Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisTo tell the story of Morris Day is to tell the story of Prince. Not because they were inseparable or because their paths never diverged, but because, even when their paths did diverge, they always intersected again. Each artist lifted the other up, pushing one another to be something bigger and better than they thought themselves capable of. There was plenty of one-upmanship and some (un)healthy competition, but the respect Day and Prince had for one another never wavered, from the time they met in junior high until His Royal Badness''s untimely death in 2016.In telling his own story and writing about Prince, Day turns Prince into the narrative''s Greek chorus. Prince is there to protect his legacy, argue with Morris''s interpretation of events, and continue the dialogue that started when both musicians were in their early teens. Because of their lifelong friendship emotional intimacy, the founder and still current leader of The Time is the one man who can pull this o

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Book SynopsisThrough nigh-on forty years of laconic brilliance on Radio 1, a musical taste which defined a culture and his wildly popular Radio 4 show, Home Truths, John Peel reached out to an audience that was as diverse as his record collection. He was a genuinely great Briton, beloved by millions. John''s unique voice and sensibility were evident in everything he did, and nowhere is that more true than in these pages.Margrave of the Marshes is the astonishing book John Peel began to write before his untimely death in October 2004, completed by the woman who knew him best, his wife Sheila. It is a unique and intimate portrait of a life, a marriage and a family which is every bit as extraordinary as the man himself - a fitting tribute to a bona fide legend.Trade ReviewPure Peel...This magnificent book is the real thing...Essential reading * Sunday Times *As with the man himself ... there's the surprising, the cosy ... and the fascinating. * GQ *A rich and technicolor life... The joy of this book comes from something more than spiky anecdotage, delicious though it is... the evocation of an age is so sharp * The Times *... Tender and acute ... underlines the one truth that Peel understood better than anyone ... [what] really mattered was the music. * Independent on Sunday *Sparkling with the warmth and dry wit that made Peel nothing short of a national treasure, it's a timely reminder of a man who crossed the radio divides * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBirkenhead, 1973. The eighteen-year-old Paul O''Grady gets ready for a big Saturday night out on the town. New white T-shirt, freshly ironed jeans, looking good. As he bids farewell to his mum, who''s on the phone to his auntie, and wanders off down the street in a cloud of aftershave, he hears her familiar cry: ''Oh, the devil rides out tonight, Annie. The devil rides out!''The further adventures of Paul O''Grady - following on from the million-copy-selling At My Mother''s Knee - are, if anything, even more hilarious and outrageous than what has come before.To say that The Devil Rides Out is action-packed is an understatement. Its extraordinary cast of characters includes lords and ladies, the legendary Vera, a serial killer, more prostitutes than you can shake a stick at and drag queens of every shape and size. Wickedly funny, often moving, and searingly honest, Paul''s tales of the unexpected will make your jaw drop and your hair stand on end. And you''ll laTrade ReviewIf you only buy one celeb memoir this year, make it this one * News of the World *Far and away the best writer of the lot... his turn of phrase is a joy * The Sunday Times *Even funnier and more touching than the million-selling first volume. I defy anyone not to enjoy this book -- Jilly Cooper * Daily Telegraph *La Cage Aux Folles meets Withnail and I * The Sunday Times *It's sharply written, very self-aware and makes you laugh out loud -- Mark Sanderson * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''If there is a better written, less pretentious book by an actor, then I have yet to read it. Undoubtedly the showbusiness book of the year'' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY Famous as the lovable couch potato Jim Royle of The Royle Family, Ricky Tomlinson has entertained millions without ever leaving his armchair. Now, in his long-awaited autobiography, he surprises yet again with a remarkable story of love, hardship, humour, injustice and triumph. His mother used to tell him that he had lived three lives, but even she miscounted. He has been a plasterer, banjo player, stand-up comic, union agitator, political activist, film extra, award-winning actor and unwilling guest of Her Majesty''s prison service. Renowned and respected for his honesty, wit and integrity, Ricky brings all of these qualities to his extraordinary, moving and inspiring story.Trade ReviewDeliciously indiscreet * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Ricky comes up trumps ... the book thrums with energy * SUNDAY TIMES *His life has been as messy as any reader could hope * EVENING STANDARD *A rollicking autobiograpy * Paul Foot, OLDIE *

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Book Synopsis The amazing life of Madness frontman and national treasure, Suggs Suggs is one of pop music''s most enduring and likeable figures. Written with the assured style and wit of a natural raconteur, this hugely entertaining and insightful autobiography takes you from his colourful early life on a North London council estate, through the heady early days of Punk and 2-Tone, to the eighties, where Madness became the biggest selling singles band of the decade. Along the way he tells you what it''s like to grow up in sixties Soho, go globetrotting with your best mates, to make a dead pigeon fly and cause an earthquake in Finsbury Park. Trade Review'Beautifully recreates the memories of his early years' Daily Express. * Daily Express *'Brilliantly nutty ... gloriously irreverent' Mail on Sunday. * Mail on Sunday *'His early life would make a novel in itself' Ian Rankin. * Ian Rankin *'Really well written. Gripping' James Brown. * James Brown *'Wonderfully evocative' Scotsman. * Scotsman *Table of ContentsIntroduction. Cavendish Mansions. Soho. The Wales. The Who, Camden, Clothes and Punk. Naughty Boys. Butcher Boy. Charlton Away. Parmesan Wheels. Sultan, the Flying Dead Pigeon. In Camden Town. New Year's Eve. The Glamour Boys. Hope and Anchor. Swanky Days! Four Wheels. Let's Go! More Crap Jobs. Making Music. Arlington House - One Better Day. This are Top of the Pops! Stop Messing About. Turning Japanese. Liquidator Studios. Hollywood. Rediffusion. Things that Go Bang in the Night. Celery. Ska. Radio-Rental. Liverpool Away. Madstock. Athens. Basso Salento. The Barbie Bike. The Back of Clive's Head. Me and My Girls. The Liberty of Norton Folgate. Up on the Roof. Closing Ceremony. Television Centre. Index. Acknowledgements.

