Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Measure of a Man CD
Book SynopsisI have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I''ve suddenly come up with the answers to all life''s questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I''ve done at measuring up to the values I myself have set. —Sidney PoitierIn this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure—as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the u
£19.96
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Diamond in the Rough A Memoir
Book SynopsisFrom age ten, the author was determined to make a life in music-a decision that influenced every choice she would make. This title recounts this passionate young musician's coming-of-age from prairie small-town South Dakota to bar sets in Austin and New York City to the world stage at the Grammys.Trade Review"[Colvin is] a gifted conversational writer with a wicked and unabashedly goofy sense of humor ... Her buoyant spirit fairly leaps off the stage, and her self-deprecating wit is as keen and quirky in recalling her brief brush with superstardom as it is applied to an ill-fated relationship." -- USA Today "Colvin's fans will devour her behind-the-scenes stories; single mothers will relate to her struggle to do right by her child. And those who have suffered depression -- or loved someone who has -- will find much to inspire in this compelling redemption story." -- People "Charming ... Colvin chronicles an impressive array of accompanists and backup, two husbands, and myriad awards such as her gold record with the 1997 hit "Sunny Came Home," all while maintaining a low-key, sweet humility that is truly endearing." -- Publishers Weekly "Dspite the many personal disasters that have beset Colvin, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is no misery-fest. It's with an impressive absence of self-pity and a dry, unassuming style that she teases humour out of the most unpalatable episodes ... Absorbing." -- The Independent on Sunday "Engaging ...The many admirers of Colvin's music will appreciate this honest memoir." -- Booklist
£20.79
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Friedkin Connection
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£16.19
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Ali in Wonderland
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£14.39
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines
Book SynopsisEnchanted by the Hollywood movies she watched while growing up in affluent Tehran, Shohreh Aghdashloo dreamed of becoming an actress, despite her parents more practical plans. When she fell in love with her husband, Aydin, a painter thirteen years her senior, she made him promise he'd allow her to follow her passion. This title tells her story.Trade Review"Aghdashloo has a fascinating life story to tell, which she recounts in her memoir, The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines." -- Kirkus Reviews "The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines is one woman's straightforward account of the upheaval in Iran and her determination to overcome its impact on her life." -- Shelf Awareness
£17.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Inside Out
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Mud Sweat and Tears
Book SynopsisThe thrilling #1 bestselling memoir by adventure legend and survivalist Bear Grylls.Bear Grylls has always sought the ultimate in adventure. Growing up on a remote island off of Britain''s windswept coast, he was taught by his father to sail and climb at an early age. Inevitably, it wasn''t long before the young explorer was sneaking out to lead all-night climbing expeditions.As a teenager at Eton College, Bear found his identity and purpose through both mountaineering and martial arts. These passions led him into the foothills of the mighty Himalayas and to a karate grandmaster''s remote training camp in Japan, an experience that soon helped him earn a second-degree black belt. Returning home, he embarked upon the notoriously grueling selection course for the British Special Forces to join the elite Special Air Service unit 21 SAS—a journey that would push him to the very limits of physical and mental endurance.Then, disaster. Bear broke
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Anyone Who Had a Heart
Book SynopsisOne of the greatest songwriters of all time finally shares his story. From his tumultuous marriages and the tragic loss of his daughter to his collaborations with Dionne Warwick and the surprising stories behind the songs that generations have come to know and love, Burt Bacharach offers a frank, moving account of an unparalleled life.Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach''s legendary songwriting has touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. In Anyone Who Had a Heart, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life—from his childhood in Forest Hills, New York, during the 1930s and 1940s to his rise as one of the most accomplished composers in modern popular music, working with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, and many others.While he soared professionally, Bacharach''s private life was dominated by the never-ending search for love—and the heartbreak that comes when it is lost. His first three marriages ended in divorce. His long-running partnership with the late Hal David suffered a bitter split that lasted seventeen years. Throughout the highs and lows, Bacharach pursued his muse. Powerful and honest, Anyone Who Had a Heart illuminates the sensitivity and intelligence of a musical legend and offers a unique backstage look at the world of show business.
£16.19
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Not My Fathers Son
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Kid Stays in the Picture
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£17.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Dirty Version On Stage in the Studio and in
Book SynopsisTrade Review"An unprecedented portrait of Jones' inner life." -- Salon "Monk captures [ODB's] charisma and charm, but also the joy and pain that fame brought [him], as well as the drugs, the women and the demise. It's a great work in honor of an individual who tried to walk the best line he could." -- Ebony "Cuts through the urban legends to present more complex sides to the infamous icon." -- i.-D. Magazine "An eye-witness account about the life and times of the larger-than-life character." -- Philadelphia City Paper "Monk is a genial narrator and provides an authentic look at the N.Y.C. hip-hop scene [and] a unique perspective on the troubled life of an intriguing artist." -- Publishers Weekly "Everywhere Ol' Dirty Bastard went, Buddha Monk was there. Buddha was Dirty's hype man on stage, and he helped protect him on tour when Dirty didn't have any security. Buddha was everything to Dirty." -- Icelene Jones, Dirty's widow "Dirty and Buddha were the twin towers. There ain't no Brooklyn Zu without them. It was rare to see Dirty do a show without Buddha Monk." -- Hell Razah of Sunz of Man "Provides a unique perspective [and an] entertaining, insightful portrait ... For even a casual hip-hop fan, The Dirty Version is an easy and enlightening read. And for true hip-hop heads, this is some essential stuff. Word is bond." -- Winnipeg Free Press Hlarious, profound, entertaining, and inspiring ... One of the most interesting and unpredictable biographies I've ever read. The Dirty Version travels light-years beyond ODB's shocking headlines to illustrate the relentless humanity of a free loving American icon. -- MK Asante, author of BUCK: A MEMOIR "Buddha Monk and Dirty were like Batman and Robin. Buddha wore many hats - he was an engineer, hype man, bouncer, and bodyguard. As long as I've been working with my cousins in Wu-Tang, Buddha Monk was there. I can't remember a time when he wasn't." -- John "Mook" Gibbons, founder and CEO of Wu-Tang Management and cousin to RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard
£20.79
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Jason Priestley A Memoir
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£21.59
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Yes Please
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£26.09
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Yes Please CD
Book SynopsisGRAMMY NOMINEEAudie Award, Humor, 2015Amy Poehler is hosting a dinner party and you''re invited! Welcome to the audiobook edition of Amy Poehler''s Yes Please. The guest list is star-studded with vocal appearances from Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Michael Schur, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner, and even Amy''s parents - Yes Please is the ultimate audiobook extravaganza.Also included? A one-night-only live performance at Poehler''s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Hear Amy read a chapter live in front of a young and attractive Los Angeles audience.While listening to Yes Please, you''ll laugh, you''ll cry, and you''ll become convinced that your phone is trying to kill you. Don''t miss this collection of stories, thoughts, ideas, lists, and haikus from the mind of one of our most beloved entertainers. Offering Amy''s thoughts on everything from her too safe childhood outside of Boston to her early days in New York City, her ideas about Hollywood and the biz, the demon that looks back at all of us in the mirror, and her joy at being told she has a face for wigs - Yes Please is chock-full of words, and wisdom, to live by.
£26.24
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Smash Cut A Memoir of Howard Art the 70s the
Book SynopsisTrade Review"The fact that a writer of Brad Gooch's significance has been witness to remarkable events and people, and has written about them, is a genuine gift to the world. Smash Cut is a beautiful and important book." -- Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize winning author "A gorgeous memoir...a potent mix of love, art, and death." -- Vanity Fair "That Gooch is a splendid writer will not be left in doubt for anyone who delves into his new memoir... Literary memoirs abound; this one excels in beautiful honesty." -- Booklist (starred review) "Brad Gooch's story is harrowingly honest written with love and in grief, a deftly articulated insightful history that is at once personal and deeply resonant. Brave and powerful--I couldn't put it