Biography Books
Simon & Schuster Pele The Autobiography
Book SynopsisThe legend. In his own words. From the poverty-stricken streets of Sao Paulo to an international icon and one of the most celebrated footballers of all time, Pele''s life story is as extraordinary as it is enrapturing. With his trademark wit and deference, the legend draws us into a wonderful story lit by insight and humour and encompassing everything you ever wanted to know about the great man himself. From shining shoes for extra pennies at the Baru Athletic Club to triumph in several World Cups, the glory of being on top of the world -- and staying there -- is shared in what is undoubtedly one of the must-read autobiographies of the year. On top of his athletic achievements, Pele has also been a staunch campaigner for human rights and in particular the plight of street children in his home country, leading to an appointment as a UN Ambassador and an honorary knighthood from the British monarchy. By turns addictive, moving and enlightening, this i
£10.44
Simon & Schuster When Heaven Calls: Life Lessons from America's
Book SynopsisAmerica’s top psychic medium reflects on his life of speaking to Spirit and the lessons he’s learned along the way—from both the living and the dead.Matt Fraser is just an ordinary guy…who happens to talk to dead people. Born into a psychic family, Matt carries on the legacy passed down from his late Grandmother Mary by connecting people to their dearly departed loved ones and delivering messages from the other side. His sold-out live group readings, television appearances, and private readings have allowed him to bring hope and healing to fans from around the world. But people who are not in the habit of talking with the dead have a hard time imagining what his day-to-day life is like. Based on the questions he gets, they seem to think he spends most of his time sitting cross-legged in a trance, maybe hovering a few inches off the ground, leaving his physical body behind as he journeys across the veil to the spirit realm. But it’s not like that at all. Now, in When Heaven Calls, Matt opens up about it’s really like to be a psychic medium—including how he discovered his spiritual gift, what it’s like to connect with souls on the other side, what communicating with the dead has taught him about embracing life, and how you can tap into your own intuitive awareness to manifest your dreams, goals, and desires.
£10.44
Authentic Media To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary
Book SynopsisA doctor's account of her own experience of death, heaven and return to life with a new realization of her purpose on earth. Dr Mary Neal, an orthopaedic surgeon, was on a kayaking holiday in Chile. Sceptical of near death experiences, she was to have her life transformed when her kayak became wedged in rocks at the bottom of a waterfall and was underwater for so long that her heart stopped.To Heaven And Back is Mary's faith-enriching story of her spiritual journey, her first-hand experience of heaven and its continuing life-enhancing effects.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times
Book SynopsisOne of the most recognisable, respected and inspirational men on earth, Muhammad Ali is the world's most famous boxing hero. Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to the sport, and his charm and wit changed forever what the world expects of a champion athlete. This is the ultimate biography to match Ali's lifetime of extraordinary achievements. Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of The Year Award A superb book; hilarious, sad, moving and hopeful – The Times A monumental achievement…it documents every facet of his extraordinary life – The Daily Telegraph Hauser's achievement in chronicling the life of Muhammad Ali is monumental… triumphant and harrowing at one and the same time – The Guardian A tour de force – The Observer Compassionate, intelligent, fair-minded, definitive, and certainly exhaustive – The New York Review of Books A delightful summer read – The Los Angeles Times One of the most recognisable, respected and inspirational men on earth, Muhammad Ali is the world's most famous boxing hero. Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to the sport, and his charm and wit changed forever what the world expects of a champion athlete. In the words of over two hundred of Ali's family members, associates, opponents, friends and enemies, this comprehensive and honest portrait relates his legendary sporting accomplishments, as well as the high drama of life outside the boxing ring. From Olympic gold in Rome, to stunning victory over George Foreman in Zaire, every historic victory and defeat of Ali's career is covered. His controversial embrace of the Nation of Islam – with the renunciation of his 'slave name', Cassius Clay – and the historic refusal to be inducted into the US Army makes for compelling reading. Ali became America's first national conscientious objector, and with a willingness to stage his fights in Third World locales, he continued his advocacy for people in need which was honoured in 2000 when he became a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Charismatic, dedicated and a skilful self-publicist, Muhammad Ali was the embodiment of the American Dream. This is the ultimate biography to match Ali's lifetime of extraordinary achievements. The perfect companion for any boxing enthusiast or fan of Muhammad Ali's life and work.
£11.69
Canongate Books Guantánamo Diary: The Fully Restored Text
Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture called The Mauritanian 'A vision of hell, beyond Orwell, beyond Kafka' JOHN LE CARRÉThe first and only diary written by a Guantánamo detainee during his imprisonment, now with previous censored material restored.Mohamedou Ould Slahi was imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay in 2002.There he suffered the worst of what the prison had to offer, including months of sensory deprivation, torture and sexual assault.In October 2016 he was released without charge.This is his extraordinary story.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary account . . . the global war on terror has found in a Mauritanian captive its true and complete witness * * Guardian * *A vision of hell, beyond Orwell, beyond Kafka -- JOHN LE CARRÉUnnerving yet ultimately magnificent . . . there is something special about Guantánamo Diary that lifts it from human rights polemic to the realm of literary magic * * Sunday Times * *The work is a kind of dark masterpiece, a sometimes unbearable epic of pain, anguish and bitter humour * * New York Times * *Heartbreaking . . . there has never been a book quite like this . . . extraordinary and overwhelming * * New Statesman * *This Guantánamo detainee's harrowing memoir is a tremendous achievement - and a grave warning against ignoring the rule of law * * Observer * *This is a necessary book. It reminds us that the evil we're fighting can be found in ourselves as well as our enemies * * Daily Telegraph * *A sobering, often chilling, read. Slahi's story deserves to be widely read * * Independent * *Slahi's book offers a reminders that the struggles we face in these difficult times involve real individuals, not faceless creatures who are to be characterised as members as one or other hated group. That he has resorted to words, the mightiest of weapons, even as his incarceration continues, makes his experience all the more relevant today * * Financial Times * *A harrowing account of [Mohamedou Ould Slahi's] detention, interrogation, and abuse . . . One of the most stubborn, deliberate and cruel Guantánamo interrogations on record * * Slate * *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC No Destination
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of the few life-changing books I have ever read. I wish everyone would read it. * Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul *Satish Kumar’s unique story is stranger than fiction. * Hazel Henderson, Author, Ecologist and Creator of TV series Ethical Markets *Reading this book, you will have the rare pleasure of meeting a warm and witty, thoroughly genuine man, and one whose inspiration will not fail to move you. * Kirkpatrick Sale, Author of The Collapse of 2020 *Table of ContentsMother Guru Ashram Benares Wanderer Escape Floating Mukti Maya Hartland The Small School Pilgrimage: Iona Pilgrimage Return Japan Founding Schumacher College Mount Kailas Schumacher College Worldwide Shared Values and Collaboration Influence Realisation
£14.24
Tramp Press A Ghost In The Throat
Book SynopsisA true original. In this stunningly unusual prose debut, Doireann Ni Ghriofa sculpts essay and autofiction to explore inner life and the deep connection felt between two writers centuries apart. In the 1700s, an Irish noblewoman, on discovering her husband has been murdered, drinks handfuls of his blood and composes an extraordinary poem. In the present day, a young mother narrowly avoids tragedy. On encountering the poem, she becomes obsessed with its parallels with her own life, and sets out to track down the rest of the story. A devastating and timeless tale about one woman freeing her voice by reaching into the past and finding another's.
