The Penguin Guide to Bargain Compact Discs, by Ivan March, Edward Greenfield and Robert Layton (Penguin, £14.99 in UK)

This cheerfully overweight paperback is packed with an immense amount of information on mid-price and budget classical recordings…

This cheerfully overweight paperback is packed with an immense amount of information on mid-price and budget classical recordings, neatly sorted and graded into one-, two- or three-star categories; the very best recordings are awarded the coveted rosette, which can be seen at a glance. A bargain itself at little more than the cost of a new CD, this would make the perfect gift for the not-terribly-rich music-lover in your life.

By Arminta Wallace