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The Big Book of Celebrity Inventions
The Big Book of Celebrity Inventions
Mark Champkins,Peter Jones
¥95.75
Due to the complicated layout, this ebook is best viewed on a tablet. Ever wanted to see Harry Hill’s nuts? Fancy a cuppa with Karl Pilkington and his Clippable Coasters? Ever wondered how Michael Jackson defied gravity with his dance moves? Then read on! Our nation’s best-loved celebrities, from Jamie Oliver to Harry Hill, the Stig to Sherrie Hewson, Karl Pilkington to Peter Jones, Ruby Wax and beyond, have been scratching their heads to come up with logic-defying, bizarre and random inventions to improve our lives. From shrink rays to teleporters, foldable skis to airbags for clothes and a vacuum-cleaner that sucks away your wrinkles, you’ll be amazed by what these celebs have been dreaming up in their spare time! The Big Book of Celebrity Inventions offers a fascinating, hilarious and utterly unique look at the extraordinary business of inventing, seen through the eyes of our favourite stars. And there are even ones that work! For example: ? Did you know that Margaret Thatcher invented soft-scoop ice cream? ? That Prince invented a space-age musical keyboard? ? Or that Roald Dahl helped advances in neurosurgery? From the ridiculous to the sublime and those that fail magnificently, one thing’s for certain: The Big Book of Celebrity Inventions is the ultimate celebration of oddness, originality and ingenuity, sure to fascinate, baffle and inspire you!
Sidetracks
Sidetracks
Richard Holmes
¥95.75
In this classic work, the author of 'Footsteps' collects the biographical stories that have captured his fancy in the course of researching his books on the romantic poets, creating a captivating mixture of biography and memoir. ‘Sidetracks' is a sister book to 'Footsteps', conjured up from decades of 'wanderings from the straight and narrow' of his major biographies of Shelley and Coleridge. As Holmes himself says, 'to be sidetracked is, after all, to be led astray by a path or an idea, a scent or a tune, and maybe lost forever.' The centerpiece of the book is the poignant, inspiring story of Mary Woolstonecraft, the great feminist crusader and philosopher and her husband, William Godwin. But 'Sidetracks' winds through an extraordinary and eclectic assortment of Romantic and Gothic writers and personalities, all made hypnotically alive through Holmes's transforming touch. We meet Chatterton and Gautier, Pierrot and Voltaire, Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, James Boswell and Zelide, MR James and some very unpleasant gothic apparitions. 'Sidetracks' is a renewed examination of the strange and sometimes shadowy pathways of biography.
The Peregrine: 50th Anniversary Edition: Afterword by Robert Macfarlane
The Peregrine: 50th Anniversary Edition: Afterword by Robert Macfarlane
J. A. Baker,Mark Cocker
¥95.75
J.A. Baker (1926-1987) is now widely acknowledged as one of the most important British writers on nature in the twentieth century. When his first book, The Peregrine, appeared in 1967 with all the unexpected power and vertiginous daring of its eponymous bird, it was instantly recognised as a masterpiece. Today it is viewed by many as the gold standard for all nature writing and, in many ways, it transcends even this species of praise. A case could easily be made for its greatness by the standards of any literary genre.
The Five Giants [New Edition]: A Biography of the Welfare State
The Five Giants [New Edition]: A Biography of the Welfare State
Nicholas Timmins
¥95.75
Nicholas Timmins has been Public Policy Editor of the Financial Times since 1996. Before that he was with the Independent for a decade from its foundation., working variously as its health and social services correspondent , politcal correspondent and its public policy editor. He previously held similar posts at The Times. He has also worked for the Press Association and Nature. He has therefore been reporting on the events covered in this, his first book, for twenty years.
I Still Dream
I Still Dream
James Smythe
¥95.75
“A strikingly intelligent book about intelligence itself” – Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent 1997. 17-year-old Laura Bow has invented a rudimentary artificial intelligence, and named it Organon. At first it’s intended to be a sounding-board for her teenage frustrations, a surrogate best friend; but as she grows older, Organon grows with her. As the world becomes a very different place, technology changes the way we live, love and die; massive corporations develop rival intelligences to Laura’s, ones without safety barriers or morals; and Laura is forced to decide whether to share her creation with the world. If it falls into the wrong hands, she knows, its power could be abused. But what if Organon is the only thing that can stop humanity from hurting itself irreparably? I STILL DREAM is a powerful tale of love, loss and hope; a frightening, heartbreakingly human look at who we are now – and who we can be, if we only allow ourselves.
Epitaph for the Ash: In Search of Recovery and Renewal
Epitaph for the Ash: In Search of Recovery and Renewal
Lisa Samson
¥95.75
An English language and literature specialist with many years’ experience of teaching English and Italian, Lisa Samson is a Senior Lecturer in Writing at Leeds Beckett University. Lisa's first novel, Talk To Me, came second in the Virginia Prize for Fiction 2011. She has been published in short form both in print and online.
