The Crackpot Compendium
£16.99A truly mind-boggling and fascinating A-Z of history’s most eccentric thinkers.
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A truly mind-boggling and fascinating A-Z of history’s most eccentric thinkers.

One story, two stories, three stories, four! Otto must be asleep by now… right?

During the Cold War, the battle for ideological and economic supremacy was fought on every front. At the heart of the US’s campaign to inoculate the world against Communism and advance its own liberal democratic ideals was the CIA’s Congress of Cultural Freedom – an organisation that was as clandestine as it was powerful. Drawing on declassified documents and exclusive interviews, this book exposes the astonishing secret campaign to deploy some of the most vocal exponents of intellectual freedom in the West (including Hannah Arendt, Isaiah Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Lowell, George Orwell, and Jackson Pollock) as instruments – whether they knew it or not, whether they liked it or not – of America’s secret service. One of the great stories of intellectual and artistic corruption by power, this work is a classic of investigative history and a landmark portrait of a period when politics and culture became dangerously intertwined.

Almost from humanity’s very beginning, beloved small dogs have been trotting devotedly by our sides. This work follows in the pawprints of the breeds we have grown to love and cherish, from the small dogs touchingly memorialised in Ancient Rome through to Paris Hilton’s chihuahua and the pet influencers of 21st-century, via the pug who colonised Napoleon’s marital bed, King Charles II’s spaniels and celebrity terriers in Victorian pubs. Drawing on her own experience as a pug-owner, pet historian Stephanie Howard-Smith reveals how small dogs have shaped our lives as much as we have theirs, challenging social dynamics, changing the way we spend our leisure time, contributing to a global industry now worth billions, and offering valuable companionship and a chance for self-expression. A must-read for any lover of small dogs, this book is a paean to the unbreakable bond between humans and their petite pets.

A propulsive feminist gothic novel blending Indonesian folklore with Islamic mysticism; violence with complicity; care with harm, and familial love with the limits of sisterhood

Dogs, dogs, dogs. In this book there are all kinds of dogs. Tall, short, thin and fat. Dogs like this and dogs like that. Messy dogs, and dogs with fleas, and some that have ears down to their knees! So if you love dogs just as much as me, pick up this book and give it a read.

It’s King Winter’s birthday, and he wants it to be really special. He wants all of his brothers and sisters to be there – King Summer, Queen Spring and Queen Autumn. But the leaves and the trees whisper a warning, and as the four play magical games, something strange begins to happen outside.

Have you ever wondered how gnomes really live? ‘Gnome’ is actually pronounced ‘Nome’. Maybe you’re wondering about the reason for the weird silent ‘g’? Well, I’m afraid that reason is one of the biggest gnome secrets. Only gnomes are allowed to know it – gnobody else. I’m guessing you think you know a lot about me? Well, actually, you don’t! Let’s get going and I’ll tell you everything. The modern gnome’s life is a far cry from the stereotypes of toadstools and forest glades. In fact, these days most gnomes live in towns and cities – right alongside us!

Welcome to the picture book world of Lucy Fleming! An adorable series that celebrates the hidden magic of nature – perfect for children aged 3-5 years and fans of fairies and fantasy, and super cute miniature worlds filled with wildness and wonder! Through illustrations, readers will be transported to a rocky island where, amongst sea-birds, lives a teensy tiny bird-boy named Arlo. Arlo has wings of shimmering midnight blue and there is nothing that he loves more than – flying! But unhappiness tugs at Arlo’s wings – the other birds always fly away from him. He wishes he didn’t feel so – different, so lonely. When Raven arrives and begins to build a home next to his cliff-side cave, Arlo is annoyed – Raven is noisy and messy! But, as it turns out, Raven knows just when to calm and supportive when Arlo needs it most.

A stray puppy embarks on a magical and life-changing adventure aboard Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, dreaming of the greatest gift of all: a loving home. All alone on a cold winter’s night, a little puppy finds shelter from the falling snow – only to awaken to find himself flying high in the sky! It’s Christmas Eve, and around the world the puppy meets animal families who are safe and warm at home, surrounded by love. It’s only when Santa discovers the secret stowaway that the puppy discovers how truly magical and transformative it is to experience kindness, an open heart and a real home – at last.

All day long, fairy tale characters have been knocking on Bear’s door. They all want his scrumptious porridge. But Bear just wants to read his brand new book. Knock, knock, knock! Porridge, please! Who’s at the door now? No, no, no, not the Big Bothersome Wolf!

When Lena stumbles across an injured bear in the forest, she takes him in and befriends him. The bear is wild and yearns for his forest, but the girl tells him stories, to keep him with her. After a while, the bear decides to show the girl his wild places so she can learn to accept him as different.

In this follow-up to the breakout hit The New Girl, Lia's relationships – with her friends, her crush, her mom, and even herself - are all tested like never before.

The graphic novel adaptation of Kelly Yang's New York Times bestselling book Front Desk! This beautifully illustrated modern classic highlighting Mia Tang's ever-relevant immigrant story is a must-have for every bookshelf and classroom.

Cassie lives in Oak Falls, where the holiday season is about ice skating in the snow, browsing the Christmas market, and curling up in front a log fire with a hot chocolate. Cassie’s been feeling left behind since her friends went away to college, and is counting down the days until they – and her on/off boyfriend – come home for Christmas break. She’s been hoping for a romantic reunion with Tom under the mistletoe, so she’s crushed when he announces he’s met someone new at college. Then Cassie’s dad offers to buy her last-minute flights to visit him in Australia and she’s faced with a decision. In alternating chapters see Cassie live both versions of her choice – and two different versions of falling in love. Cassie could stay at home and try to win Tom back – or even get to know her cute new friend Jack the Christmas tree seller a little better. Or she could spend the holidays in Australia, enjoying barbecues on the beach and learning

Look back on an epic 2025-26 season with this volume, packed with facts, stats and stories. t’s a tough competition – are you ready to vote for the GOAT?