Humour collections and anthologies Books

Book SynopsisThese days there are rules for everything and terrible consequences for disobeying them. Find out how easy it is tie yourself in knots with Red Tape . . .''Your call is important to us,'' says the lady on the help-line.The call is important because it is currently making the company 48p per minute.''__________''Sam has forgotten her password so she cannot access her e-mail account.She can reset her password using a memorable name, but she has forgotten her memorable name too, so the account locks.Sam automatically receives a link so she can reset her password.It is sent to her e-mail account.''__________This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups

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Book SynopsisA collection of comic strips following the adventures of Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes.

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Book SynopsisThe Mr Men and Little Miss have been tickling children for generations with their funny and charming antics. This series gives adults the chance to laugh along as the Mr Men and Little Miss try to cope with the very grown-up world around them. Featuring Roger Hargreaves classic artwork alongside hilariously funny new text.Some of the Little Misses are going to be mums and they''re approaching the news in the only way they know how. Little Miss Curious has a million questions, Little Miss Tidy is planning the perfect birth and nursery and Little Miss Greedy is eating her body weight in pickles. Will pregnancy and new motherhood be all they expect it to be?The perfect book for any mum-to-be who is excited and nervous about what motherhood might bring.Trade ReviewThe colourful characters have been delighting children since Mr Tickle first appeared on bookshelves in 1971.The IndependentThe timeless Mr Men books capture modern stereotypes perfectly.The TelegraphThe Mr Men and Little Miss characters remain a cultural phenomenon, whose impact is felt far beyond the nursery bookshelf.The Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThis book is cleverer and better looking than you.This book will blow your mind.This book loves you.This Book Loves You is a collection of beautifully illustrated inspirational sayings by which you should live your life. If you follow each and every one, your life will become easier, more fabulous, more rewarding. Imagine what a chilled-out and wonderful human being people would think you were if you lived by the simple principle: ''You can never fail if you never try.'' Your wasted life would be an inspiration to others. Think of all the pointless, unhappy striving you could simply give up. Throw away that guitar! Give up on your dreams! Embrace your astounding mediocrity. This Book Loves You has something for everyone - or at least everyone willing to give up and stop caring. If all else fails, remember: ''Don''t be yourself. Be a pizza. Everyone loves pizza.''PewDiePie was sent to planet Earth to diTrade Reviewpewdiepie literally wrote a bookwhat world are we living -- fan feedbacka book full of useless quotes? GOTTA BUY -- fan feedbackHe can read? -- fan feedbackthis might be the only youtuber book I would actually buy -- fan feedbackMan I never thought a book would love me. -- fan feedbackPewdiepie is the next Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, JRR Tolkien, And Taylor Swift, all in one person. This piece will remove world hunger, poverty, and my virginity. -- fan feedbackI would get naked and rub jelly over my belly to get this book -- fan feedback

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Book SynopsisWeird Things Customers Say in Bookshops was a Sunday Times bestseller, and could be found displayed on bookshop counters up and down the country. The response to the book from booksellers all over the world has been one of heartfelt agreement: it would appear that customers are saying bizarre things all over the place - from asking for books with photographs of Jesus in them, to hunting for the best horse owner''s manual that has a detailed chapter on unicorns.Customer: I had such a crush on Captain Hook when I was younger. Do you think this means I have unresolved issues?More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops has yet more tales from the antiquarian bookshop where Jen Campbell works, and includes a selection of ''Weird Things...'' sent in from other booksellers across the world. The book is illustrated by the BAFTA winning Brothers McLeod.

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Book SynopsisA delightful celebration of cycling from renowned cartoonist and multiple-bike owner Dave Walker. With over 100 full-page cartoons that give an affectionate take on cycling in all its different forms, featuring cartoons about road cycling, mountain biking and bike ownership, via sportives and commuting--celebrating the simple pleasure of getting from A to B on two wheels.Trade ReviewCartoonist and cyclist Dave Walker has put together this hilarious coffee table book full of cycling-related illustrations * Cycling Weekly *I would be very surprised if there wasn't at least one page in this book with which any subculture of cyclist could not identify. * thewashingmachinepost *With luck, Walker may be at the forefront of a renaissance of the art of cycling cartoons. I for one would be happy to see more exponents of the art showing off their talents if they are as good as this. -- Feargal McKay * www.podiumcafe.com *I laughed out loud... There's so much in this book that will appeal to any rider. * www.ridevelo.cc *

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Book SynopsisHalf a million people a day do it in the Telegraph. The Times claims almost as many, and the Guardian 300,000. Most people remember their first time, and everyone has a favourite. You can do it in bed, standing up, or on a train. You can do it alone, with a loved one or in groups. The Queen does it in the bath. It is not illegal, immoral or fattening. In fact it tops the Home Office list of approved entertainments for prison inmates. Crosswords are a very British obsession.Crosswords are a very British obsession. Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose is a personal reminiscence and a guide to solving crossword puzzles. But it is much, much more than a 'how-to' book. Each chapter is starts with a clue, and uses anecdote, history and autobiography to solve it, in the process describing something of what it means to love England. In the process, we encounter The Best Crossword Clue Ever, The Most Beautiful Clue in the World 'Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose' and the eccentric personalities behind such legendary compilers as the Guardian's Araucaria and The Times'Ximenes.Reviews for Pretty Girl In Crimson Rose'An extraordinary memoir... a positive page turner... A mesh of journeys and destinations, politics and romance, it touches what is beyond words.' Sophie Ratcliffe, The Times'You don't have to be a crossword nut to appreciate Sandy Balfour's tremendously beguiling Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose (8).' John Walsh, Independent'A little gem of a memoir... The book adds up to more than a sum of its parts and lingers in the memory long after the final page' Val Gilbert, Sunday Telegraph'Charming, knowledgeable and gripping' Nicholas Lezard, Guardian'A touching tribute to his partner... you close it feeling you have encountered a modest man of humour, compassion and common sense, who wears his wisdom lightly' Economist'A real charmer... this reviewer's verdict on Balfour's book: Touching success when foils clash at Elsinore (1,8,3) - A PALPABLE HIT' Kevin Jackson, Spectator'A book to make writers curse themselves for not having thought of the idea first, but to make readers hug themselves that Sandy Balfour did. A delight' Alan Coren'Sandy Balfour's memoir Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose (8) is like a great crossword clue - I couldn't put it down until I'd worked it out.' Clive James