down." -- A.M. Homes, author of May We Be Forgiven "So glamorous, so sexy, and so devastating, this love story will be the gay picture of the 70s/80s. That it took place between two beautiful, talented young men only makes it the more romantic and poignant." -- Edmund White, author of CITY BOY "Far more than a memoir, Smash Cut is a bold and tender anatomy of love in an age of ambition, art, and changing light." -- Brenda Wineapple "Smash Cut is a love story, an elegy, an intimate history written with enormous grace by a novelist and poet, who is also a master biographer. " -- Honor Moore, author of The Bishop's Daughter "Gooch brings the city to life with all its promise and possibility. A personal, intimate look at our country's creative history that will also keep you up all night and make you see the city in a new way." -- Susan Cheever "Engrossing, intimate... This candid memoir lovingly evokes a life, and a world, lost." -- Kirkus Reviews "Like everyone who ever met Brad, I fell instantly in love. If YOU'VE not met him, reading this book will be the next best thing." -- Andrew Tobias, author of The Best Little Boy in the World "In Gooch's visceral, gut-punching narrative, the arrival of AIDS turns the city into a cemetery... This is a memoir that needs to be read by those who remember and those who never knew." -- Interview Magazine "It is both unparalleled in its intimacy, focusing on his romance with the filmmaker Howard Brookner, and its universality, as a testament to the havoc wreaked by the AIDS pandemic, something he witnessed firsthand in Brookner's decline and eventual death in 1989." -- Kirkus "A powerful, poignant and especially frank memoir... Rife with humor, glamour, audacity and tragedy, Smash Cut is a witty, whimsical portrait of art and artists from an unforgettable time period." -- Edge Media "In his memoir Smash Cut, Gooch traces the life of '70s and '80s New York with the same fashionable tongue of a literary connoisseur, approaching the details of his life with humour and poignancy." -- Pop Matters "Gooch has documented his life... with unselfconscious ease that makes his memoir a literary achievement more than a simple biography... It's short but impactful, like a poem you didn't realize you'd been waiting your whole life to read and stumbled across by chance." -- Boy Culture "Acclaimed literary biographer Brad Gooch turns to the contours of his own life, particularly his romance with film director Howard Brookner, in this brave and intimate memoir... The elegiac book traces complex terrains of sex and drugs, ambition and love, and art and mortality with tender honesty." -- GOOP "Smash Cut is an eloquent, deeply felt exploration of love and ambition in dangerous times... Smash Cut [is] a moving, memorable and important book." -- Miami Herald "Gooch is a cool witness to the era's excess and his own conflicting behavior; his quiet honesty is bold. Smash Cut is a love story and an elegy. It's heady, sexy, heartbreaking, and most notably, even in the face of death, written not from anger, but love." -- Bay Area Reporter "Gooch excels when reporting on the cruelty wrought by H.I.V. that would eventually take Brookner's life-and on the complexity of a relationship that defied category." -- New York Times Book Review
£22.39
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Anyone Whos Anyone The Astonishing Celebrity
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Yes Please Vinyl Edition MP3
Book SynopsisGRAMMY NOMINEEAudie Award, Humor, 2015By purchasing YES PLEASE VINYL by Amy Poehler you commit to the following:As a consumer of YES PLEASE VINYL I hereby swear to purchase record and listen to it.Record may be listened to during parties, “me” time, and while giving birth.Record shall not be listened to while walking near mall water fountains.All parties agree to discuss record with family and friends and purchase multiple copies if so inclined.HarperAudio would like to take this moment to point out that records are great gifts, especially around this truly magical holiday season.Also don’t forget summer.Or any months ending in y, h, l, e, t, or r.Record may also be used as a coaster for morning coffee or amazing art for your wall.Please approach YES PLEASE VINYL with an open mind and low expectation of gossip.Excerpts from record may be recited in casual conversation after permission is received from author in writing four to six months after said request is processed.Requests to quote lines can be sent to YES PLEASE: Quote Request 12342 Corporation Building A, Suite XV, America.The author would like to thank you from the bottom of her heart for buying this record so she can continue to buy fancy washcloths.The publisher would like to thank youYES PLEASE HAVE COURAGE TAKE RISKS GO NOW WHY NOT WHO CARES YES YES YES.
