Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books

Book Synopsis"...it’s the colorful photographs (over 500!) of one-of-a-kind Hopi and Moroccan-inspired mosaic pieces featured in her memoir, out in October, that truly command attention, from ammonite fossils and ivory animal renderings to stunning lapis, coral, and turquoise designs." — Natural Diamonds North African-born Eveli Sabatie had a long-time fascination with Native American culture and history. As a young woman, she left her home in Paris in 1968 to move to San Francisco, hoping to learn more. A chance encounter with a Hopi traditionalist led to an invitation to Arizona, where she apprenticed with a master Native American jewellery-maker. For her, this was the beginning of a new world. Art can never be fully divided from the artist’s voice, nor the natural world. When Eveli encountered red jasper while roaming the Arizona mountains, she knew she had to incorporate her local geology into her work. Yet raw materials are just one of many ways in which the world around Eveli shapes her art. This book is a direct and personal exploration of Eveli’s work, following her arc of growth, challenges and internal workings. Eveli’s jewellery is entirely created by her, from gathering material to fabricating the body of the piece, doing the lapidary work and finally adding stone settings and finishings. She works in a rustic, ancient environment, often choosing to use rudimentary and home-made tools over commercial techniques. This book explores her creative process through five sections: THE JOURNEY, a biographical overview of her time at the Hopi reservation in Northern Arizona, where she apprenticed under Charles Loloma; CLOUDS AND RAIN, exploring the influence of the Hopi and the desert on her work; BEING HOME, which talks in greater detail about Eveli’s relationship with the environment; BEING HUMAN, a philosophical study of humanity through jewellery; and BRANCHING OUT, which features Eveli’s other artworks, which are sought after by collectors from around the world. This is a profound reflection on the earth, through the medium of jewellery.Trade Review"it’s the colorful photographs (over 500!) of one-of-a-kind Hopi and Moroccan-inspired mosaic pieces featured in her memoir, out in October, that truly command attention, from ammonite fossils and ivory animal renderings to stunning lapis, coral, and turquoise designs." - Natural DiamondsTable of ContentsTo Wear the Jewelry of Eveli iv Foreword viii Introduction xi Prologue xiii Jewelry & its Magic xiv THE JOURNEY 1 HOPI LAND 2 SANTA FE 31 TUCSON 55 CLOUDS & RAIN 79 HONORING CLOUDS & RAIN 81 THE SIGNIFICANCE 105 BEING HOME 121 EARTHSCAPES 123 CONNECTED TO COSMOS 147 MY BESTIARY 159 SEA NOSTALGIA 197 THE GARDENS 213 BEING HUMAN 235 WE HUMANS 237 ASSEMBLAGE 251 SOUND & MOVEMENT 273 THE MYTHICAL & THE MYSTICAL 281 BRANCHING OUT 303 IVORY CARVINGS 304 MIXED MEDIA 305 BRONZES 306 INSTALLATION 308 Epilogue 309 Index 310 Photography credits 317

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscovering The Beatles at the age of fourteen, David Paton had no idea that one day he’d work with Paul McCartney in Studio Two at Abbey Road or that he’d write a number one worldwide hit, or that he’d spend three years touring the world and recording as bass player with Elton John, including playing in his band at Live Aid. These achievements were well beyond his imagination – yet he did them. For David, making music was a joy and a privilege, but his career as a musician made it possible for him to meet and work with some of the world-famous artists that he idolised. David Paton is the singer, songwriter and bass player with the group Pilot, writing the worldwide hits ‘Magic’, ‘January’ and ‘Just a Smile’. He was a member of The Alan Parsons Project for ten years and did session work with The Pretenders, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Chris De Burgh, Chris Rea and Jimmy Page, to name but a few. This book gives an insight into the life of a successful songwriter and session musician. He has a lot to say, but as well as telling his story, the book also offers valuable insight into what to do – and what not to do – for creative people interested in pursuing a career in music.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLondon. Wham! Pop, glitz and glamour. And two girls with stars in their eyes.Our friendship began one windy day in 1982, outside Finsbury Park tube. It was an instant like at first sight. We were on our way to a Wham! rehearsal. Pepsi was the new girl in the band and over a car stereo, a cassette tape and that journey to Bushey we bonded. We had no idea that we were on the first of many journeys together and that soon we'd be travelling all over Europe, Australia, America, China and Japan. Or that no matter where we went, together, we'd find a way to make every exotic destination feel like home.We'd both been teenagers during the seventies – a dreary and difficult decade, especially if you were young in London and you didn't have much money.So, in 1982, anything was possible for us – a pair of twentysomethings who hadn't been to university, who didn't have any money, who dreamt of singing and dancing, but ultimately lived for fun. Everything felt new and life was a question mark. We had no idea what was lying ahead, but we wanted to say yes.What we didn't know was that we were saying yes to a lifetime of connection that has endured whatever we've done, wherever we've been. From the side of the stage to its centre – we have many stories to tell.And it's all here, it's all in black and white.Trade Review'A wonderfully nostalgic read, full of heart' * The Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew Zealand-born conductor, Warwick Braithwaite, was a seminal figure in the musical life of Britain for more than fifty years. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and went on to tour with Joseph O’Mara’s Grand Opera Company. At the time, he was believed to be the country’s youngest professional conductor. Braithwaite worked with all the major British orchestras and many of the greatest artists of his day. He was associated with important musical institutions at key moments in their development, becoming the first Musical Director of the Welsh National Orchestra, and guiding the Scottish Orchestra through the difficult years of WWII. Much of Braithwaite’s career was spent conducting opera for Sadler’s Wells, Welsh National Opera, Carl Rosa, and Covent Garden. He also worked with the Royal Ballet in London, and toured with them to Germany, France and Italy. Extensive post-war engagements took him to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Iceland and the Republic of Ireland. Editor Roger Flury, former Curator of Music at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, had unique access to Braithwaite’s archive – including the conductor’s substantial autobiography, published here for the first time. Flury contributes additional chapters covering Braithwaite’s musical legacy in Wales and his later years with Sadler’s Wells Opera. The volume is enriched with several important appendices charting Braithwaite’s family, his significant recording career, his writings and – most important of all – his many compositions. Braithwaite emerges as an unsung hero in the history of music-making in the first half of the 20th century.

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristian Dior (1905-1957) rocketed to fame with his first collection in 1947 when the "New Look" took the world by storm. This charming and modest autobiography gives a fascinating and detailed insight into the workings of a great fashion house, while revealing the private man behind the high-profile establishment. It is also a unique portrait of classic Paris haute couture of the 1950s and offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes. Dior details his childhood in Granville, the family and friends closest to him, his most difficult years and sudden success, as well as his sources of inspiration and creative processes.Trade Review"This autobiography not only gives readers detailed insight into the workings of the fashion house, but also reveals the nature of the man behind it." -- Daniela Saunders, 20+ Must- Have Fashion Coffee Table Books, Country & Town House, 24th May 2022, "A fascinating insight into the iconic design house" -- Hello Magazine, "an excellent primary source...and invaluable addition to fashion history literature" -- Caroleen Molenaar, Journal of Dress History, Vol. 4, Issue. 3, Autumn 2020, "This intimate autobiography allows us to discover the man behind the creative genius acclaimed internationally." Eleanora Dal Bosco, 1 Granary, January 3rd 2022Table of ContentsPrologue: The Two Christian Diors Part One: The Birth of Maison Christian Dior One: The Reluctant Couturier Two: A House of One's Own Three: The New Look Four: An Innocent Abroad in the U.S.A Part Two: From the Idea to the Dress Five: The Idea Six: From the 'Toile' to the Dress Seven: The Birth of the Collection Eight: The Dress Rehearsal Nine: The Eve of the Battle Ten: The Showing of the Collection Eleven: The Romance of Clothes Part Three: Inside a Couture House Twelve: The Mannequins Thirteen: The Clients Fourteen: Domestic Expansion Fifteen: Paris to New York and Back Again Sixteen: Christian Dior-London Part Four: The Adventure of My Life Seventeen: My Early Years Eighteen: Friendships and Frustrations Nineteen: Portrait of Myself