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of comic verse is drawn from sources which range from the Greek Anthology to the present day. Divided into thematic sections (to be determined) for case of use, it covers a wide range of forms including limericks, clerihews, ballads, sonnets and nonsense verse. The prevailing tone is light, but satire and ridicule - even passion - have not been excluded.

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Book SynopsisA timelessly funny cartoon collection by Tim Whyatt.Everyone has at some stage had a 'senior moment' whether you've called your child by the wrong name, returned from the supermarket without the one item you went out for in the first place or even moaned at the annoying kid who is playing their music too loud.The years may keep piling up and our bodies may be losing the ultimate battle against gravity but our humour remains the same! Senior Moments: Ageing Distgracefully is an amusing collection of some of the best of two-time 'Henries' winner, Tim Whyatt's hilarious imagery, depicting the highs, lows, laughter and indignities of later life.

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Book SynopsisIrishology is the ultimate warm, witty, and irreverent guide to all things Irish. Who else but the Irish can perform minor miracles with a prayer to St Anthony? Or truly appreciate the medicinal purposes of flat 7Up? Not to mention the front room, chipper chips, and the `bad pint.'' From things you''ll only hear and taste in Ireland to tips for surviving any social situation (an Irish wedding anyone?!).

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the YearA New Scientist Gift Pick"Bright, nerdy and funny! Of course I loved it." Dara Ó BriainCan we resurrect dinosaurs? Is a Martian holiday good for your health? Can we build a time machine? (And more importantly, can it look like the DeLorean?)Answering these questions and more, Rick Edwards and Dr Michael Brooks delve into the real science behind the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. From Planet of the Apes to Interstellar, each chapter probes a different classic, blasting apart tricky topics like astrophysics, neuroscience, psychology, botany, artificial intelligence, evolution, and plenty more. Packed with illustrations, bizarre facts and indispensable movie trivia, Science(ish) is the perfect read for curious minds.Trade ReviewBright, nerdy and funny! Of course I loved it. * Dara Ó Briain *Fun, scary answers to the "sci" in sci-fi movies. * The New Scientist *Fascinating and hilarious. * Richard Osman, co-host of Pointless *If you are a geek, a film buff, curious or simply want to know whether you still get BO in space, this is the book you have got to have. * Kate Humble *It's the kind of book I love. -- Joel Dommett * Shortlist *Explores everything from the ins and outs of black holes (Interstellar) to artificial intelligence (Ex Machina)... Edwards and Brooks don't take themselves too seriously and their cartoon heads pop up throughout deconstructing the films wittily while explaining the underlying science simply. * Sunday Times *Deeply funny, academically accomplished, and unfalteringly engaging. Entertaining as it may be, it's difficult to escape the fact that Edwards and Brooks have just made the world of popular science much harder work for the rest of us. * Ben Miller - comedian and author of It’s Not Rocket Science *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: The Martian 2: Jurassic Park 3: Interstellar 4: Planet of the Apes 5: Back to the Future 6: 28 Days Later 7: The Matrix 8: Gattaca 9: Ex Machina 10: Alien 11: Acknowledgements 12: Index

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Book SynopsisFounded in 1992 by Richard Ingrams, The Oldie is an irreverent magazine for the independent-minded The Oldie Annual will feature more articles and cartoons from `the most original magazine in the country’ (Independent) This is the best of The Oldie’s writers, columnists, cartoonists and artists from the archive in one book

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Book SynopsisProducer, editor, and writer behind the highly addictive, informative, and popular YouTube channel The Nerdwriter, Evan Puschak presents “a brilliant, wide-ranging essay collection that explores meaning and how we make it with the thoughtfulness and open-hearted generosity that have long been hallmarks of Puschak’s writing” (John Green, New York Times bestselling author).As YouTube’s The Nerdwriter, Evan Puschak plays the polymath, posing questions and providing answers across a wide range of fields—from the power of a split diopter shot in Toy Story 4 to the political dangers of schadenfreude. Now, he brings that same insatiable curiosity and striking wit to this engaging and unputdownable essay collection. Perfect for fans of Trick Mirror and the writing of John Hodgman and Chuck Klosterman, Escape into Meaning is “a passionate, perceptive” (Hua Hsu, author of Stay True) compendium of fascinating insights into obsession. Whether you’re interested in the philosophy of Jerry Seinfeld or how Clark Kent is the real hero, there’s something for everyone in this effervescent collection.