£19.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc From the Outside
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc American Values
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Mostly Sunny How I Learned to Keep Smiling
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Grit Grace Train the Mind Train the Body Own
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£23.75
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Alis Well That Ends Well
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc We Were Dreamers
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Walking in My Joy
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£17.59
HarperCollins Publishers Inc How I Saved the World Large Print
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£26.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Managing Expectations
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£16.14
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Charytín Spanish Edition
Book Synopsis“Así siento que ha sido toda mi vida: un huracán, un torbellino, un tsunami arrasador que siempre me ha traído grandes alegrías, me las ha quitado, para volverme a traer más en este incesante vaivén. ¡O tal vez el huracán soy yo! Porque allá donde voy, me dicen que siempre se arma un revolú.” - CharytínDesde una infancia dolorosa con complicados secretos familiares a un amor muy diferente al de las novelas, Charytín Goyco nos lo cuenta todo, con su peculiar tono cargado de drama y comedia a la vez. • Sus anécdotas con famosos (Juan Luis Guerra, Camilo Sesto, Jenni Rivera, entre muchos)•Los “besos de divorcio” que compartió con los galanes de moda en innumerables películas.• La pérdida de un bebé y su angustia más persistente: la de ser madre en una profesión donde tener hijos ponía en
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Chita
Book SynopsisThe long-awaited and wildly entertaining memoir of the star of stage and screen, the legendary Chita Rivera—three-time Tony Award–winner, Kennedy Centers honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.She was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero—until the entertainment world renamed her.Trade Review“Chita Rivera blazed a trail where none existed so the rest of us could see a path forward. She has been part of some of the greatest musicals in the history of the form, from Anita in the trailblazing West Side Story through Claire Zachanassian in the underrated masterpiece The Visit, over 60 years later. She is a Puerto Rican Broadway icon and the original ‘triple threat.’ We’re so lucky to be alive in the same timeline as Chita Rivera." — Lin-Manuel Miranda "A frank and fascinating memoir from one of the truly great artists of the American Theater. Lots of stories … Lots of insight … and quite a few caustic statements from Chita’s alter ego, Dolores. An illuminating history and a guaranteed pleasure!" — John Kander "Playful and history-rich ... Broadway-loving readers will appreciate the play-by-play (pun intended) of this fizzy book." — New York Times "This deserves a standing ovation." — Publishers Weekly "Chita’s magnificent memoir literally danced off the page and into my heart with her signature style, wit, humor, warmth, and humility. It was as if she was giving me a personal glimpse into the golden years of show biz and beyond. It’s filled with Chita’s loves, laughs, losses, and all that jazz. If it’s possible—it made me love her even more than I already do!" — Rob Marshall "Fans of musical theater and dance are in for a real treat." — Kirkus Reviews "An enjoyable and inspiring inside look at a life in the theater." — Library Journal "A captivating, stirring memoir [filled with] loads of dramatic incidents…Every fast-reading page is animated with her upbeat, outspoken spin on a spunky, fearless life where she blazed her own trail. Chita, take your well-deserved bow!" — Brian Bromberger, Bay Area Reporter "Delicious!…One of the main and most delightful concepts of the book: 'Chita is sweet and kind,' she insists before admitting, 'Dolores [alter ego] is a bat out of hell.' Rivera’s advice to us all comes from an Ebb lyric in the team’s 70, GIRLS, 70: 'Say yes!' Indeed, say yes to this marvelous memoir so that you can not only savor all there is to Chita but also understand where Dolores is coming from, too." — Peter Filicia, Masterworks Broadway "This colorful and entertaining memoir-as vital and captivating as Chita herself-is the unforgettable and engrossing personal story of a performer who blazed her own trail and inspired countless performers to forge their own unique path to success." — Richie Ridge, Broadway World "Chita Rivera knows how to tell a story…The book is a fast, fun read full of fabulous tales, smart and insightful. It may well make you laugh and cry. And I bet you'll be sad when it ends. I was." — Wendy Caster, TalkinBroadway "Wow! A wide-ranging, entertaining memoir about her life on stage and screen. And yes, Chita is as wonderful as she is!" — Town&Country "Gripping, moving, insightful…wonderfully inspirational! Reading Chita, A memoir, is like going to the still center of Broadway creativity and the remarkable people who gave their all to make it happen. The details of her life are simply astounding!" — Cahir O'Doherty, The NY Irish Voice
£22.50
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Chita Spanish Edition
Book SynopsisLas memorias tan esperadas y tremendamente entretenidas de la leyenda del escenario Chita Rivera, tres veces ganadora del premio Tony, homenajeada en los Centros Kennedy y ganadora de la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad.Era conocida como Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero, hasta que Broadway le cambió el nombre. Pero Dolores, el lado irreverente de Chita Rivera, que es sensual, oscura y feroz, nunca se alejó de la acción, y ella informó y dio forma a algunos de los papeles más aclamados del ícono de Broadway, incluidos Anita en WEST SIDE STORY, Rosie en BYE BYE BIRDIE, Velma en CHICAGO y Aurora en EL BESO DE LA MUJER ARAÑA.Con el deseo de llegar a los viejos fanáticos y transmitir su extraordinaria y amplia de experiencia a las nuevas generaciones, Chita lleva al lector a las habitaciones donde sucedió: la fermentación creativa, los choques de egos, los descubrimientos milagrosos, la euforia cuando todo salió bien. , la decepción cuando todo salió mal. Estamos con ella mientras trabaja con Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gwen Verdon y muchos otros.También conocemos detalles profundamente conmovedores y reveladores sobre su educación y cómo eso ha sido un factor indeleble en su trabajo y carrera. Publicando el año en que Chita cumple 90 espectaculares años de juventud, CHITA es la inolvidable y apasionante historia personal de una artista que abrió su propio camino e inspiró a innumerables artistas a hacer lo mismo.The long-awaited and wildly entertaining memoir of stage legend Chita Rivera - three-time Tony Award winner, Kennedy Centers honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.She was known as Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero - until Broadway renamed her. But Dolores - the irreverent side of Chita Rivera, who is sensual, dark and ferocious — never strayed far from the action, and she informed and shaped some of the Broadway icon’s most acclaimed roles, including Anita in WEST SIDE STORY, Rosie in BYE BYE, BIRDIE, Velma in CHICAGO, and Aurora in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. With a desire to reach old fans and to pass along her extraordinary breadth of experience to new generations, Chita puts the reader in the rooms where it happened - the creative fermentation, the ego clashes, the miraculous discoveries, the exhilaration when it all went right, the disappointment when it all went wrong. We are with her as she works with Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gwen Verdon, and so many others. We also learn deeply moving, revelatory details about her upbringing and how that has factored indelibly in her work and career. Publishing the year that Chita turns 90 spectacular years young, CHITA is the unforgettable and engrossing personal story of a performer who blazed her own trail - and inspired countless performers to do the same.
£18.69
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Off the Deep End
Book SynopsisGiancarlo Granda finally reveals the truth about his relationship with Becki Falwell and her husband Jerry Falwell Jr., and the hidden world of political influence, high finance, and criminal intrigue.Jerry Falwell Jr.
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HarperCollins Publishers Inc Managing Expectations
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HarperCollins Legends and Soles
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Penguin Books Ltd Ai Weiwei Speaks with Hans Ulrich Obrist
Book SynopsisA new edition of conversations between the artist Ai Wei Wei and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, coming up to the present dayAi Weiwei - artist, architect, curator, publisher, poet and urbanist - extended the notion of art and is one of the world''s most significant creative and cultural figures. In this series of interviews, conducted over several years with the curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, he discusses the many dimensions of his artistic life, ranging over subjects including ceramics, blogging, nature, philosophy and the myriad influences that have fed into his work. He also talks candidly about his father, his childhood spent in exile and his criticism of the Chinese state. Together, these extraordinary discussions are an essential reminder of the need for personal, political and artistic freedom.Trade ReviewAi Weiwei is the kind of visionary any nation should be proud to count among its creative class. He has drawn the world's attention to the vibrancy of contemporary Chinese culture...For the world, Ai continues to represent the promise of China. -- Jon Huntsman, US Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2011 * Time Magazine, 100 Most Influential People in the World 2011 *Ai Weiwei is the message -- Will Gompertz * BBC *
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Penguin Putnam Inc In the Pleasure Groove
Book SynopsisWith a new introduction by Nick RhodesThe talent. The charisma. The videos. From their 1981 hit Planet Earth to their latest number-one album, All You Need Is Now, John Taylor and Duran Duran have enchanted audiences around the world. It's been a wild ride, and—for John in particular—dangerous. John recounts the story of the band's formation, their massive success, and his journey to the brink of self-destruction. Told with humor, honesty—and packed with exclusive pictures—In the Pleasure Groove is an irresistible rock-and-roll portrait of a band whose popularity has never been stronger.
£999.99
Penguin Putnam Inc Eminent Hipsters
Book SynopsisA witty, candid, sharply written memoir by the cofounder of Steely DanIn his entertaining debut as an author, Donald Fagen—musician, songwriter, and cofounder of Steely Dan—reveals the cultural figures and currents that shaped his artistic sensibility, as well as offering a look at his college days and a hilarious account of life on the road. Fagen presents the “eminent hipsters” who spoke to him as he was growing up in a bland New Jersey suburb in the early 1960s; his colorful, mind-expanding years at Bard College, where he first met his musical partner Walter Becker; and the agonies and ecstasies of a recent cross-country tour with Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. Acclaimed for his literate lyrics and complex arrangements as a musician, Fagen here proves himself a sophisticated writer with his own distinctive voice.
