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The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
David Boyle
¥82.01
Never before have we attempted to measure as much as we do today. Why are we so obsessed with numbers? What can they really tell us? Too often we try to quantify what can’t actually be measured. We count people, but not individuals. We count exam results rather than intelligence, benefit claimants instead of poverty. The government has set itself 10,000 new targets. Politicians pack their speeches with skewed statistics: crime rates are either rising or falling depending on who is doing the counting. We are in a world in which everything designed only to be measured. If it can’t be measured it can be ignored. But the big problem is what numbers don’t tell you. They won’t interpret. They won’t inspire, and they won’t tell you precisely what causes what. In this passionately argued and thought-provoking book, David Boyle examines our obsession with numbers. He reminds us of the danger of taking numbers so seriously at the expense of what is non-measurable, non-calculable: intuition, creativity, imagination, happiness… Counting is a vital human skill. Yardsticks are a vital tool. As long as we remember how limiting they are if we cling to them too closely. Americans who claim to have been abducted by aliens = 3.7 million Average time spent by British people in traffic jams every year = 11 days Number of Americans shot by children under six between 1983 and 1993 = 138, 490
Sentimental Murder: Love and Madness in the Eighteenth Century (Text Only)
Sentimental Murder: Love and Madness in the Eighteenth Century (Text Only)
John Brewer
¥82.01
On an April evening in 1779, a woman is shot on the steps of Covent Garden. Her murderer is a young soldier and Church of England minister; her lover, the Earl of Sandwich, one of the most powerful politicians of the day. This compelling account of murder, love and intrigue brings Georgian London to life in a spellbinding historical masterpiece. On an April evening in 1779, Martha Ray, mistress of the Earl of Sandwich, was shot on the steps of Covent Garden by James Hackman, a young soldier and minister of the Church of England. She died instantly, leaving behind a grief-stricken lover and five small children. Hackman, after trying to kill himself, was arrested, tried and hanged at Tyburn ten days later. The story was to become one of the scandals of the age. It seemed an open-and-shut case, but why had Hackman killed Ray? He claimed he suffered from ‘love’s madness’ but his motives remained obscure. And as Martha Ray shared the bed of one of the most powerful and unpopular politicians of the day (and one of Georgian London's greatest libertines), the city buzzed with the story, as every hack journalist sharpened his pen. John Brewer has written an account of this violent murder that is as thrilling and compelling as the best crime novel. Atmospheric, beautifully written, and alive with the characters and bustle of 18th-century London, the book examines in minute detail the events of a few crucial moments and gives an unforgettable account of the relationships between the three protagonists and their different places within society. However, the interest in Martha's murder did not end with the Georgians, and ‘Sentimental Murder ‘ranges over two centuries, populated by journalists, biographers and historians who tried to make sense of the killing. And so it becomes an intriguing exploration of the relations between history and fiction, storytelling and fact, past and present. John Brewer has transformed a tragic tale of murder into an historical masterpiece.
I.B.S.: Reduce Pain and Improve Digestion the Natural Way (Eat to Beat)
I.B.S.: Reduce Pain and Improve Digestion the Natural Way (Eat to Beat)
Dr. Sarah Brewer,Michelle Berriedale-Johnson
¥72.40
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is now extremely common with at least one in three adults being affected. A controlled diet is the most effective way to deal with this painful problem. A new title in the Eat to Beat series, following up on the enormous success of Eat to Beat Arthritis Eat To Beat IBS provides recipes and advice to help with IBS and digestive pain. Written by a medical doctor (and Telegraph columnist) and and a well-known special diets cookery writer, it offers the health advice and support that IBS sufferers need, as well as providing a range of 60 good gut recipes. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often the result of a basic food intolerance and can often flare up at times of stress. Aside from well known IBS ‘baddies’ such as caffeine, there is a range of common ‘trigger’ foods. Readers are encouraged to focus on different food ranges to help them identify their personal IBS triggers. Contains: ? All of the mainstream medical information – in an ‘easy to digest’ style. ? The low-down on the full range of effective complementary health treatments available. ? 60 good gut recipes that allow IBS sufferers control their diet, whilst still enjoying their food.
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Darcey Bussell
¥16.87
Return to the magical world of Enchantia in the captivating second series of Magic Ballerina by Darcey Bussell! King Neptune, ruler of the underwater kingdom, has accused King Tristan of taking his special sceptre and as a punishment he's cast a storm spell over Enchantia! Can Rosa and Nutmeg find out who really has the sceptre or will Enchantia be gloomy forever?
