A Festive Change of Focus, From Questionable Public Figures to Proper Stocking Fillers
So here is a festive selection of this year’s books from Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. They are fresh, readable and rooted in the region. Treat yourself or a pal...
Christmas in the West Midlands has a way of arriving with both cheer and a raised eyebrow. The lights sparkle, the markets bustle, and in the background there is always that familiar procession of public figures who pop up in headlines and committee meetings, drawing funds for work that some might politely suggest is not always vital to the health of the nation.
So perhaps, for this small and welcome season of goodwill, it is worth turning away from that lot. No need to dwell on names that fill budgets and sap the spirit. Instead, we can give our attention to things created by people who actually contribute something useful. Books. Real books, written by real folk, from our own part of the world.
A proper book makes no fuss. It does not issue statements. It does not demand consultancy fees. It sits patiently, waiting for someone who appreciates a good story, a bit of local pride or a window into a world they might not have known. In short, it is the perfect stocking filler.
So here is a festive selection of this year’s books from Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. They are fresh, readable and rooted in the region. Slip one into a stocking and you immediately raise the tone of Christmas.
Christmas in the West Midlands, Perfect Books for Stockings and Sideboards
There is something wonderfully old fashioned about a book at Christmas. Before gadgets and screens flooded the living room, a good book was the present that truly lasted. It still is. If you are buying for someone with a love of Birmingham, the Midlands or simply thoughtful writing, this year’s selection offers some genuine gems.
Below you will find the standout choices. All published in 2025, except for one classic that earns its place on reputation alone.
Where’s The Money Gone? The Battle for the Soul of English Football
Adrian Goldberg, 2025
This is for the football purist. Adrian Goldberg asks the questions that many supporters mutter after a match. He looks at where the money goes, who benefits, and what has been quietly taken away from the ordinary fan. It is sharp, current and ideal for someone who cares about the game beyond the scoreline.
Birmingham City, 150 Years of a Remarkable Football Club
Keith Dixon, December 2025
For any Blues fan, this is the crown jewel of Christmas. A handsome hardback filled with photographs, stories and memories stretching across a century and a half of Birmingham City. It is the kind of book that people disappear into for hours, resurfacing only to share a detail you never knew. A superb gift for the loyal Blue in your life.
The Pearl Button Girl
Annie Murray, February 2025
For fiction lovers, this is a warm, absorbing tale set in Victorian Birmingham. Annie Murray captures the grit and humanity of the era with her usual lightness of touch. It is a gentle fireside read for the quieter hours of Christmas, when the house has finally settled and the biscuits have thinned out.
Discovering Birmingham, 2025 Edition
Jonathan Berg, May 2025
This updated edition is ideal for someone who likes exploring the city. It is part guidebook, part history and part love letter to the unusual corners of Birmingham. Perfect for dipping into, perfect for conversation and perfect for that relative who insists they know every back street but still enjoys learning something new.
The Little History of Birmingham
Vanessa Morgan, February 2025
For a smaller, thoughtful gift, this compact history is ideal. It brings the whole story of the city into a clear, enjoyable narrative, from its earliest days through industry, reinvention and modern life. It suits newcomers, long term residents and anyone who likes to know why things are the way they are.
Birmingham City University, A History in 100 Images
David Roberts, November 2025
A beautiful visual book. One hundred images telling the story not only of the university but of Birmingham itself, from Victorian classrooms to twenty first century campuses. This is perfect for browsing between mince pies and quiet afternoons. It looks handsome on a coffee table and works for people who love photographs as much as words.
The Adventures of Alien Egg, The Eggstraterrestrial
Lee Benson, November 2025
Latest title in the Henry Egg series
A change of gear. Light, funny and imaginative. Lee Benson’s latest in the Henry Egg series makes a cheerful addition to a stocking. It works for children and for anyone who enjoys a touch of whimsy among the seriousness of grown up gifts. Christmas needs a smile, and this brings one.
Peaky Blinders, The Real Story
Carl Chinn, 2019
Not a new book, but it earns its place. Carl Chinn’s definitive account of the real Peaky Blinders gives the truth behind the legend. It is gritty, honest and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand where Birmingham came from. It is the one heritage title that refuses to age.
Why These Books Make Proper Stocking Fillers
They are local, readable and chosen with care. Each offers something different, from football and fiction to urban history and imagination. They are gifts that feel personal rather than generic, and they sit at every price point.
Books make Christmas more thoughtful. They create moments of quiet. They give people something real to hold on to as the year closes.
In a world full of noise, controversy and questionable characters collecting public salaries, these books remind us that the Midlands still produces things of genuine worth and lasting value.
Slip one into a stocking this year and you will make someone’s Christmas a touch warmer, a touch calmer and far more interesting.