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Amadeus Quartet, which was active from 1948 until 1987 when its viola player Peter Schidlof died, is probably the most famous and distinguished string quartet of the 20th century. It played to a wide variety of audiences on innumerable occasions in all the major countries of the world, and produced a galaxy of recordings, many of which are still available. The intensity of its music-making was breathtaking. Muriel Nissel, the author of Married to the Amadeus, is the wife of Siegmund Nissel, the second violinist. Her book tells the extraordinary and moving story of the Quartet, with its many triumphs and its periodic setbacks and traumas, from the inside for the forty years from its inception during the time after the Second World War up to the 1980s. She reveals how it moulded the lives of the four players and their wives and families in unexpected ways, and how they all became inextricably involved in this unique joint enterprise. The fashion in which work and family life interacted was crucial to the Quartet's survival.She returned to her professional life as a statistician when the children went to school and describes how difficult it was in the 1960s for a married woman with children to achieve equal status with men at work; and she tells of the problems she also had to face at home finding satisfactory ways of caring for her family. Remarkably, the four members of the Quartet remained unchanged throughout. They each of them had exceptional qualities. Norbert Brainin, the first violin, Siegmund Nissel and Peter Schidlof, all refugees from Vienna, had first met in internment camps in Britain in 1940. Martin Lovett, the cellist, joined them not long after the war, at a moment when the musical climate was sympathetic to chamber music and the record industry was booming. They never looked back. Nobody who has read Muriel Nissel's absorbing book will ever be able to listen to a string quartet again without being aware of the immense commitment such a group demands of the players and of their families too, and of the longstanding emotional, aesthetic and organizational complexities it entails.Trade ReviewAndrew Green in Classical Music: '...a thoroughly absorbing, well-written account of the Amadeus Quartet story observed from the inside...[It] has the benefit of many penetrating insights - not simply into how wives and families are affected by the lifestyle adopted of necessity by the members of a top-notch ensemble, but into the true nature of that lifestyle itself...It is a book, in truth, about an octet, with all the characters utterly believable, aided by an excellent photographic record, plus an appendix containing not just a complete discography but a list of all the quartets who have benefited from the Amadeus' International Summer Course. Very revealing.' Patrick Carnegy in TLS: 'There are memorable sketches of musician colleagues - Cecil Aronowitz...Alfred Brendel...David Oistrakh... and of the Amadeus playing Britten's Third Quartet privately to the composer only months before his death. The legacy of the Amadeus lives on in their recordings and in the many fine ensembles they have coached. Looking back on the forty years of their pre-eminence in the classic string quartet repertory, it is amazing how much of their reputation was won by the sheer quality of their performances, unaided by the marketing and image-making that is par for the course today...the story of the invisible life of the Wolf Gang is never less than candidly and engagingly told.' Martin Boyd in the Strad: '...the eloquent and cerebral wife of second violinist Siegmund presents us with an engaging account of the Amadeus' rise to pre-eminence...she successfully conveys a sense of how important a stable family life was to her husband and the other members of the jet-setting Amadeus...This book is about the vicissitudes of personal and professional relationships. Muriel Nissel's close proximity to the Amadeus Quartet enables her to give a privileged insight into the workings and group dynamics of this remarkable and long-lasting ensemble.'Table of ContentsForty years playing quartets; early years; marrying the quartet; touring the world; our daughter is born; on tour with the quartet; what happens when you are ill? do you play on a strad? making records; we all go to the United Sates; festivals and summer schools; a change of life-style; I return to work; juggling jobs and family; getting away from it all; staying at the top; the last years of the quartet; teaching - an Amadeus legacy; a dedicated life. Appendices: engagements of the Amadeus Quartet in their Silver Jubilee Year, 197203; engagements of the Amadeus Quartet in their last season, 1986-7; earnings of the Amadeus Quartet in 1972-1986; discography of the Amadeus quartet; quartets attending the Amadeus International Summer Course.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Bay City Rollers were one of the brightest things to happen in the tumultuous 1970s, illuminating a dark decade marred by falling stock markets, a plummeting economy and industrial unrest. Alan Longmuir, an apprentice plumber from Edinburgh, was inspired by The Beatles to form a band in the 1960s. Firstly, he enlisted his brother and then his cousin and via throwing a dart at a map they eventually became the Bay City Rollers. Success was slow in coming but when it did it was beyond Alan’s (and almost everyone else’s) wildest dreams.A string of million selling records led to Rollermania – a mass-hysterical fan reaction not seen since Beatlemania. Like a wildfire it spread across the world. The Rollers’ juggernaut was out-of-control. Alan Longmuir recounts his surreal journey from the Dalry backstreets to the Hollywood hills and back to being a plumber. Along the way he punctures some of the myths and untruths that have swirled around the group. Most of all, though, Alan captures the great adventure that a bunch of young boys from Edinburgh embarked on that for a few years threatened to turn the whole world tartan. Tragically, while finishing his memoirs Alan Longmuir was taken ill while on a holiday in Mexico marking his 70th birthday and died back in Scotland a short while later. It was his great desire that I Ran With The Gang should be released.Trade ReviewAlmost impossible to put down, this is a highly refreshing music business memoir, devoid of dirt-dishing, upbeat in the face of negativity, and inspiring in its positivity. – Peter Mason, Morning StarA riveting inside track on life in the Rollers. – Brian Ferguson, The ScotsmanIt’s a fascinating read for anyone who’s ever sung along to Shangalang and wondered just who this group of young men were, from boom to bust. – Kenny Smith, Scottish FieldHow can I resist a combo of Martin Knight and the iconic Bay City Rollers? – IRVINE WELSHIt’s really good writing, it’s a really good story. It is very much Alan’s story… you can hear Alan on every page. It’s exceptionally well-written and entertaining; there’s bits that are really funny, there’s bits that are really poignant in it. – KARIN INGRAM