Rosa and the Magic Moonstone (Magic Ballerina, Book 9)
Rosa and the Magic Moonstone (Magic Ballerina, Book 9)
Darcey Bussell
¥16.87
Return to the magical world of Enchantia in the captivating second series of Magic Ballerina by Darcey Bussell! Everyone in Madame Za-Za’s class is taking part in their first ballet exams and Rosa is feeling pretty confident about passing hers. But right in the middle of the exam she is whisked away to Enchantia. The magical moonstone has broken and all of the ballets have become muddled up! Can Rosa put things right?
On, Off
On, Off
Colleen McCullough
¥57.09
The captivating new novel from the international bestselling author of The Thorn Birds. It is 1965, and in Holloman, Connecticut, someone is preying on the innocent… At a prestigious research centre for the neurosciences, fondly known by its staff as ‘the Hug’, parts of a mutilated body are discovered. Very soon Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico of the Holloman police learns that a string of horrifying disappearances, each fitting the same modus operandi as the body found at the Hug, has been occurring throughout the state. Then another body is found and the medical staff become prime suspects…. With the Hug's hierarchies of power in turmoil and every member of its staff hiding something, Delmonico delves into the lives and pasts of each and every employee. It is the case of his career, and he is determined to solve it. But how do you find a monster who leaves no clues and is always two steps ahead?
A Country Parish (Collins New Naturalist Library, Book 9)
A Country Parish (Collins New Naturalist Library, Book 9)
A. W. Boyd
¥456.66
The natural history of an ordinary English country parish was one of the first subjects that suggested themselves when the New Naturalist series was planned. Collins are delighted to announce the republication in facsimile form of the first editions of the very first volumes in the New Naturalist Library. Originally planned in the darkest days of World War II and first published in 1945, this series is the longest running nature series in the world. It is a reflection of the quality of the authors and the books they wrote, that they are still sought after 73 years later. The books will be identical in every way to the original first editions, including the iconic jackets by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. The natural history of an ordinary English country parish was one of the first subjects that suggested themselves when the New Naturalist series was planned. Being chiefly farmland and therefore practically all man-made, most country parishes are extremely complex from the naturalist's point of view and also inevitably contain a vast amount of human history. Any attempt to describe their plants and animals has to be closely related with the ways of man himself, who must be regarded as the chief element in the community - a fact which has been obvious enough to naturalists ever since the days of Gilbert White. For this book we were fortunate to find an author who combined a thorough all-round knowledge of natural history with a sound insight into human customs, history, pastimes and farming methods. Arnold Boyd lived in Cheshire all his life - and in keeping with the best tradition of English amateur naturalists, he excelled as a collector of facts, as is apparent from his previous books, his writing in the Manchester Guardian and other journals, and in his assistant editorship of British Birds. By weaving together his collection of facts he presents us with a book of remarkable unity and which shows a wide grasp of every aspect of the living communities. This charming yet erudite portrait will protect his beloved parish for ever from the ravages of human forgetfulness.
Hot Pursuit
Hot Pursuit
Gemma Fox
¥56.11
Maggie’s about to have the holiday romance of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews. Maggie Morgan has been longing to find Mr Right all her life but even she didn't expect him to be delivered to her door, giftwrapped in a skimpy towel, one sunny summer morning. Sexy Nick Lucas seems almost too good to be true – and maybe he is. Arriving out of nowhere, he seems to have no past, no family, no history: things just don't add up. As Nick's past starts to catch up with him, Maggie becomes embroiled in an exciting cat-and-mouse chase across the country. Temperatures rise and passion sizzles but although Maggie has the hots for Nick, can she take the heat?
Driven
Driven
James Martin
¥63.18
Whether skateboarding across the kitchen as a child, or taking part in the world's most prestigious vintage road race, TV chef James Martin has never been one to sit still. In this entertaining narrative he reveals how his two passions – cooking and cars – have fuelled his hopes, dreams and successes and made him the household name he is today. James talks with passion, energy and candid humour about his childhood, early ambitions, becoming a successful chef and wowing audiences with his foxtrot on Strictly Come Dancing. His story is punctuated with tales of remarkable cars, from his first toy Ferrari to his vintage Maserati, each one representing a personal milestone and bringing with it charming stories and amusing anecdotes. James' cars give him the perfect excuse to delve into his life, revealing frank and fascinating details - from racing through the fields on his father's tractor and teenage fumblings in the back seat, to hurtling round a track with James Bond actor, Daniel Craig. With James' career reaching new heights, and his collection of classic cars continuing to grow, Driven tells how his two lifelong obsessions have shaped the life of this relentlessly ambitious man.