The gripping new crime thriller book – a must read for 2018
The gripping new crime thriller book – a must read for 2018
Roz Watkins
¥95.75
The Times Crime Book of the Month, April 2018 ‘A fascinating debut’ Sunday Times ‘A touch of Agatha Christie, a dash of Ann Cleeves’s Vera and a suitably moody setting in the Peaks…bring a formidable newcomer to British crime writing.’ Daily Mail A SHOCKING DEATH A lawyer is found dead in a Peak District cave, his face ribboned with scratches. A SINISTER MESSAGE Amidst rumours of a local curse, DI Meg Dalton is convinced this is cold-blooded murder. There's just one catch – chiselled into the cave wall above the body is an image of the grim reaper and the dead man's initials, and it's been there for over a century. A DEADLY GAME As Meg battles to solve the increasingly disturbing case, it's clear someone knows her secrets. The murderer is playing games with Meg – and the dice are loaded… A white-knuckle crime debut introducing DI Meg Dalton, perfect for fans of Broadchurch and Happy Valley.
Witchsign (Ashen Torment, Book 1)
Witchsign (Ashen Torment, Book 1)
Den Patrick
¥95.75
From celebrated fantasy author Den Patrick comes WITCHSIGN, the first novel in a fresh and exciting new fantasy trilogy It has been seventy-five years since the dragons’ rule of fire and magic was ended. Out of the ashes, the Solmindre Empire was born. Since then, the tyrannical Synod has worked hard to banish all manifestations of the arcane from existence. However, children are still born bearing the taint of the arcane, known to all as witchsign. Vigilants are sent out across the continent of Vinterkveld to find and capture all those bearing the mark. No one knows when the Vigilants of the Synod will appear and enforce the Empire’s laws. But today they’re coming. And gods help those who bear the sign of the witch.
No Good Brother
No Good Brother
Tyler Keevil
¥95.75
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE 2018 The Coen Brothers meets Patrick deWitt in this glorious novel from award-winning author Tyler Keevil: a high-stakes adventure of love, loss and morality, introducing two unlikely outlaws… Tim Harding has spent the fishing season in Canada working as a deckhand, making an honest living. When his hot-headed younger brother tracks him down at the shipyards in Vancouver, Tim senses trouble. Jake is a drifter, a dreamer, an ex-con, and now he needs help in repaying a debt to the notorious Delaney gang. So begins an epic, unpredictable odyssey across land and sea as the brothers journey down to the Delaney’s ranch in the U.S., chased by customs officials, freak storms and the gnawing feeling that their luck is about to run out. But while they may be able to outrun the law, there’s no escaping the ghosts of their tragic family past and neither is prepared for who and what awaits them at the other end. Quick-witted and beautifully observed, No Good Brother is an exquisite portrait of brotherly love and loyalty, examining the loss of innocence and the ties that bind us.
The Queens of Innis Lear
The Queens of Innis Lear
Tessa Gratton
¥95.75
A KINGDOM AT RISK, A CROWN DIVIDED, A FAMILY DRENCHED IN BLOOD Tessa Gratton's debut epic adult fantasy, The Queens of Innis Lear, brings to life a world that hums with ancient magic, and characters as ruthless as the tides. The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes. The king’s three daughters – battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia – know the realm’s only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted. Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war – but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.
Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation
Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation
Michael Chabon,Ayelet Waldman
¥95.75
Published to coincide the with 50th anniversary of the Israel occupation of the West Bank, an anthology that explores the human cost of the conflict there as witnessed by such notable writers as Colum McCann, Colm Toibin, Dave Eggers, Madeleine Thien, Eimear McBride, Taiye Selasi and editors Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. June 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Israel occupation of the West Bank. The violence on both sides of the conflict has been horrific, the casualties catastrophic. Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, two of today's most renowned novelists and essayists, have joined forces with the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence―an organization comprised of former Israeli soldiers who served in the occupied territories and saw firsthand the injustice there―and a host of illustrious writers to tell the stories of the people on the ground in the contested territories. KINGDOM OF OLIVES AND ASH includes contributions from some of our most esteemed storytellers, including essays from editors Chabon and Waldman. Their writing enables readers to understand the human narratives behind the litany of grim destruction broadcasted nightly on the news. Together they all stand witness to the human cost of the occupation.
