From Sixpences to Dollars
¥73.48
Jonny Texas came from an unconventional but close-knit Midlands family and developed a fascination with all forms of gambling from a young age. He grew up learning how to be a wheeler dealer and in his twenties, with a young family to support, the challenge of beating the odds to make large sums of money became even greater. As he grew older, his life was to become a rollercoaster of highs and lows as he moved from one wild money spinning venture to another, making huge amounts and then losing them, unable to resist any gambling opportunity. The two constants in his life have been his family and poker and, at times, they have made uneasy bedfellows. But somehow, Jonny has managed to pull off the unimaginable, repeatedly pulling himself back from the brink of disaster and turning himself into a winner, appearing on TV and in the public eye. From Sixpences to Dollars documents the extraordinary story of one man's obsession with gambling and how he has ultimately turned it to his advantage.
In Search of Running Rein
¥73.48
The Epsom Derby, established back in 1780 for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, is today considered to be the most prestigious of the five Classics of the racing calendar, but there was nothing noble about the notorious Derby held in 1844. Marred by horse switching allegations, false age declarations, devious ownership transferrals and nobbling, it was set to become the most scandalous event in the history of the Turf. Drawing on a wide range of publications, newspaper articles, Jockey Club inquiry documentation and court evidence records, this book traces the web of deceit surrounding the original but subsequently disqualified 1844 Derby winner, Running Rein, and the audacious plan orchestrated by a certain Abraham Levi Goodman to ensure, by any underhand means at his disposal, that the Derby victory would be his, not for the glory of winning but as a monstrous betting coup. Twists and turns abound in the claims, counter-claims and conflicting witness statements when the case goes to trial, as attempts are made to determine the age and identity of the horse purported to be Running Rein, and this intriguing story provides a fascinating insight into the world of horse racing and betting, where the stakes are high and the unscrupulous are prepared to do anything to protect their own interests, with little regard for the impact of their actions on the reputation of the sport.
Wrong Sex, Wrong Instrument
¥73.48
Now retired and no longer silenced by a contract, Maggie Cotton presents an honest and long-overdue player's perspective of life inside a professional symphony orchestra, describing how she became the first female percussionist in what was initially a staunchly male-dominated world. Now retired after forty years with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Maggie gives a fascinating and humorous insight into every aspect of her working life, including tours, conductors, composers, soloists, colleagues, recording contracts and educational work, as well as her own family life and the social conditions of wartime England and post-war Eastern Europe. Bolstered by her gritty Yorkshire roots, and naively undeterred by overwhelming odds, Maggie overcame many hurdles in pursuit of her ambition to play percussion in a professional symphony orchestra, in so doing transforming the face of women in that field from one of novelty circus performer to respected professional and colleague.
Miss Lou
¥73.48
The career of Louise Bennett ('Miss Lou') is an essential component in any reckoning of Jamaican culture. This book offers a brief account of her life (1919-2006): a story of challenges and blessings, of a journey towards national and international acclaim. It draws on a variety of sources, including interviews, archives, academic theses, documentary projects, recorded performances and Louise Bennett's own writings.It also offers an assessment of Miss Lou's contribution to the arts. She was a key figure in the transformation of the Little Theatre Movement pantomime; a generous, well trained actor; an expert creator of Anancy stories; a television personality regularly engaging with children; a distinctive radio commentator; a laughing poet evaluating attitudes, sometimes with complex irony.Miss Lou used Standard English comfortably in many contexts, and did not wish the country rid of it; but she chose in most of her creative work to employ the language most Jamaicans speak. Her ebullient delight in Jamaican Creole spread joy and promoted respect. A diligent researcher into Jamaican heritage, she acknowledged its various streams, but was especially concerned with continuities out of Africa.When the Asian culture and the European culturebuck up on African culture in the Caribbean people,we stir them up and blend them to we flavour,we shake them up and move them to we beat,we wheel them and we tu'n them and we rock themand we sound them and we temper them,and lawks, the rhythm sweet!Her name is frequently invoked by Jamaicans, especially in relation to national identity. As 'Jamaica's First Lady of Comedy' she delighted audiences in many parts of the world, and her publications have been praised internationally.