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Book SynopsisAn unorthodox autobiography detailing a 50 year career in the music, entertainment and film industry.Trade ReviewA few years ago I was at a North East Film Festival of which I'm the patron. We discussed a post-screening interview with a visiting guest."Who will moderate?" I asked, and was told - Chris Phipps. ;I then asked who Chris Phipps was and was told - "Oh, he's very good." They were right, Chris is not just a very good moderator, he is exceptional, as was proved again this year when he chaired a discussion with myself, my partner Dick Clement and director David Batty following a showing of our latest film My Generation. ;He's exceptional, not just because he does his homework, which is easier these days if you plunder Wikipedia, but because he cares so much about his subject, especially if it involves film or music. ;Those twin passions are certainly the glue that fortifies our friendship. We usually end up after a couple of drinks in intense discussions, especially involving music trivia. I won't try to compete with Chris on this, he's just too clued in. ;Yes, I could name the first Kinks' single but Chris could name every track on their debut album. Yes, I know the Proclaimers were the Scottish Everly Brothers but he probably knows where their births are registered. After all he was a producer of the seminal, coolest of cool rock shows The Tube. Apart from that show he has always had a great respect and affection for North Eastern culture and heritage.; A true Northern soul - it always surprises me that he has a Brummie accent. ;Chris's book is suffused with his customary wit, wisdom and humour. ;And if Chris Phipps is dropping names, these are names really worth dropping. ;Ian La Frenais

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Book SynopsisA candid memoir by the legendary Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna co-founder and guitarist, written with as much depth and emotion as his music

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Book Synopsis''A gold mine of gossip with a cast of thousands'' GUARDIANThe unexpurgated diaries of one of the greatest, most talented, and wittily flamboyant characters of the 20th century - with a new introduction by Stephen Fry''Compulsive reading'' SUNDAY TIMES''19th February 1956. A A Milne has died. Lord Beaverbrook has not ... Larry is going to make a movie of The Sleeping Prince with Marilyn Monroe, which might conceivably drive him round the bend''''28th February 1960 Princess Margaret has announced her engagement to Tony Armstrong-Jones ... He looks quite pretty, but whether or not the marriage is entirely suitable remains to be seen.''Noel Coward was a renowned actor, dramatist, director - and star. His incredible zest, versatility and unrivalled wit are revealed in these diaries, with a cast of characters ranging from The Beatles to the Queen, Churchill to Marilyn Monroe.Touching, funny and reveTrade ReviewA constant delight. A gold mine of gossip with a cast of thousands * GUARDIAN *Compulsive reading: a very clear portrait. What Coward has to say about other people is light-hearted, witty, often shrewd, totally without malice ... His final entertainment for everyone's pleasure is these diaries * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisThe honest and heartfelt memoir of vocal powerhouse and music legend Bonnie TylerYou know the name and you can''t mistake the voice. Now you can read the incredible story of how a shy, music-loving teenager called Gaynor Hopkins became legendary international superstar Bonnie Tyler, and carved out an extraordinary career that is still going strong to this day.After five decades in the business - during which she has recorded some of the most iconic songs of all time, including ''Total Eclipse of the Heart'' and ''Holding Out for a Hero'' - Bonnie is at last sharing her fascinating journey, and she''s not holding back: this is her amazing story, told straight from the heart.

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Book SynopsisAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERImagine if all the worn-out, untrue, painful chapters of our lives started to quiet, and the beautiful, unique pieces of who we are were to rise. Imagine if the stories we tell brought us back to our true selves, back to one another. Imagine if they spoke of how we loved and lost and tried our best. How we saw it all, even the parts that hurt. Joanna Gaines'' new book, The Stories We Tell, invites us on an authentic and deeply vulnerable journey into her story—and helps shine a light on the beauty of our own—guiding us to release the weights that hold us back so we may live and share our story in truth. We''ve all dropped anchor in places that suited us for a time: a city, a perspective, a lie we mistook as truth. This book is an invitation to a kind of life where you know how to hold what you believe—about yourself and the quiet worlds behind the Trade Review'An earnest testament to the healing power of writing.' * Kirkus Reviews *'Readers will be inspired by Gaines's desire to find strength in self-discovery.' * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisOn Bowie is a thoughtful and loving meditation on the life of the late David Bowie that explores his creative legacy and the enduring and mutual connection he enjoyed with his fansInnovative. Pioneering. Brave. Until his death in January 2016, David Bowie created art that not only pushed boundaries, but helped fans understand themselves and view the world from fantastic new perspectives.When the shocking news of his death on January 10, 2016 broke, the outpouring of grief and adulation was immediate and ongoing. Fans around the world and across generations paid homage to this brilliant, innovate, ever-evolving artist who both shaped and embodied our times.In this concise and penetrating book, highly-regarded Rolling Stone critic, bestselling author, and lifelong Bowie fan Rob Sheffield shares his own feelings about the passing of this icon and explains why Bowie''s death has elicited such an unprecedented emotional outpouring from so many.Trade ReviewNo rock critic- living or dead, American or otherwise - has ever written about pop music with the evocative, hyperpoetic perfectitude of Rob Sheffield -- Chuck Klosterman, author of Sex, Drugs and Cocoa PuffsIn Sheffield's hands, pop music is more than an object of cultural consumption - it becomes the language through which to navigate and negotiate his most intimate moments * The Atlantic *Sheffield uses music the way some people use scripture-to elucidate and sanctify the mysteries of life. He raises teen angst into high art that is funny, charming, and profoundly pleasurable * Darcey Steinke *

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Book SynopsisMARY QUANT IS FASHION.Not many names epitomise an era, but Mary Quant is one such name. Her life, her ideas and her style touched everyone. Most people connect Mary with one thing - the mini skirt - that ground-breaking design that is as potent now as it was when it first appeared in the early sixties. But her influence carried way beyond those early, frenetic black-and-white years. This, Mary Quant''s memoir, is written in her own inimitable style - it''s a witty, unique account of her whirlwind life. It is a story like no other. But then, Mary Quant was a true original.Trade Review'Quant's understanding of the language of fashion is as astute as the way in which she shaped [clothes] into the clothes that she and her friends wanted to wear' - Guardian

