Book clubs and toffee apples. Hedgehogs and hangovers. Croquet, ferret racing… and everything in between.

The Best of Notes on... gathers the funniest, sharpest and most wonderfully random pieces from The Spectator’s beloved miscellany column. For more than a decade, these short, sharp essays have uncovered the intrigue in the everyday and the delight in digression. Witty, unpredictable and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, they celebrate life’s odd corners and overlooked pleasures. Expect the unexpected: sharp wit, sideways observations, and the occasional guilty laugh at things you thought only you found ridiculous.

With contributions from a dazzling line-up including Tom Holland, Prue Leith, Jon Day, Julie Bindel, Rod Liddle, Laura Freeman, Tanya Gold, Freddy Gray, Simon Barnes, Mary Killen, Ben Fogle, Ysenda Maxtone Graham, Robert Tombs, Mary Wellesley, Julie Burchill — and plenty more besides.

The Spectator Best of Notes on... is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who delights in life’s oddities. Whether you're buying for a curious friend, a witty relative, or just indulging your own love of the unexpected, this collection is guaranteed to entertain.

WILLIAM MOORE is features editor of The Spectator.