Top HE Words and Music

It’s that time again in the higher ed year where we select the best books and LPs produced over the past 12 months. Our expert panel of reviewers have been busy, busy, busy reviewing all the best HE-related music and publications of the year.

Once again we decided against asking a range of higher ed celebrities for their choices of best albums and books 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 (well, by me and the cats) of the best higher ed books and LPs published or released in 2025 which are sure to make the perfect Christmas gift for academics and administrators and help them through the much-needed and well-deserved festive break.

Best Higher Ed Books of 2025

First up, it’s the top 10 book selection:

Alice’s Adventures in Sunderland – A charming tale with a number of surprising twists which follows new undergraduate Alice as she makes her way as an undergraduate at a university in the north east of England. Includes some surprising engagements with royalty, rabbits and a grinning cat together with a rather challenging tea party with some alumni.

SILENCED! No More Free Speech in Universities – serialised in all the papers, companion to the TV channel and podcast series and regular university and chat show appearances in which every view is aired loudly, this book explains at inordinate and improbable length why free speech has been killed by universities. With a foreword and afterword (and plenty of in-between words too) by Toby Young.

A Rough Guide to University Mergers – Hastily cobbled together manual drawing on all the supremely helpful advice published by consultants with a passing interest in higher education but a keen nose for commercial opportunity. 

PQA: An idea whose time has come – Yet Again? No, really, you think it might really happen this time? Tenth Edition, newly updated with over-optimistic observations for 2025.

The Book Thieves – a collection of stories by university librarians of all the absurd ways students have managed to remove books of all shapes and sizes from the premises. And those who were less successful.

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.

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’.

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.” You’ll never want to transgress again.

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). Warning: there is some significant peril.

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. All goes well until the media unaccountably discovers what is going on.

Best Higher Ed Albums of 2025

Turning to the musical offerings which kept us listening this year we have a terrific selection of albums which can genuinely be said to have rocked the higher education world. Here then are the 10 best records of the year according to  our team of exceptionally well-informed (but admittedly largely feline) critics.

Looking Fine for 2029 by REF Speedwagon – This surprisingly popular assembly of aging brainy prog rockers are still coming up with the hits and this year’s album of novel noises, obscure lyrics and extended keyboard and guitar solos has racked up huge numbers of online listens.

No More Institutional Neutrality by Charter and Statutes – The influential British electronic music production duo bounced back with a smash hit LP this year, a mix of high energy jazz-infused beats and controversy-stoking lyrics they really have got everyone talking.

Avoiding Punishment is the Best Incentive by TEF Will Eat Itself – Very much one for the Christians market this and a late entry in the top albums of the year but once you start you just can’t stop listening. This double LP from the hard to fathom and genuinely unpopular English folksters who unaccountably are still going strong despite several changes of line up and direction is going to keep people talking for years to come.

Where are all the fit and proper persons? By Extenuating Circumstances -The perennially youthful and surprisingly popular and influential Morrissey clone delivers some entertaining and edgy indie-pop which takes him back to his roots.

No, We Really Are Special by The Russell Group – The 2025 release from the band many love to hate scored some impressive sales figures. Demonstrating all of their customary self-confident swagger the ageing southern sextet with an impressive musical pedigree who have enjoyed extraordinary chart success over many years, hit paydirt again with this LP. Features the hit songs That Will Do Nicely and Let’s Do Brunch.

Questionable Algorithms by Unexplained Differences – Yet more intelligent and numerate chamber pop from the West Country’s finest. This latest offering pushes beyond their previous boundaries and delivers a hatful of of first class tunes for the discerning listener. 

Legacy III by Robbins Report – This year saw the release of the third album in as many decades from the much-lauded and respected 60s revolutionary rockers. This band has launched many imitators down the years (see The Dearing Enquiry and rather flash-in-the-pan Browne Review, not to forget Augar Business) but none have quite captured the sector’s hearts like this lot. Includes the classics The Big Principle, Everybody Loves a CAT and General Powers of the Mind.

Ay Ay by AI AI – Do believe the hype. The biggest new band of the last 18 months, despite a questionable work ethic and being generally regarded as too clever for their own good, manage to produce one of the albums of the year. Sounding like nothing else and yet remarkably familiar the new offering has divided audiences but nevertheless proved remarkably resilient in terms of sales.

Education & Skills, Education & Skills, Education & Skills by Bridget, Pat and Liz – The debut offering from this unlikely and entirely wholesome new folk trio has been the huge hit of the autumn. Deep and meaningful lyrics, calls to action and some surprising themes, there really is something for everyone in here.

Chilling Effect by Freedom of Speech – The latest recording from this scruffy avant-garde new wave agitprop outfit has had mixed reviews from the critics but has been well-received by their loyal fan base. The controversial nature if their live shows continues to exercise the tabloid press but no-one is questioning the results of their recorded output this year.

Plenty to read and listen to over the festive period there. Are there any we have missed?