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Book SynopsisI''d managed to puncture a hole between our universe and the parallel one where all the celebrities lived.''Effortlessly funny and human'' Daily Mail Adam Andrusier spent his childhood in pursuit of autographs. After writing to every famous person he could think of, from Frank Sinatra to Colonel Gaddafi, he soon jostled with the paparazzi at stage doors and came face-to-face with the most famous people on the planet. For young Adam, autographs were a backstage pass to a world beyond his chaotic family home in Pinner, and his Holocaust-obsessed father. They provided a special connection to a world of glamour and significance lying just beyond his reach. But as Adam turned from collector to dealer, learning how to spot a fake from the real deal, he discovered that in life, as in autographs, not everything is as it first appears. When your obsession is a search for the authentic, what happens when yTrade ReviewI love this book. It is wise, funny, surprising, touching, and wonderful company * Jonathan Safran Foer *Adam Andrusier has created that rare thing: a memoir which delivers the coming-of-age but also reaches far beyond. The writing here about family is excellent, the characters and scenes memorable, but from the first they're engaged also in a history. Two Hitlers and a Marilyn takes in the world as widely as possible, always searching for significance and connection * David Vann *A comic and poignant memoir about growing up in the suburbs, fandom, stalking Ronnie Barker, and much more. A funny, moving read * Zadie Smith *At times hilarious, at others heartbreaking, Andrusier's memoir provides a fascinating insight into obsession * John Boyne *Madcap and thoroughly engaging, Adam Andrusier's vivid memoir brings to mind the early Philip Roth. This is a book of antic comedy that resonates and intrigues * Lisa Appignanesi *A fabulously interesting book and incredibly pleasurable to read. Very funny and strangely entrancing. It is about so much, but effortlessly * Adam Phillips *Hilarious and moving. * David Baddiel *Beautifully written * Maureen Lipman *Andrusier has a genuine comic gift and he's remarkably technically adept. You could easily assume he had been writing this sort of stuff for years. * Daily Mail *Offering a warm, witty and poignant glimpse into the past, Two Hitlers and a Marilyn is a memoir of fandoms, forgiveness, growing up and letting go. * Culturefly *A brilliant, ridiculously funny book -- Robert PopperA charming, honest, moving and highly entertaining memoir in autographs. It captures the insanities of ambition, celebrity, obsession, love and marriage with accuracy and compassion. * A.L. Kennedy *The zaniest book I've read in eons. Andrusier is a fresh new voice and more importantly he's funny as hell. -- Gary ShteyngartEffortlessly funny and human * Daily Mail *A comic, affecting tale about escaping a chaotic home and discovering the truth behind the mask of fame * Independent *The obsessiveness of the collector is amusingly skewered in this memoir of rueful self-absorption * The Observer *An engaging and well-told tale * The Spectator *A warm, witty and poignant glimpse into the past * Culture Fly *Effortlessly told, it's a tale that spans the heartfelt and the hilarious * Happy Mag *A tragicomic triumph . . . Andrusier writes with an addictive deadpan style and he's blessed with an ability to evoke the comedy and pathos of everyday life. * The Mirror *Hugely entertaining . . . a read as out of the ordinary as the lives it chronicles. * NZ Herald *A witty memoir about the author's lifelong involvement with autograph collecting . . . Andrusier conveys its sadness and its strange comedy. * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisA charming dual memoir of Aasmah Mir and her mother's experiences growing up as young women in Glasgow and Pakistan.

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Book SynopsisIn equal parts a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of some of our best-loved institutions and a guide on how governing boards should work - HRDirectorThroughout the world, thousands of people give their time, skill and energy to serving on a board. From local councils to international corporations boards play a critical role in the running and success of any organisation, large and small.In On Board John Tusa brings us behind the closed doors of the boardroom to provide an insight into the inner-working of boards. From personal squabbles to financial crises, Tusa shares his experiences serving on a wide variety of international boards such as the British Museum and American Public Radio. These lively life-stories unveil how boards overcome deep-set divisions, appoint new members and survive in times of chaos. Through these stories, Tusa provides lessons and tips on how to effectively operate in cooperative business environments. TusaTrade Review'On Board' is a serious story lightly told, with numerous hints and tips along the way on how boards behave and how they should. Every board member should read it... and learn. -- Joan Bakewell, broadcaster, writer and President of Birkbeck, University of LondonJohn Tusa is one of the bravest and most thoughtful public servants of a generation, and one of the people I admire most in British public life. -- Rory StewartJohn Tusa deals with the great and seldom asked questions: why do chairs and chief executives not get on? Why do boards make the wrong appointments? What does a great board look like? His answers – based on huge experience – are vital reading for chairs and trustees everywhere. This is a book on an important subject full of insight and interest: essential reading! -- Lord Tony Hall of Birkenhead CBE, Chairman of the National Gallery and former Director-General of the BBCPart primer, part memoir, part history, laced with psychology and social anthropology, On Board is an arresting and enlightening survival guide for anyone who aspires to sit on a not-for-profit board. It makes an eloquent case for the public value of the independent and good governance of our intellectual and cultural institutions – and the inherent obstacles to achieving it. John Tusa’s case studies, from the many distinguished boards on which he has served and chaired, provide a serious and authoritative analysis of the tenets of institutional governance. This is also a riveting and, at times, excruciatingly candid account of personal learning painfully acquired in what he describes as one of “the most demanding complex and taxing activities in the world of public life”. On Board charts the perilous navigation between the Scylla and Charybdis of personal rivalries and collective prevarication on which so many boards can come to grief. Anyone who has served as a Trustee will recognise his description of boards’ capacities for resilience and dysfunctionality, and, at their centre, the delicate chemistry of the CEO/Chair relationship. Anyone asked to join such a board will be well advised to learn from Tusa how codes, management theory and mission statements cannot substitute for decency, humanity and rigour, so much more difficult to achieve than to proscribe. In the end, good governance depends on good behaviour. -- Tim Gardam, Chief Executive, Nuffield Foundation, former Principal of St Anne's College Oxford and former Chair, Ofcom Content BoardFor anyone considering joining a board, especially one in the arts, this is an excellent guide for what awaits them. It gives a clear sense of how the complex issues and relationships are handled from someone who was there, and lessons in good governance have rarely been so fluently expressed. And for those interested in many leading characters of the London arts scene over the past 20 years, this is a hugely entertaining read. -- Sir Andrew Likierman, Professor and former Dean, London Business SchoolWith outstanding insight, John weaves his way elegantly through misunderstandings, personal ambition, indecision, and incompetence to illustrate with clarity, the consequences of flawed Chairmanship, board composition, mistaken beliefs, and finally the privilege and honour of being part of a Board that gets it right. -- Lady Alison Myners, Chair of Royal Academy TrustOne of the truly great and good, John Tusa has led many of Britain's cultural institutions and led them brilliantly. This book explains, modestly but straight-forwardly, how he has dealt with boards of trustees as helmsman, nanny, confessor, policeman, plotter, and Scout leader. Necessary reading for anyone involved in schools, arts organisations or other non-profits. -- Richard Sennett, Chairman of Trustees, Theatrum Mundi

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Book Synopsis''The thought behind this book is not just me wanting to tell my story in the standard autobiographical fashion but to create a kind of self-help book that includes my story. There are many things people don''t know about me and maybe when they read about those things they will have an understanding of the journey I have been on, why I''ve made the mistakes I have and hopefully help other people overcome their adversities.''Life has presented its fair share of setbacks for James Arthur, from his disrupted childhood - during which he felt like a stray and a misfit, entering the care system in his teens - to a very public fall from favour just at the point when all his dreams should have been coming true. With an extraordinary comeback in 2016, starting with No. 1 single ''Say You Won''t Let Go'' and his Platinum album Back From The Edge, Back To The Boy shows the British singer and songwriter reflecting not only on his past but also on his retu

