In this age of downshifting more and more people are thinking of divesting themselves of the broken photocopier and train strikes, if not for good, then at least for a career break.

This book aims to take the mystery out of sabbaticals and its enthusiastic approach will inspire you. It is almost evangelical about the benefits of a career break. The breadth of career break options is staggering - be it volunteering in Africa or creative writing in Devon - and advice on how to hunt down the best option is detailed. The only drawback is the book's design. Suggestions for gifts for your hosts appear before you could possibly have decided where to go and the density of the information means it could have benefited from some bullet points.