£14.45
Hachette Books Ready for Absolutely Nothing A Memoir
Book Synopsis2022 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR FROM THE TELEGRAPH (UK) AND THE SUNDAY TIMES (UK) 2022 BEST AUDIOBOOKS OF THE YEAR FROM THE TIMES (UK) This darkly funny, confessional memoir from the star of What Not to Wear tells all: from her posh upbringing and the dishy details of her career in fashion to her journey as a recovering alcoholic. The fact that Susannah Constantine made her name as a 'style guru' as part of “Trinny and Susannah” from What Not to Wear is the least interesting thing about her. Susannah grew up amongst the great and good of British aristocracy and (unwittingly) trained to be a society bride. Fittingly, Barbara Cartland was her touchstone for romance: she wanted to be the underdog heroine who ended up marrying a prince. Instead she dated Princess Margaret’s son for several years and traveled in royal circles, including on the island of Mustique, where P
£24.00
Hachette Books The Seekers
Book SynopsisThe iconic drummer of The Doors investigates his own relationship with creativity and explores the meaning of artistry with other artists and performers in this compelling and spellbinding memoir.Whether it's the curiosity that blossoms after we listen to our favorite band's newest record, or the sheer admiration we feel after watching a knockout performance, many of us have experienced art so pure-so innovative-that we can't help but wonder afterwards: 'How did they do that?' And yet, few of us are in a position to be able to ask those memorable legends where their inspiration comes from and how they translated it into something fresh and new. Fortunately for us, this book is here to offer us a bridge.In The Seekers, John Densmore—the iconic drummer of The Doors and author of the New York Times bestseller Riders onthe Storm—digs deep into his own process and draws upon his privileged access to his fellow artists and performers in order to explore the origins of creativity itself. Weaving together anecdotes from the author's personal notebooks and experiences over the past fifty years, this book takes readers on a rich, thought-provoking journey into the soul of the artist. By understanding creativity's roots, Densmore ultimately introduces us to the realm of everyday inspirations that imbue our lives with meaning.Inspired by the classic spiritual memoir Meetings with Remarkable Men, this book is fueled by Densmore's abundant collection of transformative experiences—both personal and professional—with everyone from Ravi Shankar to Patti Smith, Jim Morrison to Janis Joplin, Bob Marley to Gustavo Dudamel, Lou Reed to Van Morrison, Jerry Lee Lewis to his own dear, late Doors bandmate Ray Manzarek. Ultimately, the result is not only a look into the hearts and minds of some of the most important artists of the past century—but a way for readers to identify and ignite their own creative spark, and light their own fire.
£999.99
Hachette Books Still Alright
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Random House USA Inc Alice Cooper Golf Monster
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Random House USA Inc Patti LuPone
Book SynopsisThe legendary Patti LuPone is one of the theatre’s most beloved leading ladies. Now she lays it all bare, sharing the intimate story of her life both onstage and off--through the dizzying highs and darkest lows--with the humor and outspokenness that have become her trademarks.With nearly 100 photographs, including an 8-page four-color insert, and illuminating details about the life of a working actor, from inspired costars and demanding directors to her distinct perspective on how she developed and honed her Tony Award–winning performances, Patti LuPone: A Memoir is as inspirational as it is entertaining. And though the title might say “a memoir,” this is ultimately a love letter to the theatre by a unique American artist.Raised on Long Island’s North Shore, Patti discovered her calling at the age of four and knew that she was destined for the stage. A prodigiously gifted child, she was one of only 36 young actors chosen for the inaugural class of The Juilliard School’s Drama Division, where she fought near-constant criticism from her instructors, and here describes those early years with disarming frankness. From the heady days of her early twenties—crisscrossing the country as a founding member of the classical repertory theatre ensemble, The Acting Company--to her early success on Broadway, her four-year stint as Libby Thacher on the television series Life Goes On, her loving marriage to Matt Johnston, and much, much more, Patti chronicles her professional and personal life with inimitable candor and wit. With its insightful retrospective of her career-defining turns, both on Broadway and abroad, in Evita, Les Misérables, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy, Patti LuPone: A Memoir reveals the artist’s deeply felt passion for music and the theatre and is, in the end, the compelling and quintessential tale of an exceptional life well lived.“I have been incredibly fortunate over the course of my career to have been associated with some extraordinary dramatic and musical productions, and also some rather spectacular disasters. Looking back, I can find gifts and life lessons in every one.”