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Book SynopsisAndrew Lauder is one of British record business''s most significant and highly influential figures but outside the music industry few people will probably know his name. He''s always retained a fan''s perspective which, combined with an exceptional knowledge of music, meant he was at ease around musicians and never happier than spending time with them. During the later ''60s and throughout the ''70s in particular (working at the legendary United Artists), he had a knack of being one step ahead of the next trend. In hindsight it''s easy to identify the changing eras in music but underground music, pub rock and punk in Britain, for example, evolved quite seamlessly and it was visionaries like Andrew who, instinctively, saw what was coming and helped bring about those transitions. He was ahead of the game in other ways too; pioneering a more creative way of marketing and promoting records and revolutionising the way catalogue was organised and presented. This is his story.Trade ReviewMany people who love music - or think they do - aspire to the A&R role. Some are chosen. Very few succeed. Hardly any succeed as significantly and consistently as Andrew Lauder. For 40 years, Andrew was an A&R man on whom those rivals kept the closest of eyes (I know that for certain because for a while I was one of them, and saw how good he was). Without making a fuss, without bothering - unlike so many -- about raising his own public profile, he applied his knowledge and enthusiasm to the business of identifying interesting musicians and helping them to reach an audience. * Richard Williams *Oh, so that's what happened...a crisp and more-ish read. Among the many qualities admired by us musicians who worked with Andrew was his modesty and self-effacement. It's remarkable how, in a book which documents his many successes and accomplishments, that lovely voice and manner is still unmistakable. * Nick Lowe *Lauder was co-founder of the labels Radar, F-Beat, Demon and Silvertone; this came after a decade in United Artists corporate trenches backing such unlikely nags as Can, Hawkwind, Dr Feelgood, and The Stranglers, as well as fading memories like the Groundhogs and Man. Characteristically discreet, his fascinating inside track on what went wrong with the Stones Roses exemplifies the collision of enthusiasm, licenced creativity, sharp practice and turf wars that made the music biz much more than just another office job. * Mojo *Warm and detailed, this is a great lid-lifter from a reliable, affable narrator...his enthusiasm and passion for pop is overwhelming. * Record Collector *Happy Trails is full of such quirks of good fortune that it's tempting to describe Andrew Lauder's career in A&R terms of luck, rather than his ability to detect and nourish talent. His good humour only cracks when discussing the contractual wrangles between his label, Silvertone, and the Stone Roses (not his fault - the dodgy contract pre-dated his involvement.) * Uncut *Happy Trails gives the reader a window into a charmed life that most of us can only dream of. * Shindig *A must read for fans of the seventies British underground. It was Lauder who created the environment within which Hawkwind could rise from the dishevelled jam band he signed in 1969, to become one of the most inventive acts of the early seventies. Lauder's far-sighted recruitment of Amon Düül II and Can lit the fuse for the 'krautrock' explosion of the early 1970s (a term, incidentally, that he loathed); and Lauder effectively god-parented the pub rock boom a couple of years later. * Goldmine *This welcome account (is) a joy to read * Caught By The River *Happy Trails is a book for music historians and crate diggers, particularly lovers of the blues from the '60s through to the '00s.Andrew Lauder's tale is a classic one: young and naïve country boy who came to the big city, fell into a random, entry-level but opportune position at the publishing company Southern Music, and went on to make his mark in the industry for half a century. During his tenure at various music companies in the UK Lauder released key albums from Elvis Costello, the Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Hawkwind, Can, Neu! and the Stone Roses. * Spin Magazine *Lauder is a solid writer, and presents his story with an authentically humble tone that really makes you want to sit down with him for a beer and chat. Can there be a better recommendation than that? * The Wire *Happy Trails is one of the most absorbing and relatable behind-the-scenes music business memoirs you'll ever read * Ugly Things *