My Kitchen
My Kitchen
James Martin
¥95.75
My Kitchen is a collection of James Martin's favourite seasonal recipes. Be inspired in your kitchen all year round with more than 100 of James's tried-and-tested favourites. As the face of British food, James Martin knows how to cook for an audience. But what happens when the cameras are turned off and it's time to feed himself and his friends? Here James shares the recipes that see him through the year, with plenty of easy and irresistible ideas for fantastic food, even when there's no occasion. James firmly believes that fresh, local ingredients are always the best, and he often uses his own home-grown fruit and veg in his everyday cooking. His recipes are organised by the seasons, so that whether your produce hails from the garden, the greengrocer or the supermarket, you'll never be short of ways to celebrate delicious seasonal food. A vocal supporter of traditional British grub, James also includes ideas for using different cuts of meat, harking back to an era of 'waste not, want not'. Determined to prove that game, such as grouse, rabbit and venison, is not only affordable but also very delicious, he finds versatile ways to turn these meats into mouth-watering dishes that everyone will love. Discover over 100 no-nonsense recipes from James's personal repertoire, all explained in his straightforward and easy-to-follow manner. Accompanied by beautiful food photography and seasonal reportage images which offer a view of James's own house and garden, this is a book which cannot fail to inspire healthy, hearty home-cooked food. RECIPES INCLUDE: ? Leek and Potato Soup with Smoked Salmon and Poached Egg ? Cromer Crab Toastie ? Beef and Fennel Koftas with Corn on the Cob ? Marinated Loin of Lamb with Warm Figs, Coriander and Honey ? Herb-crusted Baked Cod with Spiced Cauliflower Cheese ? Roasted Turkey with Guinness Glaze ? Rabbit Casserole with Grapes and White Wine ? Thyme-roasted Apricots with Honey Madelines ? Swiss-style Hazelnut Meringue with Coffee Cream ? Christmas Pudding Ice Cream with Warm Satsumas and Caramel Sauce
Darkmans
Darkmans
Nicola Barker
¥68.67
Shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize, an epic novel of startling originality which confirms Nicola Barker as one of Britain's most exciting literary talents. If history is a sick joke which keeps on repeating, then who keeps on telling it? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's jester, whose favourite skit was to burn people alive? Or could it be Andrew Boarde, physician to Henry VIII, who wrote John Scogin's biography? Or could it be a Kurd called Gaffar whose days are blighted by an unspeakable terror of salad? Or a beautiful bulimic with brittle bones? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? Darkmans is a very modern book, set in ridiculously modern Ashford, about two old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. And the main character? The past, creeping up on the present and whispering something quite dark into its ear. Darkmans is the third of Nicola Barker's visionary Thames Gateway novels. Following Wide Open (winner Dublin IMPAC award 2000) and Behindlings it confirms one of Britain's most original literary talents.
The Fields of Grief
The Fields of Grief
Giles Blunt
¥53.76
A terrifying psychological thriller in which a spate of suicides could just be the work of a serial killer; featuring homicide detectives Cardinal and Delorme from the award-winning ‘Forty Words for Sorrow’. Photographer Catherine Cardinal’s fatal fall from a high building one moonlit night is ruled an act of suicide. She has a history of depression, a note is found and her psychiatrist is not surprised. But her husband, John Cardinal, won’t accept this conclusion. Driven by grief and guilt, he launches his own investigation, helped by his reluctant colleagues. And when vicious notes appear, taunting him for his loss, his theory that she was murdered suddenly seems to be credible. Cardinal revisits his past, searching for a possible suspect among his previous arrests. Someone with a grudge, a person twisted enough to target his innocent wife in revenge. But could he be looking in the wrong place? The mystery deepens when he uncovers a spate of tragic suicides, leading him to investigate a startling new possibility – one so shocking, it has never been suspected…
Black Fly Season
Black Fly Season
Giles Blunt
¥65.53