£13.29
Random House USA Inc Endgame
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Who was Bobby Fischer? In this “nuanced perspective of the chess genius” (Los Angeles Times), an acclaimed biographer chronicles his meteoric rise and confounding fall, with an afterword containing newly discovered details about Fischer’s life. Possessing an IQ of 181 and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby Fischer memorized hundreds of chess books in several languages, and he was only thirteen when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history. But his strange behavior started early. In 1972, at the historic Cold War showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky, Fischer made headlines with hundreds of petty demands that nearly ended the competition. It was merely a prelude to what was to come. Arriving back in the United States to a hero’s welcome, Bobby
£15.75
Random House USA Inc My Song
Book SynopsisAn eloquently told personal account of an era of enormous cultural and political change, which reveals Harry Belafonte as not only one of America’s greatest entertainers, but also one of our most profoundly influential activists. Harry Belafonte spent his childhood in both Harlem and Jamaica, where the toughness of the city and the resilient spirit of the Caribbean lifestyle instilled in him a tenacity to face the hurdles of life head-on and channel his anger into positive, life-affirming actions. He returned to New York City after serving in the Navy in World War II, and found his calling in the theater, before transitioning into a career as a singer and Hollywood leading man. During the 1960s civil rights movement, Belafonte became close friends with Martin Luther King, Jr., and used his celebrity as a platform for his activism in civil rights and countless other political and social causes. My Song tells the inspiring story of a startlingly original and powerful entertainer who has always engaged fiercely with the issues of his day.
£16.20
Random House USA Inc My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business
Book SynopsisA heartfelt memoir from one of Hollywood's greatest iconsDick Van Dyke, indisputably one of the greats of the golden age of television, is admired and beloved by audiences the world over for his beaming smile, his physical dexterity, his impeccable comic timing, his ridiculous stunts, and his unforgettable screen roles. His trailblazing television program, The Dick Van Dyke Show (produced by Carl Reiner, who has written the foreword to this memoir), was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1960s and introduced another major television star, Mary Tyler Moore. But Dick Van Dyke was also an enormously engaging movie star whose films, including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, have been discovered by a new generation of fans and are as beloved today as they were when they first appeared.
£14.40
Little, Brown & Company The Universal Tone
Book Synopsis
£19.99
Little, Brown Spark Thicker Than Water
Book Synopsis
£25.60
Mariner Books Dont Think Dear
Book SynopsisExpertly choreographed and long overdue, this is the nuanced reckoning ballet needs, ballerinas deserve, and all feminists should note. -Oprah DailyAn incisive exploration of ballet’s role in the modern world, told through the experience of the author and her classmates at the most elite ballet school in the country: the School of American Ballet.Growing up, Alice Robb dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. But by age fifteen, she had to face the reality that she would never meet the impossibly high standards of the hyper-competitive ballet world. After she quit, she tried to avoid ballet—only to realize, years later, that she was still haunted by the lessons she had absorbed in the mirror-lined studios of Lincoln Center, and that they had served her well in the wider world. The traits ballet takes to an extreme—stoicism, silence, submission—are valued in girls and women everywhere.Profound, nuance
£23.99
Farrar, Straus and Giroux Double Exposure
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Farrar, Straus and Giroux Lou Reed
Book SynopsisThe only Lou Reed bio you need to read. The Washington PostA Rolling Stone best music book of 2023 One of Pitchfork's ten best music books of 2023 A Variety best music book of the year A Kirkus Reviews best nonfiction book of 2023There have been many biographies of Lou Reed, but Will Hermes has written the definitive life . . . He has brought to the assignment a sharp eye, a clear head, a lucid prose style, and a determination to let Lou be Lou, without judgment. Lucy Sante, author of Low LifeThe most complete and penetrating biography of the rock master, whose stature grows every year.Since his death in 2013, Lou Reed's living presence has only grown. The great rock poet presided over the marriage of Brill Building pop and the European avant-garde, and left American culture transfigured. In Lou Reed: The King of New York, Will Hermes offers the definitive narrative of Ree
£28.00
