Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling memoir from the legendary Gucci Mane spares no detail in this “cautionary tale that ends in triumph” (GQ). For the first time Gucci Mane tells his extraordinary story in his own words. It is “as wild, unpredictable, and fascinating as the man himself” (Complex). The platinum-selling recording artist began writing his remarkable autobiography in a federal maximum security prison. Released in 2016, he emerged radically transformed. He was sober, smiling, focused, and positive—a far cry from the Gucci Mane of years past. A critically acclaimed classic, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane “provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade, detailing a volatile and fascinating life...By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician” (Pitchfork).

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Book SynopsisMind GamesMind GamesMind GamesMind Games

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Book SynopsisA rare, intimate portrait of Hollywood's reigning blockbuster auteur' whose deeply personal billion-dollar movies have established him as the most successful director to come out of the British Isles since Alfred Hitchcock.Updated, with a chapter on OppenheimerA masterclass . . . brilliant. Immersive, detailed, meticulous, privileged inside-dope.' - Craig Raine More than just the tinkerings of a glass watchmaker, Christopher Nolan's films have an unerring grasp of the way time makes us feel. Time steals people away in his films, and he takes careful note of the theft. Time is Nolan's great antagonist, his lifelong nemesis. He seems almost to take it personally.Written with the full cooperation of Nolan himself, who granted Tom Shone access to never-before-seen photographs, storyboards and sketches, the book is a deep-dive into the director's films, influences, methods and obsessions. Here for the first time is Nolan on his

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top 10 bestseller.Laugh along with Michael McIntyre as he lifts the curtain on his life in his revealing autobiography.Michael’s first book ended with his big break at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance. Waking up the next morning in the tiny rented flat he shared with his wife Kitty and their one-year-old son, he was beyond excited about the new glamorous world of show business. Unfortunately, he was also clueless . . .In A Funny Life, Michael honestly and hilariously shares the highs and the lows of his rise to the top and desperate attempts to stay there. It’s all here, from his disastrous panel show appearances to his hit TV shows, from mistakenly thinking he’d be a good chat show host and talent judge, to finding fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams and becoming the biggest-selling comedian in the world. Along the way he opens his man drawer, narrowly avoids disaster when his trousers fall down in front of three policemen and learns the hard way why he should always listen to his wife.Michael has had a silly life, a stressful life, sometimes a moving and touching life, but always A Funny Life.Trade ReviewThere are plenty of guffaws but it can be moving too * The Mail on Sunday *A winning combination of the laugh-out-loud funny and the surprisingly poignant * Daily Mail (Weekend) *A highly entertaining insight into a stand-up comic’s life. McIntyre fans will lap it up * Daily Record (Saturday) *He will have you on the verge of tears with his recollections - both happy and sad * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisFrom the platinum selling recording artist and New York Times bestselling author of The Autobiography of Gucci Mane comes THE GUCCI MANE GUIDE TO GREATNESS - an unprecedented look at Gucci Mane’s secrets to success, health, wealth and self-improvement.From Gucci: 'I live by the principles in this book. I wanted to write this book to give you a tool set. This book should touch people who are going through something. It’s not going to be easy. But study these words, and put them into action. I want this book to keep you motivated. I want you to keep coming back to it for guidance and inspiration. You can put it on your shelf and keep going to TheGucci Mane Guide to Greatness. This book is a challenge. Don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t think that what you’re saying is not important. Don’t think you can’t achieve the impossible. Everyone needs some game, so here i

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Book SynopsisThe followers - this book is not for you. The salt of the earth - this book is not for you. The worthy - this book is not for you. The ideologists - this book is not for you. Hedonists and bohemians - this book is not for you. The middlebrow - this book is not for you. The highbrow - this book is not for you. Dilettantes - this book is not for you. 1970s middle school RE teachers - this book is not for you. The England football team (women's and men's) - this book is not for you. The litanists - this book is not for you. Gatekeepers - this book is not for you. Gamekeepers - this book is not for you. (Not even for the poachers...)The curators - this book is not for you. The left, the right - this book is not for you. The list-makers - lists are for shoppers not rockers, and this book is not for you. This is not a list - this is a manifesto, and this book is for ... the Freaks. Musician and author Luke Haines embarks on an odyssey through the ages, exploring how the 'freaks' infiltrated modern culture - and almost won the rock 'n' roll wars - only to lose to the rise of Cool Britannia and TV 'talent' shows that turned the strange and the outsiders into fodder for laughter. In this ultimate celebration of freakdom, Haines tells the story of pivotal freaks - including Johnnie Ray, Gene Vincent, Hank Marvin, Syd Barrett, the Incredible String Band and Big Youth - through the prism of rock 'n' roll and explains how freaks infiltrated wider culture through history in the form of the Cathars, the Ranters, Hells Angels and the Yippies. Part memoir, part manifesto, Freaks Out! is a righteous alternate history of rock 'n' roll.

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Book SynopsisDiscusses all basic principles of ballet, grouping movement by fundamental types. Diagrams show clearly the exact foot, leg, arm, and body positions for the proper execution of many steps and movements. Offers dancers, teachers, and ballet lovers information often difficult to locate in other books. 118 illustrations.