The third atmospheric psychological thriller featuring detectives Cardinal and Delorme, from the award-winning author of FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW. Sacrifice for the spirits or brutal murder? Someone in Algonquin Bay is out for blood. A young woman has been shot in the head. She can't remember why anyone wants to hurt her, or even her own name. Then a body turns up – Wombat Guthrie, biker and drug dealer, has taken his last ride. It's unlikely that the two cases are linked, but detectives Cardinal and Delorme keep encountering a name – 'Red Bear'. A Chippewa shaman, Red Bear has recently moved into drugs and has enlisted the help of the spirit world. In return the 'spirits' demand sacrifice – human sacrifice. As the woman regains her memory, Cardinal suspects that she may not be as innocent as she appears. And what of Red Bear? Really a shaman? Or just another dealer with an appetite for murder? The truth must be found before the spirits claim another 'sacrifice'…
Cooking for Friends
Cooking for Friends
Gordon Ramsay
¥91.43
TV’s most famous chef, Gordon Ramsay, throws open the doors to his home and reveals what he cooks, away from the frantic pace of his restaurant kitchen, in a relaxed domestic setting. Retaining all of his trademark excitement and passion for food, bestselling Cooking for Friends is packed with simple, seasonal, modern British recipes. Now in paperback, Gordon gathers together over 100 inspiring recipes that everyone will enjoy cooking and sharing, perfect for a celebratory dinner with friends or simple Sunday night suppers. Learn how to quickly and easily whip up delicious Chorizo, Broad bean and Mint Couscous, Scallop Brochettes with Coriander and Chilli Butter, Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Cream Tarts and Toffee and Chocolate Steamed Pudding. Recipes that extol the virtues of supporting local producers and farmers’ markets, which can be cooked with seasonal fresh ingredients that haven't travelled miles to reach our plates and which celebrate the wealth of regional dishes available to us from Cornish Crab Soup to Bakewell Tarts. With chapters covering Hot and Cold Soups; Pasta and Grains; Fish and Shellfish; Meat and Poultry; Pies and Tarts; Vegetables and Salads; Puddings and Ices and Coffee and Chocolate, each recipe delivers stunning results.
Hey Baby! (The Sleepover Club)
Hey Baby! (The Sleepover Club)
Angie Bates
¥27.27
The hugely popular Sleepover Club series is back with a gorgeous new look. Meet Frankie, Kenny, Fliss, Rosie and Lyndz – five best friends who just want to have fun! Baby Morgan needs a babysitter urgently and the Sleepover Club girls agree to take charge. After all, what can be so difficult about looking after a baby? But things are never quite that simple for Frankie and friends.. As well as a great story this book has tips on how to have your own brilliant sleepover party for you and your friends. Pack up those nappies and toddle on over!
Close Range: Brokeback Mountain and other stories
Close Range: Brokeback Mountain and other stories
Annie Proulx
¥55.92
The inspiration behind ‘Life of Pi’ director Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is one of the short stories to be found in this haunting collection of Wyoming tales. ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is set in the beautiful, wild landscape of Wyoming where cowboys live as they have done for generations. Hard, lonely lives in unforgiving country. Jack Twist and Ennis del Mar are two ranch hands, glad to have found each other’s company where none had been expected. But companionship becomes something else on Brokeback Mountain, something not looked for – an intimacy neither can forget. ‘Brokeback Mountain’ was made into an Academy Award-winning film by Ang Lee, and starred Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway.
Lady of Hay: An enduring classic – gripping, atmospheric and utterly compelling
Lady of Hay: An enduring classic – gripping, atmospheric and utterly compelling
Barbara Erskine
¥78.38
A story spanning centuries. A long awaited revenge. In London, journalist Jo Clifford plans to debunk the belief in past-lives in a hard-hitting magazine piece. But her scepticism is shaken when a hypnotist forces her to relive the experiences of Matilda, Lady of Hay, a noblewoman during the reign of King John. She learns of Matilda's unhappy marriage, her love for the handsome Richard de Clare, and the brutal death threats handed out by King John, before it becomes clear that Jo’s past and present are inevitably entwined. She realises that eight hundred years on, Matilda’s story of secret passion and unspeakable treachery is about to repeat itself… Barbara Erskine’s iconic debut novel still delights generations of readers thirty years after its first publication.
