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Napping is a lifestyle, one that respects our natural rhythm and nurtures the best of what we have to offer. If he hadn’t taken a nap in the shade of an apple tree, would Newton have discovered the law of gravity? This book is a wisdom-filled collection that reminds us to listen to the life lessons dispensed by nature and invites us to slow the maddening tempo of our lives down.
“A certified member of the satirical avengers, and a much needed tonic and educator in these mad times.” – MUNYA CHAWAWA”Full of nourishing facts with which to nobble your reform voting relatives.” – STEWART LEE In today’s climate of highly polarised, culture war-fuelled and personality driven politics, this is the book we all need.Award-winning comedian, satirist and political writer, Cody Dahler explores the most pertinent political head-scratchers affecting us all· Why are people voting for Reform UK?· Why did we Brexit?· What is the House of Lords and is everyone in there an arsehole?· Why are our rivers full of sh*t?· What’s to stop us becoming like America?· Why do our PMs change so often; and why do we use a lettuce to measure their success?Cody’s brilliantly witty and fact-filled deep-dives into the history and origins of our current political malaise are as informative as they are fun – and c
Comparing yourselves to others; feeling burnt out at work; struggling to live in the present; yearning for more money or possessions – in times like these, it’s easy to feel unfulfilled – but happiness shouldn’t feel out of reach. With her trademark wit and compassion, author and illustrator Dancing Snail breaks down how to find the small joys in everyday living. We are often told that ‘money can’t buy happiness’ or that we should simply ‘be kinder to ourselves’, but in a world that moves at a million miles an hour, it is impossible to keep up. But perhaps there is a way to reframe what holds us back? Instead, we could focus on accepting that some things don’t work out, on turning fear into empowerment, noting the difference between advice and disparagement, not always putting a price tag on our hobbies, and the joy of missing out.
Ever noticed how much traction a break-up ballad gains in column inches? Or how fans jump on dissecting and philosophising the roots of a diss track? Or ever watched a dance floor fill up whenever reference to Becky with the Good Hair blares through the speakers at a wedding party? Yep – the world, and its ears, love a bit of lyrically-sneering, heart-rending, soul-baring, all to a catchy baseline. From Lily Allen to Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell to Beyonce, Charli XCX to Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks to the members of ABBA, and let’s not forget 90’s RNB (who were those scrubs?!) – the world of pop has been full of brilliant singles that everyone sings along to, often without knowing their origin story. This book is a deep dive into their history and cultural reference, with some lovely snatches of gossip and trivia along the way.
Why is something excellent called the ‘bee’s knees’? Where did the phrase ‘barmy army’ come from? Why are people ‘dressed to the nines’? And who decided New York should be known as ‘The Big Apple’? Every day we use hundreds of words, sayings and expressions without giving a second thought to where they came from. Yet behind many of the English language’s most familiar phrases lie extraordinary stories involving kings and queens, soldiers and sailors, criminals and con artists, writers and wanderers. In this entertaining and enlightening guide, Harry Oliver uncovers the hidden history behind the words and phrases that have become part of everyday speech. From ancient legends and nautical traditions to sporting slang and literary inventions, discover how language has evolved through centuries of history, culture and human ingenuity.
Funny and informative, this is the perfect book to dip into whenever you need a conversation starter, a pub-quiz edge or simply a reminder of just how weird and wonderful Great Britain really is. Packed with hundreds of fascinating facts, bizarre stories and brilliant trivia, this is a celebration of the people, places and peculiarities that make Britain unlike anywhere else on Earth!
‘First Born Daughter’ is for anyone who was born into the role of unpaid family manager or simply suffers from hyper independence as a trauma response. It’s part social commentary, part survival guide for daughters, and an exploration of the psychology and reality of what it means to be a woman, a wife and a daughter today.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a born leader-bold, charismatic, and able to charm his peers and disarm critics with nothing more than a witty phrase and a winning smile. He was also obsessive, manipulative, and haunted by his complex desires. More than drugs, JFK was addicted to shiny, remarkable women, collecting them voraciously and carelessly on his rise to the White House and beyond. Once one entered his orbit, she might become his secret lover, his trusted helpmate, or his close confidant – only to be summarily dismissed when she no longer suited his needs. But these women were perhaps the only witnesses to the real JFK – the private man outside the glare of the spotlight – and it’s time their stories were finally told. In ‘Ladies’ Man’, Laurence Leamer reveals the harrowing, definitive life of JFK, from his early years to his shocking assassination, through the lens of these diverse, fascinating women he surrounded himself with.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – also known simply as ‘William and Kate’ – have done as much as anyone to bring the royal family into the twenty-first century, and to keep it firmly in the national consciousness. The birth of their first child, Prince George in 2013 fuelled such a worldwide media and public frenzy that it became the most talked-about event of the year, stoked by a natural affection for the young couple. With the births of Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018, the family have cemented their place as the future of the modern royal family. Charting the young couple’s romantic relationship through to present day, this in-depth book chronicles the next chapters in this modern fairy tale.