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Book SynopsisGather your friends on your favorite couch and prepare over 50 recipes inspired by the iconic Central Perk cafe from the beloved hit sitcom Friends. Friends: The Official Central Perk Cookbook offers a variety of recipes for chefs of all levels. From appetizers and small bites to drinks and desserts, each chapter includes iconic treats from the show and cafe. The latest in Insight Editions' best-selling line of Friends products has more than 50 recipes and beautiful full-color photography, as well as classic stills and iconic quotes from the show. This will be the year's best home cooking companion for fans of the show that has always been there for you.

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Book SynopsisDelight your friends with a journey through the Xenomorph's terrifying life cycle. Alien: The Official Cookbook collects together 50 recipes inspired by the cult Alien franchise; featuring recipes such as avocado Xenomorph eggs and chicken facehugger cordon bleu, there's something to whet every appetite, no matter how monstrous. Whether you're a fan of the Alien franchise, or you're just looking for the perfect quirky appetizers, this cookbook will thrill the eyes and the tastebuds. At last, it is your turn to be space's greatest apex predator.

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTOBIOGRAPHYThe quintessential suave hero, Roger Moore has had an extraordinary career that has spanned seven decades, from early television to the golden age of Hollywood and on to international superstardom. Dashing, handsome and every inch the archetypal English gentleman, he is unforgettable as The Saint, as Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! and, of course, as James Bond, making seven blockbusting films as arguably the most debonair of the 007s. For the first time, Roger shares his recollections of playing some of the world's most famous roles alongside a host of legendary stars. With myriad stories from his personal life - from his childhood in London and experiences during the Second World War, to the happy and turbulent times in his later life. Along with anecdotes about his encounters with the stars and his wonderful memories from the heyday of Hollywood, My Word is My Bond is as frank, funny and disarmingly charming as the legend himself.Trade ReviewIn this kind, funny autobiography, Moore does his best to debunk his image as an upper-crust all-action hero... so engaging... so genuine. This is a delightful book, crammed with anecdotes of the television and film industry from the Fifties to the Noughties * The Mail on Sunday *Moore's autobiography is the funniest film memoir since David Niven's The Moon's A Balloon * The Daily Mail *Stuffed with showbiz anecdotes * The Sun *Funny, frank and charming * The Lady *There are stories galore... With a warm, winning mix of self-deprecation and praise for family, friends and colleagues, Sir Roger emerges as a figure every bit as dashing, but rather better-natured, than any he's played onscreen * Empire *Warm-hearted recollections of a long and distinguished career * The Scotsman *A lovely, ambling read * The Times *An amusing and racy memoir... Moore's wit and self-deprecation are evident on every page * The Stage *A man who can still snap a woman's knicker elastic with the flick of an eyebrow * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe comic companion to the BBC sitcom GHOSTS, perfect for all the family. Everybody leaves a trace. The ghosts of Button House may have been dead a long time - some of them a very long time - but they have all left their mark on the world (even if, in Robin’s case, that mark is just a handprint on the wall of a cave). Gathered together in this volume is a treasure trove of unearthed cuttings, original records and rare artefacts that explore the unseen lives of those who died at Button House: from Thomas's love letters to Pat's ‘Summer Camp Rap’, and from Julian's campaign promises to Lady Button's Rules of Etiquette. There are even documents dictated to the one person who can see and hear the ghosts: Alison Cooper. Written by the show’s creators – Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond – this eclectic archive is a unique chance to discover more about the beloved ghosts of Button House. Thank be to Moonah! A book for all the family, it is as warm-spirited and deliriously daft as the series itself. GHOSTS: The Button House Archives ranked #5 in Sunday Times bestseller chart week ending 29/10/2023

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Book SynopsisShadow Puppets and Shadow Play is a comprehensive guide to the design, construction and manipulation and presentation of shadow puppets, considered by many to be the oldest puppet theatre tradition. Traditional shadow play techniques, together with modern materials and methods and recent explorations into theatre of shadows, are explained with precision and clarity, and illustrated by photographs that include the work of some of the finest shadow players in the world. Topics covered include: an introduction to shadow play, its traditions and the principles of shadow puppet design; advice on materials and methods for constructing and controlling traditional shadow puppets and scenery and there are step-by-step instructions for adding detail and decoration and creating transculent figures in full-colour. Detailed methods for constructing shadow theatres and using a wide range of lighting techniques are given along with techniques of shadow puppet performance and contemporary exploratio

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Book SynopsisHe was one of the world's true superstars, and the silver screen's most beloved James Bond. Sir Sean Connery - a proud Scotsman born in 1930 to a working-class family - died at home in the Bahamas on 31 October 2020. He left behind him a legacy to rival any actor. Connery bestrode Hollywood like a Colossus. He commanded some of the highest fees in the industry and was lauded by critics and the public alike. In July 2000, his unique contribution to the world of film was recognised when he was accorded a knighthood. John Parker traces the astonishing rise to stardom of a tough street kid from Edinburgh. The part of 007 became a monster that threatened to kill Connery as an actor; he escaped to establish himself as one of the world's most magnetic and commanding character actors, winning an Oscar for his role in iconic crime drama The Untouchables. The author has drawn on reminiscences of famous friends and colleagues, including Honor Blackman, Robert Hardy and Eric Sykes, to create an authoritative and entertaining portrait of a talented, complex actor - and, above all else, a magnificent man.