Fejt?l s lábtól
¥73.25
1974-ben az Emmanuelle meghódította a francia mozikat, és r?vid id?n belül az egész világon hatalmas sikert aratott. A korabeli plakátokról egy húsz év k?rüli, r?vid hajú, félmeztelen szépség nézett kihívóan egy fonott karosszékéb?l. Ekkor még senki sem sejtette, hogy SYLVIA KRISTEL, ez az akkor még ismeretlen holland lány hamarosan a szexuális forradalom egyik emblematikus alakjává válik. A hírnévt?l és a sikert?l megrészegült színészn? egy csapásra a nemzetk?zi filmvilág ünnepelt sztárja lett, azonban nem kapott elég id?t, hogy feldolgozza a hirtelen j?tt népszer?séget, sem pedig a gyermekkorában ?t ért sérelmeket. A sztárok fény?z? és gondtalan életét élte, udvarlók seregei hevertek a lába el?tt, bejáratos volt a legcsillogóbb hollywoodi fogadásokra. Magánéletében azonban már k?zel sem volt ilyen szerencsés. Házasságai zátonyra futottak, a sorozatos sorscsapások és a múlt démonai el?l az alkoholba és drogokba menekült. Kicsapongásainak végül egy súlyos betegség vetett véget. Visszaemlékezéseiben ?szintén tárja elénk egy olyan asszony felemel? és megrendít? t?rténetét, akinek nem csak meztelen teste érdemel figyelmet.
Fail Nation
¥73.03
From the underbelly of the nuts behind hit websites failblog.org and icanhascheezburger.com comes FAIL Nation, your silent guide and handler to the not-even-close-to-perfect nation of FAIL, chock-full of irrelevant tips and useless suggestions about why to shop, who to eat, and when to see. So fasten your exit and check for the nearest seatbelt your FAIL plane departs now.
Why Is Daddy in a Dress?
¥73.03
Why face the embarrassment of dealing with life's most awkward questions when adorable baby animals can do it for youAmanda McCall and Ben Schwartz, the creators of the wickedly lovable Grandma's Dead, return with Why is Daddy in a Dress?, another invaluable aid to avoiding sticky situations. A book of postcards featuring cuddly kittens, playful puppies, fuzzy ducklings, and hoppity baby bunnies broaching sensitive subjects like "Are you a hooker?" or "Can we stop cuddling?," Why is Daddy in a Dressis the perfect cure for foot-in-mouth disease.
Scared of Santa
¥72.93
He's huge and hairy and hulking. He dresses in strange furry clothing. He sneaks into people's homes at night.Who wouldn't be afraid of . . . Santa Claus?!Nothing says Christmas quite like innocent children shrieking with terror as a stranger dressed in red drags them kicking and screaming onto his lap. Now this time-honored rite of passage is celebrated with a hilarious collection of more than two hundred and fifty priceless photos of kids' traumatic trips to Santa's workshop. Scared of Santa offers a cornucopia of photographic funnies from sixty-year-old family heirlooms to last year's howlers along with delightful commentary on those unforgettable childhood visits to scary ol' Saint Nick.
NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette
¥72.71
Living in New York City for five years as a transplant from Ohio, illustrator and T-shirt designer Nathan Pyle was fascinated by the unique habits and unspoken customs New Yorkers follow to make life bearable in a city with 8 million people (and seemingly twice the number of tourists). Nathan decided to draw his favorite tips and etiquette lessons and post them on the internet, where his 12 original panels went viral immediately and became the basis for this hilarious illustrated book (check out the fully animated ebook, too!).In NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette, Pyle reveals the secrets and unwritten rules for living in and visiting New York including the answers to such burning questions as, which cabs should I try to hailWhat is a bodegaWhich way is UptownWhy are there so many doors in the sidewalkHow do I walk on an escalatorDo we need to be touching right nowWhere should I inhale or exhale while passing sidewalk garbageHow long should I honk my hornIf New York were a game show, how would I winWhat happens when I stand in the bike laneWho should get the empty subway seatsHow do I stay safe during a trash tornadoEach tip is a little story illustrated in simple black and white drawings.Visitors and newcomers to New York will love it because the advice is smart, funny, and not condescending. New Yorkers will love it for its strategic and humorous approach to mastering the daily chaos of the city.