Read more less

Book SynopsisMemories of a London Art Dealer is the distillation of a lifetime’s experience and expertise in the art world. Neither an autobiography nor a traditional memoir, the book consists of reflections, anecdotes, telling conversations, encounters, touches of humour and a choice selection of the triumphs and disasters, heroes and villains encountered by an accidental art dealer. Trade Review"Reading the book is like being seated in a leather wingback chair at a club, listening to an affable chap recount his favourite anecdotes. . . . This is an enjoyable canter through a veteran dealer's memories, light on details and warmly diverting." * Alexander Adams Art *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt all started with a date in the Two Puddings pub in East London in 1963 and nearly 60 years on, Harry and Sandra Redknapp are still in love. Already a well-known and respected face in the world of football, it wasn’t until Harry’s stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle that their married life was propelled into the spotlight. Viewers fell in love with the couple as Harry regaled funny and touching tales of their lives together – with plenty of jam roly-poly along the way. Now they are sharing their entire love story for the first time. From early courting mishaps, wedding day jellied eels and a hapless honeymoon in Torquay to the joyful arrival of sons Mark and Jamie, Harry and Sandra reveal the highs and lows of their marriage in this joint autobiography. They will open up about happy holidays, health scares, house moves and the horror car crash that left Harry feared dead. Sandra speaks movingly about the devastating death of her beloved sister at just 58 and Harry talks about dark days as a football boss, a triumphant court battle... and the moment he accidentally ran his wife over in his car, crushing her foot... Harry and Sandra are one of the nation’s most-loved couples who have been on an extraordinary adventure together. Their story is an honest, heart-warming tale of love, loss and loyalty.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe boundless and miraculous is what Vincent van Gogh believed we should all seek – and to be satisfied with nothing less. This is exactly what he achieved in his art, despite many profound difficulties which he recorded in his letters. These letters later became recognised for their literary virtues, such as simplicity, clarity, spontaneity and rich imagery. Such qualities are among those most prized in poetry. In The Boundless and Miraculous, extracts from Van Gogh’s letters are presented as ‘found poems’ – writing not originally intended to be a poem, reinterpreted as such – mainly in the form of sonnets. They record many of the pivotal moments in Van Gogh’s life and his struggles and emotional state at these times are evident in the content and tone of the writing. There are also his views on the work of other artists, both his contemporaries and those who went before him. In particular, the poems encapsulate much of the thinking behind the way van Gogh’s art developed, and notably the thought processes behind some of his most iconic paintings. With 87 colour plates, The Boundless and the Miraculous celebrates Van Gogh’s spectacular art as well as his wonderful writing in what could be considered a series of brief autobiographical sketches. A fabulous gift book aimed at all lovers of Van Gogh’s work, this volume will also make a major contribution to our understanding of his short and amazing life. To Theo You must understand how I regard art. One must work long and hard to arrive at the truthful. What I want is difficult, and yet I don’t believe I’m aiming too high. I would like to reach the point where people say of my work, that man feels deeply, feels subtly. What am I in the eyes of most people? A nonentity or an oddity. Very well – assuming that, I’d like to show what there is in the heart of such an oddity, such a nobody. This is my ambition, based less on resentment than on love. Even though I’m often in a mess, inside me there’s still a calm – pure harmony. The Hague c. 21 July 1882Trade Review"Stapleton’s accessible and illuminating collection of sonnets works well as a series of glimpses into the consciousness of a great artist; the diary of a soul. It captures the voice of a man whose life was a constant struggle but who maintained good grace to the end. The poems are accompanied by a wealth of images of van Gogh’s work that complement the subject matter." The Sunday Times (UK); "Finding poetry in the letters of Vincent van Gogh..." The Irish Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Kerry''s an incredible writer and this memoir is so raw, vulnerable and honest'' MICHELLE OBAMAAward-winning actor, director, producer, and activist Kerry Washington shares the deeply moving journey of her life so far, and the bravely intimate story of discovering her truth. While on a drive in Los Angeles, on a seemingly average afternoon, Kerry Washington received a text message that would send her on a life-changing journey of self-discovery. In an instant, her very identity was torn apart, with everything she thought she knew about herself thrown into question.In Thicker than Water, Washington gives readers an intimate view into both her public and private worlds - as a mother, daughter, wife, artist, advocate, and trailblazer. Chronicling her upbringing and life''s journey thus far, she reveals how she faced a series of challenges and setbacks, effectively hid childhood traumas, met extraordinary mentors, managed to grow her careerTrade ReviewIf Kerry Washington's superpower in acting is that she can make the viewer feel intimate with someone we've never known, her writing superpower is that she can make us relive a life we've never lived. Utterly immersive, beautifully descriptive, and radically honest, this book takes a compassionate sledgehammer to the facades that so many of us create about ourselves and our families. It's such a gift. * Trevor Noah, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Born a Crime *I read Thicker than Water in one sitting, astonished by Washington's thrilling story and shimmering writing. Washington is more honest in these pages than she has to be, and the result is a book that will heal hearts and relationships. Thicker than Water will keep readers up at night - flipping pages and thinking: Good Lord, she can write, too??? Yep, she sure as hell can. * Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed *An exquisitely moving story of grace and wisdom, Kerry Washington takes us along her hard-won transformation from a sheltered young girl growing up in the Bronx, to a brilliant actor who would portray one of the most iconic roles in television. And all the while, she shines a light on the acting world, the traumas and triumphs of womanhood and the true, full meaning of family. A gift and a revelation. * Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents *This book bursts open with honesty and humility. At every season of her life, we watch Washington navigate the thrilling trajectory of her career alongside the complexities of her family life. This is not a memoir of someone who wants us to see them as flawless, it is a story of someone who wants us to see them as human. What a gift we have been given, this opportunity to bear witness to one of our great actress's journey through both her eyes and her heart. Thicker than Water is a beautifully written memoir by an extraordinary artist. * Clint Smith, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller How the Word Is Passed *With a true gift for prose, Kerry Washington conveys an intoxicating passion and gratitude for her life. I found myself captivated by every chapter, at her side, inspired by the full spectrum of her experience. * Gwyneth Paltrow, actor and founder of goop *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome all rascals and tricksters to this marvellous miscellany of mischief and magic! This playful book explores the world of deception and trickery – both the good and the bad.   Learn the secrets of infamous magic illusions and tricks and discover the stories of some of history’s most notorious hoaxes, pranks, and cons. While some are great fun, others contain a serious lesson . . . after all, understanding scams of the past can help protect you in the future. Meet infamous pranksters such as Marcel Duchamp (the French artist who pranked the art world), renowned illusionists and escape artists such as Adelaide Hermann (one of the first female magicians), and cunning con-artists such as George C. Parker (the American who 'sold' the Statue of Liberty).  The themed spreads explore a range of topics such as made-up monsters, alienTrade Review“This blend of history, biography and activities reveals the antics of magicians such as African American illusionist Richard Potter and French prankster Marcel Duchamp and has themed spreads on April Fool’s Day, alien hoaxes and more.” * The Bookseller, Children's Previews *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''An attempt to retell an oft-told tale, this time informed by a desire to suck the hot air out of the more inflated earlier versions . . . this late-arriving history is perhaps the most reliable, and certainly the most entertaining, of all'' GuardianFew bands are as shrouded in the murky haze of rock mythology as The Doors, and parsing fact from fiction has been a virtually impossible task. But now, after fifty years, The Doors'' notoriously quiet guitarist is finally breaking his silence to set the record straight. Through a series of vignettes, Robby takes readers back to where it all happened: the pawn shop where he bought his first guitar; the jail cell he was tossed into after a teenage drug bust; his parents'' living room where his first songwriting sessions with Jim Morrison took place; and the many concert venues that erupted into historic riots. Both a time capsule of the 1960s counterculture and a moving reflection on what it means to find onesel

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlice Cooper: Golf Monster is the full account of how Cooper became one of the biggest rock stars on the planet with hits like "School's Out" and "Elected", nearly lost it all to alcoholism, and then turned things around by finding a healthy obsession (golf) to replace his unhealthy addiction to alcohol. While most will be familiar with his wild, mascaraed visage and vaudevillian on-stage theatrics, perhaps few will have been aware of the double life Alice Cooper leads. He still tours the world with his band, playing a hundred gigs a year; snake coiled round his neck, beheaded by guillotine at the end of every show...but three hundred days out of that year, Cooper is on the course. Alice Cooper: Golf Monster is an unlikely and captivating tale of wretched excess, life-saving redemption, ghoulish make-up, power chords, and five-irons to the centre of the green. Both humorous and candid, this book reveals another dimension to a man who has epitomised rock 'n' roll for the last forty years.Trade Review'Clever, witty and perfect for dads who like metal (clubs)' The Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Featured in The Times'' ''Best Books of the Year So Far''*What do you do when you realise you have everything you think you''ve ever wanted but still feel completely empty? What do you do when it all starts to fall apart? The second volume of Moby''s extraordinary life story is a journey into the dark heart of fame and the demons that lurk just beneath the bling and bluster of the celebrity lifestyle. In summer 1999, Moby released the album that defined the millennium, PLAY. Like generation-defining albums before it, PLAY was ubiquitous, and catapulted Moby to superstardom. Suddenly he was hanging out with David Bowie and Lou Reed, Christina Ricci and Madonna, taking esctasy for breakfast (most days), drinking litres of vodka (every day), and sleeping with super models (infrequently). It was a diet that couldn''t last. And then it fell apart. The second volume of Moby''s memoir is a classic about the banality of fame. It is shocking, r

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Aja" was the album that made Steely Dan a commercial force on the order of contemporaries like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Chicago. A double-platinum, Grammy-winning bestseller, it lingered on the Billboard charts for more than a year and spawned three hit singles. This book paints a detailed picture of the making of a masterpiece.Trade ReviewMusician and songwriter Breithaupt's book pores over every last note of Josie, Deacon Blues, Peg and the like with the enthusiasm of a teenybopper and the insight of an academic. -- Terry Staunton * Record Collector *Aja was the album that made Steely Dan a commercial force on the order of contemporaries like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Chicago. A double-platinum, Grammy-winning bestseller, it lingered on the Billboard charts for more than a year after its 1977 release and spawned three hit singles. Odd, then, that its creators saw it as an `ambitious, extended` work, the apotheosis of their anti-rock, anti-band, anti-glamour aesthetic. Including an in-depth interview with Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, this book - part of Continuum`s ongoing 33 1/3 series - by Canadian musician and music journalist Don Breithaupt paints a detailed picture of the making of a masterpiece. * Upper North Side *Don Breithaupt has crafted an informative book about Steely Dan's platinum sixth album, Aja—part of Continuum Press' 33 1/3 series on acclaimed albums in rock history. The author analyzes Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's cryptic word play and arty rock and West Coast studio contributions to the 1977 release and tried to build a case in support of his fervid-fan claim that Aja is ‘the best record in the solar system. * Downbeat Magazine *Aja is the first one [in the series] I've read, but I'll be checking out the others. Highly recommended. * Stereophile *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen a film is not a document, it is a dream. This visual autobiography traces the author's lifelong love affair with film. It looks at his life from a rural Swedish childhood through his work in theater to Hollywood's golden age, and a romantic history that includes five wives and more than a few mistresses.Trade Review"Bergman's minute recall is essentially, astonishingly, visual. Description after description stamp out scenes from his films. The man, his memory, his work are one.... It is wonderfully liberating to be made privy to the tangible relish in his craft.... The Magic Lantern is no conventional autobiography, more a scalding stream of consciousness from the pen of a licentious puritan." - New York Review of Books "[Bergman] has found a way to show the soul's landscape.... Many gripping revelations." - New York Times Book Review "Joan Tate's translation of this book has delicacy and true pitch.... The Magic Lantern is as personal and penetrating as a Bergman film, wry, shadowy, austere." - New Republic "[Bergman] keeps returning to his past, reassessing it, distilling its meaning, offering it to his audiences in dazzling new shapes." - New York Times "What Bergman does relate, particularly his tangled relationships with his parents, is not only illuminating but quite moving. No 'tell-all' book this one, but revealing in ways that much longer and allegedly 'franker' books are not." - Library Journal"

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first autobiography from legendary expert on bushcraft and survival, Ray Mears.Trade ReviewMoving...gripping...The rather old-fashioned qualities he admires in others: fortitude, understatedness, loyalty, above all stoicism, are the same ones we admire in him. Long may he survive. * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRole Models is a wild and witty self-portrait of John Waters, America''s ''Pope of Trash'', told through intimate profiles of his favourite personalities - some famous, some unknown, some criminal, some surprisingly middle of the road. From Esther Martin, owner of the scariest bar in Baltimore, to the playwright Tennessee Williams; from the atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair to the insane martyr Saint Catherine of Siena; from the English novelist Denton Welch to the timelessly appealing singer Johnny Mathis - these are the extreme figures who helped John Waters form his own brand of neurotic happiness.A paean to the power of subversive inspiration that delights, amuses and happily horrifies in equal measure...Trade ReviewA delirious descent into Waters World, Role Models is a true-life confessional from one of America's greatest ironists. John Waters is a man always ready and willing to say the unsayable. He is the dark mirror of contemporary culture. From haute couture to low culture, from literary outsiders to lapsed actors, he delivers razor-sharp pen portraits of the women and men who have perverted and inspired him by turns. And yet Waters's warped imagination is always humane, his judgments insightful. Role Models is as much a philosophical manifesto as it is an utterly hilarious and shamelessly entertaining read. -- Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan, or The WhaleDisarmingly unfiltered confessions that capture Waters' singular blend of weirdness and guileless honesty. * San Francisco Chronicle *John Waters has a great gift for appreciation - whether for toothless lesbian strippers in Baltimore or the most rarefied painters and writers of our day. He is a dandy who has done away with everyone else's hierarchies and created a new world that conforms only to his own taste for trash and the sublime. He is frank, funny, and (strangely enough) both sensible and outrageous. -- Edmund White, author of City Boy

Read more less

Book SynopsisYouTube sensation Andrew Huang offers practical tips and hard-won advice for creatives seeking financial stability while staying authentic.How does a musician with acute hearing loss, a refusal to perform live, and no industry connections carve a path to millions of followers and lucrative royalty checks? In Make Your Own Rules, Andrew Huang shares stories from his two decades as a music industry misfit and offers advice on both the artistic and business sides of working as a creator in our digital era. Beginning with auctioning his songwriting skills on eBay as a teenager, Andrew continuously found new ways to thrive in a music career over the last twenty-plus years. His storied career and hard-won wisdom can help aspiring digital creatives find success as well. Organized by sections on building your creative foundations, growing an audience in the digital age, making money, and staying true to yourself, Make Your Own Rules pairs personal anecdotes with concrete advice applicable to any freelance digital creator. You’ll learn how Andrew became an early adopter of sharing music online—for free!—and how he leveraged social media to grow an organic following and amass millions of song streams and video views. Additional chapters provide insight into his designing an online course and music production tools that have been used by tens of thousands of people, and how he created revenue streams for himself that didn’t exist previously. With open-minded perseverance, Andrew made up his own rules for life. His unlikely journey will inspire creators to find opportunity, financial stability, and fun in their pursuits.Trade ReviewThis is a perfect guide to navigating the ever-complex and wondrous world of the creative arts, packed with practical and insightful information that will help individuals at any stage of their journey!—?Nahre Sol - Pianist / Composer / CreatorVery few people turn me into a bumbling fan boy faster than Andrew Huang. I get stupidly excited every time he releases a YouTube video. This book is an insightful, candid peek into his thinking and creative process, a must read for anyone trying to turn their art into a living. —Jad Abumrad - Musician / Composer / Creator of Radiolab, More Perfect and Dolly Parton’s America "There are single sentences in this book that took me 10 years to learn on my own. If you’re looking for motivation, you’ve found it. I wish I had this book when I was starting out." —Chuck Sutton, artist and music producer"Andrew Huang is a creative force of nature. He's a living prototype for the current and next generations of content creators and musicians. Make Your Own Rules, much like his music, is filled with deeply relatable and hooky story telling with a message. Wise, thoughtful, normally heavily obscured information is shared here about creative process and monetization in a modern context. This should be required reading for music students and anyone trying to move from hobbiest to full time creator. Absolutely Inspiring, I loved it.” - BT, Electronic Artist, Film composer, and Software Developer"A book as remarkable and multifaceted as its author, Make Your Own Rules is revealing, inspiring, encouraging and deeply informative. Any creative person of the Digital Age — whether they’re familiar with Huang’s wildly creative online work or not — will benefit from this deep dive into his impressive journey thus far.” -JJ Abrams, Writer/Producer/Director"Andrew has done what I thought was impossible—he has managed to take a field that is rapidly changing and create a book that is timeless in its usefulness and relevance to any artist that wants to share their work in the digital age. If there was a course in content creation this would be required reading." - Malinda Kathleen Reese, musician and creator

Read more less

Book SynopsisFOREWORD BY AUDREY GOLDEN, AUTHOR OF I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SPEAKHit So Hard is a memoir of renewal and hope; a window onto the 90s Seattle grunge scene, and a testament to the enduring power of the music Patty helped create as drummer in Hole with Courtney Love. With a brand new introduction by Audrey Golden to cast a new light on the book today, and published for the first time in the UK as part of White Rabbit''s Deep Cuts series, Hit So Hard documents her life in the band, battle with addiction and descent into homelessness on the streets of LA; and her rewarding path to sobriety and happiness.''Though Hit So Hard is ultimately a deeply personal story, it''s also the story of one of the most successful bands of the ''90s: Hole...Schemel describes her years with the band with the same unflinching honesty and eye for telling detail that she brings to all parts of her life'' LA Weekly''Not a book one should approach lightly

Read more less

Book Synopsis''I found my power when I realized it was within me, within my skin and within my soul. It just needed to be set free.'' Leigh-Anne Pinnock''s life changed overnight when she became part of the first ever girl band to win the X-Factor. The multi-platinum selling supergroup Little Mix, went on to become one of the biggest girl bands of all time.Launched into chart-topping global fame, Leigh-Anne was living her childhood dream of becoming a popstar. But behind the scenes, as a Black woman within an industry and team with little diversity, Leigh-Anne was struggling with her identity and felt completely lost. In her highly anticipated memoir, Leigh-Anne shares her journey from growing up in a mixed-race family in Britain to taking the pop world by storm. Honest and direct, she reveals the challenges and prejudices that stood in her path and how she overcame them by embracing her own power. Sharing the experiences and lessons that have shaped Leigh-Anne, this book will empower us all to challenge the status quo, stand up for what we believe in and go after our dreams.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAward-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director David Mamet shares scandalous and laugh-out-loud tales from his four decades in Hollywood where he worked with some of the biggest names in movies.David Mamet went to Hollywood on top—a super successful playwright summoned west in 1980 to write a vehicle for Jack Nicholson. He arrived just in time to meet the luminaries of old Hollywood and revel in the friendship of giants like Paul Newman, Mike Nichols, Bob Evans, and Sue Mengers. Over the next forty years, Mamet wrote dozens of scripts, was fired off dozens of movies, and directed eleven himself. In Everywhere an Oink Oink, he revels of the taut and gag-filled professionalism of the film set. He depicts the ever-fickle studios and producers who piece by piece eat the artist alive. And he ponders the art of filmmaking and the genius of those who made our finest movies. With the bravado and flair of Mamet’s best theatrical work, this memoir describes a world gone by, some of our most beloved film stars with their hair down, and how it all got washed away by digital media and the woke brigade. The book is illustrated throughout with three-dozen of Mamet’s pungent cartoons and caricatures.Trade Review“Everywhere an Oink Oink is nothing but wicked jokes, angry broadsides and pointed gossip: in other words, the ideal Hollywood book.” —Kyle Smith, The Wall Street Journal“A smart, addictive, hilarious, and insightful look at everything from craven producers to the art of storytelling to the demise of storytelling to life.” —John Nolte, Breitbart