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Book SynopsisâLISTEN. The greatest feeling I ever had in my life â with my clothes on â was when I first heard Diz and Bird back in 1944. Iâve come close to matching the feeling of that night, but Iâve never quite got there. Iâm always looking for it, trying to always feel it in and through the music I play . . .â

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Book 1: Piano & Keyboard 101 5 Chapter 1: Warming Up to the Piano and Keyboard 7 Chapter 2: Looking at the Different Keyboard Options 21 Chapter 3: Choosing and Buying Your Keyboard 39 Chapter 4: The Setup and Care of Your Instrument 61 Chapter 5: Getting Comfy at the Keyboard 79 Book 2: Understanding Theory and the Language of Music 93 Chapter 1: Looking at Notes and Beats 95 Chapter 2: Stopping for a Rest 105 Chapter 3: Tempo, Measures, and Time Signatures 111 Chapter 4: Navigating Sheet Music 121 Chapter 5: Varying Beats and Rhythms 133 Book 3: Beginning to Play 149 Chapter 1: Playing a Melody 151 Chapter 2: Working with Scales 167 Chapter 3: Adding the Left Hand 183 Chapter 4: Examining Form: Melody, Harmony, and Song Form 205 Chapter 5: Keys, Key Signatures, and the Circle of Fifths 229 Chapter 6: Building Chords to Accompany Melodies 249 Book 4: Refining Your Technique and Exploring Styles 273 Chapter 1: Adding Effects and Flair to Your Piano Playing 275 Chapter 2: Getting into the Groove 297 Chapter 3: Going Classical 317 Chapter 4: Perusing Popular Genres and Forms 327 Book 5: Exercises: Practice, Practice, Practice 347 Chapter 1: Developing Hand Technique 349 Chapter 2: Extending Your Scales 377 Chapter 3: Improving Finger Coordination and Footwork 399 Chapter 4: Jumping Across the Keyboard 419 Chapter 5: Exercising with Arpeggios and Alternating Hands 433 Chapter 6: Stepping Up to Octaves and Chord Progressions 453 Book 6: Exploring Electronic Keyboard Technology 469 Chapter 1: Choosing Sounds and Effects 471 Chapter 2: Adding Accompaniment, Rhythm Patterns, and Arpeggiation 489 Chapter 3: Recording and Editing Your Sounds 515 Chapter 4: Using Onboard Learning Systems 543 Chapter 5: Playing Along with Recordings and Using Music Software 557 Appendix: Accessing the Audio Tracks 583 Index 591

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Book SynopsisA diverse history of the pipes--from inspiring terror on battlefields to enriching cultures worldwide.

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Book SynopsisWhen "Friday the 13th" premiered in 1980, the film introduced moviegoers to a new kind of cinematic terror - shocking, visceral, graphic and relentless. Spawning ten popular sequels to date, the series has become the most successful horror franchise of all time, and the character of 'Jason' an icon known around the world as the first name in evil. Now, uncensored and in their own words, over 200 alumni of the series recall a quarter-century's worth of behind-the-scenes stories - the struggles, feuds, foibles, controversies and calamities. Fully illustrated with nearly 600 never-before-seen photos, rare archival documents and production materials, this huge hardback volume is the ultimate oral and visual memoir of the series - a must-have for fans and cinema historians alike.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Music Is History is an entertaining, informative and far-reaching work, meticulously excavating American culture and history with the eye of a seasoned cratedigger.” * The Washington Post *“This inspired volume continues Questlove’s thoughtful and thought-provoking work and is an enduring analysis of the effects of music on personal, political, and cultural histories.” * Library Journal STARRED Review *“Questlove’s in-depth, witty, creative, personal, and authoritative musical history will keep people reading, listening, questioning, and musing for many years to come." * Booklist *“A palimpsestic, personal, and resonant journey with a living musical encyclopedia.” * Kirkus *“This stimulating work is sure to attract deep thinkers and music theorists everywhere.” * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful artbook and guide for the explosively popular Chinese live-action drama available on Netflix!

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Book SynopsisGorgeously illustrated and authoritatively written, Fender®is the officially licensed celebration of the legendary brand’s iconic guitars, amps, and basses.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Chapter 1 California Dreamin’: Young Leo Fender and the Radio Store, 1909–1946 Chapter 2 Wood, Wire, and Steel: The Birth of Fender Electric Instrument Co., 1946–1949 Chapter 3 Twang Comes to Town: The Telecaster Arrives, 1949–1952 Chapter 4 Radical Curves: The Stratocaster and the Precision Bass, 1951–1959 Chapter 5 The Need for Tweed: Fender Amps of the Fifties, 1948–1960 Chapter 6 All That Jazz: Offset Guitars and Upmarket Advertising, 1957–1962 Chapter 7 Surf’s Up: Tolex Amps, Reverb, and Evolving Guitars, 1959–1967 Chapter 8 Executive Order: The Mustang Debuts, and CBS Comes Knocking, 1962–1969 Chapter 9 Feelin’ Groovy: Pianos, Pedals, and Psychedelic Guitars, 1964–1970 Chapter 10 Saved by the Bill: Declining Quality and a Management Buyout, 1969–1985 Chapter 11 Hot-Rod Rock: The Custom Shop and Relic Guitars, 1985–1999 Chapter 12 Border Song: Fender Amps Roar Back, 1984–2023 Chapter 13 Pro Shop: Vintage Reissues and Modern Masterpieces, 2010–2023 Chapter 14 Future Perfect: The Next 75 Years, 2023–2096 Acknowledgments Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe official art book for the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, the 9th title reissue of the 24-book Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga series published as a resized matching set.The 9th of the 24 Marvel Cinematic Universe Infinity Saga film titles being published as a completeset.This fully illustrated tome is a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of the Marvel blockbuster. Follow the film?s complete artistic evolution, featuring stunning conceptartwork, behind-the-scenes photographs, production stills, and in-depth interviews with the cast and crew.Here is everything you need to know about the film from its key players, including director James Gunn, co-producer Jonathan Schwartz, executive producer Jeremy Latcham, head of visual development Charlie Wen, along with the talented concept illustrators and storyboard artists whoworked on the set and behind the scenes to create the art of Guardians of the Galaxy.