Boundaries: How to Draw the Line in Your Head, Heart and Home
Boundaries: How to Draw the Line in Your Head, Heart and Home
Jennie Miller,Victoria Lambert
¥95.75
About Jennie MillerJennie Miller MSc is a Transactional Analysis psychotherapist, trainer and relationship expert with 20 years’ experience specialising in depression, working one-to-one with personality disorders, and seeing couples. She is also the founder of the very popular ‘The Key to Couples Work’, a TA-based training programme that she delivers in this country and abroad. She works with the Armed Forces training their welfare officers, and is currently designing a training programme for solicitors’ practices and other professional offices. In her private practice, she sees individuals for long-term psychotherapy, couples, and small family groups. Jennie is well known internationally for her work in relationships and creative use of boundaries. About Victoria LambertVictoria Lambert is an international award-winning journalist, and has written for most of the UK’s national newspapers, principally the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Daily Mail. She has written for numerous magazines including Woman & Home, The Spectator and Saga, and has been a columnist for Geographical and education magazine School House where she is the agony aunt. Staff positions have included Health Editor of the Daily Telegraph and Health Editor of the Daily Mail, plus Foreign Editor, in Australia, of the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Victoria Lambert’s work is syndicated worldwide and she has been recognised with awards including the Best Cancer Reporter Award 2011 presented by the European School of Oncology.
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror
Richard Holmes
¥95.75
Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and winner of the Royal Society Prize for Science Books, Richard Holmes’s dazzling portrait of the age of great scientific discovery is a groundbreaking achievement. The book opens with Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook’s first Endeavour voyage, who stepped onto a Tahitian beach in 1769 fully expecting to have located Paradise. Back in Britain, the same Romantic revolution that had inspired Banks was spurring other great thinkers on to their own voyages of artistic and scientific discovery – astronomical, chemical, poetical, philosophical – that together made up the ‘age of wonder’. In this breathtaking group biography, Richard Holmes tells the stories of the period’s celebrated innovators and their great scientific discoveries: from telescopic sight to the miner’s lamp, and from the first balloon flight to African exploration.
The Last Days of the Spanish Republic
The Last Days of the Spanish Republic
Paul Preston
¥95.75
Told for the first time in English, Paul Preston’s new book tells the story of a preventable tragedy that cost many thousands of lives and ruined tens of thousands more at the end of the Spanish Civil War. This is the story of an avoidable humanitarian tragedy that cost many thousands of lives and ruined tens of thousands more. It has many protagonists but centres on three individuals. One, Dr Juan Negrín, the victim of what might be termed a conspiracy of fools, tried to prevent it. Two bore responsibility for what transpired. One of those, Julián Besteiro, was guilty of culpable na?vety. The other, Segismundo Casado behaved with a remarkable combination of cynicism, arrogance and selfishness. On 5 March 1939, the eternally malcontent Colonel Casado launched a military coup against the government of Juan Negrín. Ironically, he ensured that the end of the Spanish Civil War was almost identical to its beginning. As Mola, Franco and the other conspirators of 1936 had done, Casado led a part of the Republican Army in revolt against the Republican government. He claimed, as they had done, and equally without foundation, that Negrín’s government was the puppet of the Communist Party and that a coup was imminent to establish a Communist dictatorship. Casado’s ambition was to go down in history as the man who ended the Spanish Civil War. Instead he ensured the Republic ended in catastrophe and shame as Negrin’s attempts to achieve an honourable and negotiated peace with guarantees for the civilian population were thwarted and Franco and his forces wreaked havoc and revenge. Madrid collapsed into civil war and two thousand people died. Refugees fled reprisals in their thousands and those who couldn’t escape met a terrible fate. Paul Preston, the leading historian of 20th century Spain, tells this shocking story for the first time in English. It is a harrowing tale of how the flawed decisions of politicans can lead to tragedy.
A Fish Dinner in Memison (Zimiamvia, Book 2)
A Fish Dinner in Memison (Zimiamvia, Book 2)
E. R. Eddison,James Stephens
¥95.75
The second volume in the classic epic trilogy of parallel worlds, admired by Tolkien and the great prototype for The Lord of the Rings and modern fantasy fiction. A lady strays from a garden path and enters a different realm. A king wages dynastic war for control of three kingdoms. As villains plot to take control of an alternate world inhabited by the souls of the dead, a mysterious, magical woman seeks her destiny, igniting a splendid pageantry of battles and quests, poisonous love and triumphant passion, doomed loyalties and unsurpassed courage. And while Edward Lessingham engages in an earthly romance in twentieth-century England, seduction in Zimiamvia takes place over the most lavish of banquets…
Woodlands
Woodlands
Oliver Rackham
¥95.75
‘Trees are wildlife just as deer or primroses are wildlife. Each species has its own agenda and its own interactions with human activities …’ Written by one of Britain’s best-known naturalists, Woodlands offers a fascinating new insight into the trees of the British landscape that have filled us with awe and inspiration throughout the centuries. Looking at such diverse evidence as the woods used in buildings and ships, and how woodland has been portrayed in pictures and photographs, Rackham traces British woodland through the ages, from the evolution of wildwood, through man’s effect on the landscape, modern forestry and its legacy, and recent conservation efforts and their effects. In his lively and thoroughly engaging style, Rackham explores woodlands and their history, through names, surveys, mapping and legal documents, archaeology, photographs and works of art, thus offering an utterly compelling insight into British woodlands and how they have come to shape a national obsession.