£11.17
John Blake Publishing Ltd A Book of Dreams - The Book That Inspired Kate
Book SynopsisThis famous book, the inspiration behind Kate Bush's 1985 hit song 'Cloudbusting', is the extraordinary account of life as friend, confidant and child of the brilliant but persecuted psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich. Peter, his son, shared with his father the revolutionary concept of a world where dream and reality are virtually indistinguishable, and the sense of mission which set him and his followers apart from the rest of the human race. Here, Peter Reich writes vividly and movingly of the mysterious experiences he shared with his father: of flying saucers; the 'cloudbuster' rain-makers and the FDA narks; and of the final tragic realization of his father's death, which woke him up to the necessity of living out his life in an alien world. Already regarded as a modern classic, A Book of Dreams is not only a beautifully written narrative of a remarkable friendship and collaboration, but a loving son's heartfelt tribute to a loving father.
£11.69
Pan Macmillan An Elephant in My Kitchen
Book Synopsis 'The most magical book about the African bush since Born Free' - Daily Mail'A beautiful love story between humans and the majestic elephants' - Jo Malone, Daily ExpressFrançoise Malby-Anthony never expected to find herself responsible for a herd of elephants with a troubled past. A chic Parisienne, her life changed forever when she fell in love with South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony. Together they founded a game reserve but after Lawrence’s death, Françoise faced the daunting responsibility of running Thula Thula without him. Poachers attacked their rhinos, their security team wouldn’t take orders from a woman and the authorities were threatening to cull their beloved elephant family. On top of that, the herd’s feisty new matriarch Frankie didn’t like her.In this heart-warming and moving book, Françoise describes how she fought to protect the herd and to
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Johnny Cash The Life in Lyrics
Book SynopsisThe life of the Man in Black is revealed through his lyrics and by rare photographs and ephemera, in this beautifully illustrated official hardback edition, fully authorised by the Cash estate and featuring 125 of his most iconic songs. Johnny Cash is one of the most beloved and influential country stars of all time, selling more than ninety million records, blending country, rock, blues, and gospel in his music and having been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, Cash''s fifty years of songwriting have been collected for the first time ever. An essential collectible that sheds new light on Cash''s life and work, this book includes rare visual material in addition to remembrances from Cash''s son, John Carter Cash, and family historian Mark Stielper. Released for the twentieth anniversary of the legendary musician''s passing, it is a landmark moment in music pu
£30.00
John Blake Publishing Ltd Oasis Whats The Story Life on tour with Liam and
Book Synopsis*THE MUST-READ BOOK FOR THE UPCOMING OASIS REUNION TOUR*'Deserves to stay on the bestseller lists for a long time to come' - Caitlin Moran'Brilliant' - NMEOasis were a band like bands used to be. Hard-drinking and substance abusing. If they liked you, they loved you. If they didn't, you had to be prepared for confrontation. Iain Robertson is used to tough jobs - after retiring from the Parachute Regiment, he took on jobs guarding George Harrison, Gary Moore and Johnny Rotten. But keeping Oasis on the rails after debut album Definitely Maybe ignited their rise toward global superstardom would be the toughest gig of them all. Oasis would explode into public consciousness and have the world at their feet in the wake of their epic first album and a huge world tour. Iain was side-by-side as their road manager and minder, twenty-four hours a day, eight days a week, as they took on the world and won. No one
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Enver Hoxha
Book SynopsisStalinism, that particularly brutal phase of communism, came to an end in most of Eastern Europe with the death of Josef Stalin in 1953 or at least with the Khrushchev reforms that began in the Soviet Union in 1956. However, in one country - Albania - Stalinism survived virtually unscathed until 1990. The regime that the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha led from the time of the communist takeover in 1944 until his death in 1985, and that continued unabated under his successor Ramiz Alia until 1990, was incomparably severe. Such was the reign of terror that no audible voice of opposition or dissent ever arose in the Balkan state, a European country that became as isolated from the rest of the world as North Korea is today. When the Albanian communist system finally imploded, it left behind a weary population, frightened and confused after decades of purges and political terror. It also left behind a country with a weak and fragile economy, a country where extreme poverty was the norm. In Table of ContentsIntroduction by Robert Elsie 1. Death Comes Knocking 2. 28 November 1944 3. From Gjirokastra to Korça 4. From France to Belgium: the Dropout 5. Teacher of Moral Education 6. The Founding of the Communist Party 7. A Leader with an Iron Fist 8. Nationalists and Communists 9. Head of the Provisional Government 10. The Plenary Meeting in Berat – an Interlude 11. Tirana and the Wedding 12. The Reign of Terror 13. Departure of the British and the Americans 14. The Yugoslavs: a Matter of Love and Hate 15. Stalin and the Soviets 16. The Bllok 17. Enver Hoxha and Mother Teresa 18. Split Personality 19. The Medical Team 20. The Great Purges 21. Demise of a Prime Minister 22. The Final Purges 23. The Years of Solitude 24. Death and What Remained Chronology of the Life of Enver Hoxha Glossary Bibliography
£16.14
Ebury Publishing Until I Kill You
Book SynopsisDelia Balmer is a former nurse at the Royal Free Hospital. She was awarded with a BSc Degree by the University of Westminster in 2000.
£10.44
Atlantic Books Dead in the Water: Murder and Fraud in the
Book SynopsisWinner of the True Crime Awards Book of the YearShortlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award***A Waterstones Best Books of 2022 pick***A Financial Times, The Times and The Economist Book of the Year 'Gripping... A startling tale of fraud and impunity. ' The Economist'I read it in one sitting, and I know it'll stay with me for a long time.' Oliver Bullough, Sunday Times bestselling author of Moneyland Inside the corrupt and secret business of global shipping, the explosive true story of a notorious international fraud and murderIn July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was drifting through the treacherous Gulf of Aden when a crew of pirates attacked the vessel and set her ablaze. But when David Mockett, a maritime surveyor working for the ship's insurer Lloyd's of London, inspected the damaged vessel, he was left with more questions than answers. Soon after he started his investigation, Mockett was killed by a car bomb.Through first-hand accounts - from members of the crew who survived the hijacking to the ex-London detectives turned private investigators seeking to solve Mockett's murder - award-winning reporters Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel piece together the explosive true story behind one of the most brazen financial frauds in history.Trade ReviewDead in the Water has the feel of a thriller, but also laudably explains the complexity - and corruption - of the world of international shipping. * The Times, Books of the Year *A triumphant example of what happens when editors give reporters the time to pull at such a story's threads until the deceptions unravel. The result is in part a well-written, well-paced thriller. But it is also a morality tale. * Financial Times *A remarkable story... Books about merchant shipping are rarely so gripping * The Economist *With fine attention to detail and great storytelling skill... Dead in the Water is a first-class piece of reportage. * Literary Review *A masterpiece... Enlightening and thoroughly engaging. * Mark Bowden, New York Times *Brilliant * Daily Telegraph *Campbell and Chellel bring a thriller-like pace to the action. * Money Week *A fascinating read. Highly recommended! * John Carreyrou, bestselling author of Bad Blood *This is a tale of greed, murder, fraud, complacency, exploitation and hypocrisy, right in the centre of our societies. It's modern capitalism in microcosm, and it's written like a thriller. I read it in one sitting, and I know it'll stay with me for a long time. What a cracker. * Oliver Bullough, Sunday Times bestselling author of Moneyland *Campbell and Chellel's story of pirates and perfidy veers all over the world and includes a cast of characters of salty seafarers, hard-driving maritime salvors, commercial adjudicators and barristers, insurance men, detectives and hired thugs. Cantankerous investigations in the City of London are followed by high-speed chases in the Greek mountains and hush-hush whistleblower meetings in the Philippines. When you really understand its inner workings, the insurance industry is enthralling. -- Laleh Khalili * London Review of Books *A triumph of investigative journalism. * Tom Wright, Sunday Times bestselling co-author of Billion Dollar Whale *Truly one of the most nail-biting, page-turning, terrifying true-crime books I've ever read. It will make you never want to sail on the open seas again. * Nick Bilton, New York Times bestselling author of American Kingpin *Dead in the Water is a brilliant exposé of corruption and malfeasance on the high seas. By telling the story of a single ship, the Brilliante Virtuoso, and the complex sequence of events that led to its destruction, Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel reveal the darkest secrets of an industry that makes the modern world go round. * Ian McGuire, bestselling author of The North Water *At once devastating and riveting, Dead in the Water is a story of human tragedy and a skilled investigation of crime, money, and power. Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel have written an urgent, essential book about the hidden relationships that underpin the global economy - and the brutal cost of getting in their way. * Katie Engelhart, author of The Inevitable *Dead in the Water gripped me from the beginning and refused to let go. Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel have written a spectacular book about business, shipping, piracy and international intrigue that will make you never look at buying fast fashion or filling up your gas tank the same way again. * Katherine Howe, New York Times bestselling co-author of Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of An American Dynasty *If you want to understand the finance industry's role in global dysfunction, then read this book. -- Carson Block, Founder, Muddy Waters ResearchTable of Contents1: A LUCKY LAND 2: THE GATE OF TEARS 3: INTRUDERS 4: DISTRESS SIGNALS 5: A BRAVER WORLD 6: THE TALLEST MAN IN YEMEN 7: EVIDENCE, DEAR BOY 8: SHOCK WAVES 9: AN UPSTANDING CONSTABLE 10: FOR THOSE IN PERIL ON THE SEA 11: NO CURE, NO PAY 12: HOT FROGS 13: BELOW THE SURFACE 14: WAR RISKS 15: METAL MICKEY 16: CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE 17: MARKED 18: SUPER MARIO 19: AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS 20: BEARING GIFTS 21: I'M NOT AFRAID 22: ZULU 2 23: TWO GREEK GUYS 24: THE JOB 25: DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE 26: JUDGMENT 27: THE CAPTAIN
£10.44
Simon & Schuster An Honest Woman
Book SynopsisThrough the lens of her years spent as a sex worker, Charlotte Shane offers a provocative and tender reckoning of what it means to be a heterosexual woman and a feminist in a misogynistic society. “A memoir of sex work that is also a poignant love story.” —The Washington PostIn her early twenties, Charlotte Shane quit her women’s studies graduate program to devote herself to sex work because it was a way to devote herself to men. Her lifelong curiosity about male lust, love, selfishness, and social capital dovetailed with her own insatiable desire for intimacy to sustain a long career in escorting, with unexpectedly poignant results. Shane uses her personal and professional history to examine how men and women struggle in their attempts at romantic and sexual bonding, no matter how true their intentions. As she takes stock of her relationships—with clients, with her father, with friends, with married men, and la
£17.09
Hodder & Stoughton Echolands
Book Synopsis''A masterly evocation of the bloodiest year in British history.'' Alice Roberts''Evocative, authoritative . . . rich storytelling.'' Cat Jarman''An engaged, informed companion for the armchair time traveller...captures the thrill and the difficulties of interpreting the past''. TLS''Duncan has written a masterpiece - a journey and an investigation that fuses landscape and history, chasing the echoes of Boudica''s rebellion and finding its physical traces that still surround us today.'' Nicholas Crane''A brilliant imagining of the past. Mackay''s knowledge is profound, but lightly worn, his writing elegant and witty, and his enthusiasm infectious. A joy to read.'' Dr Harry Sidebottom, University of Oxford, author or THE MAD EMPEROR''Mackay''s journey into the past is hugely enjoyable.'' BBC History Magazine''The places that Mackay visits, trav
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Goodbye to Russia
Book Synopsis''Quite simply the best and most powerful book I've read this year'' David Peace''A magnificent book . . . beautifully written and passionately argued'' Dominic Sandbrook''A remarkable eye-witness account of Russia's descent into authoritarianism and war'' Catherine BeltonA unique, personal insight into Vladimir Putin's Russia and the devastating impact his rule has had on his own people and those of neighbouring Ukraine. In 2021, BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford set out to write a book about how Russians who dared to think differently to the Putin regime were being labelled as enemies, foreign agents and even traitors. It was to chart Russia''s slide from democracy and warn of where the crushing of liberties could lead. She had experienced something of that herself when she was expelled from Moscow as a supposed ''security threat''. Then, in February 2022, Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, moving faster than
£18.70
Simon & Schuster Ltd It Takes Blood and Guts
Book Synopsis 'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' Colin Murray 'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' Fearne Cotton ‘The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwoman’s memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era…Skin’s story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own…We now have a lot of language – intersectionality, microaggressions – to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skin’s Skin.’ OBSERVER ‘The epic tale of Glastonbury’s Black British headliner… Skin is one of the Britpop decade’s forgotten epics…Trade Review‘The epic tale of Glastonbury’s Black British headliner… Skin is one of the Britpop decade’s forgotten epics… Skin’s feet are positioned firmly on the ground throughout; she’s a winningly genial, sweary soul on paper. 4 stars’ -- Jude Rogers, MOJO‘The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwoman’s memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era… Skin’s story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own… We now have a lot of language – intersectionality, microaggressions – to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skin’s Skin.’ * OBSERVER *‘As a Black gay woman fronting 1990s rock band Skunk Anansie, Skin has broken her fair share of ground, but it has come at a personal cost. This is a story of resilience and courage, prejudice and passion’ * RED *'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' -- Colin Murray'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' -- Fearne Cotton‘The former Skunk Anansie singer pulls no punches in this heady trawl through her life from tough beginnings in Brixton to work as an LGBTQ+ activist and beyond’ * The I *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Ill Drink to That
Book SynopsisBetty Halbreich is a true original. Now in her eighties, she has spent nearly forty years at the luxury store Bergdorf Goodman, working with socialites, stars and ordinary women. She has led many to appreciate their real selves through clothes, frank advice and her unique brand of wisdom; she is trusted by the most discriminating persons - including Hollywood''s top stylists - to tell them what looks best. But her own transformation from cosseted girl to fearless truth-teller is the greatest makeover of all.Born into a successful Chicago family, aged twenty Betty married dashing Sonny Halbreich and came to Manhattan, where the couple threw themselves into a whirlwind of long hours, cocktails and Park Avenue parties, living the high life in 1950s New York. However, the marriage began to fray and after two decades came undone completely. Bereft, Betty attempted suicide. As she embarked on the frightening process of reclaiming herself, she was offered a lifeline: a job at Bergdorf Goodman. For Betty, with her innate sense of style and craftsmanship, it was a perfect fit.Hardworking, elegant, and gifted with sparkling wit and razor-sharp powers of observation, in her amazing life story as in her style guidance Betty Halbreich is never afraid to tell it straight.Trade ReviewMeet Betty Halbreich, fashion fixer of Fifth Avenue * Daily Mail *Sartorial style becomes a philosophy of life in this spirited memoir ... Halbreich comes across as sage and gracious as she narrates a life full of incident, taking us inside the fashion industry and one of its great institutions * Publisher's Weekly *In this superbly entertaining, surprisingly poignant memoir, Halbreich proves that fashion is about so much more than clothes: it's a reflection of personal identity and self-worth, whether you buy your outfits at Walmart or Bergdorf * BookPage *Halbreich has much wisdom to impart in I'll Drink to That * Independent *
£14.24
Pallas Athene Publishers The Benson Diaries
Book SynopsisThe diaries of A. C. Benson, poet and educationalist, illuminate a career at the heart of the Edwardian establishment, and a tortured private life. Introduction, footnotes, chronology.