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Book SynopsisWalking with Ghosts is the stunningly evocative memoir by Irish actor and Hollywood star, Gabriel Byrne.'Dreamy, lyrical and utterly unvarnished' – Colm TóibínAs a young boy growing up in the outskirts of Dublin, Gabriel Byrne sought refuge in a world of imagination among the fields and hills near his home, at the edge of a rapidly encroaching city. Born to working-class parents and the eldest of six children, he harboured a childhood desire to become a priest. When he was eleven years old, Byrne found himself crossing the Irish Sea to join a seminary in England. Four years later, Byrne had been expelled and he quickly returned to his native city. There he took odd jobs as a messenger boy and a factory labourer to get by. In his spare time he visited the cinema, where he could be alone and yet part of a crowd. It was here that he could begin to imagine a life beyond the grey world of ’60s Ireland.He revelled in the theatre and poetry of Dublin’s streets, populated by characters as eccentric and remarkable as any in fiction, those who spin a yarn with acuity and wit. It was a friend who suggested Byrne join an amateur drama group, a decision that would change his life forever and launch him on an extraordinary forty-year career in film and theatre. Moving between sensual recollection of childhood in a now almost vanished Ireland and reflections on stardom in Hollywood and on Broadway, Byrne also courageously recounts his battle with addiction and the ambivalence of fame.Walking with Ghosts is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking as well as a lyrical homage to the people and landscapes that ultimately shape our destinies.‘Make no mistake about it: this is a masterpiece . . . poetic, moving and very funny’ – Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World SpinTrade ReviewThe wonder of this memoir is its unembellished truth. It is written by a man whose amazing story is the stuff of literature -- Edna O'BrienSo beautiful, it seems extraordinary that [Byrne] has kept this light under a bushel all this time . . . Gorgeous -- Graham Norton, BBC Radio 2An absolutely marvellous book . . . beautifully written, poetic . . . it’s a really riveting read -- Colm TóibínGabriel Byrne has written the most beautiful memoir. This is haunting prose and wondrous, sad, uplifting, my book of the year -- Claire KeeganWalking With Ghosts is lavish with lyricism, but presents a pretty unvarnished version of its author . . . The book is also a conscious departure: stylistically ambitious, purposefully (and successfully) so * The Guardian *Thoughtful, moving and without a trace of self-indulgence, this honest and beautifully-written book reads more like a novel than a memoir, drawing the reader into a narrative that is full of courage, humour and above all, humanity. I really loved Walking with Ghosts and can't recommend it highly enough -- Christine Dwyer HickeyImagine Séamus Heaney's eye falling on Hollywood's glare . . . it really did remind me of Séamus Heaney, it seemed to have that very sharp focus and also that wonderfully lyrical way of expressing it -- Richard Coles, BBC Radio 4Make no mistake about it: this is a masterpiece. A book that will wring out our tired hearts. It is by turns poetic, moving and very funny. You will find it on the shelf alongside other great Irish memoirs including those by Frank McCourt, Nuala O'Faolain and Edna O’Brien -- Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World SpinThe allure of Gabriel Byrne's memoir is that it persuasively humanizes what it is to be a big deal movie star. Byrne is wonderfully without cant or bluster or phony humility. Instead he leads with felicity, candor, humor and empathy. In the end, he seems to be somebody you'd be glad to know -- Richard FordByrne arrives at a truth greater than an honest and sensitive memoir; he verges on a profoundly touching articulation of our short time on earth, time that will make of each of us nothing more or less than a ghost -- Mia Colleran * Irish Independent *A wry and warm, swirling poetic reverie of a memoir -- Colin BarrettA joy of a book - full of heart and humour, beautifully told -- Sinéad GleesonDestined to be a classic . . . What makes Gabriel Byrne a great writer is that he knows that whether we are wicked or good, few of us get what we deserve * Sunday Independent *Reading the book was a beautiful experience; it’s superb. It really is a very special book so if you love someone buy it for them for Christmas -- Eamon DunphyStructured around an imaginary, haunted visit to the Dublin of his youth, the book does offer sketches from the movie wonderland – John Boorman being bossy on Excalibur, testy encounters with Laurence Olivier in the 1980s – but it is more to do with conjuring up a now-vanished Ireland. The smell of the Guinness brewery. Early acting experiences in a nativity play. The church, everywhere the church * Irish Times *The writing is so vivid it’s as if we are by Gabriel Byrne’s shoulder through the sorrowful times and the joyous moments. He weaves an intimate and absorbing tapestry of the poignant and the funny -- Kirsty WarkA working-class family memoir as well as a meditation on fame and its discontents -- Sena O'Hagan * Observer *Walking with Ghosts is exquisite. This book feels like the culmination of a long literary career and not the debut of a famous actor. Byrne makes himself fully vulnerable while in total command of language and form. There is great truth and great beauty in this close examination of a life and the passage of time. I’ve never read a memoir so raw and honest and literary and absolutely, staggeringly brilliant -- Lily King[Byrne] writes with much more depth than the typical celebrity memoirist, accessing some of Seamus Heaney’s earthiness and James Joyce’s grasp of how Catholic guilt can shape an artist . . . A melancholy but gemlike memoir, elegantly written and rich in hard experience * Kirkus (starred review) *Mercurial, ferociously honest and moving . . . A poignant symphony of memories and dreams, longing and loss, in a search for the immigrants most elusive prize, home -- Karl Geary, author of MontpelierA poetic journey into those secret realms of memory which dominate our lives, but are rarely spoken about. By revealing himself with such courage, compassion, and exquisite poise, Gabriel Byrne gives readers that rare gift of being able to see themselves in the feelings of another person. This book is more than a memoir—it’s a mirror that reflects the deepest parts of us in exile -- Simon Van BooyA remembrance of the Ireland Byrne left behind, one which is no longer there * Hot Press, '2020 Books of the Year' *Dazzles with unflinching honesty, as it celebrates the exuberance of being alive to the world despite living through pain. [Byrne's] portrait of an artist as a young boy is steeped in nostalgia of the best sort, re-creating the pull of home . . . With this tender book — full of warm and often funny stories — Byrne shows us the depth of his true character * Washington Post *In emotional, evocative prose, Walking With Ghosts describes the town outside Dublin where [Byrne] grew up, the oldest of six children crammed into a small house, their father working as a barrel-maker for the Guinness brewery, everyone in each other’s business. They were steeped in Catholicism . . . In passages that are horrifying, then funny, then both, he describes, for instance, learning the story of Adam and Eve from a fire-and-brimstone nun, in a lesson that ends with God declaring to the fallen pair: 'And by the way, your children will be miserable as well.' ('That’s why the world is such an unhappy place,' the nun adds.) . . . Can you go home again? That is the tantalizing question raised by Walking With Ghosts -- Sarah Lyall * The New York Times *This is a book about grief, loss, the secrets that we keep and the joys of creativity. It's also about dealing with addiction and the vertigo of fame. We always knew Gabriel Byrne was an astonishing actor but now we also know what an elegant, intelligent and dignified writer he is -- Mariana Enríquez, author of Dangers of Smoking in BedByrne is very honest and interspersed with all of the beautifully evoked sadness [in Walking With Ghosts] are very funny moments . . . you know he has a very good sense of humour but he probably wouldn’t admit it -- Jane SmileyIn pared down prose both luminous and raw, Walking with Ghosts is about first things—parents, siblings, loves, heartbreaks, parts, failure, success, loss, but most of all it is a tender embrace of the past as Byrne discovers and accepts the truth of who he is in all his human struggle to be at peace with oneself and one’s imperfections. In a voice full of warmth, compassion, humor and wonder, Byrne steps into the role of writer with the same assurance, humility and intensity that he brings to his acting roles. More, this debut marks a welcome new voice that blends memory and imagination for an all-encompassing and wise memoir that reads like a novel -- Vanessa Manko, author of The Un-AmericanIt is at times a heartbreakingly tender excursion between the living and the dead. The actor is an artist of the written as well as the spoken word -- Tommy Condren * Sunday Independent *A beautifully judged blend of sparkling anecdotes spliced with the darkest of memories -- Sarah Halliwell * The Gloss Magazine *The diary of a poet who also happens to be a famous movie star -- Monique RoffeyActor Byrne channels his fellow countrymen and Ireland's literary masters - Beckett, Heaney, Joyce, Yeats - to create an exceptionally lyrical and expressive memoir about his childhood and early career . . . Bracingly revealing about his struggle with alcoholism, achingly passionate about the Ireland of his youth, and piercingly frank about his acting life, Byrne is a vivid, evocative, and sumptuously compelling memoirist * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Dani Dyer stole the nation’s heart with her genuine warmth and honest personality when she won Love Island. She proves that you don''t need to succumb to peer pressure, be swayed by all too perfect Insta-images or behave in a way that''s not true to who you are. Her first book shows she is wise beyond her years as she shares her experiences around growing up, bullying, relationships, insecurities and living in the spotlight.Revealing everything you ever wanted to know about Dani, from dating disasters and life in the Dyer household to how she blow-dries her eyelashes, as well as her hard-learned advice on how to be more confident, What Would Dani Do? offers Dani''s unique take on the world and her guide to living your most authentic life. Always relatable and at times vulnerable, Dani gives a laugh-out-loud and truly heartfelt account of her journey from Canning Town daughter of Danny Dyer, to runaway Love Isl

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Book SynopsisGuy Martin can't sit still. He has to keep pushing - both himself and whatever machine he is piloting - to the extreme. He's a doer, not a talker.That applies whether Guy's competing in a self-supported 750-mile mountain bike race across Arizona, or trying to reach 300mph in a standing mile on the 800-horsepower motorbike he built in his shed. And during his TV adventures, travelling through Japan, winning records for the world's fastest tractor, re-creating the famous Steve McQueen Great Escape jump, discovering the toil and sacrifice of the D-Day landings and trying to cut the mustard as a Battle of Britain pilot.Guy's become a dad now and he's hoping that one day his daughter will grow up to be a better welder than he is. Oh, and he's still getting up at 5am to work on trucks in for service or to be out on his tractor, working the Lincolnshire land he's always called home.This is Guy Martin's latest book, in his own words, on the last four years of his life that make the rest of us look like we're in slow motion.We're here for a good time, not a long time. To Guy, if it's worth doing, it's worth dying for.

