Humour collections and anthologies Books

Book SynopsisNamed One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, BuzzFeed, Bustle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Electric Lit, Thrillist, Glamour, CNN, and Shondaland “Wickedly funny and heartstoppingly vulnerable…every page twinkles with brilliance.” —Refinery29 Perfect for fans of Samantha Irby and Trick Mirror, a funny, whip-smart collection of personal essays exploring the intersection of queerness, relationships, pop culture, the internet, and identity, introducing one of the most undeniably original new voices today.Jill Gutowitz’s life—for better and worse—has always been on a collision course with pop culture. There’s the time the FBI showed up at her door because of something she tweeted about Game of Thrones. The pop songs that have been the soundtrack to the worst moments of her life. And of course, the pivotal day when Orange Is the New Black hit the airwaves and broke down the door to Jill’s own sexuality. In these honest examinations of identity, desire, and self-worth, Jill explores perhaps the most monumental cultural shift of our lifetimes: the mainstreaming of lesbian culture. Dusting off her own personal traumas and artifacts of her not-so-distant youth she examines how pop culture acts as a fun house mirror reflecting and refracting our values—always teaching, distracting, disappointing, and revealing us. Girls Can Kiss Now is a fresh and intoxicating blend of personal stories, sharp observations, and laugh-out-loud humor. This timely collection of essays helps us make sense of our collective pop-culture past even as it points the way toward a joyous, uproarious, near—and very queer—future.Trade Review“Fresh and witty.” —Vogue“Compulsively readable.” —The Skimm“Gutowitz maps the current lesbian canon with a lot of humor and more than a few wonderful, and wonderfully mortifying, personal anecdotes.” —Wired“Comedy gold…If you were to mark every single funny thing in this book, you would mark the entire book.”—Isaac Fitzgerald, Today“Ever-hilarious and insightful...Gutowitz explores how lesbianism went mainstream.” —Bustle“Between every one-liner and guffaw, Gutowitz delivers not just herself, but universal truths everyone can relate to.” —USA Today“[A] thrilling excavation of lesbian pop culture... a perfect combination of humor and sincerity, of wit, self-deprecation, and most importantly, self-love.” —Associated Press“Hilarious…Girls Can Kiss Now is going to be one of the most important accessories of 2022.” —Glamour"A laugh-out-loud look at the mainstreaming of queer culture...Gutowitz’s book is perhaps the definitive authority on what it means to be gay and a little too online.” —Harper's Bazaar“A hilarious, heartfelt eye-opener, helping readers laugh, get emotional, and, most importantly, consider how the world has wronged the lesbian community and the work that still needs to be done for true acceptance.” —Shondaland“Super-funny, personal, honest, insightful and filled with pop culture references, Gutowitz’s essays on queer culture will leave you laughing out loud.” —CNN“Irreverent and insightful…[a] heartfelt celebration and defense of the importance of pop culture in helping queer people feel seen.” —Buzzfeed“An equal mix of illuminating analysis and laugh-out-loud anecdotes.” —Thrillist“Wickedly funny and heartstoppingly vulnerable…every page twinkles with brilliance.” —Refinery29“Hilarious…Jill Gutowitz explores how pop culture has shaped society's perception of lesbianism, how it's impacted her own life, and, ultimately, what we can expect from a very queer future that's in store for us.” —Marie Claire"Incisive and funny…Gutowitz blends candid reflections on the experience of being closeted with witty analysis on how the media affects one’s perception of the world. Fans of the personal essay will be eager to see what Gutowitz does next.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Shines with humor, vulnerability, and poignancy...formally inventive and searingly personal...A witty essay collection about pop culture and queerness.” —Kirkus Reviews"Readers who recall where they were – because these iconic moments were lifechanging – when Orange is the New Black debuted or when paparazzi pictures of Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson arguing were published will relish re-living their importance with Gutowitz." —Booklist"Every single sentence glitters, quivers, and shakes with a kind of unhinged lesbian brilliance that is both wickedly funny and deeply self-aware. GIRLS CAN KISS NOW is not only the gayest book of essays I’ve ever read — it’s one of the best." —Gabrielle Korn, author of Everybody (Else) is Perfect "Jill Gutowitz's brain is full of lightning bolts. I loved every word of this hilarious and heartfelt book." —Diablo Cody, award-winning screenwriter and author of Candy Girl “Snaps, crackles and pops with sharp one-liners and biting wit. But when Gutowitz deftly uses her encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture to interrogate her own personal history and relationship to her queerness, her prose reaches a level of depth and tenderness that left me reeling with emotion. 10/10. You must read this book if you're gay, human, or both.” —Ryan O'Connell, author of I'm Special and Just by Looking at Him“Queer social media icon Jill Gutowitz weaves pop culture, relationships and humor together in a memorable, enjoyable collection…Lesbianism and shame intersect in an entertaining, thought-provoking way in these irreverent stories.” —GMA“You’ll certainly be entertained, but there is a certain level of tenderness and care that really makes this book shine.” —Buzzfeed