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Book Synopsis'A blast' - Ian Rankin'A lively celebration of 1980s action stars' - The Times'Hugely entertaining' - Edgar WrightNow with BONUS MATERIAL, from the editor of Empire magazine this is the behind-the-scenes story of the golden age of the action movie, the stars who ruled 80s and 90s Hollywood and the beloved films – from Die Hard to The Terminator – that made them famous.Charting Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s carnage-packed journey from enmity to friendship against the backdrop of Reagan’s America and the Cold War. It also reveals the untold stories of the colourful characters, from Steven Seagal to Bruce Willis, who ascended in their wake. These invincible action heroes used muscle, martial arts or the perfect weapon to save the day, becoming pop-culture titans.Drawing on candid interviews with the action stars themselves, plus their

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWith the input from this book, Star Wars fans can go from apprentice to master in no time * Future of the Force *

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Book SynopsisJimmy was a down-at-heel guitarist in New York, relying on his latest lovers to support him while he tried to emulate his hero Bob Dylan. A black guy playing white rock music, he wanted to be all things to all people.But when Jimmy arrived in England and became Jimi, the cream of swinging London fell under his spell. It wasn''t that Jimi could play with his teeth, play with his guitar behind his back. It was that he could really play.Journeying through the purple haze of idealism and paranoia of the sixties, Jimi Hendrix was the man who made Eric Clapton consider quitting, to whom Bob Dylan deferred on his own song ''All Along the Watchtower'', who forced Miles Davis to reconsider his buttoned-down ways - and whose ''Star Spangled Banner'' defined Woodstock. And when his star, which had burned so brightly, was extinguished far too young, his legend lived on in the music - and the intrigue surrounding his death. Eschewing the tradit

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Book SynopsisRob Young''s Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain''s Visionary Music is a seminal book on British music and cultural heritage, that spans the visionary classical and folk tradition from the nineteenth-century to the present day. ''A thoroughly enjoyable read and likely to remain the best-written overview for a long time.''GUARDIAN''A perfectly timed, perfectly pitched alternative history of English folk music . . . wide-ranging, insightful, authoritative, thoroughly entertaining.''NEW STATESMAN''A stunning achievement.''SIMON REYNOLDS''A masterpiece.'' CAUGHT BY THE RIVER''Excellent . . . blissfully quotable.'' NEW YORK TIMES''An authoritative account.'' THE TIMES''Consistently absorbing.'' INDEPENDENT''An impassioned and infectious rallying cry of a book.'' SUNDAY TIMESIn this groundbreaking survey of more than a century of music making in the British Isles, Rob Young investigates how the idea of folk has been handed down and transformed by successive generations - song collectors, composers, Marxist revivalists, folk-rockers, psychedelic voyagers, free festival-goers, experimental pop stars and electronic innovators.In a sweeping panorama of Albion''s soundscape that takes in the pioneer spirit of Cecil Sharp; the pastoral classicism of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Peter Warlock; the industrial folk revival of Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd; the folk-rock of Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Shirley Collins, John Martyn and Pentangle; the bucolic psychedelia of The Incredible String Band, The Beatles and Pink Floyd; the acid folk of Comus, Forest, Mr Fox and Trees; The Wicker Man and occult folklore; the early Glastonbury and Stonehenge festivals; and the visionary pop of Kate Bush, Julian Cope and Talk Talk, Electric Eden maps out a native British musical voice that reflects the complex relationships between town and country, progress and nostalgia, radicalism and conservatism.An attempt to isolate the ''Britishness'' of British music - a wild combination of pagan echoes, spiritual quest, imaginative time-travel, pastoral innocence and electrified creativity - Electric Eden will be treasured by anyone interested in the tangled story of Britain''s folk music and Arcadian dreams.''A treat.'' TIME OUT''Young is a fine writer.'' MOJO''Young''s immense narrative is both educative and gripping.'' UNCUT''A multitudinous, fascinating and beautifully written account.'' TLS

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Book SynopsisIncludes general hymns; hymns for feasts, seasons and saints' days; office hymns for the liturgical year; an enlarged eucharistic section; responsorial psalms and a new English folk mass setting.

