Welcome to Blokes vs Books, a campaign that promotes Kiwi men as readers.

Today, meet Leigh Hart – comedian, broadcaster and keen reader.

As a kid Leigh loved books about the world’s great unsolved mysteries. No surprise then that as an adult he loves books on adventure.

A series of great adventure books for kids are by Willard Price. They’re maybe getting a bit old now but great tales of adventure and mayhem that kids love.

One of Leigh Hart’s favourite books is Clive Cussler’s Raising the Titanic, an American adventure novelist and underwater explorer. We think if you too like Clive Cussler you’ll also like Wilbur Smith, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Great fat rip-roaring stories that will transport you to other places and keep you entertained for hours.

Leigh is also fan of music biographies, not just for the detail but to find out more about the person behind the persona. We spied books on his shelf about Peter Sellers and Pete Townsend. He particularly loves John Lennon but like political biographies, pick any person and you’ll find heaps to read and discover.

The last book he read? First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen. Inspiration behind Moon TV perhaps?

You might also like Leigh’s hilarious Bookshelf’s series, a segment from The Late Night Big Breakfast TV show where he discusses reading, writing and poetry with the not-very-impressed Joe Bennett.

Kia ora, Leigh!

Watch part 2 of his interview with Victor Rodger here: