Biography Books

Book SynopsisGlory, scandal, downfall, fame, and rebirth—discover the dramatic story of the rebel auto industry titan behind the stainless-steel-bodied, gull-winged sports car we all know and love from Back to the Future.   The tale you thought you knew: DeLorean recounts the life and career of John Z. DeLorean, from his successful career with General Motors, where he was instrumental in launching the Pontiac GTO and jump-starting the ’60s muscle car phenomenon, to the founding in 1975 of the DeLorean Motor Company and its 1981 launch of the now-iconic sports car bearing his name.   Although a decidedly American car and company, the DeLorean story blends an interesting cocktail of Italian design, British financial backing, and a built-from-the-ground-up factory in politically fraught Belfast.   The story turns, beginning in 1982, as DeLorean is entrapped in a drug sting and

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLERORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING FINALIST SHORTLISTED FOR THE WESTMINSTER BOOK AWARDS''One of the best memoirs I''ve read in years' SATHNAM SANGHERABeautifully written, emotional and deeply personal, yet universal One can''t help but be moved by this story of upheaval and transformation' SADIQ KHANAn extraordinary family memoir from acclaimed newsreader and journalist, Mishal Husain, uncovering the story of her grandparents'' lives amidst empire, political upheaval and partition.?I witnessed the dwindling glow of the British Empire. I saw small men entrusted with great jobs, playing with the destiny of millions'?The lives of Mishal Husain's grandparents changed forever in 1947, as the new nation states of India and Pakistan were born. For years she had a partial story, a patchwork of memories and anecdotes: hurried departures, lucky escapes from violence and homes never seen again.Decades later, the fragment of an old sari sent Mishal on a journey through time, using letters, diaries, memoirs and audio tapes to trace four lives shaped by the Raj, a world war, independence and partition.Mumtaz rejects the marriage arranged for him as he forges a life with Mary, a devout Catholic from an Anglo-Indian family, while Tahirah and Shahid watch the politics of pre-partition Delhi unfold at close quarters. As freedom comes, bonds fray and communities are divided, leaving two couples to forge new identities, while never forgetting the shared heritage of the past.Husain has written an arresting family memoir her explanation of partition is more level-headed than that of many professional historians' THE TIMESA spectacular achievement. It is an incisive and carefully researched historical account, and as moving and true a personal narrative' GUARDIAN?''[Husain] has managed to make such a complex story so accessible'' OBSERVERI was so moved by this stirring and deeply moving account that is at once a love story as well as a chronicle of one of the most cataclysmic events in South Asia' BARKHA DUTT''Like silks in the precious fragment of the heirloom sari of its title, Broken Threads is woven from rich sources. It is a beautiful book, informed and informative, cool and factual, poetic and elegiac'' FINANCIAL TIMESA deeply engrossing book I was completely gripped by it' INDIA KNIGHT

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Book Synopsis'[Sumayya Usmani is] the go-to expert in Pakistani cuisine' - BBC Good Food Magazine'Sumayya Usmani is a brilliant storyteller. She transports us with her delicious descriptions of the smells and flavours of the kitchen.' - Jay Rayner, award-winning writer and food critic Award-winning food writer Sumayya Usmani's stunning memoir conjures a story of what it was like growing up in Pakistan and how the women in her life inspired her to trust her instincts in the kitchen. From a young age, food was Sumayya's portal to nurturing, love and self-expression. She spent the first eight years of her life at sea, with a father who captained merchant ships and a mother who preferred to cook for the family herself on a tiny electric stove in their cabin rather than eat in the officer's mess.When the family moved to Karachi, Sumayya grew up torn between the social expectations of life as a young girl in Pakistan, and the inspiration she felt in the kitchen, watching her mother, and her Nani Mummy (maternal grandmother) and Dadi's (paternal grandmother) confidence, intuition and effortless ability to build complex, layered flavours in their cooking.This evocative and moving food memoir - which includes the most meaningful recipes of Sumayya's childhood - tells the story of how Sumayya's self-belief grew throughout her young life, allowing her to trust her instincts and find her own path between the expectations of following in her father's footsteps as a lawyer and the pressures of a Pakistani woman's presumed place in the household. Gradually, through the warmth of her family life, the meaning of 'andaza' comes to her: that the flavour and meaning of a recipe is not a list of measured ingredients, but a feeling in your hands, as you let the elements of a meal come together through instinct and experience.Recipes include: Nani Mummy's prawn karahiPotatoes with curry leaves and turmericChicken boti tikka, Bundoo Khan styleMummy's wedding-style chicken kormaBitter lemon, mustard seed and garlic pullaoDadi's banana and fennel seed gulgulay doughnut'I can't decide whether I want to devour Sumayya's story or her recipes first, but this has left me hungry to travel, to explore... and, of course, to eat.' Felicity Cloake, Guardian food columnist and author of Perfect, The A-Z of Eating and One More Croissant for the RoadTrade ReviewWhat stood out for mewas the enchanting way you told your life story. I somehow cared less for the food in this book and more for you. I wanted to know more about you and what happened next. You, yourself, are such an exciting focus and you tell your story so well. Your story overpowers the food.- Madhur JaffreyThe title for Sumayya Usmani's memoir, Andaza, means sensory cooking, and it delivers on so many levels. Sumayya's words awakened my senses almost synaesthetically: I could taste the sounds, visualise the flavours, and hear the colours of Pakistani cooking.Her story felt new, exciting, but also familiar in a visceral kind of way. In places, it made me smile and laugh, and at times it triggered sadness. Throughout, Sumayya's voice and spirit are strong, prompting one to read on with an overwhelming sense of awe and solidarity.- Olia Hercules, author of Home Food, Summer Kitchens, Mamushka and KaukasisNot only a transporting and engaging memoir at a time when we could all do with being transported to the markets of Karachi or the Sea of Japan, but an important contribution to the culinary canon; an irresistible invitation to delve deeper into a food culture Britain has embraced on its plate, yet still knows so frustratingly little about otherwise. I can't decide whether I want to devour Sumayya's story or her recipes first, but this has left me hungry to travel, to explore... and, of course, to eat.- Felicity Cloake, Guardian food columnist and author of Perfect, The A-Z of Eating and One More Croissant for the RoadSumayya has a beautiful, personal and interesting story to share. Food stories like these (the best kind of stories) are the door-openers, harnessing diverse fragments together in a nourishing collective. The cooking of her Nani Mummy, Dadi and phuppos has me hungry to know more of this culture: these dishes, and the comfort, love and support that they bring.- Tessa Kiros, author of Falling Cloudberries, Provence to Pondicherry and Apples for JamTable of ContentsAbout AndazaYOU CAN'T COOK WITH WORDS THE HOPE AT HOSPITALITY'S HEART FAITH IN THE FLAVOUR OF YOUR HANDS FEED YOUR GUESTS, AND FEED THEM WELLCOOKING ON MEATLESS DAYS GREEN CHILLIES ON THE SIDE CHAAT ISN'T A STARTER PICKLED LEMONS AND PERFECT PHULKAS BENAZIR AND BUNDOO KHAN COOKING MUMMY'S PULLAO DADI'S FREE SPIRIT THE SECRET TO LAYERING SPICES IS SERENITY WEDDING KORMA IS NEVER MADE WITH CREAM MITHAI ISN'T DESSERT BITTER, DARK LEMONS COOKING FOR CONSOLATION ANDAZA IN MY KITCHEN Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEARIn Island Dreams, Gavin Francis combines stories of his own travels with psychology, philosophy and myth, shedding new light on the importance of islands and isolation in our collective consciousness. Francis draws on thirty years of island adventures from the Faroe Islands to the Aegean, from the Galapagos to the Andaman Islands. He contrasts these quests for freedom with the demands for commitment required as a doctor, community member and parent. Island Dreams riffs on the twin poles of rest and motion, independence and attachment, never more relevant than in today''s ever-connected world.

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Book Synopsis A dual biography of Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger that offers a dire warning: republics collapse when personal pride overrides the common good. In Uncommon Wrath, historian Josiah Osgood tells the story of how the political rivalry between Julius Caesar and Marcus Cato precipitated the end of the Roman Republic. As the champions of two dominant but distinct visions for Rome, Caesar and Cato each represented qualities that had made the Republic strong, but their ideological differences entrenched into enmity and mutual fear. The intensity of their collective factions became a tribal divide, hampering their ability to make good decisions and undermining democratic government. The men's toxic polarity meant that despite their shared devotion to the Republic, they pushed it into civil war.Deeply researched and compellingly told, Uncommon Wrath is a groundbreaking biography of two men whose hatred for each other destroyed the world they loved.Trade ReviewJosiah Osgood makes a valiant attempt not to choose sides between Caesar and Cato. * Joseph Epstein, Washington Free Beacon *An accessible, vivid and engaging account of Rome's seemingly inevitable descent into civil war... As well as being an entertaining read, Uncommon Wrath is a timely and thought-provoking one. * Jane Draycott, BBC History Magazine *The story that Osgood tells so clearly, learnedly, and engagingly does indeed illuminate the lasting costs of polarised conflict. * Rowan Williams, New Statesman *vividly told history ... [a] wide-ranging book * Armand D'Angour, Engeslberg Ideas *A highly readable book about ancient republican Rome... It is also a timely story - a kind of case study of political meltdown that is relevant given the heat in politics today, particularly in the US. * Popular History Books *This well-written book, underpinned by profound erudition, deserves the widest readership * Harry Sidebottom, Sunday Telegraph *Osgood writes with great clarity... It takes skill to bring the reader as close to the complex events of the Late Republic as this... It is a sign of a good book when the ending comes as a pulse-quickening surprise - even to those who already know what is coming. * Daisy Dunn, The Critic *lively and insightful * Adrian Goldsworthy, The New Criterion *...fast-paced, well-written and authoritative narrative * David Stuttard, Classics for All *An incisive and accessible dual biography of Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger focused on their shared responsibility for the Roman Republic's downfall... Along the way, Osgood issues incisive warnings about the dangers of polarization that resonate with today's political landscape and vividly describes the era's religious rituals, military battles, and Senate debates... He builds a persuasive and entertaining case. Roman history buffs will be intrigued. * Publishers Weekly *The respective sagas of Cato and Caesar, always timely, seem even more so in today's America. Osgood's interwoven retelling of their raucous and violent careers, and their impact on a tottering republic, makes for compelling reading. * Steven Saylor, author of Dominus: A Novel of the Roman Empire *A brilliant dual biography of Caesar and Cato: two titanic personalities whose fame illumined the death throes of the Roman Republic, and continues to blaze to this day. * Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic *Lively, literate, and readable, Uncommon Wrath is all that you could want in a book on one of the most destructive feuds in history. As Osgood recounts, Cato and Caesar's refusal to compromise did much to destabilize the Roman Republic. Informed by scholarship and executed with grace. * Barry Strauss, author of The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium *A gripping account of the rivalry between Julius Caesar and Cato, two men at the heart of the political dysfunction that brought down Rome's Republic. This is the rare book that warns us about the dangers of the modern political moment while offering a nuanced and insightful analysis of the character of some of Rome's most famous leaders. * Edwards Watts, author of Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny *Uncommon Wrath is a riveting re-telling of the violent end of the Roman Republic. By restoring Cato to the center of the story, Osgood reminds us that this symbol of old-fashioned virtue was not just a myth, but a leader nearly as crafty as his hated rival. Here is a vivid and human-scale account, whose focus on partisanship and political rivalry makes for a resonant and all-too-timely reflection. * Kyle Harper, author of The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Coming of Age in Civil War 2: Making a Name for Themselves 3: Political Ambitions 4: The Conspiracy of Catiline 5: Showdown in the Forum 6: Divorce, Marry, Repeat 7: With Cato in Prison 8: Cato's Triumph 9: Gaul 10: Cato's Medicines 11: Civil War! 12:

