Read by Tim Ferriss, Barack Obama, Ray Dalio and 21 others
What books does Chris Evans recommend?
Decades spent steering the UK's biggest radio shows give Chris Evans and his book recommendations real power to move a title up the charts through his on-air book club. These 14 titles, gathered from his breakfast shows on Virgin, BBC Radio 2, and Radio 1, plus his Twitter feed and podcast appearances, favor self-improvement, psychology, and health and wellness, with a run of fiction. His top pick is Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens, which he called an "unbelievably good book" that was "jaw dropping from the first word to the last." The list tilts toward well-being, from James Nestor's Breath, which he urged listeners to make "the one book you read this year," to Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep and the illustrated fable The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Evans has also authored four books of his own, including two memoirs.
Last updated March 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
byYuval Noah Harari
2014443 Pages(1,100,000)
“Unbelievably good book. Jaw dropping from the first word to the last. Best £9.99 I've spent in ages.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Twitter (X) - Tier 1
Read by Arianna Huffington, Rich Roll, Joe Rogan and 5 others
Breath
The New Science of a Lost Art
byJames Nestor
2020304 Pages“If there's one book you read this year, make it this one.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Tobias Lütke, Rhonda Patrick, Peter Attia and 5 others
Why We Sleep
Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
byMatthew Walker
2017368 Pages“Astonishing... an amazing book... absolutely chocker full of things that we need to know.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
byCharlie Mackesy
2019128 Pages“You will not be able to buy a more beautiful book for Christmas for somebody you love.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
byHéctor García, Francesc Miralles
2017208 Pages“I read it and it's bewitched me ever since. I'm spellbound.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Bryan Johnson, Jonathan Haidt, Adam Grant and 1 others
Indistractable
How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
byNir Eyal, Julie Li
2019290 Pages“Does exactly as it promises. Amazing.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
First Wife's Shadow
A Must-Read Gripping Domestic Psychological Suspense Crime Thriller
byAdele Parks
2024368 Pages“Had me in a chokehold from beginning to end. I just couldn't put it down.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show Interview - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
The Ghost Theatre
A Novel
byMat Osman
2023320 Pages“Buy the book... tell me it's not great.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show Interview - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
Healing Is the New High
A Guide to Overcoming Emotional Turmoil and Finding Freedom
byVex King
2021304 Pages“A fantastic playbook to sort yourself out.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet
Lose Weight Fast and Reprogramme your Body
byMichael Mosley
2015288 Pages“It changed my life.”
— Chris Evans
Source: BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
Eat Yourself Healthy
An easy-to-digest guide to health and happiness from the inside out
byDr. Megan Rossi
2019304 Pages“I've learnt so much from Megan, looking after my gut is now a priority and I feel so good for it.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Doug McMillon, Peter Attia, Craig Groeschel and 1 others
From Strength to Strength
Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
byArthur C. Brooks
2022272 Pages“This book is amazing.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
Oneness With All Life
Inspirational Selections from A New Earth
byEckhart Tolle
2008192 Pages“My no. 1 guru will always be Eckhart Tolle.”
— Chris Evans
Source: Virgin Radio Breakfast Show - Tier 2
Read by Chris Evans
byRichard Osman
2020400 Pages“The novel is brilliant.”
— Chris Evans
Source: How to Wow Podcast - Tier 2
Also recommends books in
Frequently asked questions
What books does Chris Evans recommend?
His 14 recommendations include Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Breath by James Nestor, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, and The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
What is Chris Evans's most recommended book?
Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens, which he called an "unbelievably good book" that was "jaw dropping from the first word to the last. Best £9.99 I've spent in ages." Of James Nestor's Breath he said, "if there's one book you read this year, make it this one."
Where do Chris Evans's book recommendations come from?
They come from his breakfast shows on Virgin Radio, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 1, along with author interviews on those shows, his Twitter feed, and appearances such as the How to Wow podcast.
Has Chris Evans written any books?
Yes, four: It's Not What You Think (2009), Memoirs of a Fruitcake (2010), Call the Midlife (2015), and 119 Days to Go: How to Train for and Smash Your First Marathon (2021).
Does Chris Evans recommend health and wellness books?
Yes, prominently. Beyond Breath and Why We Sleep, he credits Michael Mosley's The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet with changing his life and praises Megan Rossi's Eat Yourself Healthy for teaching him to prioritize his gut health.
All 14 Books Chris Evans Has Recommended
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind · Yuval Noah Harari
- Breath · James Nestor
- Why We Sleep · Matthew Walker
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse · Charlie Mackesy
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life · Héctor García
- Indistractable · Nir Eyal
- First Wife's Shadow · Adele Parks
- The Ghost Theatre · Mat Osman
- Healing Is the New High · Vex King
- The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet · Michael Mosley
- Eat Yourself Healthy · Dr. Megan Rossi
- From Strength to Strength · Arthur C. Brooks
- Oneness With All Life · Eckhart Tolle
- The Thursday Murder Club · Richard Osman