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe chart-topping singer/songwriter's powerful story, told for the first time, in her own words.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is inspired by true events but is not a biography.The truth is My Truth is not The Truth, and that''s as honest as I can be. It''s partially true, rather than painfully true, and I have possibly been economical with the truth, Your Honour.Basically, I made this sh*t up . . .While James Blunt''s crimes against music are well-documented, he also has some stories that are not. In Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story, James reveals his most riotous anecdotes to date for your amusement - and his parents'' horror - in this highly anticipated non-memoir.From his questionable Norfolk roots, eccentric family, boarding school antics, misjudged military service, rise to music stardom and tour escapades, James delves into his (surprisingly) fascinating life to date. What do you do when your mother writes irate emails to the future prime minister defending your honour? What does it take to run a male escort agency? And why exactly should

Read more less

Book SynopsisBobby Womack was born on 4 March 1944, and died on 27 June 2014, aged 70. In a career that spanned two centuries and seven decades, the soul singer, songwriter and guitarist carved a niche for himself that has rarely been equalled, and never surpassed. He is, quite simply, irreplaceable. A phenomenally gifted musician, his incredible talent helped him to escape the ghetto and become a star, with 30 million record sales to his name. Yet behind his beautiful music lay a life scorched by tragedy. Having trod the harsh edge of the music business for decades, he finally told his explosive story in Midnight Mover. From finding success with his family gospel group The Valentinos and being whipped into shape by James Brown and Jimi Hendrix on the chitlin circuit , to recording with Wilson Pickett, Eric Clapton and Elvis Presley, Womack s stellar career wove a colourful path through the history of soul, rock and R&B music. His collaborations with other musicians read like a roll of honour, from Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles to The Rolling Stones and Damon Albarn. Success came at a price, however. Womack lost his friend and mentor Sam Cooke when the soul star was gunned down in a motel. A doomed marriage to Cooke s widow followed, which severely damaged his reputation in the music business. Tragically, he lost two sons, one to suicide, as well as his brother Harry to a brutal murder. His escape was to turn to drugs. Years of riotous abuse took their toll on Womack and those closest to him including Janis Joplin, who spent her last night drinking with the singer. But Womack s talent, searing guitar and soulful voice always survived. Cited as an influence by myriad musicians, even in death he remains the epitome of cool. Honest, insightful and unflinching, this is the authentic voice of the Midnight Mover, a supremely talented legend of music whose every day was lived to the full.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''The book is meant to spread joy, personal acceptance, and most of all understanding. Each of us is living our own private journey, and the more we know about each other, the healthier and happier the world will be.''Growing up gay in a traditional South Asian family in South Yorkshire, Tan France could never have imagined he'd become part of a worldwide phenomenon. One of the few people of colour at his school, he experienced racist bullies, found solace at his grandad's denim factory and eventually discovered his true calling at fashion college. Told with his trademark humour, for the first time Tan reveals the experiences that have made him the witty, compassionate man he is today.From meeting the love of his life Rob (a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City) to juggling three demanding businesses, Tan charts the highs and lows on his path to Queer Eye. And of course he can't help but pepper this bTrade ReviewSo good and moving. Great advice about marriage, faith and jeans * Zadie Smith *Frank and courageous ... blazes with light and honesty * The i *One of the few books I've read and thought “I get that”. Honest, joyful and relatable * Nadiya Hussain *Who hasn’t tried the French tuck? Peppered with fashion dos and don’t s, the memoir of arguably Doncaster’s most famous TV export is a must for any Queer Eye fan. * Evening Standard *Tan's book is moving, insightful, and hilare. Any bad stories about me are totally untrue, but the rest is brilliant. Best book of the millennium! * Jonathan Van Ness *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLondon. Wham! Pop, glitz and glamour. And two girls with stars in their eyes.Our friendship began one windy day in 1982, outside Finsbury Park tube. It was an instant like at first sight. We were on our way to a Wham! rehearsal. Pepsi was the new girl in the band and over a car stereo, a cassette tape and that journey to Bushey we bonded. We had no idea that we were on the first of many journeys together and that soon we'd be travelling all over Europe, Australia, America, China and Japan. Or that no matter where we went, together, we'd find a way to make every exotic destination feel like home.We'd both been teenagers during the seventies – a dreary and difficult decade, especially if you were young in London and you didn't have much money.So, in 1982, anything was possible for us – a pair of twentysomethings who hadn't been to university, who didn't have any money, who dreamt of singing and dancing, but ultimately lived for fun. Everything felt new and life was a question mark. We had no idea what was lying ahead, but we wanted to say yes.What we didn't know was that we were saying yes to a lifetime of connection that has endured whatever we've done, wherever we've been. From the side of the stage to its centre – we have many stories to tell.And it's all here, it's all in black and white.Trade Review'A wonderfully nostalgic read, full of heart' * The Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFunny and deeply personal, Sorry Not Sorry recounts Glee star Naya Rivera's successes and missteps, urging young women to pursue their dreams and to refuse to let past mistakes define them.Navigating through youth and young adulthood isn't easy, and in Sorry Not Sorry, Naya Rivera shows us that we're not alone in the highs, lows, and in-betweens. Whether it's with love and dating, career and ambition, friends, or gossip, Naya inspires us to follow our own destiny and step over--or plod through--all the crap along the way. After her rise and fall from early childhood stardom, barely eking her way through high school, a brief stint as a Hooters waitress, going through thick and thin with her mom/manager, and resurrecting her acting career as Santana Lopez on Glee, Naya emerged from these experiences with some key life lessons:Sorry:-  All those times I scrawled I HATE MY MOM in my journal. So many moms and teenage daughters don'

