My friend often works away and complains he is bored on an evening. He doesn't usually read so it would have to be something lighthearted maybe with short chapters? He likes most sports and watching films.

Any ideas?

Hi
Bravo Two Zero= Andy Mc Nab.The true story of an SAS patrol behing enemy lines in Iraq.I'm recommending this because my friends hubby & mine don't read but when on holiday both have decided to try this (I'd packed it hopefully & in my hubbys case i was bullying him a little bit, ok, quite a lot! i admit!) & they both enjoyed it.Because it's a true account & action packed it seemed to held there attention. I know it doesn't maybe fit in with the description above but because all the men have the same interests i'd get him to give it a go!!
Furny x

[Deleted by the author on 4 Nov 2009 07:36 GMT]

Precious Moments by Elaine Murray, not a very long book but ideal to get you started,lovely poems and gives you a feel good factor.

Many men read and enjoyed the Hornblower stories, e.g. my father and one of my sons, both normally no readers.
Otherwise have a look at books of Ken Follett and Frederick Forsyth: Thrillers and spy books of the 20th century.

The Unknown Warriors

This book is a collection of letters from WW2 veterans about their experiences during WW2 and their thoughts on today. D Day veterans, Lancaster Bomber Crew, Ex POWs etc. Very easy read with loads of interesting stuff in it. Easy to pick up where you left off. Great for people who are not heavy readers.

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. A man and his son seek refuge and travel through the murderous American wasteland after what we take to be an apocalyptic event. Not a lot happens and the plot is incredibly easy to follow. But the writing is remarkable and beautiful, with very short chapters. In fact usually no more than a page long. Often less. A wonderful story of the relationship between father and son, as the tension builds page by page to it's inevitable conclusion. An added bonus. McCarthy is often thought to be one of the greatest living American authors who has written a number of earlier books that are more "difficult" than this. And he also most recently wrote the book of the later "hit" film No Country for Old Men. All of which you friend could check out if he enjoys this one.

Simpsons Comics: The Big Book of Bart Simpson

I would suggest either the Flashman or Sharpe series of books. Both are a light and easy read. The bonus, if he likes the first then he has the rest of the series to enjoy.

My husband likes Jeremy Clarkson's books.

Is it allowed to throw my own book A BOY FROM NOWHERE, written in two volumes, into the pot for consideration ? Basically this is the story of a boy born in the 1920s to a poor family in the slums of London's East End Docklands, whose education was disrupted by the war-this did not matter too much because all working class lads were expected to leave school at 14 to go to work anyway. But despite the handicaps and disadvantages of his early life he manages to become a success as a businessman. The first part of the story describes old London, as it used to be, the horrors and degradation of the Great Depression and the consequent curse of unemployment, how this affected the poor, the work of the charities in the East End, how we kids tried to earn a few pennies, Saturday nights in Poplar High Street and how we kids were entertained by the street artists whilst sitting on the pavement munching chips. Being fitted for our gasmasks brought home to us that the situation was indeed serious and then followed Evacuation Day when 1.5 millions of us children were sent away from danger areas to safer places all over the UK.
Returning home in 1941 the author finds 60% of his street smashed to smithereens during The Blitz and totally uninhabitable. But the 40% that remained still proved to be the hub of a great community that once were housed in Prestage Street, Poplar. The author describes his difficulty when possessing only a poor level of education and had no skills and wonder how to get his foot on the ladder of success. The book describes how he did this and succeeded in the end to own his own successful warehouse business shipping in quantities of confectionery from abroad and distributing them in the UK.
In his early stages he comes into commercial contact with Czechoslovakia and learns a great deal about communism and it's wicked control over people and tells us of his adventures behind the Iron Curtain. But he realises that he will never achieve his ambition to become wealthy and be independent of others whilst working for employers. He decides to start his own company and succeeds enabling him to eventually secure his early ambitions for the sake of his family and self.
Tiring of the rat race he, together with his wife, decide that the good life is far more important and so they liquidate their assets, build their dream villa in the sun, and go to the Costa Blanca to live. After 9 years holidays they return to England to end their retirement. It is a book filled with nostalgia for a bygone age, with human stories - some humorous, some sad - some local history facts, some military situations during the war, about winning when it seems all the world is against you. The ex-Headmaster of our village school bought a copy of my Volume One and said he read the whole book from Page One to the end without stopping. For people who do not normally read books this could be the one that they would. I commend it to those reading this section.
Submitted by David Mitchell - but not the younger Cloud Atlas author with whom I struck up a mild form of communication - very nice man.

If he is between 30 or 40 mike gayle is light hearted and funny. (easy reading)
good luck. K

Got my husband into reading starting with Jeremy Clarkson, "The World According To" Really small bitesize pieces. From that he went onto biographies of his favourite musicians, i think his favourite was the lead singer from EELS - bizarre life! The first novel I gave him was Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (much better than Da Vinci Code). Now he's actually requested a Tom Clancy novel, "Red Storm Rising" because according to Clarkson, the dog could have eaten his liver and he wouldn't have noticed it was so gripping!

short chapters.. gripping plots.. james patterson... easy!

My husband is the same but loved reading "Things my girlfiend and I argued over"

We Had Dreams and Songs to Sing

Yes I know its my book but I think it would be ideal for those long nights away from home. easy to pick up and hard to put down. the chapters are designed to be able to be read in small chunks, it's about sport and my life. I promise you won't be dissapointed. A number of people who have read my book match the description of your friend, they didn't read much either, but they say they couldnt put the book down. Hope this helps you and your friend

I'm going to follow Keith's and David's lead and recommend my own book, mainly because I know a number of men (and have heard of a few others) who barely ever read (one had only read one book front to back) but enjoyed my book.

Lord of the Rams is a comedy memoir set in Ireland. It has short chapters, and is ideal for dipping in and out of. I've posted a few excerpts from reviews below. Extracts and further information are online at www.lordoftherams.com

"A real treat to read that you will devour!" - The Irish Post

"For anyone who has ever been a lad (of either sex), known one or feared that they might be about to turn into one this book will be hilarious." - The Bookbag

"Smith's tightly written memoir will charm the naysayers into reconsidering their view of the decade that fashion neglected and youth turned their backs on ... a diverting and entertaining read." - Evening Herald

"The book is genuinely funny in parts, told in a jocular style, with plenty of misadventures along the way. Anyone raised in rural Ireland, not just in the 1980s, will recognise the cast of eccentrics and misfits that Smith has assembled." - Books Ireland

"Written with sufficient verve to hold the attention of the reader to the final philosophical thought." - Book View Ireland

"Smith ... nails the tone immediately and with seemingly little effort ... touching, funny and compelling ... it's an endearing winner." - Unlikely Stories

"Parts of the book are quite funny, and it contains a whole host of wonderful supporting characters." - Culch.ie

I'd also thoroughly recommend Superchick (1st part of a comedy trilogy) by Irish author Stephen J Martin.

If you like African Adventure stories try my latest book The Last Bature - A policeman's tale set in 1960s post-colonial West Africa it's easy to read, has intrigue and excitement in every chapter. It encompasses the cold war, military coups and the Soviet, North Korean, Israeli, American and British secret services, giving the reader an insight into the grubby world of espionage and life in West Africa during the turbulent sixties.