Too often history focuses on the stories of kings, those (often men) who were given the credit, yet what fascinates most are the stories of those who have passed through the cracks of history, people like: Giuliana Coen, the greatest fashion designer you’ve never heard of, the women at Playtex and how their out-of-the-box thinking and incredible skill played a major role in getting the first man on the Moon, and the tale of the unknown war hero Tommy Brown, who helped the code breakers of Bletchley with his extraordinary act of bravery. But it’s not just the people, as the book also champions the curious back stories to everyday objects – the humble fork, the china cup, and the real history of tea to name but a few. This book presents a thoughtful and often funny, curated selection of fascinating forgotten histories that give insight into some of the Western world’s most important cultural moments.
Harry Kane wasn’t supposed to become one of the world’s best strikers. Released, doubted and repeatedly sent out on loan as a teenager, he fought his way to the top through determination, hard work and an unshakable belief in his own ability. The result? A career packed with goals, records and historic achievements. From his childhood in north-east London to becoming England’s all-time leading scorer, Harry Kane’s journey is a story of talent, resilience and relentless ambition. This definitive biography tells the complete story of England’s captain and record goal scorer, from his early years and breakthrough at Tottenham Hotspur, becoming a World Cup Golden Boot winner and national hero, to his big money move to Bayern Munich and his continued quest for glory on football’s biggest stages.
The perfect gift for fans of The Killer Isn’t Alice, elimination puzzle books, whodunnits and escape rooms, for amateur detectives and armchair masterminds alike.Ten strangers. One hidden traitor. Endless accusations. The only thing everyone agrees on? The traitor isn’t Alan. Or is it…? 47,000 suspects Countless hours of entertainment 270 pages of clues 1 backstabbing traitorThe clues are all there, if you can puzzle them out…Expect twists, double-bluffs, secret messages, suspicious alibis and enough red herrings to fill a fishing trawler. It’s up to you to navigate the maze of clues, spot the lies, crack the puzzles and identify the real traitor hiding in plain sight.(This book is 100% unofficial).
Matt Richards and Mark Langthorne dig deep to find out who Sir Cliff Richard really is. In profiling his life and career, his success, his relationships and his beliefs, they uncover a man of contradictions; the rock and roller who rejected sex and drugs, the poster boy for Christianity, the very public performer who gives little away about his private life, the star who’s a national treasure to many yet a figure of ridicule to others. From the stories behind the hit records to the battle to break America, from childhood memories in India to recent abuse allegations and career-threatening headlines, nothing is off-limits in this definitive portrayal, painting a picture of an artist and a man who has become increasingly misunderstood and maligned when he should simply be celebrated for the performer and the person he is.
We are in a cold war, but one unlike anything we’ve seen before. Influence, ignorance and ideology have been weaponised, with USA and China fighting on the global battleground to push their rival visions of the future. The world is splintering into two competing spheres of influence and it’s no exaggeration to say that we are potentially looking down the barrel of a gun towards global armageddon. Western leaders can no longer be complacent or passive, allowing foreign actors chip away at our political infrastructure and national security. The stakes could not be higher, but there is a path towards a brighter future. ‘Ten Steps to Prevent World War Three’ draws on a blend of big ideas, personal narrative, lessons from history and geopolitical insights to uncover the mindset and strategies that can build a peaceful global future.
Once heralded as a modern-day Edison, Elon Musk has taken up a new role in public consciousness, with his growing desire to both transform global politics and engage in online arguments. What happened? In six short years, Musk turned Tesla into the world’s most valuable automaker and cast himself as a saviour of humanity, an altruist whose fortune would stop climate change and colonize Mars. Now he is the most polarizing and perpetually distracted CEO on the planet. ‘Hubris Maximus’ provides a gripping, detailed portrait of the billionaire’s rapid ascent and his spectacular public implosion.
‘The Defector’ is the untold account of how, in 1971, the defection of a KGB saboteur in London led to the expulsion of more than a hundred Soviet ‘diplomats’ from the UK. Drawing on newly declassified intelligence documents and dozens of interviews with spymasters, the book tells a startling story of a Soviet mission to plant fake Kremlin agents within British and American intelligence services, the paranoia that ensued, and how the actions of a genuine turncoat, the former KGB officer Oleg Lyalin, and the secrets he revealed resulted to one of the most dramatic and pivotal moments in the Cold War.
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