Read more less

Book SynopsisFully updated to include a new introduction by Lynda Thomas, CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support.''I can''t bear not to be with these three most important people in my life. I can''t bear not to be there alongside Mark as my children grow up. My bright, funny, affectionate boys who are never embarrassed to say, love you mummy, and say it ten times day.'' Renowned as a much-loved and highly respected BBC journalist, Victoria Derbyshire has spent 20 years finding the human story behind the headlines. In 2015 she found herself at the heart of the news, with a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. With honesty and openness, she decided to live out her treatment and recovery in the spotlight in a series of video diaries that encouraged thousands to seek diagnosis and help. Victoria has kept a diary since she was nine years old and in DEAR CANCER, LOVE VICTORIA she shares her day to day experiences of life following her diagnosis and coming to Trade ReviewVictoria is exactly the type of friend everyone would want by their side after being diagnosed with cancer. Although her story is at times heartbreaking, it is also frank, funny and succeeds in demystifying an illness often discussed in hushed tones. -- Elizabeth Archer * DAILY EXPRESS *'This powerful account of Victoria Derbyshire's struggle to deal with her breast cancer diagnosis is told with honesty and courage that gives strength to those touched by cancer.' DAILY TELEGRAPH[Victoria Derbyshire] shares her day to day experiences of life folloiwng her diagnosis and coming to terms with a future that wasn't planned. From the moment she woke up to find her right breast had collapsed, to telling her partner and children, through to mastectomy and chemotherapy, we are there with her. * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *'Wonderful, courageous, spirited and just plain honest...a gift to all those folk who are suddenly blasted into the scary, bleak world of cancer.' Dame Julie Walters'Truly brilliant' Claudia Winkleman'A really good, searingly honest book...a must read' Lorraine Kelly'A powerful diary... highlighting the huge value of support.' Susanna ReidThe broadcaster - and mother of two - has written an affectingly honest diary of her treatment for breast cancer. * READERS DIGEST *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a memoir as wry, funny, moving and vivid as its inimitable subject himself. This book will be a joy for both lifelong fans and for a whole new generation.John Cooper Clarke is a phenomenon: Poet Laureate of Punk, rock star, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. At 5 feet 11 inches (32in chest, 27in waist), in trademark dark suit, dark glasses, with dark messed-up hair and a mouth full of gold teeth, he is instantly recognizable. As a writer his voice is equally unmistakable and his own brand of slightly sick humour is never far from the surface. I Wanna Be Yours covers an extraordinary life, filled with remarkable personalities: from Nico to Chuck Berry, from Bernard Manning to Linton Kwesi Johnson, Elvis Costello to Gregory Corso, Gil Scott Heron, Mark E. Smith and Joe Strummer, and on to more recent fans and collaborators Alex Turner, Plan B and Guy Garvey. Interspersed with stories of his rock and roll and performing career, John also reveals his boggling encyclopaedic take on popular culture over the centuries: from Baudelaire and Edgar Allan Poe to Pop Art, pop music, the movies, fashion, football and showbusiness – and much, much more, plus a few laughs along the way.Trade ReviewThis is not a ‘ponderous trudge through the turgid facts of an ill-remembered life’ but the kind of autobiography Rimbaud might have written if he had been a Mancunian stand-up comedian. -- Graham Robb * Spectator Best Books of the Year *The bookshop shelves have been clogged up for years by musicians and artists who made their debuts in the sulphurous days of 1976-7, but I Wanna Be Yours, the autobiography of the "punk poet" John Cooper Clarke, aka "the Bard of Salford", knocked most of the competition into a cocked hat. * TLS 'Books of the Year' *Any autobiography that features both Bernard Manning and Nico is unlikely to disappoint; even less so when it’s written with such brilliantly Dickensian vigour by the Bard of Salford, John Cooper Clarke . . .this fast, funny book catches his life in its lines * Sunday Times 'Music Books of the Year' *Manchester punk poet John Cooper Clarke takes a rather different approach to heroin addiction, treating it as a source of humour in his sharply observed, entertaining memoir . . . “Relentless tragedy is always hilarious,” he notes of his eventual recovery. “At some point the laughter has to stop.” * Daily Telegraph, Best Music Books of 2020 *[I Wanna Be Yours] might be the funniest book published this year. Few memoirists have had better material to work with: heroin addiction, years living in a squat with Nico, endless love affairs and a TV appearance with the Honey Monster. Talk about getting the most out of life. * The Times, Best Music Books of the Year 2020 *The godfather of British performance poetry * Daily Telegraph *John Cooper Clarke is one of Britain’s outstanding poets. His anarchic punk poetry has thrilled people for decades and his no nonsense approach to his work and life in general has appealed to many people including myself for many years. Long may his slender frame and spiky top produce words and deeds that keep us on our toes and alive to the wonders of the world. -- Sir Paul McCartneyI say to people, have you heard of John Cooper Clarke and if they say, yes, yeah he's an absolute genius and you just go, 'oh - ok, you've saved me a lot of time -- Steve CooganJohn Cooper Clarke uses words like Chuck Berry uses guitar riffs melody and anger, humour and disdain in equal measure. He's the real deal, really funny and really caustic, the velvet voice of discontent. -- Kate Moss...nothing short of dazzling -- Alex TurnerThere are a legion of new young poets who rightly pay homage to Cooper Clarke -- Julian Hall * Independent *It’s impossible not to hear Clarke’s voice, rhythmic & deadpan, while reading his memoir. Like his poetry,his prose style is wry and dry . . . Mad anecdotes & whimsical gags abound, but wisdom often lurks beneath the wordplay. * Guardian *I Wanna Be Yours is fantastically entertaining . . . As a writer of comic prose Clarke is the match of anyone alive, and his turns of phrase are as sharp as his suits (the view over 1950s Manchester from the fire escape behind his house was 'Coronation Street for a million miles'). His drawl is as much a part of his peculiar ars poetica as the words of the poems themselves. Every sentence he writes, you read in his voice. By the end of the nearly 500 pages of I Wanna be Yours I felt I’d not so much read a memoir as listened to an outrageous confession from a psychoanalyst’s couch * The Times *Riveting * The Observer 'Book of the Week' *An immensely engaging memoir that fizzes with wit . . . Though he needs no such affirmation, it cements Clarke’s status as one of the most distinctive voices in pop cultural history – it’s impossible not to hear him read every word aloud in your head with that unforgettable Manc drawl – and reveals much about a remarkable life and career * NME *The most amusing autobiography of a literary aesthete you are ever likely to read * Telegraph *An exuberant account of a remarkable life * New Statesman *A naturally splendid tell-all * I newspaper *John Cooper Clarke’s life story has been stranger than most and it is told with great humour and penetrating honesty in his autobiography, I Wanna Be Yours * Choice Magazine *The most entertaining and certainly the most culturally revealing book I have read this year -- D. J. Taylor * Literary Review *Clarke’s primordial gift for language is everywhere in this book. It is almost impossible not to read passages out loud — a meta reminder of his contribution to the joy of spoken-word performance. As Clarke puts it: 'Wherever people gather for amusement, that’s where I’ll be.' * Financial Times *He became the first big-time performance punk poet – a warm-up act for the Sex Pistols, with famous fans ranging from Sir Paul McCartney to Kate Moss. And his life has been as chaotically unpredictable as his next line . . . Now clean and, to his own surprise, a happily married family man at 71, the bard of Salford has written his memoirs. * Sunday Mirror *One of the most magnificent and hysterically funny memoirs of modern times * Irish Times *Crafted, entertaining and educative * Mojo Magazine *A compelling read with highs and lows aplenty, in every sense of the phrase . . . They say that every picture tells a story. Clarke takes that concept and turns it on its head as, from start to finish throughout the book, the words paint pictures so vivid you can see the Salford streets and smell the hair pomade. Take a dip into the weird and wonderful world of Dr John Cooper Clarke, he’ll be there if you want him, ninety degrees in his shades * Breaking Glass Magazine *Elegantly sardonic . . . His writing remains spry and sparkly, sweary but sweet, with this book testament to how 'a half-arsed grafter with a rich vocabulary' became a kind of British institution * Uncut Magazine *A poet who writes about darkness and decay but makes people laugh, a human cartoon, a gentleman punk, a man who has stayed exactly the same for thirty years but never grown stale. John Cooper Clarke is an original -- Claire Smith * Scotsman *One of the most entertaining autobiographies of the year. Hilarious and inspirational in equal measure, it’s the perfect panacea to the misery of 2020 * The Quietus *I Wanna Be Yours could not be more entertaining, charming and optimistic . . . Its immense spirit-lifting qualities will do the despairing – and everyone else – the world of good * Strong Words Magazine *I telephoned hardworking entertainer and poet Dr. John Cooper Clarke to tell him how much I’m enjoying his memoir, I Wanna Be Yours . . . a buxom read and a highly entertaining one. -- Martin Newell * East Anglian Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the 1980s, Clive James found his way into full-time television. In The Blaze of Obscurity, his fifth book of memoir, he delivers the inside story. A hilarious, thoughtful, warts and all account of a life in the public eye.'Clive James is an intellectual as well as a joker, a wise man as well as a wit' – ObserverAs his fame grew, Clive James was never alone – except in the toilet. But there, cubicle walls provided little protection against young men, standing at urinals, talking behind his back:Jesus, he's looking rough.And it's only Monday.Taking it in his stride and batting away accusations of selling out, Clive James was in television for the adventure. And an adventure it was. Rollicking through the end of one century and the beginning of the next, he interviews Hefner and Hepburn, Frank Sinatra and Françoise Sagan, Peter Ustinov ('even his nose could act') and Ronald RTrade ReviewClive James is an intellectual as well as a joker, a wise man as well as a wit. * Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRob Brydon tells story of his slow ascent to fame and fortune in Small Man in a Book. A multi-award-winning actor, writer, comedian and presenter known for his warmth, humour and inspired impressions, Rob Brydon has quickly become one of our very favourite entertainers. But there was a time when it looked like all we''d hear of Rob was his gifted voice. Growing up in South Wales, Rob had a passion for radio and soon the Welsh airwaves resounded to his hearty burr. However, these were followed by years of misadventure and struggle, before, in the TV series Marion and Geoff and Gavin and Stacey, Rob at last tickled the nation''s funny bone. The rest, as they say, is history. Or in his case autobiography. Small Man in a Book is Rob Brydon''s funny, heartfelt, honest, sometimes sad, but mainly funny, memoir of how a young man from Wales very, very slowly became an overnight success. Rob Brydon was brought up in Wales, where his career began on radio and as a voiceover artist. After a brief stint working for the Home Shopping Network he co-wrote and performed in his breakthrough show, the darkly funny Human Remains. He has since starred in the immensely popular Gavin and Stacey, Steve Coogan''s partner in The Trip, and was the host of Would I Lie to You? and The Rob Brydon Show. He now lives in London with his wife and five children.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the legendary life of the man behind the make-up and glasses, Barry Humphries''A literary masterpiece'' SUNDAY TIMES___________Because Barry Humphries deliberately furnished would-be biographers with whimsical fictions and blatant mystifications, the true details of his life are among the best-kept secrets of our time. More Please, prophetically his first utterance, reveals the man behind the actor.This bestselling book moves from suburban Australia of the 1930s, 40s and 50s to Humphries'' international stardom and his revelations and confessions will astonish his vast audience, being so wildly at odds with all that has gone before.Fascinating and always funny, this is the truly remarkable memoir from the man who made the whole world laugh.Trade ReviewGet a fascinating insight into the man behind the glasses in Barry Humphries' one and only autobiography * from publisher's description *A highly readable, percipient and funny autobiography. With Barry Humphries, the laughter is always tempered by the presence of something very like loss. -- Simon Hughes * Sydney Morning Telegraph *Humphries' past is a bombed and cratered landscape, except for his youth which stands evergreen in its quirky, vanishing details. When it comes to suburban drolleries, he puts Clive James in the shade. -- Jill Neville * The Literary Review *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Hilarious' The Times'I was completely captivated' David SedarisPeople are odd. Even the most predictable of us sometimes defy expectations. Add to that the tricks that life plays on us and the world suddenly seems full of impossible things.As an award-winning actor and writer, Rebecca Front has always been fascinated by life's little quirks. Impossible Things Before Breakfast is a collection of true stories about surprising turns of events, bizarre misunderstandings and improbable life lessons. We learn, among other things, how gazing at the stars can help you communicate with teenagers, how a mushroom can undermine an ancient ritual, and why everyone should wear a cape.Combining elegant writing, wry humour and genuine insight, this brilliant collection prises open the lid on ordinary life and feasts on the impossible.Trade ReviewI was completely captivated by it -- David SedarisThe vignettes in this book often begin with peculiar snatches of overheard conversation, which Front then spins into more thoughtful observations on modern life. She covers her dad's hilarious DIY disasters, her attachment to Jewish rituals, the cape she wore as a teenager and stargazing with her son -- Helen Brown * Daily Mail *In the introduction of Impossible Things she writes, "I love misunderstandings, embarrassment and confusion" - and there are plenty of those in her tales of life's absurdities that explore the solace and humour to be found in the awkward and incidental -- Hannah Shaddock * Radio Times *Hilarious ... Rebecca Front is an affecting and elegant writer with a gift for making the ordinary seem extraordinary ... [H]er acute observations and sharp humour lift these experiences from the mundane to the refreshingly different. She is an extremely perceptive observer of people - in particular her family - as well as being aware of her own foibles, all of which imbues her writing with a warm authenticity ... The book is not only fun but in places deeply moving ... [A]ttention to body language, omissions and detail in general, infuses her writing throughout this delightful book -- Sipora Levy * Jewish Chronicle *Bursting with tales of human quirks, misunderstandings and unexpected events - from school fairs to disastrous dinner parties - Rebecca highlights how one seemingly small incident can shine light on something much bigger. Insightful, witty and relatable, the collection is packed with characters you will recognise from your own life - something that makes it all the more enjoyable * White Company Blog *Hilarious * The Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of little me, from pudgy, awkward child to pudgy, slightly less awkward adult - via school musicals, adolescent angst, stand-up, Shooting Stars, Little Britain, Doctor Who, love, loss, wigs and giant pink babygros. And, in case your attention span is as short as mine, it comes in a handy A to Z format. So B is for Baldy! (yes, people did shout this at me in the playground), G is for Gay (because I'm an actual real life gay) and I is for Idiot (I was born a berk. I probably even stubbed my toe on the way out).It will warm your heart, make you snort out loud in public and there's even a catchy song in the middle. What I'm saying is, please buy this book. It is VERY good. I know I'm biased because I wrote it but it is.Trade ReviewTo be truly unique in this world is almost impossible to achieve; this book is about someone who achieved it. Raw, honest, funny and moving -- JAMES CORDENA great read . . . it contains a wit and an emotional acuity far above the norm -- DOMINIC MAXWELL * * The Times * *Classy [and] elegant * * Guardian * *Grief isn't the point here. Rather, the book is warmth and joy * * Sunday Times * *If you are looking for a celebrity biography that's honest, funny, cheeky and a really good read, I can recommend Little Me from A-Z * * Sunday Post * *Standing out can be tough, but Matt Lucas is used to that. Being slightly different is just one of the many topics he chats about in this book . . . all handily arranged in A-Z format. Oh, and it's hilarious, too * * Heat * *As you'd expect from the Little Britain creator, it's full of laughs, but it's also an honest, moving read about Matt's experiences of love and loss * * OK! * *Matt is not only hilarious and kind, he's probably the most generous person I know. All of which is wonderfully evident in this book -- REBEL WILSONBrutally honest and brilliantly funny, this book is as brave and warm as the man who wrote it -- GRAHAM NORTONFunny, surprising, sad, authentic, inspirational, honest, stupid -- BOB MORTIMER