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Book SynopsisDesmond Child is the ultimate hitmaker, contributing to some of the biggest smash global hits that helped ignite the success of music icons KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Ricky Martin, Katy Perry, and countless others. In Livin’ On A Prayer, he reveals how he climbed his way to the top and beyond amid extraordinary circumstances and shares his very personal and unbelievable journey that shaped him into an artist of international renown. For over half a century, Desmond Child has collaborated with the world’s most celebrated artists creating timeless hits, such as Bon Jovi’s “Livin' On A Prayer” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” as well as Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “The Cup Of Life” amongst his vast catalog. But in Livin’ On A Prayer, Desmond himself takes center stage to share his transformational story from misfit outsider to cultural pacesetter. In collaboration with legendary music biographer David Ritz, Child recounts his unconventional upbringing as his colorful family fled Cuba in the 1960s and fell into poverty. He details his shocking discovery at age 18 that the man he called “dad” was not his biological father after all, and he courageously bares his soul about navigating the trials of being a Latino gay man in the macho world of rock and roll. His is a story of willing himself to succeed and overcome impossible odds to establish himself as one of the most influential composers and lyricists of all time.Trade Review"A page-turner of an autobiography full of the remarkable stories behind his songs."—The Guardian“The Desmond you don’t know about is the one who not only taught me the next level of songwriting, but so many of the true aspects of friendship: truth, honor, and loyalty."—Jon Bon Jovi“I can describe him in three words: Blood, Sweat & Hits.”—Alice Cooper“He only knows how to write one kind of song… a hit.”—Cher“I love myself for writing with him.”—Joan Jett“The first time we met, we wrote ‘Angel’ in about an hour and 45 minutes—and I’m not bullshitting. The guy’s a fucking genius.”—Steven Tyler“Desmond Child is a game-changer. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and visionary, he has deconstructed and reconstructed the global soundscape, adding an electrical charge that continues to light up our musical culture.”—Emilio Estefan“For over five decades of #1 hits that stretch across two centuries, Desmond Child and Diane Warren have ruled as the King & Queen of popular songwriting. The only problem is trying to figure out which one is which!”—John Stamos“Desmond Child… always a threat.”—Diane Warren"In the realm of music history, there are legends, and then there’s Desmond Child."—Give it a Spin“Child is a fascinating character, a candid individual with a multitude of anecdotes. It feels like you’re right there in the room with him as he tells his story. With the assistance of ghostwriter David Ritz, Desmond tells a life story that’s seen many highs and lows. It’s a real rags-to-riches story in which Child comes across as a good guy with plenty to say.”—Rock Candy Magazine

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Book SynopsisRemembered for his flamboyant stage presence and his innovative and distinctive music videos, Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson) is still widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of all time, known for his eclectic music style, which blended elements of funk, rock, R&B, soul, and pop. From his early beginnings in Minneapolis to his rise to global stardom, Prince left an indelible mark on the music world.Filled with quotations by one of the most innovative artists in history. The Little Guide to Prince is the perfect companion for fans everywhere. Through this collection of quotes, readers will discover Prince's thoughts on creativity, art, love, and life. His words are both profound and whimsical, reflecting his playful personality and his unwavering commitment to living life on his own terms.Whether you're a lifelong fan of Prince or simply a lover of great music, this is the perfect way to revisit his legacy and celebrate his enduring influence."Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people." PrincePrince's best-selling album, Purple Rain, was released in 1984 as the soundtrack to the film of the same name, going on to become one of the most successful albums of the 1980s and selling over 22 million copies worldwide.Table of ContentsThe Revolution Will Be Televised • Symbol of the Time • Sexy MF • Purple Reign • Partyman.

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Book SynopsisA TOP BOOK FOR 2024 IN: THE OBSERVER, INDEPENDENT, SUNDAY TIMES AND BOOKSELLER''He understands only the women he invents the others not at all''Thomas Hardy is one of the most beloved and most-read British authors. His influence on literature and the minds of his readers is singular. But how is it that the novelist who created some of the most memorable and modern female characters in literature had such troubled relationships with real women?In this highly innovative book, acclaimed biographer Paula Byrne re-examines Hardy's life through the eyes of the women who made him mother, sisters, girlfriends, wives, muses. The story veers from shocking scenes such as his obsession with the sight of a woman hanged, to poignant vignettes of unfulfilled passion, to fascinating details of working women's lives in the nineteenth century.Hardy Women is the story of how the magnificent fictional women he invented would not have been possible without the hardship and hardiness of the real ones who Trade Review EARLY PRAISE FOR HARDY WOMEN ‘Absorbing… a treat for Hardy fans and unhappy wives’ The Times ‘Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy created some of literature’s most enduring female characters . . . but it is the real women who shaped the life of the tortured genius that a book vividly reanimates’ Independent 'By turns infuriating and inspiring, but always fascinating, this page-turner of a book offers a genuinely fresh perspective on one of Victorian Britain’s most famous writers' Gareth Russell, author of The Palace ‘A fascinating re-examination of the life of Thomas Hardy through the eyes of the women who profoundly influenced him-his mother, his sisters, girlfriends, wives and muses. Drawing on access to some neverbefore-seen passages in Hardy's journals, she shows that it is through these hardy women that we can truly appreciate his much-loved works’ The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice

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Book SynopsisThis biography traces William Adams's extraordinary journey from helmsman to influential adviser in feudal Japan.

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Book SynopsisBruce Springsteen arrived on the world's stage in 1973 with two incredible albums in one year, a prolificacy that would define his career for the next half-century. In his tenure at the top of the rock and roll charts, Springsteen received worldwide adoration for crafting lyrics and music that symbolised all facets of his, and his home nation's, history; songs that enthralled with passion and purpose, stinging political vitriol and the sweetest of melody. No other American artist captured America's heart, and soul, than Springsteen.Containing Springsteen's most prominent non-lyrical poetry and life philosophies, from his earliest interviews to his most recent statements of truth, fact, and soul-baring, each one spanning the entirety of his musical output with the E-Street Band, his solo soundtracks, iconic live performances and a wealth of TV, magazine, and newspaper conversations.In the early days when Springsteen and the E-Street Band played gigs in small venues, it was Bruce's job (as frontman) to collect the money and pay the rest of the band. This led them to start calling him 'The Boss', a nickname which has stuck. Springsteen – the patron saint of the working man, who greatly dislikes bosses – naturally loathes this nickname!Table of ContentsBorn in the USA - Humble New Jersey beginnings and the origin of his songs • Born to Run - The first sparks of fame and success • The Rising - Global stardom, seminal moments, and iconic performances with his E-Street Band • Human Touch - Springsteen discusses his song writing genius • Glory Days - Favourite moments and a few secrets • Tougher Than The Rest - Springsteen's allegiance to America's past, present and future.