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Book SynopsisWith over 3,500 entries, arranged by topic, fully indexed and up-to-date for the twenty-first century, here is a bumper new collection of witticisms and wisecracks. If you''re looking for a quick quip to get the crowd on your side, struggling to put the finishing touches to a wedding speech or just want to cheer yourself and your mates up, this marvellous mammoth book provides all you''ll ever need. Entries range from insults, put-downs, gags and one-liners to homespun philosophy, witty proverbs, movie quotes and graffiti. Among the contributors featured are Ricky Gervais, Sir Terry Pratchett, Tina Fey, Milton Jones, Russell Brand, Bill Bryson, Armando Iannucci, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Clarkson, Larry David, Grayson Perry, Germaine Greer, Will Ferrell and many more. Never be stuck for a good line again! ''Al Gore met with Donald Trump to discuss climate change. To try to explain it in terms Trump would understand, Gore said, The planet is getting hotter than yo

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Book Synopsis**QUIETLY HOSTILE - THE HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR - IS AVAILABE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**''Irby might be our great bard of quarantine.'' New York Times''SO funny. Samantha Irby makes staying in feel like like a luxury, and reminds you that going out is actually quite annoying. I laughed out loud so much reading this -- I honestly couldn''t be more in awe of her.'' Sara PascoeStaring down the barrel of her fortieth year, Samantha Irby is confronting the ways her life has changed since the days she could work a full 11 hour shift on 4 hours of sleep, change her shoes and put mascara on in the back of a moving cab and go from drinks to dinner to the club without a second thought. Recently, things are more ''Girls Gone Mild.'' In Wow, No Thank You Irby discusses the actual nightmare of living in a rural idyll, weighs in on body negativity (loving yourself is a full-time job with shitty benefits) and poses the essential question: Sure sex is fun but have you ever googled a popular meme?''Samantha Irby is the king of sparkling misanthropy and tender, loving dread.'' Jia Tolentino''A laugh. A fart. A snort. Or some combination thereof. Be prepared to totally lose control of the noises that come out of your body while reading the latest essay collection from humor writer Samantha Irby.'' Bustle''The only writer who can make me laugh with abandon in public... Her signature irreverence is intact, of course, but it can''t mask the heart she leaves bleeding on the page.'' Elle''Samantha Irby is hilarious... Nothing is off limits and I love it.'' Candice Carty-Williams

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Book SynopsisThis funny and beautifully observed book pulls together humorous stories, funny quotes, quips and anecdotes about this small but remarkable country.While the Scots are proud of their friendly reputation, loud about their many contributions to the world – such as whisky, penicillin and television – and fiercely protective of Scottish delicacies such as haggis and Irn Bru, they are also celebrated for their famously dry and dark humour.Featuring wit and wisdom from writers such as Armando Iannucci, Compton Mackenzie, Stanley Baxter and Neil Munro, this light-hearted book celebrates Scottish wit at its best while looking at the culture, folklore, politics and sport that make up Scotland.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of the perceptive comedy of Hannah Gadsby, Lindy West, and Sarah Silverman, Academy Award–nominated and acclaimed stand-up comedian Jena Friedman presents a witty and insightful collection of essays on the cultural flashpoints of today. Jena Friedman’s life in comedy began with her senior thesis on inequity in the Chicago comedy scene. It was, in short, not funny, but it anticipated her career as a writer and comedian with acerbic wit and a keen, cutting eye for social observation. Now, she brings her trademark whip-smart humor and cultural criticism to this brainy and laugh-out-loud funny essay collection. Friedman effortlessly takes us just beyond the edge of the uncomfortable with explorations on everything from why some celebrities get buried for their indiscretions while others get a second (third, and fourth…) chance, how we should think about lines of appropriateness crossed decades ago, living in the post- (post-) #MeToo world of today, and the power we hand to silence when we’re told not to joke about reproductive rights, gender, privilege, or class.Not Funny is a witty and bold collection, challenging us to deeply consider why we do and do not laugh, from a rising star of comedy always ready to call out hypocrisy wherever she finds it. And knows how to get a laugh while she does it.Trade Review"In fact very funny. And [Friedman] somehow manages to do that while taking on some of the, shall we say, darker topics, like sexism, celebrity worship, and women's rights." —Cosmopolitan“Not Funny feels as if you're having a direct conversation with Jena. A mix of lethal deadpan delivery and biting sarcasm with impressive intelligence not only makes this book phenomenal, but announces the arrival of a singular voice." —Phoebe Robinson, New York TImes bestselling author of You Can't Touch My Hair“Jena Friedman is brilliant at mining the darkness for a joke you'd never dare say, that makes you jealous you didn't think of it yourself. I am here for every word of this hilarious and much needed book.” —Samantha Bee, Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, commentator and author of I Know I Am, But What Are You?“I feel misled. Not Funny is in fact extremely funny! And smart and thoughtful and even a little offensive, just like Jena” —Sacha Baron Cohen, actor, writer, producer, and creator and star of Borat “Jena dares you to laugh at things we're told not to laugh at, perhaps because that's how they keep us from seeing the truth. A page-turner through and through: Just when I'm thinking 'it can't be!' Jena tells you it is. And I'm laughing through it. Jena proves with her writing that not only is laughing at dark truths important, it's revolutionary.” —Atsuko Okatsuka, comedian, actress, and writer“I’ve skimmed this book and it seems pretty funny. I have every intention of reading it as soon as I finish The History of The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.” —Larry David, writer, actor, and co-creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm“Jena’s comedy is and has always been radical. She’s dark, unapologetic, and biting. It’s really funny and a little frightening.” —Ilana Glazer, actor, writer, and co-creator of Broad City“From her sharp and fearless comedy specials, to the deadpan interviews in which she expertly skewers a fine array of sexist miscreants, Jena Friedman is actually not funny--she is hilarious and brilliant.” —Merrill Markoe, New York Times bestselling author of Walking in Circles Before Lying Down"A funny but critical look at the depradations of life as a woman comic [...] A serious memoir with jokes, self-deprecating yet rarely self-diminishing.” —Kirkus "[Jena Friedman] sparkles with the casual brilliance of fellow comedians and humor essayists Lindy West and Sarah Silverman." —Library Journal "Entertaining and soulful... this is a blast." —Publishers Weekly "Don’t let the footnotes fool you; this isn’t a dry academic treatise. . . . Perfect for fans of dark, feminist comedy such as Hannah Gadsby or Samantha Bee." —Booklist "It's no slight against comedian Jena Friedman to say that the title of her first book should be taken largely at face value. . . . For an injection of power and agency, readers could scarcely do better than Not Funny." —Shelf Awareness"Jena's always been fiercely honest both onstage and off, and this book is no exception. If you want to laugh and scream, give NOT FUNNY a read." —Naomi Ekperigin, comedian, actress, and writer