Read more less

Book SynopsisNational Bestseller Legendary musician Richard Marx offers an enlightening, entertaining look at his life and career.Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, 1989’s Repeat Offender, was an even bigger smash, going quadruple platinum and landing two singles at number one. He has written fourteen number one songs in total, shared a Song of the Year Grammy with Luther Vandross, and collaborated with a variety of artists including NSYNC, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Keith Urban. Lately, he’s also become a Twitter celebrity thanks to his outspokenness on social issues and his ability to out-troll his trolls. In Stories to Tell, Marx uses this same engaging, straight-talking style to look back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he’d written for him then asked for a 50% cut—which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. He tells the uncanny story of how he wound up curled up on the couch of Olivia Newton-John, his childhood crush, watching Xanadu. He shares the tribulations of working with the all-female hair metal band Vixen and appearing in their video. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he’s experienced it over four decades—the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him—and that doctors haven’t been able to solve. Stories to Tell is a remarkably candid, wildly entertaining memoir about the art and business of music.Trade Review“[Marx] takes readers on a roller­coaster ride of a rock and roll story…Marx has led a fascinating life; fans of his music and those less familiar with him will be absorbed.” –Traci Glass, Library Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE TIMES #1 BESTSELLERTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLEROne of Vogue's Best Books to Read in 2021One of O Magazine's 55 Most Anticipated Books of 2021One of Marie Claire's 25 Best 2021 Memoirs to Pre-Order Now'Electrifying.' The Sunday Times'A glorious, rogue, raw account ... It is funny; it is shocking; it is good.' The Times'Dangerous, alluring and misunderstood: Sharon Stone remains one of our best ever movie stars ... Her new book serves as a spectacular reminder of the outrageous fun of her Nineties fame and why she is more than due for contemporary respect.' Independent'Brawler, hillbilly, misfit, thief - the actress's memoir of her hardscrabble life, The Beauty of Living Twice, is a feast of yarns and jokes.' Daily Telegraph'While [The Beauty of Living Twice] contains some startling personal revelations, equally affecting is Stone's warmth and grace, qualities that, by the end, feel quite miraculous . . . Writing with zeal and urgency, Stone argues for a stronger legal system, for rape kits on police shelves to be processed, for better training for teachers and paediatricians. Above all, she offers a hopeful glimpse of life beyond trauma . . . The Beauty of Living Twice promises the possibility of improvement or redemption, of compassion and understanding, of living honestly.' The Washington Post Sharon Stone, one of the most renowned actresses in the world, suffered a massive stroke that cost her not only her health, but her career, family, fortune, and global fame. In The Beauty of Living Twice, she chronicles her efforts to rebuild her life, and the slow road back to wholeness and health. In an industry that doesn't accept failure, in a world where too many voices are silenced, Stone found the power to return, the courage to speak up, and the will to make a difference in the lives of women and children around the globe. Over the course of these intimate pages, Stone talks about her pivotal roles, her life-changing friendships, her worst disappointments, and her greatest accomplishments. She reveals how she went from a childhood of trauma and violence to a business that in many ways echoed those same assaults, under cover of money and glamour. She describes the strength and meaning she found in her children, and in her humanitarian efforts. And ultimately, she shares how she fought her way back to find not only her truth, but her family's reconciliation and love. Stone made headlines not just for her talent and beauty, but for her candour and her refusal to "play nice," and it's those same qualities that make this memoir so powerful. The Beauty of Living Twice is a book for the wounded, and a book for the survivors; it's a celebration of women's strength and resilience, a reckoning, and a call to activism. It is proof that it's never too late to raise your voice, and speak out.Trade ReviewIn this courageous, daring and tender-hearted memoir, Sharon Stone interrogates her own trauma and a myriad of losses and discovers the gift of clear seeing. The Beauty of Living Twice is so much more than a celebrity tell-all. It is an act of reckoning, contrition, and above all, love. -- Dani Shapiro, author of INHERITANCEStone's memoir opens with a scene in a hospital bed, where the iconic actress is battling a brain bleed. That near-death experience and its aftermath is a jumping off point, an opportunity to reflect on the jagged, unlikely path that led her from a small town in Pennsylvania to becoming one of America's hottest stars. But this is not your typical Hollywood autobiography. Brutally honest, restless and questing, Stone bravely grapples with her own imperfections with courage and candor. * O Magazine, #33 of Top 55 Most Anticipated Books of 2021 *Elegantly written with her wicked sense of humour on full display, the memoir is catnip for fans who have never managed to crack the exterior of the elusive star. * US Vogue *Table of Contents1: Death Becomes Me 2: What Is Home 3: Style 4: Kitchen-Sink Irish 5: An Education 6: Work 7: Role Models 8: Basic 9: Invisible 10: Dreams 11: Dancing Lessons 12: Answered Prayers 13: Cages 14: Choices 15: Karma 16: Hope 17: The Bull 18: Me Too 19: The Beauty of Living Twice i: Acknowledgments ii: Resource Guide