Why Girls Can't Throw
¥72.70
Warning: the truth can be shocking, seductive, offensive, outrageous...even disgusting!Are you perplexed by the mysteries of the universe, confounded by the workings of the human body, prone to pondering the great imponderablesAt long last, the answers are here for every inquiring mind that's not afraid to face up to the cold, hard facts of life. The author who brought you That Book . . . of Perfectly Useless Information now addresses the quirky, the eclectic, and the essential conundrums of our age in Why Girls Can't Throw . . . and Other Questions You Always Wanted Answered, including: What's the kindest way to tell a friend he has halitosisIs it cheaper to send yourself as a package to Australia rather than fly on an airplaneAre there any benefits to smokingIs it true that Keith Richards used to regularly replace all the blood in his body?
Mental Floss: What's the Difference?
¥72.70
Enlighten Up Already!MonetManetWho can even tell the differenceWell, with the help of the newest mental_floss tome, you can! Want to learn how to tell egg rolls from spring rolls, nuclear bombs from dirty nuclear bombs, or even how to tell an idiot from a moron (there's a real scientific difference)Piece of cake! Whether you're trying to impress your boss, your mother-in-law, attractive singles, or a pack of fourth graders (you know how they love semantics), mental_floss gives you all the tips and tricks to have you sounding like a genius.
Clips From A Life
¥72.40
Classic stills from the life of one of Britain's most cherished entertainers. This is the extraordinary life story of comic legend Denis Norden, told in momentary snapshots by the master British comedian himself. Containing reminiscences of a career stretching back to the golden age of the radio, through the heyday of cinema and the early pioneering days of television comedy, ‘Clips From a Life’ showcases Denis Norden's creative genius at its very best. Told with Denis' hallmark flashes of brilliant humour and sharp observation, the extraordinary life of this enduring humorist is unravelled through his private recollections of the ways things used to be, back then. Denis' school-day musings, dry witticisms, and old-time sayings unearthed from days gone by, combined with remembrances of collaborations with famous figures of the day, from Eric Sykes to Bill Fraser, will sweep you back instantaneously to the magical gags, lively characters and laughter of the past. Flitting between Denis' East End childhood and early career in Variety as a cinema manager for the Hyams Brothers, to his post-war work as a *writer on the groundbreaking radio shows ‘Take It From Here’ and ‘In All Directions’, to the phenomenally successful television comedy ‘Whack-O!’ (all written with long-term collaborator Frank Muir), to his years as a solo writer, performer, and presenter on programmes such as the much-loved ‘It'll Be Alright on the Night’, it is easy to see how Denis' comic appeal has endured for decades, to make him one of the greatest British writers and performers to date. Brimming with Denis's unique wit and personal warmth, this is a rich and compelling mix of anecdote and autobiography from a very special entertainer.
Imponderables
¥72.01
Why does an "X" stand for a kiss?Which fruits are in Juicy Fruit gumWhy do people cry at happy endings?Why do you never see baby pigeons?Pop-culture guru David Feldman demystifies these topics and so much more in Why Don't Cats Like to Swim-- the unchallenged source of answers to civilization's most perplexing questions. Part of the Imponderables series, Feldman's book arms readers with information about everyday life -- from science, history, and politics to sports, television, and radio -- that encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs just don't have. Where else will you learn what makes women open their mouths when applying mascara?
Pokoli macskák
¥71.69
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, suggested by "The Knight's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, written around 1594 to 1596. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens, Theseus and Hippolyta, and with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.