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Book SynopsisAn exquisitely-written, generous, funny, thoughtful book about the everyday joys of being alive. I love it.' Dolly AldertonJ. B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th Century and it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius.' Dame Judi DenchMy apology, my little bit of penitence, for having grumbled so much, for having darkened the breakfast table, almost ruined the lunch, nearly silence the dinner party, for all the fretting and chafing, grousing and croaking, for the old glum look and the thrust-out lower lip. So my long-suffering kinsfolk, my patient friends, may a glimmer of that delight which has so often possessed me, but perhaps too frequently in secret, now reach you from these pages.'There are times when there doesn't seem much to smile about. And for those times, there is this book. J. B Priestley's 1949 classic teaches us that joy may be found in even the simplest things, and that we all have the capacity to appreciate them.Delight comprises a serTrade Review‘J. B. Priestley was one of the great authors of the twentieth century and a prose writer of great skill and charm. His essays were in the grand tradition of Hazlitt and Lamb, Chesterton and Belloc. I am delighted to hear that Delight is back in print – these wonderful essays are among his finest.’ Paul Johnson, The Spectator ‘I had this book pressed into my hands by someone during an unsteady time and it helped pick the lint off my jacket, straighten my lapels and push me out into the world again. It helped me appreciate my own pockets of pleasure.’ Hannah Jane Parkinson, The Guardian 'A vastly talented and exceptionally versatile and wise writer.' Iris Murdoch 'Priestley was volcanic, fertile … and never dull.' Anthony Burgess ‘A marvellous writer.’ David Hockney ‘We all know his plays, now is the time to be re-introduced to his novels.’ Timothy West ‘He belongs in a great English realist tradition that includes Bennett and Galsworthy.’ Michael Billington ‘An important book that has a literary importance and social value that far exceeds the time it was written.’ Dame Beryl Bainbridge ‘Written in the elegant, simple language which was an essential part of Priestley’s brilliance. It is, in consequence, a masterpiece.’ Roy Hattersley

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Book SynopsisA quippy and irreverent collection of illustrated profiles of the great American women who weren’t attractive, well-spoken, demure, or sinless enough to receive their rightful place in history, until now, from New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill. Slut. Shrew. Sinful. Scold. The 19th- and early 20th-century American women profiled in this collection were called all these names and worse when they were alive. And that’s just fine. These glorious dames earned those monikers, and one hundred years later they can wear them proudly! They refused to conform to societal standards. They bucked everyday niceties and blazed their own trails. They were collectively unbecoming as women, but they forever changed what women can become. With irresistible charm and laugh-out-loud impertinence, New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill chronicles the lives of eighteen unbecoming ladies whose audacity, courage

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Book SynopsisChurchill in Quotes celebrates the life and wit of this iconic figure – combining archive photography with the inspiring speeches, wry remarks and cutting comments he was known for. Sir Winston Churchill, statesman, orator and former Prime Minister was a man whose words gave hope and inspiration to the British people, and many are as relevant today as they were during the war years. Churchill's speeches were not always confined to serious political rhetoric and motivation: his off-the-cuff quips and comments displayed a wry wit and humour. This book is a celebration of an outstanding figure in British history, presented in almost 200 photographs, hand-picked from the vast archives of the Press Association, many of which have remained unseen since they were first published in the newspapers and magazines of their day. SELLING POINTS: . Updated format of bestselling Churchill in Quotes with a refreshed and contemporary design . Includes 200 historical images from the archives of the Press Association . Photography of major events in Churchill's life and career

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Book SynopsisHilaire Belloc was born in France in 1870. As a child, he moved with his mother and siblings to England. As a French citizen, he did his military service in France before going to Oxford University, where he was president of the Union debating society. He took British citizenship in 1902 and was a member of parliament for several years.A prolific and versatile writer of over 150 books, he is best remembered for his comic and light verse. But he also wrote extensively about politics, history, nature and contemporary society. Famously adversarial, he is remembered for his long-running feud with H. G. Wells. He died in in Surrey, England, in 1953.

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Book SynopsisSometimes you press the button without thinking ... you know it’s a mistake but there’s no way back, you’ve posted something really stupid. It doesn’t make sense ... it’s littered with spelling mistakes ... you’ve missed the point ... Oh, God! I’d do ANYTHING to take that back! Other times, you read tweets that are just plain dumb!In this laugh-out-loud collection, you’ll find a selection of the really stupid things people post: · ‘I hate grapes. They discuss me.’ · ‘I want my first daughter to be a girl.’ · ‘Hope I done well in the English exam.’ With hundreds of examples of the very best (worst) tweeted howlers that range from the silly to the bewildering, The World’s Stupidest Tweets is guaranteed to keep you chuckling!

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Book SynopsisFeaturing all the Baby Blues comics from 2023, Everything Everywhere sums up the realities of the parenting experience in relatable and hilarious fashion.One of the most beloved family comic strips, Baby Blues chronicles the adventures of the McPherson parents, Darryl and Wanda, and their three children, Zoe, Hammie, and Wren. Written by Jerry Scott and illustrated by Rick Kirkman, this complete collection of 2023 Baby Blues comic strips will delight new and old parents alike.

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Book SynopsisA sharp, funny, and engaging introduction to socialist ideas, movements, and solutions for a world in crisis.Now with 50% more socialism!Socialism…Seriously is a warm and witty introduction to the radical traditions of protest and politics that stretch from Karl Marx through today’s movements for democracy, equality, and a livable planet. In this thoroughly revised and expanded edition, Danny Katch uses humor and imagination to take an unflinching look at the rising threats posed by climate change, billionaire oligarchs, and the far right—and makes a compelling case that a socialist world is both necessary and possible.Katch separates the lies spun by capitalism’s defenders from the system’s brutal realities, and is candid about debates and challenges facing the socialist movement today. This book is for people who want to take a deeper look at what socialism is… but maybe not that deep.Sincere, irreverent, informative, and playful, Socialism… Seriously is a unique and timely contribution to our movements for justice.Trade Review"[W]ith his humorous dissecting of the inanities of capitalism and his ability to make socialist ideas accessible and attractive, Katch makes a compelling case throughout his book for why we should still do everything we can to bring such a world into existence." —The Indypendent“Socialism… Seriously is a refreshing embrace of socialism as an alternative to the greed, inequality, racism and xenophobia of the capitalist world we are living in.”—Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation“Give this book to your grandma, your mailman, to everyone except your boss—it’s the most fun and accessible introduction to socialist ideas I’ve ever read.”—Anand Gopal, author of No Good Men Among the Living“Read Socialism… Seriously, then pass it on to a friend. It's the perfect gateway drug to becoming the full-throttled socialist organizer that you've been waiting for.”—Hadas Thier, author of A People’s Guide to Capitalism“Capitalism was a system built to be skewered. But to do it right, you need the political chops and you need to know how to make the jokes. Danny Katch checks every box and his Socialism….Seriously is a necessary book.”—Dave Zirin, author of The Kaepernick Effect“Everyone* will love this book.”*Billionaires, multi-million dollar corporations, and yacht-owning CEOs not included.—Judah Friedlander, World Champion“I've been waiting for someone to write this book—a lighthearted, easy read that packs an intro course on socialism into a short volume. With jokes that made me laugh out loud, and a lot of heart. Socialism is for lovers. Indeed.”—Sarah Jaffe, author of Work Won't Love You Back“The promise of a more lovely world is worth our best energies and our sustained commitment—Danny Katch shows us that socialism is for lovers, not losers.”—Bill Ayers, author of Demand the Impossible!“Danny Katch brings the socialist vision to life.”—Bhaskar Sunkara, editor of JacobinTable of ContentsIntroduction2040: A Cold Day in PhiladelphiaPart I: The End?1 All is Not Lost2 Ghost StoriesPart II: Capitalism3 Welcome to the Jungle4 Freedom and the Fine Print5 The Deep StatePart III: Socialism6 Workers Power7 Land Back 8 Revolution?9 Wait, is this Communism?Part IV: The Beginning2040: A Hot Day in Queens10 Will Socialism be Boring? 11 Is Socialism a Religion? Should it Be?Conclusion: Here’s Exactly What To Do When You Finish this Book

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author and star of 2 Dope Queens Phoebe Robinson is back with a new, hilarious, and timely essay collection on gender, race, dating, and the dumpster fire that is our world. Wouldn't it be great if life came with instructions? Of course, but like access to Michael B. Jordan's house, none of us are getting any. Thankfully, Phoebe Robinson is ready to share everything she has experienced to prove that if you can laugh at her topsy-turvy life, you can laugh at your own. Written in her trademark unfiltered and witty style, Robinson's latest collection is a call to arms. Outfitted with on-point pop culture references, these essays tackle a wide range of topics: giving feminism a tough-love talk on intersectionality, telling society's beauty standards to kick rocks, and calling foul on our culture's obsession with work. Robinson also gets personal, exploring money problems she's hidden from her parents, how dating is mainly a warmed-over bowl of hot mess, and definitely most important, meeting Bono not once, but twice. She's struggled with being a woman with a political mind and a woman with an ever-changing jeans size. She knows about trash because she sees it every day--and because she's seen roughly one hundred thousand hours of reality TV and zero hours of Schindler's List. With the intimate voice of a new best friend, Everything's Trash, But It's Okay is a candid perspective for a generation that has had the rug pulled out from under it too many times to count.

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Book SynopsisA compelling collection of anonymous postcards sent during lockdown, revealing hilarious, salacious, relatable and sometimes heartbreaking secret confessions. In the thick of the 2021 coronavirus lockdown, designer and shopowner Eleanor Tattersfield put out a call on Instagram: 'I'll send you a postcard, you send me a secret'. Lockdown Secrets is an astonishing record of what happened next. Postcards poured in, some beautifully decorated, some simply handwritten, but each one anonymously sharing a very personal confession. They came from people of all ages and all walks of life, including some celebrities. Prominent themes began to emerge: relationships, sex, masturbation, food, rebellion, loneliness and, surprisingly, a lot of love for lockdown itself. This beautiful book brings together the best of the postcards Eleanor received, and all human life is here: furtive infidelities, bad behaviour in the local bakery, sneaking off for baths during a busy homeschooling schedule, rediscovered marital bliss, and, occasionally, poignant moments of sadness and despair. We've all been through the lockdown experience, and every reader will find something to relate to in this fascinating collection, a perfect snapshot of an extraordinary time.Trade Review'By turns confessional, funny and moving, this anthology of secrets collected during lockdown is an endlessly entertaining and fascinating document of those strange, strange times ... An ingenious concept of a book that will make an entertaining and elegant gift ... Honest and enlightening, what an extraordinarily unique document of such extraordinary times this book is.’ - LoveReading || 'Lockdown’s most addictive Instagram account’ - Stylist.co.uk || 'This book will change your life' - Sir John Hegarty || ‘A fascinating glimpse into other people’s lives’ - Top Santé || ‘Very addictive and very funny’ - Features Director, Good Housekeeping - Jackie Brown

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Book SynopsisWith Aylett's surreal satire at full blast, HYPERTHICK collects the 3-issue comic series that Alan Moore described as a new dimension of poetic genius. Follow Benny the Hen, Su Pesto, Biloxi Blake and Fox Grave as they lurch from one fulfilling fiasco to another. Wall-to-wall trickster figures face off in a lateral drench of comedic honesty. What is the Memphis Conjecture? Are owls to blame? Where do characters go when they run out of bends to go around? Lucid dream or psychedelic stoicism? Ignite your chemistry and discover the heart of the spiral narrative. In Clownsurround! Plus bonus material.

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Book SynopsisThe thrill of victory, the agony of a tight jockstrap. It’s the reason we love sports—you never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes everything clicks, with the best athlete in the world competing at their peak, and the result is a thing of breathtaking beauty. But sometimes the opposite happens, resulting in moments of breathtaking hilarity, or astonishing inanity, or just plain head-scratching puzzlement. Welcome to The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time.Featuring:  The most boring games in sports history Wise(ish) words on winning Stupid mascot antics The strangest things coaches have done to motivate teams And much, much more! 

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Book SynopsisSuitable for those who are curious about things for which no words exist, and have a mild interest in random Yorkshire villages with quirky names, this dictionary of toponymy and etymology features some of the obscurely wonderful, often unheard of and wastefully under-used place names of this county.

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Book SynopsisIn the sixth book in the Don Camillo series all is peaceful in the village we know so well. The people are cheerful and friendly and exercise their famous sense of humour, but then the elections are upon us, a storm breaks, and the village priest discovers that the last straw can break even a Camillo's back…Trade Review'Instinctive humanity and compassion.' The Guardian 'Absolutely delightful.' Paul Merton

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis is a funny and beautiful book. What a little bastard.' RUSSELL BRANDA millennial''s answer to David Sedaris. No writer is funnier than Joel Golby.' DOLLY ALDERTONA collection of full-throated appreciations, withering assessments, and hard-won lessons by the popular journalist.There are a few things you need to know about Joel Golby. Both his parents are dead. His dad was an alcoholic. He himself has a complicated relationship with alcohol. He once went to karaoke three times in five days. He will always beat you at Monopoly, and he will always cheat.Joel makes a name for himself as a journalist who brings us distinguished articles such as A Man Shits On A Plane So Hard It Has To Turn Around And Come Back Again', but that says more about us than him. In his first book, Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant Joel writes about important stuff (death, alcohol, loss, friendship) and unimportant stuff (Saudi Arabian Camel Pageants, a watertight ranking of the Rocky films, MTrade Review ‘Joel Golby is my favourite pop-culture obsessed nihilist. If you like camel beauty pageants and robot sex as much as I do you’ll love this. You’ll laugh, cry and probably be a bit weirded out.’ SHARON HORGAN ‘Seeing the byline “Joel Golby” means you’re about to ungraciously snort with laughter in a public place. Sharper at dissecting the madness of 21st century online existence than any other writer.’ CAITLIN MORAN ‘Joel Golby is brilliant, his writing is brilliant, and his book is brilliant brilliant brilliant.’ JOE LYCETT ‘Joel is one of my favourite writers. He is brilliant and so is this massive book. If push came to shove, I would almost certainly pay the full RRP for it.’ GREG JAMES

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Book SynopsisTHE HILARIOUS, MUST-HAVE HANDBOOK FOR ANYONE WHO HAS HAD TO ENDURE THE BULLSH*T OF THE MODERN WORKING WORLD. Are you a total failure at work? Do you struggle with simple tasks like using the phrase moving forward in every email? Have you never used the word synergies in a LinkedIn post? You need W*nkernomics.Picture the scene. You''re sitting in a meeting at work. Your colleagues are deep in serious discussion. Terry says he wants an end-to-end, digital-first solution by COB Friday. Fiona says she''ll have to take that offline and circle back later. And then quite suddenly, you catch yourself thinking, ''hang on... what the f*ck are they talking about?'' Like, seriously, what do those words even mean?W*nkernomics is for anyone who has ever been told to reach out, touch base, drill down, or optimise their ducks on the same songsheet. Learn how to:* Navigate endless meetings* Master passive aggressive emails* Outmanoeuvre your colleagues with nothing more than an obnoxious LinkedIn profile, a pack of Post-it Notes and the phrase ''circle back''.W*nkernomics will help you navigate workplace hell like a boss.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the most twisted high-school reunion imaginable, from a rising star of American satire.Trade Review‘Sam Lipsyte is a gifted stylist, precise, original, devious, and very funny.’ Jeffrey Eugenides, author of ‘Middlesex’ ‘Sam Lipsyte can really write. Sentence after sentence is clever, agile, amused; they torque away, at the last moment, from what you might expect. One-liners abound, often freighted with darkness and insight; Lipsyte is playful and lewd, bleak and farcical, walking a fine line between near-glib humour and a genuine existential fear one could even call Beckettian.’ Guardian ‘Lipsyte’s fictional voice is incredibly self-assured, as if the world had been retranslated.’ Time Out ‘Lipsyte’s writing is inventive and playful…Deviant and hilarious, an absurdist picaresque.’ Literary Review