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Book SynopsisThe candid, hilarious, shocking, occasionally horrifying, and surprisingly moving New York Times bestselling autobiography of punk legends NOFX, their own story in their own wordsNOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories is the first tell-all autobiography from one of the world''s most influential and controversial punk bands. Fans and non-fans alike will be shocked by the stories of murder, suicide, addiction, counterfeiting, riots, bondage, terminal illness, the Yakuza, and drinking pee. Told from the perspective of each of the band''s members, this book looks back at more than thirty years of comedy, tragedy, and completely inexplicable success.Trade Review"Better than Rancid's book."--Brian Baker, Minor Threat/Bad Religion "What can I say? There are not enough real punk bands left in this world we live in. If you need a little history lesson on how all this shit started, and what the true meaning of being punk rock is, I suggest you read this book now! Insanely funny, disturbingly honest, and delivered straight from the heart, this book just makes me like NOFX even more than I already do!! Read it now fuckers!!"--Fletcher, Pennywise The Interrobang, 5/29/16 "Honest and sincere tales of life as members of one of the longest running and most influential Punk bands." Classic Rock, May 2016 "Compiled in the style of Motley Crue's The Dirt, this readable and engaging account of a band who live life almost as fast as the music they play is predictably rip-roaring...For being a book that spares nothing, this one is hard to beat." AM New York, 3/27/16 "[A] raw, tell-all autobiography." Ultimate Guitar, 3/21/16 "Aside from being very entertaining, it is also a very informative book about a band who, for the vast majority of their career, refused to do interviews and refused to sign to a major label, even when bands like Green Day and Blink-182 were cashing in." Alternative Press Magazine, 4/7/16 "NOFX have been through a lot during their long history as a band. Like, really: a lot. Their new book, The Hepatitis Bathtub And Other Stories, details it all and does so in true, painfully honest NOFX fashion...The band held nothing back." Media Mikes, 4/12/16 "An in-depth look at the seedier underbelly of rock n' roll bastard step son know as Punk Rock...Definitely not for the faint of heart. The book and its writers pull no punches as they are both candid and real as they can be...Even if you have never heard of the band NOFX or its members do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book!" San Diego CityBeat, 4/11/16 "Disturbingly funny...LOL-worthy tales of a veteran band's life on the road." Phoenix New Times, 4/14/16 "A book illustrating the ups and downs of a punk band climbing their way to success all on their own." Communities Digital News, 4/8/16 "While many might expect a NOFX book to be filled with humor and non-stop hilarity, that couldn't be further from reality...The band opens up to tell some of their darkest stories about their lives...Sure, there is some humor, but overall, the book is loaded with sadness. It is amazing that from the ashes of all of their lives a band like NOFX could not only rise, but continue to thrive." Associated Press, 4/27/16 "Punk rock mainstays NOFX have been defying music industry trends for three decades. Now its members can add a new achievement to their unlikely success story: Best-selling authors." Exclaim!, 4/25/16 "A compelling, often harrowing read." NeuFutur, 4/6/16 "Surprisingly sincere...Much like the band's music, which buries moments of deep political and emotional topics inside of goofy, often sophomoric humor, the book's emotive moments are buttressed by wild stories about partying on the road...Even if you've never been a big fan of NOFX, the book is a refreshing honest look at a struggling independent band dead set on compromising nothing and still managing to be successful." Bad Feeling Magazine, 5/15/16 "With often unflinching honestly, NOFX have recounted a harrowing story that showcases the real life pain behind the band's often-obnoxious facade. It makes for a compelling read, and provides a unique fly-on-the-wall look at one of punk rock's most unlikely success stories." Racer X Illustrated, July 2016 "This is the story of a band going through some big struggles and eventually hitting it big...and it's an easy read." Music Connection, June 2016 "These stories will shock fans and non-fans alike." Austin Chronicle, 6/17/16 "Punk lit's equivalent to Motley Crue's debauched autobiography The Dirt." San Diego City Beat, 7/6/16 "Sometimes the book is violent, sometimes it's absolutely horrifying, but it holds nothing back. It's fascinating to follow the individual members as they deal with drug abuse and the deaths of parents, to getting clean and becoming parents. While there are plenty of shocking stories, the biggest surprise may be how sincere they are. In the beginning, you'll be glad these people weren't your friends, but by the end you'll wish they were...A book that's impossible to put down--even if you will occasionally want to hold it at arm's length." Scanner Zine, 7/11/16 "Excellent...An original and satisfying read...Those looking for scandal, yes you will read it. Those looking for insight, you'll read that too. Those looking for a classic Punk Rock memoir, you will definitely read it...Hard to put down...It's a genuine rags-to-riches Punk Rock story." Praise for NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories A New York Times Bestseller! "I can say with certainty I've never read a rock biography with such balanced elements of sensation and sincerity. Like the few great band bios, the array of experiences described in The Hepatitis Bathtub are enough to set anyone into contemplation about strength and perseverance, love and depravity, camaraderie, and a place for misfit rock and rollers in a society that to this day clings to rigid standards. A must-read for punks new and old and an eye-opening read for all new-comers."