K?zel a t?zh?z
¥71.69
This book, in affectionate tribute to the gallant courage, rugged indepen-dence and wonderful endurance of those adventurous souls who formed the vanguard of civilization in the early history of the Territory of Arizona and the remainder of the Great West, is DEDICATED TO JOHN H. CADY and?BASIL D. WOON ?/ ?PATAGONIA, ARIZONA, NINETEEN-FIFTEEN. When I first broached the matter of writing his autobiography to John H. Cady, two things had struck me particularly. One was that of all the literature about Arizona there was little that attempted to give a straight, chronological and intimate description of events that occurred during the early life of the Territory, and, second, that of all the men I knew, Cady was best fitted, by reason of his extraordinary experiences, remarkable memory for names and dates, and seniority in pioneership, to supply the work that I felt lacking. Some years ago, when I first came West, I happened to be sitting on the observation platform of a train bound for the orange groves of Southern California. A lady with whom I had held some slight conversation on the journey turned to me after we had left Tucson and had started on the long and somewhat dreary journey across the desert that stretches from the "Old Pueblo" to "San Berdoo," and said: "Do you know, I actually used to believe all those stories about the 'wildness of the West.' I see how badly I was mistaken." She had taken a half-hour stroll about Tucson while the train changed crews and had been impressed by the—to the casual observer—sleepiness of the ancient town. She told me that never again would she look on a "wild West" moving picture without wanting to laugh. She would not believe that there had ever been a "wild West"—at least, not in Arizona. And yet it is history that the old Territory of Arizona in days gone by was the "wildest and woolliest" of all the West, as any old settler will testify.
The World of Karl Pilkington
¥70.44
A collection of the best moments from the ‘Ricky Gervais Show’ with further musings from Karl Pilkington, star of Sky 1’s ‘An Idiot Abroad’. Karl Pilkington, the Confucian-like savant of the ‘Ricky Gervais Show’, has led an extraordinary and curiously individual life. As a kid growing up in Manchester he regularly missed school to accompany his parents on caravanning holidays and left without collecting his exam results: his family weaned him well. Pilkington’s is a brilliant mind, locked inside a perfectly round head, and uncluttered by the unhelpful constraints of logic or common sense; factors that have led him to such dazzling insights as ‘you never see old men eating Twix bars’ or that the ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ was ‘an Adrian Mole sort of thing’. In this pithy and hilarious book, Karl is in conversation with (the often bewildered) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the writers and stars of ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’, outwitting even these comedy Goliaths with his take on such contentious issues as charity, the lack of Chinese homeless people, reincarnation, the rights of monkeys and favourite superpowers. Featuring Karl's original illustrations, imaginative scribblings, full-colour pictures sent in by fans, and the best conversations of the first twelve podcasts, this is a unique trip into the world of one of our most innovative thinkers, visionaries and prophets, or as Gervais and Merchant know him, ‘the funniest man alive in Britain today’.
Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies: RSC Stage Adaptation - Revised Edition
¥70.34
A new, revised edition for the London transfer of Mike Poulton’s expertly adapted two-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s hugely acclaimed novels, featuring a substantial set of character notes by Hilary Mantel. Mike Poulton’s ‘expertly adapted’ (Evening Standard) two-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s acclaimed novels ‘Wolf Hall’ and ‘Bring Up the Bodies’ is a gripping piece of narrative theatre … history made manifest’ (Guardian). The plays were premiered to great acclaim by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2013, before transferring to the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End in May 2014. ‘Wolf Hall’ begins in England in 1527. Henry has been King for almost twenty years and is desperate for a male heir; but Cardinal Wolsey is unable to deliver the divorce he craves. Yet for a man with the right talents this crisis could be an opportunity. Thomas Cromwell is a commoner who has risen in Wolsey’s household – and he will stop at nothing to secure the King’s desires and advance his own ambitions. In ‘Bring Up the Bodies’, the volatile Anne Boleyn is now Queen, her career seemingly entwined with that of Cromwell. But when the King begins to fall in love with self-effacing Jane Seymour, the ever-pragmatic Cromwell must negotiate within an increasingly perilous Court to satisfy Henry, defend the nation and, above all, to secure his own rise in the world. Hilary Mantel’s novels are the most formidable literary achievements of recent times, both recipients of the Man Booker Prize. This volume contains both plays and a substantial set of notes by Hilary Mantel on each of the principal characters, offering a unique insight into the adaptations and an invaluable resource to any theatre companies wishing to stage them.