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Book SynopsisGet the kettle on, the biscuits out and settle in for a belting read.Let Paddy McGuinness take you back, far, far away from celebrity land, to a two-up, two-down terrace in 1970s Bolton, where he grew up. They were happy times, but money was tight. Paddy slept on a mattress he dragged in from the street, and at 17 he struggled severely with the stress of juggling a college course and two jobs to support his beloved mum.But while cash may have been short, grit and wit were in over-supply, and this is the improbable true story of the lad who went from kipping in abandoned cars in Bolton to racing supercars on Top Gear, via laying concrete floors in prisons, a lively career in a leisure centre, a showbiz intervention by school pal Peter Kay and eye-popping adventures in the world of teledom.There has been mischief and misadventure, joy and sorry, huge success and unexpected challenges. It's a lifey well lived, and an unforgettable personal memoir written from the heart.Trade Review'Many hilarious anecdotes' * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisThe Instant Sunday Times BestsellerThe Instant #1 New York Times BestsellerPRAISE FOR WILL'The best memoir I ever read' Oprah Winfrey'If you read one book this year, make it this one' Jay Shetty'Incredible' Idris Elba'The book is awesome. So candid and considered...fascinating' Chris Evans'A triumph...really inspiring, so well written, vulnerable and deep. I highly recommend it' Mindy Kaling'It's fantastic...very moving' Zoe Ball'Incredibly honest...inspiring' Greg James'A wild ride' New York Times'Raw, comedic, inspirational' GQOne of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had.Will Smith's transformation from a fearful child in a tense West Philadelphia home to one of the biggest rap stars of his era and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, with a string of box office successes that will likely never be broken, is an epic tale of inner transformation and outer triumph, and Will tells it astonishingly well. But it's only half the story.Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over.This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one exceptional man mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself.'The Hollywood star's autobiography is full of indiscretions, drug-fuelled escapades and terrible parenting. Who could ask for more?' Telegraph'Candid ... digs into the life events which fine-tuned Smith's weapons-grade charisma and steely determination' Observer'I absolutely loved it...no holds barred...I felt as if Will Smith was talking to me. It's a testament to him and to his family' Lorraine KellyTrade ReviewRaw, comedic, inspirational. * GQ *If you read one book this year, make it this one -- Jay ShettyA wild ride * New York Times *Bracingly honest, vivid and compelling [...] how an average talent became the biggest movie star in the world * The Times *Brilliant * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisGaar Adams is an American writer whose work has been published in the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Rolling Stone, Al Jazeera, Slate and VICE. He lives in Brixton and is a fellow of London Library Emerging Writer programme. Guest Privileges is his first book.

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Book SynopsisAmy Bruni, co-star of Kindred Spirits and one of the world's leading paranormal investigators, has learned a lot about ghosts over her years of research and first-hand experience. Now, in Life with the Afterlife, she shares the insight she has gleaned and how it has shaped her unique approach to interacting with the spirits of the dead and those who encounter them.From her earliest supernatural encounters as a child, through her years appearing on Ghost Hunters and the creation of her company Strange Escapes, which offers paranormal excursions to some of America's most notoriously haunted destinations, and into her current work on The Travel Channel's Kindred Spirits, this book is full of astonishing and deeply moving stories of Amy's efforts to better understand the dead but not yet departed. With Amy's bright humor and fierce compassion for both those who are haunted and those who are haunting, Life with the Afterlife is an eye-opening look at what connects us as people, in life and beyond.A USA Today Bestseller

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Book SynopsisThe follow-up to the cult favorite The Rogue to Nowhere follows Jason Christopher as he criss-crosses the country from the glitz and glam of Sunset Boulevard, to the hollows of Woodstock, New York, and back again in search of the next score, the next gig, and the next girl—though not always in that order. Bleeding Internally Since 1971 is a no-holds-barred peak at the will to follow your dream, the drive to get sober, and the many stops along the way.

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Book SynopsisAn incisive and insightful memoir by one of the most beloved icons of nineties television Jaleel White, the actor who portrayed Steve Urkel on the hit sitcom Family Matters.At the tender age of twelve, Jaleel White auditioned for the role of Steve Urkel, the socially inept genius, who was in love with his next-door neighbor, Laura. Though Steve Urkel was intended to be in only one episode, Jaleel’s indelible performance catapulted Urkel into the pantheon of American pop culture. But success can cost as much as it pays. After nine years on the popular sitcom Family Matters, Jaleel is twenty-one, a UCLA undergrad, and adjusting to a world and industry that sees him as the nasally nerd in high water pants, suspenders, and coke bottle glasses. In this wise and witty memoir, Growing Up Urkel takes you on a memorable journey through the peaks, valleys, and plateaus of fame and fortune.

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Book SynopsisIn this book my father dies. I almost die.*** My showbiz career winds down. And yet everyone keeps telling me it's the funniest book I've ever written. If I'd known that's what the public wanted, I'd have cancelled Pets Win Prizes and just got sick sooner. Along the way this time we encounter, among others, David Bowie, Kanye West (I think), John Cleese, Peter O'Toole, and have several adventures in the Fourth Dimension. Oh, and I can reveal the Man With The Foulest Mouth In All Show Business. Plus assorted high-kicking hoopla and a whole lot of rather stark stuff about what it's like to be told you could be On The Way Out. *** (SPOILER ALERT: I don't actually die.)Trade ReviewIf there were awards for laughs in non-fiction, Going On The Turn ... should win them all -- Olivia Cole * GQ *He is fantastically good company, a giddy, loquacious raconteur with brio to burn but rarely any malice -- Stuart Maconie * MAIL ON SUNDAY EVENT *

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Book Synopsis'Idiosyncratic, humorous, enlightening and written by one of the finest conductors alive ... This is the book to buy if you are going to see Wagner or listen to him at home' LITERARY REVIEWOver a distinguished career conducting some of the world's finest orchestras, Christian Thielemann has earned a reputation as the leading modern interpreter of Richard Wagner. MY LIFE WITH WAGNER chronicles his ardent personal and professional engagement with the composer whose work has shaped his thinking and feeling from early childhood.Thielemann retraces his journey with Wagner - from Berlin to Bayreuth via Venice, Hamburg and Chicago. Next he takes each opera in turn, his appraisal illuminated by a deep affinity for the music, an intimate knowledge of the scores and the inside perspective of an outstanding practitioner. And yet for all the adulation Wagner's art inspires in him, Thielemann does not shy away from unpalatable truths about the man himself, explaining why today he is venerated and reviled in equal measure. The result is a richly rewarding read for admirers of a composer who continues to fascinate long after his death.Trade ReviewMy Life with Wagner is a professional's manual for approaching Wagner ... Thielemann's musical explorations ... are wonderful ... [His] writing also achieves something notoriously difficult, the evocation of music in prose ... In the end, My Life with Wagner has that peculiar, confidential value of a work written not by an academic, but by an artist submerged in the music. -- Jonathan McAloon * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *[E]xceedingly valuable ... Thielemann is fascinating on the thought processes and working practices of a musician coming to terms with Wagner ... this is a book with flashes of great insight, in which connoisseurs of the unsaid will find a good deal to ponder. -- Philip Hensher * SPECTATOR *Thielemann is a passionate advocate for the music of Wagner, which has obsessed him since childhood. Where this book really works is in its focus on the minutiae of performance. It viscerally exposes the levels of perfectionism required in the virtuoso. Without alienating the lay reader ... it gets across the complexity of a Wagner score and the infinite interpretation possibilities out of which the conductor has to produce a narrative. -- Lucasta Miller * INDEPENDENT *[Thielemann's] book is an act of homage, part revealing autobiography ... and part informative guide to the Wagner oeuvre, describing the plots and performances of all the operas ... His enthusiasm breathes life into them. * ECONOMIST *The most rewarding and intimate section of the book concerns Thielemann's life as acolyte at Bayreuth - a place that Thielemann describes a 'temple, a workshop and a place of pilgrimage'. -- Neil Fisher * THE TIMES *A sensitive and revealing book, worth reading as a document of how Western art reflects on itself, its achievements and its anxieties[.] This is the book to buy if you are going to see Wagner or listen to him at home ... It's idiosyncratic, humorous, enlightening and written by one of the finest conductors alive[.] Every aspiring conductor should read this book ... Every aspiring singer should read it too[.] -- Gulliver Ralston * LITERARY REVIEW *In one broad but illuminating sweep, Mr Thielemann surveys everything from Wagner's distinctive use of orchestration to the schemas of his operas: from the approach of different conductors to the Wagnerian Walhalla of Bayreuth ... Mr Thielemann's skill lies in conveying the power of music in words. -- Teresa Levonian Cole * COUNTRY LIFE *Thielemann's insights into Wagner's operas, together with his career narrative, including the personalities he has met along the way, deepen our fascination with his My Life with Wagner. -- Ira Lieberman * WAGNER NOTES, THE WAGNER SOCIETY OF NY *