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Book Synopsis'Cozzens is a master storyteller' The Times'Extremely well researched' Times Literary SupplementFrom the devastating invasion by Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century to the relentless pressure from white settlers 150 years later, A Brutal Reckoning tells the story of encroachment on the vast Native American territory in the Deep South, which gave rise to the Creek War, the bloodiest in American Indian history, and propelled Andrew Jackson into national prominence, as he led the US Army in a ruthless campaign.It was a war that involved not only white Americans and Native Americans but also the British and the Spanish, and ultimately led to the Trail of Tears, in which the government forcibly removed the entire Creek people, as well as the neighbouring Chickasaw, Choctaw and Cherokee nations, from their homelands, leaving the way open for the conquest of the West. No other single Indian conflict had such a significant impact on the fate of the country.Wonderfully told and brilliantly detailed, A Brutal Reckoning is a sweeping history of a crucial period in the destruction of America's native tribes.Trade ReviewCozzens recounts this tale with his customary equanimity, never attempting to embroider that which is already horrifying... Sadly, this is a book that many Americans won't want to read. It will probably be banned from some schools. Cozzens nevertheless deserves praise for having the courage, in today's climate, to write it. * The Times *A penetrating and fast-paced account...The story of the Creek War is a sorry one, but Cozzens recounts it both with fairness and with a richness of color and detail... Cozzens writes with sensitivity about the political and cultural vise in which the Creeks were crushed. * Wall Street Journal *As has come to be expected from Cozzens's work, A Brutal Reckoning masterfully blends important cultural and biographical details with expressive and engaging military history. * Washington Post *Cozzens' storytelling works well... An engaging, highly readable narrative. * New York Journal of Books *Cozzens vividly describes the Creek Indians' advanced society and clashes with other tribes, giving a grand sense of their civilization... Equally well brought to life, Cozzens' dramatic, often gory descriptions of armed conflicts among the Creeks and white settlers put flesh to myth-encased events. * Booklist (starred review) *A seasoned historical storyteller, Cozzens portrays both Jackson and his Creek adversaries without minimizing their flaws, though he is clearly appalled by Jackson's later treatment of the Indians during the Trail of Tears... An authoritative account of a disturbing chapter in the relations between the U.S. military and Indigenous peoples. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *An engrossing and important book that pays homage to the complex history and heritage of the Muscogee people. Highly recommended. * Library Journal (starred review) *A gut-wrenching account of a tragic chapter in American history. * Publishers Weekly *Extremely well researched... taking from an array of secondary material... and quoting extensively from contemporary letters, war reports, treaty negotiations, trading statistics and the like. * TLS *Table of Contents1: From the Ashes of the Entrada 2: A Rope of Sand 3: Between Three Fires 4: The Sweets of Civilization 5: The Hungry Years 6: Rise of the Red Sticks 7: Civil War 8: Stark Mad 9: Terror in the Tensaw 10: The Emergence of Old Hickory 11: Invasion of the Tennesseans 12: The Red Sticks Resilient 13: All We Lack Is Powder and Lead 14: Tennesseans to the Rear 15: Jackson Courts Disaster 16: A Slow, Laborious Slaughter 17: An Elusive Peace 18: Betrayal at Fort Jackson 19: A Scalp for a Scalp 20: Shades of Genocide

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Book SynopsisJames Herriot (19161995) was the pen name of James Alfred Alf' Wight, whose tales of veterinary practice and country life in the Yorkshire Dales have delighted generations. Many of Herriot's works including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All and Every Living Thing became international bestsellers and have been adapted for film and television.Rosie Page and Jim Wight are Herriot's children. Rosie became a doctor and Jim was a vet.Trade ReviewIt cleverly interweaves extracts from his novels, with an interesting commentary from his son and daughter . . . their memories and anecdotes augment the stories and make delightful reading * Yorkshire Times *I grew up reading James Herriot's books and I'm delighted that thirty years on, they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then -- Kate Humble, on the works of James HerriotHerriot’s enchanting tales of life in the Dales are deservedly classics. Full of extraordinary characters, animal and human, the books never fail to delight -- Amanda Owen, bestselling author of The Yorkshire Shepherdess, on the works on James HerriotThe attraction of Herriot’s ever popular memoirs of a country vet . . . is their alternating highs and lows, humour and pathos, and gripping anecdotes about delivering lambs, grumpy farmers, hypochondriac pet-owners, stroppy cows and blunt Yorkshire characters. And, of course, there’s a powerful nostalgia element in these stories about our green and pleasant land in the day before the ravages of ribbon development -- Daily Mail, on the works of James Herriot

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Book Synopsis ''An irresistible treat for all bibliophiles'' WaterstonesTHE BOOKSHOP WOMAN IS A LOVE STORY, A LOVE STORY ABOUT BOOKSNanako Hanada''s life has not just flatlined, it''s hit rock bottom... Recently separated from her husband, she is living between 4-hour capsule hostels, pokey internet cafes and bookshop floors. Her work is going no better - sales at the eccentric Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo, which Nanako manages, are dwindling. As Nanako''s life falls apart, reading books is the only thing keeping her alive.That''s until Nanako joins an online meet-up site which offers 30 minutes with someone you''ll never see again. Describing herself as a sexy bookseller she offers strangers ''the book that will change their life'' in exchange for a meeting. In the year that follows, Nanako meets hundreds of people, some of whom want more than just a book...Acerbic and self-knowing, The Bookshop Woman is a soul-soothing story of

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Just Tyrus returns in his inimitable style with deeper reminiscences on the life that shaped him and how he views the world we’re living in."In this sequel, you'll delve into some of Tyrus's extraordinary life experiences and see how they connect with the most pressing issues of our time: immigration, crime, bullying, athletics, politics, China, parenting, and respect (for ourselves, each other, and the planet). It is Tyrus’s commentary on all of these issues that has the power to silence a room. When he talks, people listen. There's so much wisdom and common sense in his takes that you’ll finish this book more informed and more optimistic about the future—and we could all use that.” —Dana Perino A rare voice of reason and authentic storyteller who never holds back, Tyrus picks up where he left off in Just Tyrus, delivering a series of gut-wrenching, heart-rending and redemptive tales from his remarkable life and coupling them with no-nonsense insights on the hottest issues being discussed around the country. “Tyrus remains one of the most distinct, original voices in any medium, if not one of the most brutally honest to enter the realm of television since Charles Krauthammer. I mention them both because they're not different—both deep thinkers who leave inedible marks on those who are lucky enough to cross their paths. It’s Tyrus's thinking that drives this book, and you'll get it through his powerful words. Writers spend years trying to concoct a voice. Tyrus makes it seem like it was always there.” —Greg Gutfeld Whether he’s tackling the issues of race and activism in America today or confronting his past with stories of family, relationships, wrestling, and more, this is pure Tyrus at his unbridled best. The parallels he draws between current culture and his personal past are insightful, provocative, and profound. Nuff Said is a powerful reflection on a complex life and a complicated world.

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Book SynopsisHas an animal saved your life? Studying Arctic birds helped resuscitate those suffering from hypothermia. An ECG on the 150kg heart of a humpback whale has extended the lives of patients with heart failure.  Understanding giraffes' long necks has led to improved asthma treatment.  Learning how animals survive and thrive has led to life-saving advances for human health. But we still have a long way to go. Intensive care doctor Matt Morgan looks at why animals can be the key to understanding how our bodies work - and how to fix them when they go wrong. 

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Men Explain Things to Me: an electric portrait of the artist as a young woman that asks how a young writer finds her voice in a society that prefers women to be silent.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores how the Boleyn family were able to go from being Norfolk farmers to aristocracy at a time when it was unheard of for families to do soTrade Review'The Boleyns are one of the most famous families in history, but what this book brings vividly to life is the hitherto untold story of their rise to prominence. It is far more than just a prelude to the well-trodden tale of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, and boasts a fascinating cast of characters who until now have remained in the shadows. I don't think I will ever look at the Boleyns in the same light again.' – Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History‘At last a scholarly account of the Boleyn family elegantly slicing through legend to paint a vibrant and convincing picture of the rise of a Tudor dynasty. Lively, scholarly and revelatory, this is the Boleyns as never seen before.’ – Simon Thurley, author of Houses of Power: The Places that Shaped the Tudor World

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Book SynopsisFor 650 days Sean Turnell was held in Myanmar?s terrifying Insein Prison on the trumped-up charge of being a spy. In An Unlikely Prisoner he recounts how an impossibly cheerful professor of economics, whose idea of an uncomfortable confrontation was having to tell a student that their essay was ?not really that good?, ended up in one of the most notorious prisons in South-East Asia. And how he not only survived his lengthy incarceration, but left with his sense of humour intact, his spirit unbroken and love in his heart.

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Book Synopsis'Captivating. Kent effortlessly weaves travels that are close to his heart into a bigger story of Turkey’s past and present' – Mishal Husain'A rich, spellbinding book: dense with people, stories, history, colour, lived experience . . . The book is alive on every page' – Neel Mukherjee, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Lives of OthersThe Endless Country takes a journey through Turkey’s past – the nation the author’s father left decades ago and he returns to as a young man.It is not about Erdogan or Atatürk, the two towering Presidents who have book-ended that history, and at times have appeared impossible to escape. Instead Sami Kent’s book goes deep beyond them, revealing a history as rich, layered and absurd as his family’s favourite dessert, künefe: a shredded wheat pastry with a core of melted cheese, a topping of pistachios, and a drowning of syrup.

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Book SynopsisChris Blackhurst is an award-winning business writer and commentator. He is former editor of the Independent and for ten years was City editor of the Evening Standard. Before that he worked for The Sunday Times on its Insight investigative team. Throughout his career he has written widely on the business of sport, and his journalism has appeared in many of the world's major publications. He is the author of Too Big to Jail and The World's Biggest Cash Machine.

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Book SynopsisAn intimate exploration of the life, craft, and legacy of one of the most revered and influential writers, an artist who continues to inspire fans and creatives to cultivate practices of deep attention, rigourous interrogation and beautiful style.Joan Didion was a writer's writer; not only a groundbreaking journalist, essayist, novelist and screenwriter, but a keen observer who honed her sights on life's telling details. Her insights continue to influence creatives and admirers, encouraging them to become close observers of the world, unsentimental critics, and meticulous stylists.An antidote to a global view that narrows our vision to the smallest screens, The World According To Joan Didion is a meditation on the people, places, and objects that propelled Didion's prose and an invitation to journalists, storytellers, and life adventurers to throw themselves into the convulsions of the world, as she once said.Evelyn McDonnell, the acclaimed journalist, essayist, critic, feminist, nativ

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Book SynopsisOne of the great figures of the twentieth century, Chairman Mao looms irrepressibly over the economic rise of China. Mao Zedong was the leader of a revolution, a communist who lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, an aggressive and distrustful leader, and a man responsible for more civilian deaths than perhaps any other historical figure. Now, four decades after Mao''s death, acclaimed biographer Philip Short presents a fully updated and revised edition of his ground-breaking and masterly biography. Vivid, uncompromising and unflinching, Short presents in one-volume the man behind the propaganda - his family, his beliefs and his horrors. In doing so he shows us both the human being Mao was, and the monster he became.