The Herbalist: Nicholas Culpeper and the Fight for Medical Freedom
The Herbalist: Nicholas Culpeper and the Fight for Medical Freedom
Benjamin Woolley
¥72.40
From the bestselling author of ‘The Queen’s Conjuror’, comes the story of Nicholas Culpeper – legendary rebel, radical, Puritan, and author of the great ‘Herbal’. This is a powerful history of medicine’s first freedom fighter set in London during Britain’s age of revolution. In the mid-17th century, England was visited by the four horsemen of the apocalypse: a civil war which saw levels of slaughter not matched until the Somme, famine in a succession of failed harvests that reduced peasants to 'anatomies', epidemics to rival the Black Death in their enormity, and infant mortality rates that left childless even women who had borne eight or nine children. In the midst of these terrible times came Nicholas Culpeper’s ‘Herbal’ – one of the most popular and enduring books ever published. Culpeper was a virtual outcast from birth. Rebelling against a tyrannical grandfather and the prospect of a life in the church, he abandoned his university education after a doomed attempt at elopement. Disinherited, he went to London, where he was to find his vocation in instigating revolution. London's medical regime was then in the grip of the College of Physicians, a powerful body personified in the ‘immortal’ William Harvey, anatomist, royal physician and discoverer of the circulation of the blood. Working in the underground world of religious sects, secret printing presses and unlicensed apothecary shops, Culpeper challenged this stronghold at the time it was reaching the very pinnacle of its power – and in the process helped spark the revolution that toppled a monarchy. In a spellbinding narrative of impulse, romance and heroism, Benjamin Woolley vividly recreates these momentous struggles and the roots of today's hopes and fears about the power of medical science, professional institutions and government. ‘The Herbalist’ tells the story of a medical rebel who took on the authorities and paid the price.
Spellbound: Book 2 of the Spellwright Trilogy (The Spellwright Trilogy, Book 2)
Spellbound: Book 2 of the Spellwright Trilogy (The Spellwright Trilogy, Book 2)
Blake Charlton
¥59.15
SPELLBOUND is the second book in acclaimed debut author Blake Charlton’s exciting and original trilogy, following on from SPELLWRIGHT. Francesca DeVega is a successful healer in the city of Avel, wielding magical text to close wounds and disspell curses, but her life is thrown into chaos when a dead patient suddenly sits up and tells her to run. Now Francesca is in the middle of a game she doesn’t understand, one that ties her to the notorious rogue wizard, Nicodemus Weal, and brings her face to face with demons, demigods, and a man she thought she’d never see again. It has been ten years since Nicodemus Weal escaped the Starhaven Academy, where he was considered disabled and useless, where he battled the demon who stole his birthright and killed his friends. Unable to use the magical languages of his own people, Nico has honed his skills in the dark language of the kobolds, readying himself for his next encounter with the demon. But there are complications: his mentor suffers from an incurable curse, his half-sister’s agents are hunting him, and he’s still not sure what part Francesca DeVega will play. He certainly doesn’t know what to make of Francesca herself…. Introducing new twists to the unique magical system of Spellwright and uncovering more sinister dangers, Spellbound is sure to please Blake Charlton’s fans and earn him new ones.
Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage and Tragedy in the Extreme South
Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage and Tragedy in the Extreme South
David Crane
¥76.91
David Crane has given us a magisterial portrait of one of Britain’s greatest heroes and explorers, acclaimed as the ‘masterpiece’ on the subject. Reissued for the 100th anniversary of Scott’s doomed expedition. ‘It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more…For God’s sake look after our people.’ These were the final words written in Scott’s diary on 29 March 1912, as he lay dying of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold, in his tent on his return journey from the South Pole. Since then he has been the subject of many books. Yet in all the pages that have been written about him, the personality behind the legend has been forgotten or distorted beyond all recognition. David Crane’s magisterial biography redresses this completely. By reassessing Scott’s life and his substantial scientific achievements, Crane is able to provide a fresh and exciting perspective on both the Discovery expedition of 1901-4 and the Terra Nova expedition of 1910-12. The courage and tragedy of Scott’s last journey are only one part of the process, for the scientific enquiry that led up to it transformed the whole nature and ambition of Antarctic exploration. Written with the full support of Scott’s surviving relatives, and with access to the voluminous diaries and records of key participants, this definitive biography sets out to reconcile the very private struggles of the man with the very public life of extremes that he led.
Castle in the Air
Castle in the Air
Diana Wynne Jones
¥51.50
A magical Arabian Nights tale from the captivating creator of fantasy, Diana Wynne Jones. The dazzling sequel to Howls Moving Castle, now a major animated film. Far to the south in the Land of Ingary, lives a young carpet merchant called Abdullah. In his dreams, he is the long-lost son of a great prince. This dream is a complete castle in the air… or is it? Abdullah’s day-dreams suddenly start to come true when he meets the exquisite Flower-in-the-Night, daughter of the ferocious Sultan of Zanzib. Fate has destined them for each other, but a bad-tempered genie, a hideous djinn, and various villanous bandits have their own ideas. When Flower-in-the-Night is carried off, Abdullah is determined to rescue her – if he can find her.