How to predict the weather with a cup of coffee: And other techniques for surviv
¥69.26
How to predict the weather with a cup of coffee and other essential techniques for surviving the 9-5 A smart, spoof survival guide – to the 9-5. Ray Mears’ and Bruce Parry’s advice is all very well if you’re stuck up the Amazon without a paddle, but what about finding your way to a seat on a crowded bus, predicting the weather with a coffee in Starbucks or getting rid of cold callers with a microwave? Urban Bushcraft shows how to dust off your native survival instincts and update them for the modern world – whether it’s negotiating the car park at Ikea, anti-interrogation techniques at customer service desks, or navigating by electricity pylon. Harnessing the laws of science, nature and human behaviour, this book revisits and reinvents the tricks that got us through our savage past and updates them for the 21st century. It arms you with a caveman’s toolkit for survival wherever you may be – Starbucks, the office, or a crowded tube on a Friday night – and tells you all you need to know to transform your daily grind into a non-stop adventure (you don’t even have to wear khaki).
It’s Not Me, It’s You!: Impossible perfectionist, 27, seeks very very very tidy
¥69.26
‘I loved Jon’s book. It’s even better than the real thing because you can’t hear his voice.’ Michael McIntyre A control freak looks for love (women who leave wet teaspoons in sugar bowls need not apply). ‘I haven’t woken up with a cup of tea by the bed for seven years. It seems such a small thing but it’s one of a thousand things I miss about having someone around to take care of me. I have spent my entire adult life getting things the way I want them and all I want now is someone to give it all up for.’ Is your filing faultless? Your CDs, apostrophes, cutlery all in the right places? Can you eat a biscuit in the correct way? Then Jon Richardson (single for seven years and counting) could be your ideal man… Living alone in a one bedroom flat in Swindon, Jon has had far too much time on his hands to think. In fact to obsess. About almost everything. Jon’s obssessive compulsive personality disorder has seen him arrange the coins in his pockets in ascending size and colour code his bookshelves. It takes him less than 90 seconds to locate a receipt for a pair of shoes he bought in 1997. Over to the filing cabinet and R for receipts, S for shoes. But Jon doesn’t want to be like this, in fact he would quite like to share his life with someone. But who could that someone be? Someone like himself, a quarrelsome perfectionist only with breasts and less body hair? Absolutely not. But who exactly is Jon looking for and where will he find her? Faced with a loveless future filled with his own peculiar quirks and perfectionism, Jon sets about his search for The One. The question is, will he mind her keeping the knives to the left of the forks in the cutlery drawer or organising the CDs by genre and not alphabetically?
How to Be a Husband
¥69.26
The much-loved Guardian columnist asks what it takes to make a husband, and looks to his own married life to provide the answer.* *Anything resembling advice should be taken at reader’s own risk. You’ll never get divorced if you never get married. Not even your granny minds if you live in sin anymore. And if you’re single you can choose curtains without somebody else butting in. So why bother with marriage? It can’t just be an easy way round having to buy your own deodorant. Guardian columnist Tim Dowling is a husband of some twenty years. His marriage is resounding proof that even the most impossible partnership can work out for the best. Some of the time. So while this book is called ‘How To be a Husband’, it’s not really a how-to guide at all. Nor is it a compendium of petty remarks and brinkmanship – although it contains plenty of both. You may pick up a few DIY hints. You might learn that while marriage is founded on love, it endures through bloody hard work. Most likely it will make you whimper with the laughter of painful recognition. ‘How To be a Husband’ is a cautionary tale about throwing caution to the wind. It’s the strange romance of two people consenting to share a roll-on. It’s a new manifesto for marriage and an answer to why, even when we suck at it, we stick at it.
One on One
¥68.67
101 chance meetings, juxtaposing the famous and the infamous, the artistic and the philistine, the pompous and the comical, the snobbish and the vulgar, told by Britain’s funniest writer. Life is made up of humans meeting one another. They speak, or don’t speak. They get on, or fall out. They laugh, they cry, are excited, are indifferent. One on One is a chain of 101 extraordinary but true encounters, from Tolstoy rumbling Tchaikovsky in 1876 to George Galloway baiting Michael Barrymore in 2006. The Royal Family giggle at T.S. Eliot, Walter Sickert draws the curtains on the carol-singing Edward Heath, Youssoupoff assassinates Rasputin, Marilyn Monroe commissions Frank Lloyd Wright. Circular in its construction, panoramic in its breadth, One on One is a book like no other. ‘Brown’s glorious book is an original and a complete delight’ Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times, Books of the Year