the Hood: Graduation Paraphernalia and Street Culture
• Yet More Registrars and their Registers
• The League Table of Extraordinary Gentlemen
• Behind the Scenes at the University Museum
• Carol’s from Kings, David’s from Jesus: A Cambridge Romance
• UKRI or I cry, Bees or Baize? The definitive sector pronunciation guide
• Bleak Houses: student accommodation through the ages
• The Bonfire of the Vanity Courses: Radical curriculum redesign made easy
• Gold! Always Believe in Your TEF Score
• Fave HE FOIs: from Prosecco Spend to Haunted Houses
• The Men and Women in the High Castle: The biggest and best Vice-Chancellor residences
• To Kill the Mockingbirds: campus avian pest control strategies

We also invited ChatGPT to come up with some recommendations too based on recent readings and it delivered this inspiring list

• “Procrastination Perfection: How to Ace Last-Minute Studying”
• “The Art of Sleeping Through Lectures”
• “Caffeine Alchemy: Brewing the Perfect All-Nighter Potion”
• “Surviving Group Projects: A Field Guide”
• “Zen and the Art of Dining Hall Survival”
• “Budgeting for Broke: A College Student’s Guide to Ramen”
• “The Definitive Guide to Textbook Avoidance”
• “Dorm Room Decor: From Chaos to ‘Organized’ Chaos”
• “Social Media 101: How to Look Busy Without Actually Doing Work”

We won’t be asking again.

So, plenty of ideas for your summer vacation reading. Do enjoy.