The Corner Office: How Top CEOs Made It and How You Can Too
The Corner Office: How Top CEOs Made It and How You Can Too
Adam Bryant
¥95.75
Aspirational business book based on interviews with over 75 leading American CEOs. What does it take to succeed in business and to inspire others? Adam Bryant of The New York Times sat down with more than seventy-five CEOs and asked them how they do their jobs and the most important lessons they learned as they rose through the ranks. The Corner Office draws together lessons, memorable stories, and eye-opening insights from chief executives like Steven Ballmer (Microsoft), Carol Bartz (Yahoo), Jeffrey Katzenberg (DreamWorks), and Alan Mulally (Ford), as Bryant reveals the keys to success in the business world, including the five qualities CEOs value most in their employees, and shows how executives at the top of their game get the most out of others. For aspiring executives, of any age, The Corner Office offers perspectives that will help anyone who seeks to be a more effective leader and employee, and a path to future success.
We British The Poetry of a People
We British The Poetry of a People
Andrew Marr
¥95.75
‘This book includes some of the greatest of our poetry. I hope that it adds up to a new way of thinking about who we have been, and who we are now.’ We British is much more than an anthology. This is a veritable history of Britain, told through the verse of its greatest poets. With the entertaining and enlightening Andrew Marr as our guide, we travel from Saxon settlements to medieval courts, from Shakespeare’s Globe to the battlefields of the Somme, ending up here in the present day. On the way we will meet Middle English ploughmen, Tudor drunks, Scottish farmers, West Country priests, a Warwickshire actor, and many more bards and balladeers from across the British Isles, each adding their own distinct voice to the chorus. From Caedmon to Zephaniah, the poets we meet will paint a powerful portrait of what it means to be British
Mortal Remains
Mortal Remains
Emma Page
¥95.75
A Kesley and Lambert novel. Cannonbridge's wealthiest and poorest are drawn into the complex web of DCI Kelsey and Sergeant Lambert's investigations. The body of an old man is discovered in the garden of an abandoned house. There are no witnesses. There is no murder weapon. The victim is Harry Lingard, the hardworking owner of the council house he grew up in, who still fights for the rights of local tenants. Harry had made enemies in high and low places with his vigilantism, investigations into corruption and confrontations with government housing officials. Harry's granddaughter Jill, obsessed with the glamour of her customers at the department store where she works, may not have been pleased when Harry refused to lend her money.
Ting Tang Tommy
Ting Tang Tommy
Simon Godwin
¥95.75
Good games are like good jokes. They get remembered and passed on from person to person. But sometimes they get forgotten. ‘Ting Tang Tommy!’ is about remembering the best games we’ve ever known This book sets out to prove that you can play games anywhere – on the beach, having dinner with friends, at a barbeque, with your family at Christmas. It will equip you with loads of simple, memorable games that you can share at any moment of the day – no equipment required. Beautifully produced and designed, ‘Ting Tang Tommy!’ is both a handbook of games and a personal exploration of them, full of potted histories and interesting facts. Each game featured has been tried and tested – and, most importantly, loved.
What’s Mine Is Yours: How Collaborative Consumption is Changing the Way We Live
What’s Mine Is Yours: How Collaborative Consumption is Changing the Way We Live
Rachel Botsman
¥95.75
In the 20th century humanity consumed products faster than ever, but this way of living is no longer sustainable. This new and important book shows how technological advances are driving forms of ‘collaborative consumption’ which will change forever the ways in which we interact both with businesses and with each other. The average lawn mower is used for four hours a year. The average power drill is used for only twenty minutes in its entire lifespan. The average car is unused for 22 hours a day, and even when it is being used there are normally three empty seats. Surely there must be a way to get the benefit out of things like mowers, drills and even cars, without having to carry the huge up-front costs of ownership? There is indeed. Collaborative consumption is not just a buzzword, it is a new win-win way of life. This insightful and thought-provoking new book by Rachel Rogers and Roo Botsman is an important and fast-moving survey of the dramatic changes we are seeing in the way we consume products. Many of us are familiar with freecycle, eBay, couchsurfing and Zipcar. But these are just the beginning of a new phenomenon. Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers have interviewed business leaders and opinion formers around the world to draw together the many strands of Collaborative Consumption into a coherent and challenging argument to show that the way we did business and consumerism in the 20th century is not the way we will do it in the 21st century.