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Book SynopsisIt’s time to enjoy more bare-bottomed fun from Woolly Bush. Bernard and Barbara invite you to the Woolly Bush Carnival and all that entails – there’s dancing round the maypole, a baking competition, vegetable growing, archery, farm animals and a dog show to enjoy. Patterns include Jim the farmer, his dog Willie and his pig and piglets, the chickens and cockerel as well as the village Vicar and his binoculars. Packed with lots of dinky objects to create your scene – from an archery set to a Battenberg slice and even a sausage in a bap. Bursting with British eccentricity, double entendres and a lot of village fun, this craft book will appeal to knitting fans and humour-lovers alike.Trade Review‘Hilarious, if not a little naughty’ -- Simply Knitting

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Book SynopsisBrian Bilston has been described as Twitter's unofficial Poet Laureate. With over 400,000 followers on social media, Brian has become truly beloved by the online community. He has published three collections of poetry, You Took the Last Bus Home; Alexa, what is there to know about love?; and Days Like These. His novel Diary of a Somebody was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. He has also published a collection of football poetry, 50 Ways to Score a Goal, and his acclaimed poem Refugees has been made into an illustrated book for children.

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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 SynopsisBest friend to Charlie Brown, brother to Lucy, lovable Linus shares his outlook on life in this beautifully produced gift book for all generations. In his incomparable style, Linus spends his days fiercely protecting his security blanket, dodging the insults of his big sister, considering the flavour of his thumb and waiting for the Great Pumpkin to finally appear. For the millions of faithful Charles Schulz fans, and those who fondly remember this philosophical little boy with his blanket, this new series of books sees the beguiling Peanuts gang share their sentiments on everything from food to friendship.Trade ReviewI became obsessed . . . It's hilarious. We all went to school with a Lucy, or a Linus -- JUDE LAWIt's impossible to think of another popular art form that reaches across generations the way the daily comic strip does . . . at the pinnacle of that long tradition, there was Charles Schulz * * Seattle Times * *The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated -- UMBERTO ECOCharles Schulz was, plain and simple, a great artist and philosopher . . . But most importantly, he teaches all ages that if you can learn to laugh at the things that cause you the most pain you will be the strongest of all. Peanuts: a real way of life -- JOHN WATERSCharles Schulz was an American treasure - an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life -- BILL CLINTON

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Book SynopsisA humorous collection of hundreds of funny news stories, whacky phenomena, and hilarious blunders and gaffes from around the world, such as: the woman who smuggled 75 live snakes in her bra; the man who held a funeral for his amputated foot; the radioactive cat which got mistaken for a bomb; the human tongue that got served up in a hospital; the X-ray that revealed E.T.'s face in a duck; the youth who woke to find a bullet in his tongue; the tortoise that set a house on fire; and many more.

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Book SynopsisFrom nationally bestselling author, YouTube star, and Facebook Video sensation Laura Clery comes a collection of comedic essays that paint “an honest, complicated portrait of how your life can change” (SheKnows).Laura Clery makes a living by sharing inappropriate comedy sketches with millions of strangers on the internet. She writes songs about her anatomy, talks trash about her one-eyed rescue pug, and sexually harasses her husband, Stephen. And it pays the bills! Now, in her first-ever book, Laura recounts how she went from being a dangerously impulsive, broke, unemployable, suicidal, cocaine-addicted narcissist, crippled by fear and hopping from one toxic romance to the next…to a more-happy-than-not, somewhat rational, meditating, vegan yogi with good credit, a great marriage, a fantastic career, and four unfortunate-looking rescue animals. Still, above all, Laura remains an amazingly talented, adorable, and vulnerable, self-described…Idiot. With her signature brand of offbeat, no-holds-barred humor, Idiot introduces you to a wildly original—and undeniably relatable—new voice.