£45.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Art of Batting
Book Synopsis''Kimber is a 22nd-century cricket writer'' The GuardianColourful cricket history meets expert analysis in this richly researched exploration of the art of batting.Most batters are trying to do their best, yet the top players are creating art. It is physically impossible to face an 80mph delivery and track it with your eyes, yet the greatest batters do more than just watch the ball, they predict where it will go. They can see into the future.This book is about the batters who see what mortals don't. Javed Miandad purposefully made errors to manipulate the field, Sachin Tendulkar dug up a pitch to take on Warne, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was peppered by tennis balls on the beach until he created his bastardised technique and Joe Root's great play against spin is a confluence of three random events. Others, such as Smith, Pietersen and Richards, carried on the work of a man 100 years before their time, and Ranji changed cricket with a bucket.<
£19.20
Simon & Schuster Wild West Village
Book SynopsisIn this darkly humorous memoir-in-essays, actress and singer-songwriter Lola Kirke untangles an extraordinary upbringing in a family of eccentric, messy artists and explains how a big city girl went a little bit country. ?Lola is a wise, witty, and unsparing writer.? ?Lena Dunham ?Probably the only book I?ll read this year.? ?Zoë Kravitz The youngest daughter of a rock star father and clothing designer mother, Lola and her siblings (including actress Jemima and celebrity doula Domino), spent their childhoods freshly plucked from their English heritage in an eclectic West Village brownstone, hosting everyone from Cuban exiles to Courtney Love. But behind the enviable exterior of worldly coolness, was a home in disarray.In Wild West Village, Kirke chronicles a search for self amidst the chaos of the affairs, addictions, and afflictions surrounding her, detailing misadventures in everything from masturbation to marijuana, Cadbury?s to country music, and a dream of salvation on the silver screen. Filled with unforgettable characters and insights into identities forged in fire, Wild West Village locates humor and lightness in life?s darker situations. Irreverent and high-spirited, these are the stories of a young woman, teetering between a twang and a British accent, trying to fit in with larger-than-life personalities while secretly coming into her own.
£21.74
Hodder & Stoughton Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
Book SynopsisDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 150 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. - Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia - Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songsDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. - Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more. - The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and countryAdd it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.Trade ReviewPart annotated songbook, part potted history and part balm for the soul, with Dolly Parton's personality shining out of every page... a lovely peak behind the rhinestone curtain of a true talent. * Daily Express *I do unreservedly love Parton's book - who wouldn't want to know the stories behind some of the past century's greatest songs? -- Marina O’Loughlin * The Sunday Times Magazine *Now, for the first time, the Smoky Mountain songbird reveals the secrets behind her greatest hits and the real-life events that inspired them. * Sunday Star *
£38.39
Little, Brown Book Group The Best of Me
Book SynopsisA lavish gift edition of David Sedaris's best stories, spanning his spectacular bestselling career. Hand-picked by David himself, these are stories that will make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time, from "the funniest man alive" (Time Out New York).Trade ReviewFor the past couple of decades, David Sedaris has more or less created his own genre, with his confessional stories that reveal both the absurdity and the emotion of everyday life. His funniest and most incisive work is now brought together in one volume * BBC *A whirlwind tour of this genius writer's greatest hits * Stylist *The ideal introduction for anyone not yet acquainted with the American master of deadpan autobiographical comedy. Sedaris selects highlights from his three decades of making readers and listeners laugh, wince and sob at the weirdness and wonder of other people * Guardian *Dipping into David Sedaris's mind in his wonderful collected works The Best of Me has been a balm and a joy * i newapaper *
£8.49
Profile Books Ltd The Happy Traitor: Spies, Lies and Exile in
Book Synopsis'A deeply human read, wonderfully written, on the foibles of a fascinating, flawed, treacherous and sort of likeable character.' Philippe Sands Those people who were betrayed were not innocent people. They were no better nor worse than I am. It's all part of the intelligence world. If the man who turned me in came to my house today, I'd invite him to sit down and have a cup of tea. George Blake was the last remaining Cold War spy. As a Senior Officer in the British Intelligence Service who was double agent for the Soviet Union, his actions had devastating consequences for Britain. Yet he was also one of the least known double agents, and remained unrepentant. In 1961, Blake was sentenced to forty-two years imprisonment for betraying to the KGB all of the Western operations in which he was involved, and the names of hundreds of British agents working behind the Iron Curtain. This was the longest sentence for espionage ever to have been handed down by a British court. On the surface, Blake was a charming, intelligent and engaging man, and most importantly, a seemingly committed patriot. Underneath, a ruthlessly efficient mole and key player in the infamous 'Berlin Tunnel' operation. This illuminating biography tracks Blake from humble beginnings as a teenage courier for the Dutch underground during the Second World War, to the sensational prison-break from Wormwood Scrubs that inspired Hitchcock to write screenplay. Through a combination of personal interviews, research and unique access to Stasi records, journalist Simon Kuper unravels who Blake truly was, what he was capable of, and why he did it.Trade ReviewThe most comprehensive and insightful biography [of George Blake] to date -- Ben Macintyre * Times *Kuper provides a different and valuable perspective, humane and informative. If the definition of a psychopath is someone who refuses to accept the consequences of his actions, does George fit the definition? There he sits, admitting it was all for nothing, but has no regrets. Or does he? -- John Le CarréTruly enthralling, gets under the skin, gives us a more nuanced sense of who Mr Blake - or is it Comrade Blake? - really was and what, if anything, actually motivated him. It's a deeply human read, wonderfully written, on the foibles of a fascinating, flawed, treacherous and sort of likeable character. -- Philippe SandsA beguiling and endlessly interesting portrait of one man's rigid, Panglossian desire to see the best in everything ... The beauty of "Spies, Lies, and Exile" is the manner in which Blake's wide-eyed credulity is matched, blow for blow, by Mr. Kuper's considered skepticism and his ability, at the end, to see through the veneer of self-deception -- Henry Hemming * WSJ *
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Woman in Me
Book SynopsisThe Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candour and humour, Spears’s ground-breaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. ____________________________________'The sharpness of her perspective is a miracle... May her truth pose a legitimate threat to the system that exploited herTrade Review'It’s nearly impossible to come out of it without empathy for and real outrage on behalf of Spears, whose admitted bitterness over the dire circumstances of the last decade-plus of her life – she no longer speaks to her family, and says she has no immediate plans to return to recording – is tempered by an enduring, insistent optimism' * New York Times *'The Woman in Me tells a focused story that makes inarguable the ties between patriarchy and exploitation, and deserves to be read as a cautionary tale and an indictment, not a grab-bag of tabloid revelations. After all Spears has lost, the sharpness of her perspective is a miracle … May her truth pose a legitimate threat to the system that exploited her.' * Guardian *'A cautionary tale about fame and the corrupting influence of money. And, just maybe, a glimmer of hope for a woman whose adult life has been dictated by others.' * BBC News *'Britney Spears holds nothing back in her short, bittersweet and extremely powerful memoir. Ultimately, The Woman in Me is a story not about music so much as about the way that women are still routinely mistreated in the music business. That it hasn’t turned into a complete tragedy is a testament to Spears’s essential fortitude of spirit – something that burns off these pages.' * Telegraph *'Anyone who has followed Spears over the years – and, due to the sheer force of her cultural ubiquity, that’s probably all of us – will want the very best for her. There is nothing tidy about trauma and recovery, and I hope The Woman in Me has been cathartic for her. It’s certainly not the end of her pain, but it’d be nice if it’s the beginning of a new chapter.' * Independent *'There are anecdotes and namedrops, sure, and the writing is casual, conversational as though she’s spilling it all in a classic Britney Instagram caption, but to see it as simply a famous person’s memoir is underselling it: this is a text that dissects the notion of the “mad woman”, that unpicks the nature of celebrity and highlights some huge failings in the American legal system. The power of this book is the fact that it exists at all.' * i *'Spears’s prose contains more compassion and perspective than bitterness or self-pity.' * The Times *'A cautionary tale about coercion, misogyny, control, exploitation, and the insidious grip of the patriarchy… Spears shares this story, which will undoubtedly be dissected and recounted elsewhere, with astonishing clarity.' * Dazed *‘one of pop’s great cautionary tales. . . erases the people-pleasing Mouseketeer to express rage against the music industry, celebrity culture and her family. Whether it’s read as a document of Noughties misogynist pop culture. . . it’s a remarkably intimate testimony from somebody still coming back from the edge' * The Times, Books of the Year *‘one of the biggest book deals ever…a genuine page-turner’ * Financial Times *'With quietly vengeful fury, the pop star recounts how she was exploited by not just her industry but her own family. The most riveting music book of the year by far' * Telegraph, Best Books of 2023 *