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MARK HADDONIn Postcard From The Past, Tom Jackson has gathered a collection of the funniest, weirdest and most moving real messages from the backs of old postcards.Sublimely funny' Jason Hazeley, author of the Ladybird Books for Grown UpsMy favourite Twitter account is now my favourite book. Irresistible!' Jill MansellThis book is an absolute treat' Holly WalshTransfixing, beguiling, warmly haunting. These are the ghosts of a childhood' Robin InceA hilarious and occasionally disturbing look at how the British remain resolutely small-minded wherever they go' Charlie HigsonSix by four inch portions of pure heaven' Rachel JohnsonSomehow both poignant and deeply creepy' Samira AhmedOne of Twitter's most nourishing concepts each one arriving like a bonsai Alan Bennett play' Danny BakerBeautiful. Inspiring. Educational. Hilarious' Emma FreudOne of the saddest and funniest picture books you''re ever likely to read' Owen Hatherley, author of The Ministry of NostalgiaHiTrade Review‘Resurrecting these postcards, relics of forgotten times and forgotten holidays, was the simplest and most brilliant idea. Tom Jackson combines the images with just a few of the words scribbled on the back, and his eye for the choice sentence, the perfect phrase, is miraculous. Thanks to his assiduous, obsessive work as collector and curator, each one of these postcards becomes a poem, a short story, an elegy for lost England, a work of art’ Jonathan Coe ‘What a funny, clever, poignant idea. Postcard From The Past contains not just 150 very short stories, each one of which bears comparison with the work of Alan Bennett, Stevie Smith and Marcel Proust, but also lovely, picturesque views of coves, chines, promenades, escarpments and the Museum and Art Gallery, Doncaster. You will wish you were there’ Andy Miller, author of The Year of Reading Dangerously ‘A deadpan miscellany of wan nostalgia, profound melancholy, stoic humour and inexplicable dread. The necessary survival text for post-Brexit Britain’ Andrew Male 'I loved this book so very much. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, this is a beautiful collection of tiny windows into the stories of other people's lives’ Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep ‘Brilliant and hilarious’ Jeremy Dyson, The League of Gentlemen ‘The most addictively British Twitter feed ever has become a book. I may never leave the house again’ Viv Groskop ‘Each card is like an unfinished one act play. I find myself filling in the blanks’ Adrian Edmondson ‘The bleak yet beautiful poetry of people at their leisure is a joy to read’ Phill Jupitus ‘A gorgeous pre-Twitter look at life through a holiday lens’ Jenny Éclair ‘Are there awards for Most Hilarious Yet Touching Yet Profound Bathroom/Coffee Table/Gift Book of the Year? If so, this book wins HANDS DOWN’ Amanda Palmer

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Book SynopsisGolf is not just for the links it's for life.How do you know when you're a golfer? For starters, you might just find golf has infiltrated every aspect of your life, from your choice of car (plenty of boot space) to the way you talk. You may find yourself mowing your lawn to fairway height, or discussing how your shaft feels extremely loudly in public. You probably think sub-par means something must be really, really good, and you're pretty sure the Dutch Masters is a golf tournament. If you had to list your favourite numbers, they're most likely 2, 3, 4, 18 and 72, and you spend 80% of dead-time practising your swing with an imaginary club and ball and yet you always look to see where it went.But how do you really know when you're a golfer? Perhaps you need to buy this book to find out.

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Book SynopsisFalling in love is a beautiful thing. The internet, naturally, has taken this beauty and turned it into something deeply, deeply strange. Featuring screenshots from real-life dating conversations, Is This Love or Dopamine? is a hilarious, piercing analysis of the weird-and-not-so-wonderful world of internet dating.@beam_me_up_softboi creator and journalist Iona David explores all the highs, horrors and heartbreaks: from the all-important first DM slide to the inevitable eventual ghosting; from f*ckboys and Tinder anthems to loaded emojis and revenge selfies. Learn what to do if someone uses teehee' in a sext (run for the hills) or has a photo of themselves holding a massive fish on their profile (run faster).A dedication to all the hours spent lying in bed/sitting on the toilet swiping until thumb cramp sets in, this book will make you laugh, then cry, then delete your dating app profile, then (obviously) re-download it again. Long live the internet!Trade Review‘Iconic’ – Matty Healy ‘One day researchers will use this book as a holy text to explain why the birth rate dropped from about 2019 onwards’ – Joel Golby ‘Any millennial or zoomer could tell you that modern dating is an absolute nightmare. From the first hello on a dating app to the bizarre post-coital interactions, most of us have dealt with the ego of softbois and f*ckbois alike. But now, we finally have someone who can really rationalise today's digital dating landscape with a wealth of data. Iona's done us all a favour by chronicling online interactions that prove our sneaking suspicion that romance might actually be dead. Her deconstruction of the softboi, internet lingo and ultimately our feelings around dating gives us the reassurance that we are not alone.’ – Swipes4Daddy (Erika Gajda) ‘After spending years running a meme account dedicated to airing examples of men doing profoundly bad flirting, most people would give up and embrace a life of quiet celibacy. Not Iona David. In Is This Love or Dopamine, David wades even deeper into the weeds of digital dating, studying the 'softbois' and 'f*ckboys' of the field while saying something wider about how we look for love in the modern world. Smart, sympathetic and wickedly funny, it’s an essential emotional support manual for those unfortunate enough to be horny and online.’ – Emma Garland