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Book SynopsisWhat killed Katherine Parr?She was the ultimate Tudor survivor, the queen who managed to outwit and outlive Henry VIII. Yet just over eighteen months after his passing, Katherine Parr was dead. She had been one of the most powerful people in the country, even ruling England for her royal husband, yet she had died hundreds of miles from court and been quickly buried in a tiny chapel with few royal trappings. Her grave was lost for centuries only for her corpse to be mutilated after it was rediscovered during a tea party. The death of Katherine Parr is one of the strangest of any royals and one of the most mysterious.The final days of Henry VIII's last queen included a faithless husband and rumours of a royal affair while the weeks after her funeral swirled with whispers of poison and murder. The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr dives into the calamitous and tumultuous events leading up to the last hours of a once powerful queen and the bizarre happenings that followed her passing.Fro

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Book SynopsisA highly engaging homage to the iconic style of Elvis Presley, who shook up the world of music and fashion, triggering a cultural revolution that stopped 1950s America in its tracks. Born into poverty, his voice of liquid gold and show-stopping appearance propelled him into a life of extreme wealth. Elvis's extraordinary story told through a fashion lens celebrates the shy, lonely boy who awakened an entire generation to forbidden fruit. The defiant hair, the sultry good looks, the gender-ambivalent outfits even the famous sideburns of the man who would be King are all considered in loving detail. From impoverished scamp and teenage antihero in pink, through Hollywood heartthrob and sensual leather-clad rock star, to caped superhero in Vegas jumpsuits, the author describes his clothes with as much joy as she does his journey through the decades. A contemporary take on the evolution of Elvis the Showman, featuring interviews with people who knew, met and dressed him, and a

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Book SynopsisGrace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon is a stunning illustrated biography of style and screen legend Grace Kelly, from internationally renowned fashion illustrator Megan Hess. Oscar-winning actress, muse to one of the greatest directors of all time, global fashion icon and European princess – Grace Kelly was a truly remarkable figure. In just six short years in Hollywood, she became one of the most significant and highest-paid stars of her generation. She was the darling of costume designers and fashion houses everywhere and beloved by fans across the globe, but at the height of her fame, 'the girl in the white gloves' gave it all away to follow her heart across the sea. In a lavish ceremony that captivated the world, she married Prince Rainier III and became Princess Grace of Monaco. Elegantly enclosed by a hardback cover and ribbon, Grace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon is a celebration of a cultural icon who turned heads and won hearts wherever she went, with every enchanting detail brought to life on the page by the expert hand of Megan Hess.

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Book SynopsisThe revelatory story of an intellectual giant who made foundational contributions to science and mathematics and persevered in the face of discrimination against women in science.  Emmy Noether is one of the most important figures in the history of science and mathematics. Noether’s mathematical genius enabled Einstein to bring his General Theory of Relativity, the basis of our current theory of gravity, to fruition. On a larger scale, what came to be known as “Noether’s Theorem”—called by a Nobel laureate “the single most profound result in all of physics”—supplied the basis for the most accurate theory in the history of physics, the Standard Model, which forms our modern theory of matter. Noether’s Theorem is also the tool physicists use to guide them towards the holy grail of a unified theory and is the secret weapon wielded by researchers at the cutting edge of fields as diverse as robotics, q

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Book SynopsisGET OUT THERE, GIVE IT 110% AND ABSOLUTELY SMASH IT!Tom Skinner is a grafter. Born and bred in Romford, he?s spent a lifetime on market stalls and has always had an eye for opportunity. He?s sold everything from laughing monkeys to luxury mattresses! Like a magician, Tom can make something out of nothing, although he?s seen it all disappear just as quickly, too.Graft is a window into the world of a professional wheeler-dealer who knows exactly what it takes to stay afloat and keep your chin up when the going gets tough.Inside, Tom shares his story and the hilarious escapades he?s found himself involved in while trying to make a quick buck. He also reveals how you, too, can make your own luck using the simple mantras he abides by and how to bounce back off the ropes when it feels like you?re down and out.From fuelling yourself with a big breakfast (preferably down Dino?s Cafe) to the importance of making mistakes, Tom offers an entertaining, motivational read for anyone who wants to do bigger and better things ? or just wants a good laugh.This is how to smash life the Skinner way. BOSH!Trade Review‘The boshfather strikes again. A funny man and a funny book. I give it 5 boshes out of 5. Bosh’ Rob Beckett ‘This book could ruin my life, I've known this pest for too long’ Rylan ‘What a great addition to the literary canon. Tom Skinner is like the cockney Oscar Wilde.’ Jack Whitehall

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of Messalina - third wife of Emperor Claudius and one of the most notorious women to have inhabited the Roman world.According to the Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius, the Empress Messalina was a sexually insatiable schemer. The tales they told about her including a twenty-four-hour sex competition with a prostitute have taken deep root in the Western imagination, but Messalina's real story is much more complex.In her reappraisal of one of the most slandered female figures of ancient history, Honor Cargill-Martin finds an intelligent, passionate and ruthless woman who succeeded in asserting herself in the overwhelmingly male world of imperial Roman politics. Rather than setting out to salvage' Messalina's reputation, she looks at her life in the context of her time. Above all, she seeks to reclaim the humanity of a life story previously circumscribed by currents of high politics and patriarchy.

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Book SynopsisOver the past few decades, there has been a remarkable rise in the number of people who speak publicly about their experience of crime. These personal accounts used to be confined to the police station and the courtroom, but today bookshops heave with autobiographies by prisoners, criminals, police and barristers while streaming platforms host hours of interviews with serial killers, death-row residents, vigilantes and gang members. In this fascinating new book, criminologist Jennifer Fleetwood examines seven infamous crime stories to make sense of this modern confessional impulse, including Howard Marks's outlandish autobiography Mr Nice, Shamima Begum's controversial Times interview, Prince Andrew's disastrous Newsnight appearance and Myra Hindley's unpublished prison letters.