£21.25
Bonnier Books Ltd Behind the Seams: The perfect gift for fans of
Book Synopsis*** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***From adventures at Central Saint Martins to The Great British Sewing Bee, go behind the scenes of Esme Young's amazing life...At age five, Esme was asked to write in her notebook, but instead, she filled it with drawings - the only way she knew to express herself. At seven, when it was discovered she was partially deaf, she found refuge in her sketchbooks. Shortly after, Esme made her first garment and a passion for sewing and designing was born. As a teenager, she made her way to London where her creative journey truly began.Living in a squat with other young creatives, Esme made the most of her time; studying at Central Saint Martins, launching a clothing line called Swanky Modes with three friends and £50 each, watching Notting Hill Carnival with David Bowie, and altering a dress for Cher. The '90s saw a career move into costumes for films, where she designed outfits for Trainspotting, Bridget Jones's Diary and The Beach, before she moved onto the small screen herself.A celebration of a creative life lived differently, Behind the Seams is a reminder that it's never too early, or too late to pick up a needle and start stitching in a new direction.
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Cello
Book SynopsisJust as a cello's voice is divided across four strings, each with its own colour and character, this is a journey in four parts, in search of four players and their instruments...'In Cello, Kate Kennedy weaves together the lives of four remarkable cellists who suffered various forms of persecution, injury and misfortune. The Hungarian Jewish cellist and composer Pál Hermann managed to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo for much of the Second World War but was eventually captured and murdered. Lise Cristiani, the first female professional cello soloist, undertook an epic and ultimately fatal concert tour of Siberia in the 1850s, taking with her one of the world's greatest Stradivari cellos. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was incarcerated in both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps, only surviving because she was the cellist in the Auschwitz-Birkenau women's orchestra. Amedeo Baldovino of the Trieste Piano Trio was forced to jump from a burning ship with his Mara' Stradivari, losing the cello, and nearly losing his own life when the boat was shipwrecked near Buenos Aires.Counterpointing the themes raised by these extraordinary stories are a sequence of interludes that draw together the author's reflections on the nature and history of the cello, and her many interviews and encounters with contemporary cellists. Kate Kennedy's own relationship with the cello is a complicated one. As a teenager, she suffered an injury to her arm that imposed severe limitations on her career as a performer on the instrument that was her first love. She realised that, in order to start to understand what the cello meant to her, she needed to find out what the cello and, crucially, the absence of the cello had meant to some other cellists, past and present. Kate Kennedy has written an eloquent and multitextured homage to this warmest of stringed instruments part quest narrative, part detective story, part philosophical meditation.
£27.00
Chronicle Books One Week in January
Book Synopsis “Feels like reading a love story that doesn't quite know it's a love story yet, and a success story that doesn't know it’s made it.” —Emma Straub, New York Times–bestselling author of This Time TomorrowAward-winning, beloved children's book author and illustrator Carson Ellis makes a stunning adult debut with an illustrated memoir that evocatively captures a specific cultural moment of the early 2000s and in her journey as an artist. In January 2001, the young artist Carson Ellis moved into a warehouse in Portland, Oregon, with a group of fellow artists. For the first week she lived there, she kept a detailed diary full of dry observations, mordant wit, hijinks with friends (including her future husband, Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy), and turn-of-the-millennium cultural touchstones. Now, Ellis has richly illustrated this two-decade-old journal with e
£16.19
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Conquistadors of the Useless: From the Alps to
Book Synopsis'I have given my whole life to the mountains. Born at the foot of the Alps, I have been a ski champion, a professional guide, an amateur of the greatest climbs in the Alps and a member of eight expeditions to the Andes and the Himalaya. If the word has any meaning at all, I am a mountaineer.'So Lionel Terray begins Conquistadors of the Useless - not with arrogance, but with typical commitment. One of the most colourful characters of the mountaineering world, his writing is true to his uncompromising and jubilant love for the mountains.Terray was one of the greatest alpinists of his time, and his autobiography is one of the finest and most important mountaineering books ever written. Climbing with legends Gaston Rébuffat, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, Terray made first ascents in the Alps, Alaska, the Andes and the Himalaya. He was at the centre of global mountaineering at a time when Europe was emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and he came out a hero. Conquistadors of the Useless tells of his wartime escapades, of life as an Alpine mountain guide, and of his climbs - including the second ascent of the Eiger North Face and his involvement in the first ever ascent of an 8,000-metre peak, Annapurna. His tales capture the energy of French post-war optimism, a time when France needed to reassert herself and when climbing triumphs were more valued than at any other time in history.Terray's death, in the Vercors, robbed mountaineering of one of its most passionate and far-sighted figures. His energy, so obvious in Conquistadors of the Useless, will inspire for generations to come. A mountaineering classic.Trade ReviewLittle compromise and total commitment are features common in both Terray’s writing and his climbing, the lines of his autobiography are every bit as powerful as the lines he followed in the mountains. – John Baker, Climbers' Club JournalConquistadors of the Useless captures the energy of an optimistic world shaking off the restraints of war and austerity, and is sure to inspire today’s climbers with the irresistible passion of his mountaineering. – Scottish Mountaineering Club JournalConquistadors is one of the great books, hardly perfect but with bursts of powerful writing, especially about climbing. It is irresistible, even to those grown up enough to know better. There’s a Gallic cynicism, a dismissive brilliance that is achingly cool, and which Sutton does capture in his translation. And of course it is an outstanding account of arguably the greatest Alpine career of the 20th century. – Ed Douglas, Climber MagazineFrank, witty, clean, often controversial, Terray irresistibly conveys his lifelong passion for the mountains. – Lara Dunn, Adventure Travel MagazineTable of ContentsNote for the 2001 EditionForewordChapter One – DiscoveryChapter Two – First ConquestsChapter Three – War in the AlpsChapter Four – I meet LachenalChapter Five – The North Face of the EigerChapter Six – Guide to the Great ClimbsChapter Seven - AnnapurnaChapter Eight - Mountain RangingPostscriptAppendix One – The Ascent of Mount HuntingtonAppendix Two – Lionel Terray’s Climbs and Expeditions, and other Achievements
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd The Lady in the Van
Book SynopsisAlan Bennett is the author of Writing Home, The Madness of George III, Talking Heads, The Clothes They Stood Up In and much else besides. Miss Shepherd lived in a Robin Reliant opposite Bennett's house in Camden Town. After a series of attacks on her van, he suggested she move, with her van, to his front drive. Initially reluctant, she agreed - and Bennett landed himself a tenancy that went on for fifteen years. The Lady in the Van is probably Alan Bennett's best-known work of non-fiction, and follows his other little blockbuster The Clothes They Stood Up In.