--John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig and the Angry Inch "NOFX and Fat Mike are amongst the most powerful influences of my genre. This book is a 'must own' for anyone who still cherishes what is left of Punk and Rock 'n' Roll."--Joan Jett "Not for the faint of heart, and therefore HIGHLY recommended to EVERYBODY."--Amanda Palmer "Fucking gnarly. And great!"--Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day "Fat Mike is a rarity in music, an unadulterated authentic. In a profession filled with phonies and withholders, Mike shines as someone who always lets his freak flag fly. I like that a lot."--Jane Wiedlin, The Go-Go's Tampa Bay Times, 4/17/16 "A harrowing memoir...The Hepatitis Bathtub is peopled with lunatics, sociopaths, addicts and loved ones who couldn't escape the punk abyss, with the band struggling to survive dark turns ranging from drug abuse to counterfeiting to disastrous investments to friends' deaths to, um, matricide (allegedly)." Live Nation TV, 4/19/16 "The Bathtub's tales are not for the faint of heart." San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/13/16 "[A] no-B.S. book." Exclaim.ca, 4/18/16 "Tells the band's rise from shitty L.A. upstarts to the kings of pop-punk...It's also teeming with the kinds of sordid tales of drunken hooliganism and abject squalor that would put Motley Crue to shame." Punk Rock Theory, 4/18/16 "The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories doesn't disappoint. Some of these stories will make you laugh out loud, others will make you cringe and there may have even been a couple of tears at some point...It dives headfirst into the history of the band. And yes, it gets as crazy as you'd expect it to...The Hepatitis Bathtub is not just for the fans though. It's a story about perseverance. About chasing your dreams. About having the odds stacked against you, but succeeding nonetheless. About underdogs that end up at the top." Chapter 16, 4/20/16 "A tell-all memoir...The overarching themes of the book are universal and inspiring, but on a concrete level this memoir is pretty raw...Absolute candor is actually what unifies the book and makes it impossible to put down...From their humble beginnings in one of the country's toughest punk scenes to superstardom, NOFX never fails to entertain." Nashville Scene, 4/21/16 "[A] revealing new memoir...Staggering and, in some cases, heartbreaking...But Hepatitis Bathtub makes it impossible to look the other way...The format reads like a sweeping, intriguing conversation, but the book also has a cinematic quality, as each person recalls the same moments in time from his own perspective." Nashville Tennessean, 4/20/16 "Offers a no-holds-barred look at the band, as the four members--'Fat Mike' Burkett, Aaron 'El Jefe' Abeyta, Eric Melvin and Erik 'Smelly' Sandin--share memories from their 30-plus years together." Kerrang! , 4/25/16 "Every bit as hilarious, disgusting and boundary-hyphen free as you'd expect from a band who've spent three decades in the punk trenches filling themselves with drugs and booze." The A.V. Club, 4/11/16 "Does a great job of putting some of the biggest moments for NOFX into the larger context of punk and the rise of bands like Green Day and Bad Religion... NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories ultimately is a tale of a band's sheer will to exist and its unlikely success." New Noise, 4/12/16 "For most of their career, NOFX have been mislabeled and widely known as the funny punk band that shouldn't be taken too seriously. There's no doubt that, after reading their work of non-fiction, fans will see them in a different light." New Noise, 4/12/16 "The candid demeanor of their stories mirrors the ethics the band have held all along--not always pleasant, but a direct reflection of their early DIY roots...Hepatitis Bathtub covers it all. Whether a casual listener, hardcore fan, or a 'couldn't give a fuck about NOFX' character, this book is an evolutionary tale of grimy, realistic fun worth learning to read for." For the Love of Punk, 4/12/16 "NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories may be the most filthy literature you'll ever read...A must read for any fan of punk rock, even if you hate NOFX." Ground Control Magazine, 4/12/16 "A definitive history of NOFX. No attempt is made to cover or smooth out any rough or hard memories, everything feels as though it has been included in the name of telling the whole story...The character of each band member is meticulously presented and articulated and, after one has made it through the whole book, readers are left feeling as though they truly know them...In a world where many rock bios seek to do little more than collect myths, NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories bravely stands and tells the great, unbelievable truth." OC Weekly, 4/13/16 "The first opportunity for fans to hear NOFX's stories from their own perspective...A welcome look into the history of a band that once went as far as shutting out all press opportunities and interviews...Shines a whole new light on a band that's been around for longer than many other punk rockers have even been alive. While some stories are what their diehard fans will expect them to be, much of the book will shock even those who have followed the band for 30 years." "This book is a page-turner for any reality reader. And if you're a NOFX fan? Well damn, you gotta check it out!...Funny, sad, and outrageous." ?New Noise Magazine, "Top 16 Punk(ish) Chunks of 2016"