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Book SynopsisSecond Lieutenant Wilfred Owen was twenty-four years old when he was admitted to the newly established Craiglockhart War Hospital for treatment of shell shock. A nascent poet, trying to make sense of the terror he had witnessed, he read a collection of poems from a fellow officer, Siegfried Sassoon, and was impressed by his portrayal of the soldier’s plight. One month later, Sassoon himself arrived at Craiglockhart, having refused to return to the front after being wounded during battle.Over their months at Craiglockhart, each encouraged the other in their work, their personal reckonings with the morality of war, and their treatment. Therapy provided Owen, Sassoon, and their wardmates with insights that allowed them to express themselves better, and for the 28 months that Craiglockhart was in operation, it notably incubated the era’s most significant developments in both psychiatry and poetry.Soldiers Don’t Go Mad tells for the first time the story of the soldiers and doctors who struggled with the effects of industrial warfare on the psyche. As he investigates the roots of what we now know as PTSD, Glass brings historical bearing to how we must consider war’s ravaging effects on mental health, and the ways in which creative work helps us come to terms with even the darkest of times.Trade Review'A marvellous and very moving book' - Allan Massie, The Scotsman

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Book SynopsisFrancis X. Clooney SJ is Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, USA.

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Book SynopsisMarty Goddard dreamed up a new crime-solving tool?a kit that could help rape survivors fight for justice. This thrilling investigation tells the story of the troubled, heroic woman who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics, and then vanished into obscurity.Astonishing . . . Marty Goddard takes her rightful place as a visionary thanks to Kennedy?s relentless investigation.??Rachel Louise Snyder, author of No Visible BruisesThe Secret History of the Rape Kit is stunning: part thriller, part feminist reclamation, part personal journey, fully a page-turner. How did we not know about Marty Goddard??Peggy Orenstein author of Girls & Sex and Boys & SexIn 1972, Martha Marty Goddard volunteered at a crisis hotline, counseling girls who had been molested by their fathers, their teachers, their uncles. Soon, Marty was on a mission to answer a question: Why were so many sexual predators getting away with these crimes? By the end of the decade, she had launched a campaign pushing hospitals and police departments to collect evidence of sexual assault and treat survivors with dignity. She designed a new kind of forensics tool?the rape kit?and new practices around evidence collection that spread across the country. Yet even as Marty fought for women''s rights, she allowed a man to take credit for her work. When journalist Pagan Kennedy went looking for this forgotten pioneer, she discovered that even Marty Goddard''s closest friends had lost track of her. As Pagan followed a trail of clues to solve the mystery of Marty, she also delved into the problematic history of forensics in America. The Secret History of the Rape Kit chronicles one journalist''s mission to understand a crucial innovation in forensics and the woman who championed it. As Pagan Kennedy hunts for answers, she reflects on her own experiences with sexual assault and her own desire for justice.

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Book SynopsisWitty, honest, and wise spiritual reflections that invite readers to embrace the bad, not just the good--from the New York Times bestselling author of Everything Happens for a Reason (And Other Lies I’ve Loved) Kate Bowler believes the cultural pressure to be cheerful and optimistic at all times has taken a toll on our faith. But what if we could find better language than forced positivity to express our hopes and our anxieties?Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! is packed with bite-sized reflections and action-steps to help you get through the day. Good days. Bad days. Totally mediocre ones. This is a devotional for the rest of us, which is to say, the people who don’t always have magical lives that work out. Written in a season of chronic pain, Bowler understands that every day can be an obstacle course. She encourages us to develop our capacity to feel the breadth of our experiences. The better we are at identifying our highs and lows, the more resilient we become.Like a modern-day psalmist, Bowler’s spiritual reflections look for the ways we can expand our capacity for courage, love, and honesty—while discovering divine moments with God. With bonus sections to use during the seasons of Advent and Lent, this is an easy book to read along with others too.If you want to build your daily habit of spiritual attentiveness, this book is here to say: May all your days be lovely. But if they aren’t, have a beautiful, terrible day!

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Book Synopsis''A tender but substantive family memoir'' Sunday Independent''An acute eye and a lightness of touch ensures that this is never anything other than truly engrossing'' The FieldA few years ago Lally Snow moved to a Dorset village with her husband and three small children, having spent over a decade as a war photographer, foreign correspondent and film maker living in Kabul. She covered the conflict there as well as other wars from Gaza to Eastern Ukraine, and Iraq.In the late winter of 2021-22, Lally decided to rent an allotment, despite having only a rudimentary knowledge of gardening. She was starting from scratch and setting herself the dual challenge of growing an allotment at the same time as growing a family.This is a heart-warming, wry and at times tearful account of Lally''s travails as a mother and novice allotment holder, counterpointing horticultural progress with the perils of parenting. Along the way she reflect

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Book SynopsisPatric Gagne is a writer, former therapist, and advocate for people suffering from sociopathic, psychopathic, and anti-social personality disorders. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology with a dissertation that examined the relationship between sociopathy and anxiety. This research became the groundwork for her continued studies on sociopathic disorder, as well as the foundation for her memoir. She did her undergraduate work at UCLA and earned her masters and doctorate at the California Graduate Institute of The Chicago School.

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Book SynopsisFollowing a successful career as an award-winning, best-selling novelist, in 2004 Lisa St Aubin de Teran retreated to a remote village in northern Mozambique. There she found her own African roots, founded a charity, and confronted new challenges. Much has been written about her life and escapades with a trio of Venezuelan exiles, life on an Andean hacienda, her return to literary fame, and two decades living in a crumbling Umbrian palace. But despite all the media hype about her, she managed to hide much of her actual life. Now, like the Japanese art of kintsugi, in this new memoir Lisa puts the shattered pieces of her life back together, filling in many of the dramatic, and often scandalous, gaps. While her life has been said to be stranger than fiction, it is fiction that has kept her afloat. This autobiography sets the record straight and shows a writer who for over half a century has enjoyed following her dreams, even when those dreams outdistanced her reach.Trade Review"Lisa St Aubin de Teran writes with extraordinary vividness and clarity... She faces reality with a courage and skill that left me not knowing which to admire more: her gift as a writer or that she had the guts to carve out a place for herself in such an unforgiving world." (Independent) "Sensual, impressionistic prose that recreates vividly her experiences." (The Times) "An extraordinary woman... if you encountered her as a character in a novel, you'd want to read on." (Express) "She has the surrealist's gift for making the mundane exotic." (Financial Times) "Combines a powerful sense of place with an unusually compassionate understanding of human complexity." (Daily Telegraph) "The author has an enviable narrative gift, and there is something magical about her deployment of it." (Guardian) "A spellbinding storyteller." (The Listener)