£5.99
Pan Macmillan Queen of the Desert
Book SynopsisGeorgina Howell began working in magazine journalism at the age of seventeen. She was Fashion Editor of the Observer, Features Editor of Vogue, Deputy Editor of Tatler and a principal feature writer for the Sunday Times. Georgina Howell died in January 2016.
£13.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Alexander McQueen
Book SynopsisWhen Alexander McQueen committed suicide in February 2010, aged just 40, a shocked world mourned the loss of its most visionary fashion designer. McQueen had risen from humble beginnings as the youngest child of an East London taxi driver to scale the heights of fame, fortune and glamour. He designed clothes for the world's most beautiful women including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. In business he created a multi-million pound luxury brand that became a favourite with both celebrities and royalty, most famously the Duchess of Cambridge who wore a McQueen dress on her wedding day. But behind the confident facade and bad-boy image, lay a sensitive soul who struggled to survive in the ruthless world of fashion. As the pressures of work intensified, so McQueen became increasingly dependent on the drugs that contributed to his tragic end. Meanwhile, in his private life, his failure to find lasting love with a string of boyfriends only added to his despair.
£9.49
Zondervan How Far You Have Come
Book SynopsisAs popular Instagram poet and artist Morgan Harper Nichols shares glimpses of her story in How Far You Have Come, she inspires us to reframe the stories we tell ourselves so we can see through our own brokenness to the beauty inside.
£13.49
Tramp Press The Seven Necessary Sins For Women And Girls
Book Synopsis'We need fewer road maps towards a treaty with patriarchy, and more manifestos on how to destroy it.' The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls identifies seven sins women and girls are socialised to avoid anger, attention, profanity, ambition, power, violence and lust. With essays on each, Mona Eltahawy creates a stunning manifesto encouraging women worldwide to defy, disobey and disrupt the patriarchy. Drawing on her own life and the work of intersectional activists from around the world, #MeToo and the Arab Spring, Eltahawy s work defines what it is to be a feminist now.Trade Review‘She is here for your liberation, and that of every woman and girl, from Nunavut to Namibia’ REBECCA SOLNIT, author of MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME ‘Shocking, brave, gloriously unfeminine, and right on time’ GLORIA STEINEM, writer and feminist activist ‘It is as piercingly intelligent as it is uncompromising. Every woman should read this’ MAAZA MENGISTE, Booker Prize shortlisted author of THE SHADOW KING 'A vociferous, highly motivational call to arms for the feminist movement' KIRKUS 'The fierce Mona Eltahawy is back with the feminist manifesto of the year.' MS MAGAZINE
£11.69
Simon & Schuster Ltd I Cant Make This Up
Book SynopsisSuperstar comedian and Hollywood box office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word by writing some words. Some of those words include: the, a, for, above, and even even. Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller. It begins in North Philadelphia. He was born an accident, unwanted by his parents. His father was a drug addict who was in and out of jail. His brother was a crack dealer and petty thief. And his mother was overwhelmingly strict, beating him with belts, frying pans, and his own toys. The odds, in short, were stacked against our young hero, just like the odds that are stacked against the release of a new book in this era of social media (where HarTrade Review"[An] emotion-filled memoir full of grit and humor...Inspiring and thoroughly entertaining, Hart's memoir brings his readers into his hilarious universe of stories and philosophy." * Publishers Weekly, starred review *"Hart is an incredibly magnetic storyteller, on the page as he is onstage, and that’s what shines through…a genial, entertaining guide to a life in comedy.” * Kirkus Reviews *"Hilarious but also heartfelt." * Elle Magazine *"His new book will introduce readers to a Kevin Hart they’ve never known before…a reflection of his journey, his work ethic and his true self." * Parade.com *"Full of outrageous confessions and brutally honest tidbits about his life." * People.com *
£8.54
Bonnier Books Ltd Reveal: Robbie Williams - As close as you can get
Book Synopsis'It's much more interesting to be a little bit broken and talk about your vulnerabilities.'An intimate, funny and frank account of the moments behind the music, the truth behind the headlines and the fascinatingly complicated man behind the imperious entertainer, Robbie Williams.Bestselling author Chris Heath has been working closely with Robbie for many years to create a personal and raw account of fame, fortune, family and music. This vivid and detailed portrait shows the real highs and lows of Robbie's life as he found his way forward, one that is unprecedented in its intimacy and honesty.Long-awaited by millions, Reveal is the uncensored and compelling portrait of Robbie as you've never seen him before.