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Book SynopsisLet the spooky citizens of Halloween Town guide your tarot practice with this sumptuously illustrated tarot deck inspired by Tim Burton's classic animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Disney's iconic holiday film The Nightmare Before Christmas is now an enchanting tarot set, offering a frightful-but-friendly take on the traditional 78-card deck. This set features all your favorite characters from Jack Skellington to Mr. Oogie Boogie to Sandy Claws himself in gorgeous original illustrations based on classic tarot iconography. Featuring both major and minor arcana, the set also comes with a helpful guidebook explaining each card's meaning, as well as simple spreads for easy readings. Packaged in a sturdy, decorative gift box, this hauntingly charming tarot deck is the perfect gift for the The Nightmare Before Christmas fan or tarot enthusiast in your life.

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Book SynopsisThe unique and adventurous sounds that German bands like Can, Neu! or Kraftwerk produced in post-war 60s Germany, now known as Krautrock, are considered a blueprint for modern rock music. And the stream of their creative admirers and continuators has been constantly widening since the first fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop. In Neu Klang, Christoph Dallach interviewed its pioneers and their answers combine to form an oral history that points far beyond the individual band histories.

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Book Synopsis(Faber Piano Adventures ). The 2nd Edition Level 4 Lesson Book follows Piano Adventures Level 3B. The book is arranged by related major and minor keys, grounding the repertoire. The emphasis on root position V7 chords, arpeggios, and "Power Scales" links applied theory to the pieces being studied. Expressive repertoire selections build a strong foundation in harmony and technique.

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Book Synopsis*THE SIDE-SPLITTING NEW COMIC SHORT FROM ONE OF BRITAIN''S BEST-LOVED WRITERS, NOW A MAJOR BBC TV SERIES*______________________________ ''It is as honest and multi-faceted an examination and appreciation of marriage as you could hope to find'' The Guardian on Hornby''s script adaptationEach week, Tom and Louise meet for a quick drink in the pub before they go to meet their marriage counsellor. Married for years and with two children, a recent incident has exposed the fault lines in their relationship in a way that Tom, for one, does not wish to think about.In the ten minutes in the pub they talk about the agenda for the session, what they talked about last week, what they will definitely not talk about with the counsellor, and how much better off they are than the couple whose counselling slot immediately precedes their own. Over the ten weeks that follow Tom and Louise begin to wonder: what if marriage is like a computer? When you take it apart to see how it works you might just be left with a million pieces you can''t put back together . . .

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Book Synopsis ''Uproarious and unflinching'' Mail on Sunday ''A truly incredible life story'' The Sun''Most memorable . . . told in a voice as distinctive as his spoken one'' Independent''Brims with his gift for genial anecdote'' The Sunday TimesOne of ''the top 25 most compelling Hollywood autobiographies'' -Guardian* * *From the author of the bestselling Blowing the Bloody Doors Off, the original, definitive autobiography of British screen icon and legend Sir Michael Caine. It''s been a long journey for Maurice Micklewhite - born with rickets in London''s poverty-stricken Elephant & Castle - to the bright lights of Hollywood. With a glittering career spanning more than five decades and starring roles which have earned him two Oscars, a knighthood, and an iconic place in the Hollywood pantheon, the man now known tTrade Reviewuproarious and unflinching * Mail on Sunday *uproarious and unflinching * Mail on Sunday *Mr Caine is a charming raconteur....he writes with a quality that has grown rare among memoirists: good cheer * New York Times *Mr Caine is a charming raconteur....he writes with a quality that has grown rare among memoirists: good cheer * New York Times *Michael Caine's second work of memoir brims with his gift for genial anecdote, but this time there's a hint of sadness as he looks back * Sunday Times *Michael Caine's second work of memoir brims with his gift for genial anecdote, but this time there's a hint of sadness as he looks back * Sunday Times *To read Caine is to be in the company of an amiable, sentimental man who has achieved great success - and happiness - without appearing to be in the least smug. * Daily Mail, John Preston *To read Caine is to be in the company of an amiable, sentimental man who has achieved great success - and happiness - without appearing to be in the least smug. * Daily Mail, John Preston *A truly incredible life story. * The Sun *A truly incredible life story. * The Sun *Not much mileage in discussing warm receptions then, unless it's to wonder if a literary festival crowd has ever sounded more fulfilled than when Michael Caine finally said "you're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" and "not a lot of people know that" halfway through his appearance in Cheltenham last weekend. * The Times *Not much mileage in discussing warm receptions then, unless it's to wonder if a literary festival crowd has ever sounded more fulfilled than when Michael Caine finally said "you're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" and "not a lot of people know that" halfway through his appearance in Cheltenham last weekend. * The Times *you can hear his distinctive voice throughout, his fans will enjoy the ride. * Choice *you can hear his distinctive voice throughout, his fans will enjoy the ride. * Choice *a gold standard celebrity who makes the modern sort look cheap * The Times *a gold standard celebrity who makes the modern sort look cheap * The Times *most memorable... This follow-up might have seemed over-indulgent were it not for his self-deprecating vignettes, told in a voice as distinctive as his spoken one, that led to critical comparisons with David Niven's classic, The Moon's a Balloon. * Independent *most memorable... This follow-up might have seemed over-indulgent were it not for his self-deprecating vignettes, told in a voice as distinctive as his spoken one, that led to critical comparisons with David Niven's classic, The Moon's a Balloon. * Independent *Michael Caine fans will love his 'blow the bloody doors off' autobiography. * Fabulous *Michael Caine fans will love his 'blow the bloody doors off' autobiography. * Fabulous *uproarious and unflinching * Mail on Sunday *a gold standard celebrity who makes the modern sort look cheap * The Times *To read Caine is to be in the company of an amiable, sentimental man who has achieved great success - and happiness - without appearing to be in the least smug. * Daily Mail, John Preston *A truly incredible life story. * The Sun *you can hear his distinctive voice throughout, his fans will enjoy the ride. * Choice *most memorable... This follow-up might have seemed over-indulgent were it not for his self-deprecating vignettes, told in a voice as distinctive as his spoken one, that led to critical comparisons with David Niven's classic, The Moon's a Balloon. * Independent *Michael Caine fans will love his 'blow the bloody doors off' autobiography. * Fabulous *Michael Caine's second work of memoir brims with his gift for genial anecdote, but this time there's a hint of sadness as he looks back * Sunday Times *A jolly amble from the Elephant & Castle to international stardom...there's plenty of satisfying name-dropping from a gold-standard celebrity who makes the modern sort look cheap. * Saturdays Times, Christmas Round-Up *the peeks behind the silver screen make the book light up * New Statesman *Most compelling autobiography since David Niven's The Moon's A Balloon... he has brought this fascinating story up to date. * RTE Guide, Ireland *warm-hearted and well written autobiography. Despite his fame this celebrity has always kept his feet firmly on the ground and this enjoyable book shows how he did it. * Sunday Express *a gold standard celebrity who makes the modern sort look cheap * The Times *To read Caine is to be in the company of an amiable, sentimental man who has achieved great success - and happiness - without appearing to be in the least smug. * Daily Mail, John Preston *A truly incredible life story. * The Sun *Not much mileage in discussing warm receptions then, unless it's to wonder if a literary festival crowd has ever sounded more fulfilled than when Michael Caine finally said "you're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" and "not a lot of people know that" halfway through his appearance in Cheltenham last weekend. * The Times *Mr Caine is a charming raconteur....he writes with a quality that has grown rare among memoirists: good cheer * New York Times *He's a natural storyteller as well as the Oscar winning actor we admire, and we bowl along happily...How one longs to have met him, which is the best thing one can say about any autobiography * Seven, Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIn these fifty-two interviews, the greatest songwriters of our time go straight to the source of the magic of songwriting by offering their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their art. Representing almost every genre of popular music, from folk to Tin Pan Alley to jazz, from blues to pop rock, these are the figures who have shaped American music as we know it. Here they share their secrets and personal methods for converting inspiration into song: Robbie Robertson of the Band an Tom Petty talk about working with Bob Dylan; Dylan himself, in his only in-depth interview in more than ten years, says that the world doesn''t need any new songs; R.E.M. name their favorite R.E.M. songs; Madonna describes collaborating with Prince; Sammy Cahn talks about writing standards for Sinatra; Pete Seeger recounts hitting the road with Woody Guthrie; Frank Zappa admits to loving Louie Louie; Todd Rundgren explains how he dreams his songs; and, in the book''s most extensive interview, Paul Simon delves into his opus from The Sound of Silence to Graceland. And almost all of them express delight at being able to talk about the mechanics of music itself, something that they have rarely been asked to discuss. Here expanded with new interviews with Burt Bacharach, Laura Nyro, Yoko Ono, Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, and many others, Songwriters on Songwriting is a rare volume: one of the best books on the craft of musicmaking, an informative source for musicians and songwriters, and an invaluable historical record of the popular music of this century.Trade ReviewBrain Pickings, 5/26/14 "[An] excellent and extensive treasure trove...[The] insights on songwriting extend to the broader realm of creative work in a multitude of disciplines...A magnificent read in its hefty totality." Brain Pickings, 7/20/14 "[An] impressive interview compendium."