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Book Synopsis'Gratitude is your soul's superfood, but cheaper than goji berries, and twice as good for you. I like to think of it as mindfulness for cynics or the "gateway drug" to spirituality. It's a very tangible thing you can do everyday that will shift your focus to what you have rather than pining and obsessing over what you don't have. Away from a state of lack into limitless abundance...' So what happens when we stop taking things for granted and start putting some grá* into our gratitude? When we consciously turn our heads and hearts to what we have and focus on the good? In Joy Rider, television presenter and host of the podcast Thanks A Million, Angela Scanlon, presents her guide to tapping into your own natural super resource - joy. This book is an invitation to embrace the kind of gratitude that cuts through the bulls**t of life to its truth, connecting us with the present and grounding us in self. When there is so much to feel anxious about, Angela shares with readers how focusing our attention on the small, incremental positives in life can completely change it for the better. * It means love in IrishTrade ReviewA wise, beautiful book ... what a comfort! Angela's warm honest advice about just 'being' was EXACTLY what I needed to hear * Marian Keyes *Full of wisdom and vulnerability ... teaches you to reassess the most important relationship you have in your life - the one you have with yourself * Fearne Cotton *An openhearted book that will empower you to transform your own relationship with gratitude * Gabby Bernstein, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back *A gentle guide on how to find yourself and LIKE yourself * Dawn O’Porter *Beautiful and important * Holly Willoughby *

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Book SynopsisTHE OFFICIAL STORY OF A MUSICAL ICON - TOLD IN FULL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS OWN WORDS'Funny, smart and heartbreaking. Incredible... go listen to it or read it.' Robbie Williams'The most entertaining music memoir since Elton John's Me... This is George O'Dowd in all his exhausting glory.' Observer'Joyously indiscreet' Daily Mail'I went to a lot of trouble to create Boy George and then I went through a whole battle for years about not wanting to be him. But now I enjoy and embrace it in a way that I wasn't able to as a young person.... I'm finally learning to be George Alan O'Dowd from Eltham.'Karma is the definitive autobiography from the incomparable Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello award-winning lead singer of Culture Club and LGBTQ+ vanguard: Boy George. Told in his inimitable style, Karma tells the story of the charismatic frontman - the drama, the music, his journey of addiction and recovery, surviving prison, meeting legends like David Bowie, Prince and Madonna, and the highs and lows of a life lived in the spotlight and in the headlines.This is the explosive and searingly honest account of Boy George's life as a child growing up in sixties London, coming out to his Irish Catholic family and exploring his sexuality through the hedonism of the seventies - the glam rock and punk rock revolution that birthed Culture Club - and the heydays of the nineties, to finally embracing the man and artist that he is today. With all the humour, honesty, sarcasm (and hats!) that you'd expect, Karma gives us a unique insight into Boy George's incredible story and the true evolution of a music icon.'Culture Club is always going to be one of those lovers I go back to. I've railed against it and that Boy George character I created. For years I convinced myself I was a creature of habit, unchangeable, immovable. But eventually you have to look in the mirror. Not looking for spots, looking for something deeper. Why the hell am I here? I would say life is the point of life.'

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Book Synopsis'AM-MAZ-ING!' Craig Revel Horwood We all have dreams, from little wishes to life-altering ambitions. But we rarely act on these dreams – we don’t know where to start, don’t have time, or we feel we’re not good enough. Our lives carry on as usual, leaving us wondering what could have been. In Dream, Believe, Succeed, Camilla Sacre-Dallerup shows it doesn’t have to be this way. From the age of two Camilla dreamed of being a dancer, and now she is an internationally renowned dancer, life coach and much-admired motivational speaker. Drawing on her own experiences of relentless hard work, heartache and international success, Camilla offers inspiring ways of achieving your ambitions through positivity and action. Transform your mindset with easily applicable tools and exercises. Find inspiration through Camilla’s own experiences and case studies. And apply simple, practical techniques to help you live your dreams and find lasting happiness. Dream, Believe, Succeed is the paperback edition of Strictly Inspirational, with a new chapter, ‘My Journey Continues’, sharing Camilla’s growth since 2013, and brand-new tips on gratitude, flow and thriving through change.

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Book SynopsisTHE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: a hilarious and heartfelt new autobiography from the national treasure Sir David Jason'There are British telly icons and then there is Sir David Jason. This book is such gold . . . an absolute delight' ZOE BALL___________________________'During my life and career I have been given all sorts of advice and learned huge amounts from some great and enormously talented people. I've been blessed to play characters such as Derek Trotter, Granville, Pop Larkin and Frost, who have changed my life in all sorts of ways, and taught me lessons that go far beyond the television set. And I've worked a few things out for myself as well, about friendship, ambition, rejection, success, failure, adversity and fortune.With any luck, some of these thoughts and observations will chime with episodes and challenges you have faced, or are facing, in your own life. And if they don't. . . well, hopefully, at the very least you'll get to have a good old laugh at my expense.So lean back, pour yourself a glass, and try not to fall through the bar flap . . .'___________________________'An absolute delight . . . a romp with so much detail. Offers wisdom in difficult times . . . like being invited into his living room' BBC BREAKFAST'It's beautifully written . . . so conversational and chatty . . . it's so lovely and warm' CHRIS MOYLESTrade ReviewThe book is such gold [...] David writes with this wonderful sense of humour and has so many incredible stories [...] The book is an absolute delight -- Zoe BallYour book is lovely, it's beautifully written [...] your style of writing is so conversational and chatty [...] it's so lovely and warm -- Chris MoylesThe former trainee electrician shares heartfelt and hilarious wisdom[...] With his characteristic warmth and wit, Jason shines a wonderful new light on the charactersand shows that fans have come to love him for * Candis *Hilarious and heartfelt new autobiography from the national treasure Sir David Jason * Eastern Daily Press *A man who's been a star for over 50 years -- Alex Jones