£8.54
Evro Publishing Limited Texas Legend
Book SynopsisOne of the greatest drivers of his generation, Jim Hall is even better known as an innovator. From tiny Chaparral Cars in Midland, Texas emerged a series of vehicles that changed the face of racing. His high-winged Chaparral 2E Can-Am car and 2F World Sportscar Championship contender may be the most influential race vehicles of the 20th century. Today, every Formula 1 car uses net downforce, driver-adjustable wings, composite chassis, side-mounted radiators, semi-automatic gearboxes and advanced telemetry to optimize vehicle performance — all things Chaparral pioneered in the mid-1960s. First-ever book in which Hall tells his own story. The massive influence of his introduction of net downforce to racing, which is now incorporated into the design of every major type of four-wheel competition vehicle. How Hall shocked the world with innovative designs that won in every series in which they competed, including Can-Am, Trans-Am, the World Sportscar Cham
£45.00
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd Ariana: The Biography
Book SynopsisAriana Grande captured the hearts of a nation with her One Love Manchester concert. Less than a fortnight after a terrorist killed twenty-two people at her Manchester show, the petite princess stood tall at her tribute concert that united and healed a shaken nation. She was the emotional core of a powerful evening that reminded us all of music’s redemptive power.But who is Ariana Grande? This candid book traces the US pop star’s story from her childhood in Florida, through her teenage years on Broadway and Nickelodeon, and on to her gleaming pop career which has seen her described as ‘the new Mariah Carey’. This unauthorized biography tells the songbird's eventful and inspirational story in full for the first time, and shows how she became an award-winning, chart-topping pop idol, as well as an empowering inspiration for a generation of girls. It reveals that there is more to Ariana than the celebrity we all think we know, explaining how her smooth transition from a squeaky-clean teenage pop product to a sophisticated, bold artist was powered by a restless and resilient personality. A must read for all her fans, this is a full, unflinching portrait of a pop sensation and inspiring, uncompromising woman – the small, sassy girl with the ponytail who conquered the world.
£9.25
Oneworld Publications Nine Lives: My Time As MI6's Top Spy Inside
Book SynopsisAs one of al-Qaeda’s most respected bomb-makers, Aimen Dean rubbed shoulders with the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden. As a double agent at the heart of al-Qaeda’s chemical weapons programme, he foiled attacks on civilians and saved countless lives, brushing with death so often that his handlers began to call him their spy with nine lives. This is the story of how a young Muslim, determined to defend his faith, found himself fighting on the wrong side – and his fateful decision to work undercover for his sworn enemy. From the killing fields of Bosnia to the training camps of Afghanistan, from running money and equipment in Britain to dodging barrel bombs in Syria, we discover what life is like inside the global jihad, and what it will take to stop it once and for all.Trade Review‘Nerve-shredding.’ * Daily Mail *‘It is rare that Western secret services place an agent within an organisation such as al-Qaida… It is unprecedented that any such individual publishes a detailed memoir of more than a decade of his activity at very nearly the highest possible levels of Islamist militancy.’ * Observer *‘A major contribution to the literature of espionage, and a rare book to say something original about contemporary jihadism.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘An endlessly fascinating portrayal of al-Qaeda and the jihadist movement before and after 9/11…a thrill ride of an autobiography…Nine Lives is also an exquisite portrait of what it is like to be a secret agent caught in limbo between the West and the Middle East… A must-read for anyone who seriously wants to end the scourge of jihadi terrorism in the West and the East.’ * New York Journal of Books *‘A compelling and invaluable account of life inside al-Qaeda through the eyes of a first-rate spy. This unique narrative throws open the shutters of the secret world of terror.’ -- Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower‘Aimen Dean has been on most of the major jihadist battlefields of the past three decades and met many of the most significant figures… Not only a gripping page-turner, but also an extraordinary contemporary history of the global terror threat.’ -- Raffaello Pantucci, author of “We Love Death As You Love Life”: Britain’s Suburban Terrorists‘This captivating real-life spy-thriller is a must-read to understand the enduring threat of global terror. It provides a fascinating account of one of the most lethal terrorist groups, from the unique perspective of a courageous double agent – an excellent read all round.’ -- Ali Soufan, former FBI Special Agent and author of Anatomy of Terror and The Black Banners‘One of the most extraordinary, captivating and insightful accounts of involvement in the violent global jihad. For many years, Aimen Dean risked his life time and time again, penetrated the leadership of al-Qaeda and saved many lives. Britain owes him a debt of gratitude. A seminal book.’ -- Richard Walton, Head of Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), New Scotland Yard, 2011–2016‘An incisive history of the war on terrorism and a riveting true-life thriller… An important book that sheds new light on al-Qaeda’s violent trajectory and its continued, stubborn resilience.’ -- Professor Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, and author of Inside Terrorism‘A must-read for anyone interested in the inside story of the last two decades of the so-called War on Terror. This book defies easy classification. Is it an insightful book on intelligence tradecraft? Certainly so. Is it an important primer on the evolution of radical jihadism? Without question. Is it a key resource for our understanding of counter-terrorism policy and practice in the twenty-first century? Absolutely.’ -- Dr Vince Houghton, Historian and Curator, International Spy Museum, Washington, DC‘Nine Lives provides a stunning inside account of the making of a senior al-Qaeda operative, who trained with the organization’s master bomb-maker and WMD-specialist, who turned into an MI6 spy, foiling terrorist plots and uncovering al-Qaeda networks. The story of Aimen Dean is as close as you’ll ever get to the real thing. The book provides unique intelligence insights into the inner workings of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11. It also reveals how MI6 used him as one of its most valuable intelligence weapons in the global war on terrorism.’ -- Dr Magnus Ranstorp, Research Director, Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies, Swedish Defence University, and Quality Manager, EU Radicalisation Awareness Network, Centre of Excellence‘This is the most fascinating book about al-Qaeda I’ve read in a long time. It is a realistic and down-to earth account of al-Qaeda’s chemical weapons programme, told by one of its insiders. It’s a must-read for everyone who wants to understand al-Qaeda and the evolution of international terrorism.’ -- Anne Stenersen, author of Al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Al-Qaida’s Quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Way of the Fight
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Like St-Pierre, this book is part philosophical, part scientific, part business-tutorial and even part self-help, with carefully selected pieces of the fighter's personal story interwoven throughout. It's all fascinating, coming from one of the most evolved fighting minds the sport has ever produced." -- SportsIllustrated.com "The Way of the Fight delivers a great deal ... part biography, part self-help, part philosophy. It is a book that, read in the right manner, teaches more than it tells." -- Bleacher Report "An interesting view into the psyche of an athlete ... the most insightful view to date of a fighter and person that has not only dominated his sport, but has been one of the foundational figures bridging the gap between MMA's community and the greater mainstream sports audience." -- Sherdog "This is an outstanding book ... at the heart of it The Way of the Fight is about setting and achieving goals, and what it takes to overcome obstacles to become your most successful self... I highly recommend The Way of the Fight." -- New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag "GSP the warrior reveals himself. The Way of the Fight is the way of his life. It's about the process of Georges St-Pierre, who came from nowhere to become an international icon." -- Diane Sauve, Radio-Canada
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Night the Angels Came