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Book SynopsisEveryone loves a Christmas carol - in the end, even Scrooge. They have the power to summon up a special kind of midwinter mood, like the aroma of mince pies and mulled wine and the twinkle of lights on a tree. It's a kind of magic. But how did they get that magic? In Christmas Carols Andrew Gant tells the story of some twenty carols, each accompanied by lyrics and music, unravelling a captivating - and often surprising - tale of great musicians and thinkers, saints and pagans, shepherd boys, choirboys, monks and drunks. We delve into the history of such favourites as 'Good King Wenceslas', 'Away in a Manger' and 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', discovering along the way how 'Hark, the Herald angels sing' came to replace 'Hark, how all the welkin ring' and how Ralph Vaughan Williams bolted the tune of an English folk song about a dead ox to a poem by a nineteenth-century American pilgrim to make 'O little town of Bethlehem'. Christmas Carols brims with anecdote, expert knowledge and Christmas spirit. It is a fittingly joyous account of one of our best-loved musical traditions.Trade ReviewAndrew Gant provides us with a fluent but flinty digest of the modern scholarship concerning 22 of our favourite seasonal songs. -- Kathryn Hughes * The Guardian *Gant's detective-story accounts of 22 Christmas melodies is a delight -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *Scholarly but conversational in in tone and rich in picturesque detail. -- Kirsty McClusky * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisThe fifth edition of the definitive guide to producing, directing, shooting, editing, and distributing film.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to make sense of 21st Century pop, Retromania explores rock''s nostalgia industry of revivals, reissues, reunions and remakes, and argues that there has never before been a culture so obsessed with its own immediate past. Pulling together parallel threads from music, fashion, art, and new media, Simon Reynolds confronts a central paradox of our era: from iPods to YouTube, we''re empowered by mind-blowing technology, but too often it''s used as a time machine or as a tool to shuffle and rearrange music from yesterday.We live in the digital future but we''re mesmerized by our analogue past.

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Book SynopsisIn 1971, Michael Blakemore joined the National Theatre as Associate Director under Laurence Olivier. The National, still based at the Old Vic, was at a moment of transition awaiting the move to its vast new home on the South Bank. Relying on generous subsidy, it would need an extensive network of supporters in high places. Olivier, a scrupulous and brilliant autocrat from a previous generation, was not the man to deal with these political ramifications. His tenure began to unravel and, behind his back, Peter Hall was appointed to replace him in 1973. As in other aspects of British life, the ethos of public service, which Olivier espoused, was in retreat. Having staged eight productions for the National, Blakemore found himself increasingly uncomfortable under Hall''s regime. Stage Blood is the candid and at times painfully funny story of the events that led to his dramatic exit in 1976. He recalls the theatrical triumphs and flops, his volatile relationship with Olivier incl

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