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver' James Acaster'Brilliantly observed' Romesh Ranganathan'Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny' Adam Hills 'Retro heaven' Alan Carr 'A '90s TV throwback dream' Katherine Ryan Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. Using a different TV show of the time as its starting point for each chapter, it discusses everything from Josh's strange, rural childhood, to the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.'Annoyingly very funny' Sean Walsh 'Warmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart' Danny Wallace'Brilliantly funny and nostalgic' Russel Kane 'If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one' Jack Dee

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Book SynopsisA Times Book of the Year 'Most underrated group? World of Twist.' - LIAM GALLAGHER'They're a top band. No one could do what World of Twist do, except World of Twist.' - NOEL GALLAGHER'They were such a special band, such a moment in time, and Gordon has written such a special book.' - JON RONSONWorld of Twist: the greatest lost band of all time.While fame, glory and untold riches seemed like an inevitability for World of Twist at the turn of the '90s, the universe was simply not ready for a group of retro futurists, psychedelic adventurers and cosmic tunesmiths.Too late for Madchester, too early for Britpop and too much fun to pigeonhole, the band went on to face a demoralising string of near-misses and 'what could have been's, ultimately falling apart in a medley of incompatible drugs, musical contretemps, sartorial differences and all-round shoulder-shrugging apathy.But they burned bright and left an indelible mark on everyone who looked deep into their light...Now, in When Does the Mind-Bending Start?, co-founder, guitarist and principal songwriter Gordon King tells the incredible inside story of his time with World of Twist, revealing the jealousy, anguish and personal demons experienced by the clashing personalities of King and the band's late singer, Tony Ogden.This is a memoir of tragedy and triumph, comedy and drama, demise and recovery.Trade Review'They were such a special band, such a moment in time, and Gordon has written such a special book.' -- Jon Ronson'Amazingly good: moving, funny and about everything - music, friendship, success, failure, loss, place and 1,000 other things. You won't regret buying it and reading it.' -- John Harris'The engaging narrative is rich in comedy, mundanity, fantasy, hubris and poignancy. 4/5' -- Mojo'One of the most vivid, celebratory and honest books ever published about love for music. 4/5' -- Record Collector

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Book Synopsis'Hilarious, heart-wrenching and packed with British music history.' - COLDPLAY A Virgin Radio Book of the Year It's a life-and-near-death story. But whose life? And whose near-death?As a one-time NME journalist, former Xfm radio presenter, toilet-circuit promoter and the founder of enduring homespun British record label Fierce Panda, Simon Williams has been at the cutting, cutting, cutting edge of all things 'indie' for over thirty years. During his tenure as managing director of Fierce Panda (a role he holds to this day), Simon was responsible for tripping over bands such as Coldplay, Keane, Placebo and countless other acts of independent hue - some of whom have gone on to achieve earth-shattering musical superstardom, while others have merely baffled the crowd at the Bull & Gate in north London on a wet Wednesday evening.Unfiltered and unflinching, Pandamonium! is the story of Simon's time at the indie coalface, filled with insider anecdotes to entertain music enthusiasts everywhere - from the origins of a bootlegged Oasis release to Chris Martin's delight at reaching number ninety-two in the charts. But it is also the story of how Simon tried to bring a premature end to proceedings, documenting in blunt, matter-of-fact detail his longstanding mental-health struggles.Yet, despite his raw and often poignant honesty, Simon writes with the warmth, wit, self-deprecation and wide-eyed good fortune of someone who has stared into the abyss and survived, bounding down a few indie rabbit holes along the way.Trade Review'Coldplay wouldn't exist without Simon Williams. He was the first journalist to write about our band and released our first single on his legendary label, Fierce Panda. His memoir is hilarious, heart-wrenching and packed with British music history.' -- Coldplay'Remarkable tales from both the frontline of rock journalism and behind the scenes at one of our greatest underplayed British indie labels; open, entertaining and extraordinarily poignant.' -- Steve Lamacq'Williams is a towering colossus of indie. Pandamonium! is filled with autobiographical honesty, engaging humour and some really awful puns.' -- David Quantick'A brilliant memoir: funny, thrilling, but also as moving as any book about music I've ever read. It's full of the same stuff as the best records and gigs - entertainment, but also a sense of life at its most profound.' -- John Harris'Jaw dropping ... really moving. Highly recommend it.' -- Ted Kessler'A truly shocking episode from the recent past helps turn an entertaining romp into something much more moving. 8/10' -- Classic Rock'A dryly self-deprecating and desperately poignant picture of heartfelt endeavour and harsh reality. 4/5' -- Record Collector'Hilariously funny and deeply moving.' * Variety *'A sweet natured romp.' * 4/5 Mojo *'A fascinating book for any lover of indie music and those wanting an insight into the machinations of the unforgiving, cut-throat music industry. It is also a salutary reminder of the fragility of the human condition. Most of all, it is a most entertaining and, ironically, life-affirming read written with Williams' trademark wit, gentle humour and, let's be honest, silliness.' * Louder Than War *'Incredible... beautifully written.' -- Huw Stephens

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Book SynopsisA fascinating new book charting the life and career of Sex Pistols legend Glen Matlock through the lens of thirty of his most formative songs - from the ones that influenced him as a child to the ones he wrote and played on as a star.Sharing insider tales of the Sex Pistols' earliest gigs and stormiest reunions, as well as their most idiosyncratic inter-band dynamics, Triggers offers a vivid insight into the ultimate icons of punk. Yet, having performed and recorded with so many musical luminaries over the decades, Glen also reflects on his time with the likes of Iggy Pop, David Bowie, the Faces, Blondie, Primal Scream and many more, bookending his account with two 'winters of discontent': 1976 and 2022.This is the story of an outspoken, uncompromising man and remarkable, game-changing musician.Trade Review'A page turner filled with colourful, illuminating tales.' * 4 stars, Mojo *'Glen Matlock - singer, songwriter, bassist, natural storyteller and a damn fine bloke. It is no surprise Triggers is a brilliant journey.' -- Debbie Harry'The book is filled with lovely musical details.' * Daily Telegraph *'The clearest view yet of punk, '70s Britain and the maelstrom of the Pistols. By a man who was there, front and centre to it all.' * Louder Than War *'Triggers is an illuminating and irreverent read.' * Irish Independent *'An engaging narration. The [Pistols] are revisited here with renewed objectivity and candour. Entertaining proof that the good guys don't always finish last.' * four stars, Record Collector *

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