Book SynopsisA new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Cathy Glass.When Cathy receives a call about a terminally ill widower terrified of leaving his son all alone in the world, she is wracked with sadness and indecision. Can she risk exposing her own young children to a little boy on the brink of bereavement?Eight year old Michael is part of a family of two, but with his beloved father given only months to live and his mother having died when he was a toddler, he could soon become an orphan. Will Cathy's own young family be able to handle a child in mourning? To Cathy's surprise, her children insist that this boy deserves to be as happy as they are, prompting Cathy to welcome Michael into her home.A cheerful and carefree new member of the family, Michael devotedly prays every night, believing that when the time is right, angels will come and take his Daddy to be with his Mummy in heaven. However, incredibly, in the weeks that pass, the bond between Cathy's family, MichaeTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR GIRL IN THE MIRROR ‘A moving read that Cathy Glass fans will devour.’ The Sun REVIEWS FOR DAMAGED ‘Cannot fail to move those who read it.’ Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.’ The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun ‘A true tale of hope.****.’ OK! Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star magazine
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Tamerlane
Book SynopsisA powerful account of the life of Tamerlane the Great (1336-1405), the last master nomadic power, one of history's most extreme tyrants, and the subject of Marlowe's famous play. Marozzi travelled in the footsteps of the great Mogul Emperor of Samarkland to write this wonderful combination of history and travelogue.The name of the last great warlord conjures up images of mystery and romance: medieval warfare on desert plains; the clash of swords on snow-clad mountains; the charge of elephants across the steppes of Asia; the legendary opulence and cruelty of the illiterate, chess-playing nemesis of Asia. He ranks alongside Alexander as one of the world's great conquerors, yet the details of his life are scarcely known in the West.He was not born to a distinguished family, nor did he find his apprenticeship easy at one point his mobile army consisted only of himself, his wife, seven companions and four horses but his dominion grew with astonishing rapidity. In the last two decades of the fourteenth century and the beginning of the fifteenth, he blazed through Asia. Cities were razed to the ground, inhabitants tortured without mercy, sometimes enemies were buried alive more commonly they were decapitated. On the ruins of Baghdad, Tamerlane had his princes erect a pyramid of 90,000 heads.During his lifetime he sought to foster a personal myth, exaggerating the difficulties of his youth, laying claim to supernatural powers and a connection to Genghis Khan. This myth was maintained after his death in legend, folklore, poetry, drama and even opera, nowhere more powerfully than in Marlowe's play he is now as much a literary construct as a historical figure. Justin Marozzi follows in his path and evokes his legacy in telling the tale of this fabulously cruel, magnificent and romantic warrior.Trade Review‘Using many contemporary sources, Marozzi creates a convincing portrait of a complex man…An engaging mixture of history, travelogue and contemporary reportage. Well written and skilfully put together.’ Jonathan Sumption, Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year ‘He has brought the mighty warrior in from the cold and allowed him to stalk these pages with bloody magnificence.’ Sunday Times ‘Walking…about the dazzling buildings that are Tamur’s legacy, [Marozzi] brilliantly conveys how everything goes in cycles, both in nature and in human affairs.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Excellent…Provides a superbly rounded and vivid portrait of one of history’s most fascinating personalities.’ Evening Standard ‘As well researched in libraries as with boots on the ground in some of the world’s more impenetrable places, this is a fine study of a neglected but linchpin historical figure.’ Daily Mail ‘Robust, enthusiastic and richly detailed…full of fascinating, if often gruesome, anecdotes.’ Literary Review
£13.49
Tughra Books Aisha: The Wife, The Companion, The Scholar
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Atlantic Books This Divided Island
Book SynopsisSamanth Subramanian studied journalism at Pennsylvania State University and international relations at Columbia University. He has written for, among other publications, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the New York Times, Mint, the Far Eastern Economic Review, Foreign Policy, New Republic, Foreign Affairs, The National and The Hindu. His first book, Following Fish: Travels Around the Indian Coast, was published by Atlantic Books.Trade ReviewA remarkable book by one of India's most talented young writers of non-fiction... This Divided Island - balanced, observant, good-natured, discursive and frequently witty - is a searingly angry and deeply moving portrayal of the agonies of this conflict... This is a major work, containing oral testimonies from all sides of the conflict, and will stand as a fine literary monument against the government's attempt at imposed forgetfulness. -- William Dalrymple * Observer *In this extraordinary book, Subramanian exposes the fallibility of human beings, forcing us to see how superficial is the veneer of civilised life. This Divided Island is a book of our times, about us and about what we are capable of doing to each other. -- Roma Tearne * Independent *Excellent... The book leaves us with a tantalising sense of the ambiguity of peace and victory: of the new and incongruous conservatism of Sinhalese Buddhism. Subramanian withholds judgement, but the precision of the final descriptions is searing. -- Amit Chaudhuri * Guardian *Excellent, powerful... Subramanian tells this sorry story with verve and compassion, relentlessly tracking down survivors of, and witnesses to, Sri Lanka's agonies * Literary Review *Brutal majoritarians and ruthless insurgents have long monopolised our sense of Sri Lanka. Samanth Subramanian's sensitive account makes us aware of a missing human dimension. Exploring a war-ravaged landscape, he is bracingly alert to the role of ambiguity as well as ideology in human affairs. In This Divided Island, one of our finest young writers of non-fiction reveals the complicated lives lived in their shadow. -- Pankaj MishraThe powerful human stories in This Divided Island - told lucidly and vividly - show what Sri Lankans have won and lost * TLS *With the humility of a truly gifted writer, Samanth Subramanian sets out, not to find firm answers to the reasons behind Sri Lanka's civil war, but rather to be changed and opened up by his journey through this war-ravaged land. His journey becomes ours. The things he discovers, the people he meets, haunt us long after we have closed the pages of this sensitive, poignant book. -- Shyam SelvaduraiThere is only one word to describe this book: it's a masterpiece, a Book of the Year, even possibly the decade. -- Mani Shankar Aiyar * India Today *A tour de force. Written with journalistic prowess and integrity, the book succeeds in bringing the war uncomfortably close, so close you can smell the blood. -- Vaishna Roy * The Hindu *Like Philip Gourevitch's account of the genocide in Rwanda, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families, this is a superbly reported book. -- Rahul Jacob * Business Standard *This is narrative journalism at its most literary, diligently researched reportage presented with poetry and flair. -- Shehan Karunatilaka * Mint *The best book on the subject and, what is more, a book different in kind from nearly all that have appeared this far. -- Shyam Tekwan * Tehelka *
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Under the Sickle and the Sledgehammer
Book SynopsisUnder the Sickle and the Sledgehammer was originally published in 1942, as war still raged between Finland and Soviet Union. Its writer was a Finnish woman who emigrated to Russia in the 1930s, convinced the new egalitarian state and workers' paradise would be a better life for her and her young son, hopeful once settled she could send for him. What followed was very different to what was promised: a life in constant fear, under intense government scrutiny, of purges and Great Wraths, good people imprisoned and shot; and state-run propaganda that spun a web of lies around its people. The author eventually escaped, defying the odds when so many of her friends and loved ones did not, and recorded her memories under a pseudonym in what became the second most censored book from Finnish libraries after the war. This is the first English translation of this important memoir, whose original preface states: I simply want to provide an honest account of what my friends and I had to
£17.00
Cipher Press Sluts
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton Man with a Hammer
Book SynopsisThe debut home improvement and inspirational interiors guide from Greg Penn, aka Man with a Hammer, who took on one of Britain''s biggest DIY projects.Many of us dream of a renovation project, but few would be brave enough to take on a 8,200-square-foot, 30-room, 5-storey Georgian mansion on only a shoestring budget. But that''s exactly what Greg Penn did, buying the near-derelict Admirals House and embarking on an ambitious restoration plan.In this beautiful book, Greg tells the story of his remarkable home, its rich history and shares his renovation and interiors advice, budget-friendly tools and hacks - readers will journey through Admirals House room-by-room, witnessing how each has been lovingly restored to its former glory.Man with a Hammer is a visual feast and a manifesto on ''having a go'' and tackling the undoable with understated elegance and optimism.
£18.70