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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning greetings card designer Rosie Made a Thing comes an invaluable handbook for all of those afflicted with adulthood'.It's not easy being a grown-up.From surviving ever-more apocalyptic hangovers, relationship niggles and endless laundry, to trying to stay healthy whenwellcake.But with this book, your besties and a big glass of wine, these tricky adult situations may be a little easier to navigate.If not, try adding some gin.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of all the weird and wonderful books to be found at an antiquarian bookshop.Books have the power to enrich the soul, to enliven the senses, to expand our horizons and others are simply mad. This wonderful celebration of the oddest books ever published is a treat for all bibliophiles, booksellers and fans of the bizarre. It is an exploration of the most eccentric titles and covers from our past, that have inexplicably fallen out of print but should never be forgotten.Gems include:Scouts in BondageFrog Raising for Pleasure and ProfitPremature Burial and How It May Be PreventedDrummer Dick's Discharge

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Book Synopsis A SEARCH AND FIND BOOK

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Book Synopsis The heartwarming and hilarious part-memoir, part-guide from comedian and father-of-six Ashley Blaker, on parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs. Trade Review ADVANCE PRAISE ‘A very funny and honest account of Ashley’s extraordinary ordinary life. There is treasure here for all parents, non-parents and children of parents, and that is surely most people.’Alex Horne ‘Great insights and advice for any parent, from a unique and fascinating family and their brilliantly funny dad.’Katy Brand ‘Absolutely hilarious and yet so poignant. This book is going to both entertain and bring comfort to so many people, giving them hope for the future.’Matt Lucas ‘There’s so much love and good energy in this book. It had me smiling from the very first words.’Adam Hills ‘Normal Schmormal is a laugh-out-loud, touching memoir of advice, where embracing the weird becomes something wonderful. Every parent should have a copy.’Emma Kennedy ‘Hilarious, fascinating, and moving. A very special book about a very special family. I laughed and learned so much.’Elis James ‘This is a must read. Ashley Blaker has a special brand of comic magic. His gift is in making the toughest life challenges seem relatable and even joyous.’Rob Rinder ‘Funny and warm hearted, this book is a godsend for neurodivergent parents like me.’Josie Long ‘Inspirational, moving and massively funny. A beautiful schmeautiful book.’David Schneider ‘Ashley is a superb comic writer and this is a brilliantly funny and often incredibly emotional memoir.’David Walliams ‘Full of love, this book is a unique and uplifting document of a remarkable everyday life. God knows how Ashley found time to write it.’Mark Watson ‘Funny, moving and incredibly useful. This book can teach us all something about parenting.’Lucy Porter ‘A vivid record of a father’s love for his children and a plea for others to follow suit, whatever their kids may be like. A gorgeous book.’Jeremy Dyson ‘Chipped away at my ignorance and made me laugh at the same time. A neat trick.’Mike Wozniak

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Book SynopsisThe author of the hit parody The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadfully Teddy draws on the simple, idyllic world of Beatrix Potter to shed light on some of the most pertinent issues of our time.Beatrix, a refined and gentle lady, decides to relocate to the countryside to escape the chaotic city and exorbitant house prices of London, in search of a simpler, more holistic life. Looking forward to painting cute rural animals and writing stories about their charming ways, she desires nothing more than to surround herself with nature and to practice mindfulness and kindness. But after months spent in isolation during ?hibernation?, all the local wildlife emerge grumpy, sweary and having forgotten all their social skills ? Jemima Puddleduck has even been cancelled. Will Beatrix?s new small garden and spare room make all this aggro worth it?Trade Review“Refreshing as a quadruple gin and full fat tonic, this subversive and very funny book loosens the laughter corsets and makes you never want to fasten them again. We all need a break from the self-righteous and virtue signallers and Planet Paul Magrs is where it’s at. Love, love LOVED it.” – Milly Johnson

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Book SynopsisA miscellany of actual patents for wonderfully bizarre inventions, Brilliantly Bad is a salute to what the human mind can achieve even if it probably shouldn't.This collection of the strangest ideas ever patented, ranging from the bizarre and baffling to the *oh so close* to genius, is a true celebration of human ingenuity in all its (occasionally) pointless glory.INVENTIONS INCLUDE:A coat that doubles as a urinalA musical condomAn automated pet petterFace-lifting earringsA weight-lifting device for the penis

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Book SynopsisThe actress, comedian, media darling, and New York Times bestselling author picks up where she left off in Ali in Wonderland, dissecting modern life—and this time, on a mission of self-improvement—in a series of laugh-out-loud comic vignettes.Moved by a particularly inspirational tweet one day, Ali Wentworth resolves to live by the pithy maxims she discovers in her feeds. What begins as a sort of self-help project quickly turns into something far grander—and increasingly funnier—as the tweets she once viewed with irony become filled with increasing metaphysical importance. And thus begins her “Unhappiness Project.”It’s not long before Ali expands her self-improvement quest to include parenting, relationship, fitness (or lack thereof), and dieting advice. The results are painfully (at times literally) clear: when it comes to self-help, sometimes you should leave it to the professionals.At once endearing

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Thurber Prize“How in the hell is this so funny one second and so heartbreaking the next? Harrison Scott Key examines the topic of fatherhood and sonhood with fresh, clear eyes. . . except wait, they’re not clear because they filled with tears, of laughter one second and sadness the next. I dare you to find a better way to spend the seconds and minutes and hours of your day than with this book.” — Tom Franklin, New York Times bestselling author of Crooked Letter, Crooked LetterThe riotous, tender story of a bookish Mississippi boy and his flawed, Bunyanesque father, told with the comic verve of David Sedaris and the deft satire of Mark Twain or Roy Blount, Jr.Harrison Scott Key was born in Memphis, but he grew up in Mississippi, among pious, Bible-reading women and men who either shot things or got women pregnant. At the center of his wor

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