'Read and Riot: A Pussy Riot Guide to Activism' by Nadya Tolokonnikova is a wonderful and intelligent book full of joyful ideas about the possibilities for a better world.

'Burning Down the Haus' by Tim Mohr is a beautifully written and important book about punk in East Germany and its role in bringing down the Berlin Wall.

'Jack Irish Season 2', with Guy Pearce, is remarkable television. Action romance, intrigue and plenty of strange humour to keep everybody happy.

‘The Bookshop’, starring Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy, may be a movie about books, but its one of the most beautiful films you’ll see this year.

‘America’s Child’ and Shemekia Copeland prove that not only are the blues are alive and thriving, they represent all of our dreams and aspirations for a better world.

If you like your police procedurals well acted, amazingly scripted and more than a little bit irreverent, than ‘No Offence, Series 1’ is the show for you.

’The Public Image Is Rotten’ from Public Image Ltd is an in depth history of one of popular music’s most exciting and innovative bands.

With ‘Children of Paradise’ Willie Nile has given an album perfectly suited to our time.

'Circle of Life' by Kinky Friedman is a great album from an amazing writer whose musical talents have been sorely missed. Here's hoping this marks the beginning of a Kinky renaissance.

I can think of no better way of spending hot summer night than watching '800 Words Season 1, 2 and 3' over and over again.