Alain de Boton meets The Cloudspotter's Guide in Robert Mighall's celebration of sunshine.
Robert Mighall is hopelessly addicted to sunshine. He climbs ladders to catch the last rays of the descending sun and takes regular sun breaks during the working day, joining the smokers outside for his own furtive fix.
It explains how sunshine became a symbol of health, hope and freedom in the early 20th century, and why we have much to thank the nudists for. It explores why sunshine gives us pleasure, the rites and rituals of modern sun-worship, and how this love affair finds expression in the books we read, the films we watch, and the songs we hear every day.
Witty, romantic and absurdly obsessive, Sunshine illuminates something everybody loves, yet nobody has attempted to capture between two covers. It is also an open love letter to the most fickle mistress northern man ever served.
Compulsive, utterly idiosyncratic, unmistakeably British . . . essentially, this book is all feeling, radiating energy and nerves, with tantalising glimpses of Mighall s personal life - The Sunday Times
(Mighall) traces the enduring association between sunshine and happiness . . . much that is interesting - Metro
If you love sunshine this is the tonic for you. Just make sure you slap on plenty of Factor 25 - Unite Magazine
The perfect beach book - Independent
With verve and vigour ... quirky, chatty and informative - Daily Mail
Charming - Sunday Business Post
An idiosyncratic hymn to sunshine - Bookseller