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Book Synopsis#1 New York Times bestselling author Craig Whitlock’s masterful account of one of the biggest public corruption scandals in American history—exposing how a charismatic Malaysian defense contractor bribed scores of high-ranking military officers, defrauded the US Navy of tens of millions of dollars, and jeopardized our nation’s security.All the admirals in the US Navy knew Leonard Glenn Francis—either personally or by his legendary reputation. He was the larger-than-life defense contractor who greeted them on the pier whenever they visited ports in Asia, ready to show them a good time after weeks at sea while his company resupplied their ships and submarines. He was famed throughout the fleet for the gluttonous parties he hosted for officers: $1,000-per-person dinners at Asia’s swankiest restaurants, featuring unlimited Dom Pérignon, Cuban cigars, and sexy young women. On the surface, with his flawless American accent, he

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Book SynopsisIn this inspiring rags-to-riches memoir, UFC star Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal reveals how he went from a poor son of immigrants on the streets of Florida to one of the most successful athletes in the world, and how you can use the same principles to achieve success in your life. When an older bully pushed the smaller Jorge Masvidal to the ground in second grade and tried to steal his bike, something snapped inside him. A “skinny kid with a big head,” Jorge grew up in a tough Miami neighborhood, raised by a single mom while his Cuban refugee father was in and out of jail. Jorge reacted in the only way he knew how: a flurry of punches and kicks fueled by red-hot rage that sent the bully to the ground. Over the years, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal channeled rage into discipline and used his fists to go from feared street scrapper to one of the world’s greatest professional fighters. But his influence isn’t limited to

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Book SynopsisInspirational speaker and Paralympic champion Jessica Long shares her storyand powerful principles to help you find your own path to unconditional self-acceptance.Jessica Long is one of the most compelling figures of our time. From having her lower legs amputated as a toddler, she has gone on to become one of history's most decorated athletes. Yet her true successesand strugglesare not about winning medals or setting world records. Our worth cannot be placed in external thingsour looks, job, or approval of others, she says. No achievement will make us feel worthy unless we can love ourselves without judgment.With Beyond the Surface, Jessica offers an intimate exploration of the hard-won lessons she learned on her extraordinary journey. She opens up about the toughest challenges she facednot just the trauma of multiple surgeries and prosthetics, but the anger, resentment, and insecurity of trying to find her place and identity in a world that viewed her

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Book SynopsisAs a two-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Pro-Bowler, first-round draft pick, and former Jim Thorpe Award recipient, Malcolm Jenkins knows a thing or two about winning.Over the course of his thirteen-year NFL career, the now retired defensive back’s triumphs extend beyond that on the football field. As a successful entrepreneur, he has seen the blossoming of his business ventures with an eponymous company, Malcolm Inc., and a media conglomerate called Listen Up Media. As a philanthropist, he strives to make a positive difference in the lives of young people in underserved communities through The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation. And as the father of two daughters, he understands the challenges of loving his children, and preparing them for an often unkind and hostile world. But for every triumph, there is a tragedy, for every loss, a lesson. In What Winners Won’t Tell You, Jenkins shares the insight he’s gained from winning and losing alike

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Book Synopsis''Immersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book.'' CATHY RENTZENBRINK''The Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered.'' MARIANNE LEVYFreya is still searching. For four years, she''s been looking for a way to fill the empty space her brother''s death left behind. Ready for another distraction, Freya decides to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year with her friend Miri. The adventure takes them from a pool hidden in the cliffs of fishing-village Polperro to the quarry lagoon of Abereiddi via the Trinkie where locals meet each year to give the pool wall a fresh lick of paint. As Freya travels further from London, she finds herself closer to memories of her brother. With every swim, and every stranger they meet in the water, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the coast, but a journey of self-discovery.The Tidal Year is Trade ReviewImmersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book -- Cathy RentzenbrinkFunny, sad and honest, but ultimately also hopeful, The Tidal Year is a wonderful and welcome addition to the growing canon of books exploring the restorative power of wild swimming -- Sophie PierceReads like a lusciously languid dream sequence... It's not just about how water can redeem us but how words can too. A powerful debut -- Christopher BeanlandFunny and moving, brimming with bracingly refreshing uncertainty and a salty refusal of resolution, it is a book to float away in -- Polly AtkinA heart-rending depiction of a young woman growing through grief and the healing, restorative power of nature -- Nick BradleyBright and tender-hearted... candid and vulnerable -- Jessica J. LeeA moving and memorable book... Her writing is contained, clear and as powerful as the changing tides she swims in. She is a talent to watch -- Raffaella BarkerAstonishing in its frankness, raw, poignant, bracing, funny; a very human story -- Derek Niemann, Guardian country diaristThe Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered -- Marianne LevyA beautiful, brilliantly written book on grief, self-discovery and swimming. I loved following along on the tidal pool adventure and thought all the observations, of people and places, were so vividly captured. It's not every day you gobble up a 400+ page memoir in a matter of days -- Emma GannonBeautifully written * Jersey Evening Post *A poignant, funny tribute to the complex, tidal nature of grief. The Tidal Year delivers inspirational waves of hope and renewal to its readers, demonstrating the restorative power of immersion in the natural world -- Jade Angeles Fitton, author of HERMIT

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Book SynopsisIn 1977, 17-year-old Steven Hamper was a stonemason in the dockyards of Chatham, Kent. His heart, however, beat in sync with the punk rock tremors of the era, seduced by its celebration of amateurism. So, in a gesture of revolutionary defiance, he took a 3lb club hammer and smashed his hand, vowing to never work again. In doing so, Steven Hamper metamorphosed into Billy Childish, a true renaissance man.Childish has since remained steadfastly true to punk''s DIY cred, becoming one of the most recognisable and authentic voices in whichever artistic endeavour he undertakes. He has released over one hundred and fifty albums of raw rock and roll, punk, blues and folk, written many volumes of searing poetry as well as several autobiographical novels. But what he is perhaps best known for in recent years is his painting, for which he is now critically, commercially and internationally feted. He hasn''t changed course in any of his disciplines, though. The world just caught up with

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