Read more less

Book Synopsis''DEEPLY HONEST, SURPRISINGLY HILARIOUS AND UPLIFTING'' The Pool ''HEART-WARMING: UNMISSABLE'' Damian Barr, MetroSusan Calman is a much-loved comedian and writer who has appeared on countless radio and television programmes from The News Quiz and Just a Minute to Armchair Detectives and Secret Scotland. She''s hosted the podcast Mrs Brightside and stole the nation''s hearts in Strictly Come Dancing. Her breakout solo stand up show, Susan Calman is Convicted, dealt with subjects like the death penalty, appearance and depression. It was the overwhelming and positive reaction to the show she wrote about mental health that made Susan want to write a more detailed account of surviving depression when you''re the world''s most negative and anxious person. The Crab of Hate is the personification of Calman''s depression and her version of the notorious Trade ReviewSusan Calman never fails to make me hoot with laughter * Sarah Millican *Fantastic, funny, moving... A perceptive look at depression - with added laughs' * Viv Groskop *The forthcoming, heartbreaking and heart-warming memoir from the Radio 4 favourite... Avoiding all the usual 'tears of a clown' clichés, she tackles homophobia, self-harm and finding your voice. Unmissable * Damian Barr, Metro *Deeply personal and painfully honest but funny * The Times Scotland *Calman's account of depression, though deeply honest, is surprisingly hilarious and uplifting * Hannah Varrell, The Pool *There are so many depressing books about being funny, so it's refreshing to ready a funny one about about being depressed. I have never laughed quite so heartily at someone else's genuine distress - which I hope is her intention * Miles Jupp *A really important message, but hilarious at the same time * BBC The One Show *Talked with engaging candour and humour about her own struggle to keep it at bay * Scotsman (Edinburgh Book Festival coverage) *A breezily accessible account * Metro *Wonderfully funny * BBC Woman's Hour *Candid and often laugh-out-loud-funny... There's no sense that Cheer Up Love is a deliberate act of catharsis or an attempt to hasten any kind of healing process. Instead Calman presents herself as a woman who has already come to terms with who she is * Sunday Herald *A compelling memoir... engaging insight... Susan's outstanding sense of humour shines through to create an uplifting survival handbook * The Lady *This is a book that everyone should read, and not only because it makes a serious issue both engaging and instructive... a vital account of mental ill-health * The National *A wonderful and honest book. I thoroughly endorse this product * Emma Kennedy *This is a book that, like a female stereotype, multitasks. For those who suffer from bouts of depression and mental illness it provides solace, understanding and advice. For those living with or close to people suffering from depression, it gives you insight into why some of your well meant but unhelpful or even damaging suggestions seem to fall on deaf ears. If you picked it up purely to find out what makes Susan Calman tick, where she comes from and incidents that shaped the comedian and writer here today, there's that too! * Kate Stone, Funny Women *More use than a standard self-help book * National *Her story is a pleasure to read... Calman's warmth and humour shines through * AND Guide ****PRAISE FOR SUSAN CALMAN***Glasgow-born comic Calman is a dead-cert-one-to-watch; she's got an infectious bubbly manner but a caustic edge too, and both can yield comedy gold * Guardian *Feisty Scot Calman is one of the best female comics to ever come out of the land of bagpipes and haggis. She'll make you chuckle your pants off * Time Out *Calman fizzed manic energy, alternating between confessional tales and playing with facts she teased out of the audience * Edinburgh Evening News *surely prove as useful for those in contact with depressives as it is for sufferers... the authenticity of her stories resonates more than any more formal study of depression ever could... darkly funny. * Chortle *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Heartbreaking and powerful - Ashley is an inspiration', Fearne Cotton'Ashley's psychological and emotional resilience is unparalleled, truly in the 0.1 percent', Ant MiddletonSTRENGTH, RESILIENCE, POWER Strong is the moving and heartbreaking memoir from celebrity campaigner, endurance athlete, and father of an angel, Ashley Cain. Charting his daughter's birth and the fight for her life when she was diagnosed with leukaemia at 7 weeks old, Ashley reflects on his life and his own struggles since Azaylia's passing in 2021.Ashley embodies strength and resilience - recently setting up The Azaylia Foundation and taking part in extreme physical challenges to raise crucial funds and awareness for children fighting cancer - so though Strong is a moving tribute to his daughter, it will also encompass the practical and positive mindset that Ashley now embodies, tying his emotional and physical grief into his extreme challenges, in order to provide inspiration and comfort to others struggling with loss and other mental health challenges.A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to The Azaylia Foundation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of the celebrated rapper and the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, told by one of its founding members Dennis Colesaka Ghostface Killahis a co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, a legendary hip hop group who established themselves by breaking all the rules, taking their music to the streets during hip hop's golden era on a decade-long wave of releasing anthem after classic anthem, and serving as the foundation of modern hip hop. An all-star cast who formed like Voltron to establish the pillars that serve as the foundation of modern hip hop and released seminal albums that have stood the test of time.Rise of a Killah is Ghost's autobiography, focusing on the people, places and events that mean the most to him as he enters his fourth decade writing and performing. It's a beautiful and intense book, going back to the creative ferment that led to Ghost's first handwritten rhymes. Dive into Ghost's defining personal moments, his battles with his personal demons, his

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller...I love him, and I respect him, and I need him. We all do.from the foreword by Jamie Lee CurtisIf you would have told a young John Stamos flipping burgers at his dad's fast-food joint that one day he'd be a household name and that, at the height of his success, he'd be living alone, divorced, with no kids, high on a cocktail of forgetting, he might've asked, You want fries with that?John burst onto the scene in General Hospital, propelling him into the teen idol stratosphere, a place that's often a point of no return. But Stamos beat the odds and over the past four decades has proved himself to be one of his generation's most successful and beloved actors. Whether showing off his comedic chops on Full House or his dramatic skills on ER, pushing the boundaries on Broadway or living out his youthful dreams as an honorary Beach Boy, John has surprised everyone, most of

Read more less

Book SynopsisA celebration of the fearless, fabulous actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age illustrated with stunning photographs from a world-class collection. Lauren Bacall, Louise Brooks, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Lillian Gish, Gloria Grahame, Katharine Hepburn, Veronica Lake, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy, Ida Lupino, Barbara Stanwyck, Anna May Wong and more!To make it in Hollywood, it takes more than beauty, brains, and talent it takes moxie. This was especially true for women in the heyday of the studio system, a period from the 1920s to the 1950s when a small number of companies dominated the production and distribution of films in America. It was an industry controlled by male studio executives, in which directors and producers called the shots and contract players had little say in which roles they would play. Still, a trailblazing group of actresses forged successful careers out of sheer conviction, perseverance, and professional know-

Read more less