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Book SynopsisHow easy is it to fall off a log? Where is the middle of nowhere? Do we really have no bananas? The readers of OLD GIT magazine are a batty, befuddled, potty-mouthed bunch, who seem to spend a significant chunk of their spare time corresponding with the publication''s popular letters page. DO ANTS HAVE ARSEHOLES? is a very funny, very silly collection of questions and answers taken from this column, none of which has any basis whatsoever in fact. A must for all those who relish a heady mixture of shaggy-dog stories, toilet humour and utter lack of insight.Trade ReviewA very funny spoof of pop-science collections * Telegraph *The finest example of man-friendly Q&A bog books out there * Zoo *Every year, one funny book seems to stand out from all the others. This year, it's Do Ants Have Arseholes?... a rip-roaring parody... * The Spectator *The book being touted as this year's can't-miss, downstairs-loo-fixture of a dead-cert publishing-phenomenon-cum-stocking-filler sensation... * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis____________How do you apply game theory to select who should be on your Christmas shopping list ? Can you predict Her Majesty's Christmas Message? Will calculations show Santa is getting steadily thinner - shimmying up and down chimneys for a whole night - or fatter - as he tucks into a mince pie and a glass of sherry in billions of houses across the world?Full of diagrams, sketches and graphs, beautiful equations, Markov chains and matrices, The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus brightens up the bleak midwinter with stockingfuls of mathematical marvels. And proves once and for all that maths isn't just for old men with white hair and beards who associate with elves.Maths has never been merrier.NOW WITH A BRAND NEW CHAPTERTrade ReviewHannah Fry is quickly becoming the David Attenborough of maths. * Telegraph *A smart, witty, original take on the festive season, with calculations and theories to help you prepare and solve your Christmas conundrums. * The Sun *Just in case the charm and beauty of mathematical thinking has passed by some of your friends and family, they will be grateful for this slim volume in their stocking. The puzzles and games of Hannah Fry and Thomas Evans involving present-wrapping and Queen's Speech bingo are but an entry drug for heady passages about the natureof truth and game theory. * New Scientist *From the perfect Secret Santa gift to finally proving the existence of St Nick, a new book uses mathematics to crack the toughest festival conundrums. * Evening Standard *The broadcaster and author of The Mathematics of Love teams up with a mathematician and writer for this intelligent stocking filler ... sounds enormous fun. * Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisThis New York Times bestseller is the hilarious philosophy course everyone wishes they’d had in school.Outrageously funny, Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar... has been a breakout bestseller ever since authors—and born vaudevillians—Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein did their schtick on NPR’s Weekend Edition. Lively, original, and powerfully informative, Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... is a not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical thinkers and traditions, from Existentialism (What do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?) to Logic (Sherlock Holmes never deduced anything). Philosophy 101 for those who like to take the heavy stuff lightly, this is a joy to read—and finally, it all makes sense!And now, you can read Daniel Klein's further musings on life and philosophy in Travels with Epicurus and Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change it

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Book SynopsisSir Winston Churchill remains a British hero, lauded for his oratorical skill. He wrote histories, biographies, memoirs, and even a novel, while his journalism, speeches and broadcasts run to millions of words. From 1940 he inspired and united the British people and guided their war effort. Behind the public figure, however, was a man of vast humanity and enormous wit. His most famous speeches and sayings have passed into history but many of his aphorisms, puns and jokes are less well known. This enchanting collection brings together hundreds of his wittiest remarks as a record of all that was best about this endearing, conceited, talented and wildly funny Englishman. Also available in the series:(9781782433651) The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II(9781782435426) The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde(9781782435662) The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen

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Book SynopsisIf DAVID RAKOFF and DAVID SEDARIS had a baby and that baby was Betty. Zoe KazanIf you've ever felt like you were more, or at least weirder, than the world expected?you''re not alone...In this collection, EMMY AWARD-nominated ACTRESS/WRITER Betty Gilpin writes like an avenging angel, weaving a tapestry of light and darkness, hilarity, and pathos. (Dani Shapiro)Oh. Hi. *takes six long gulps of water during which you're like, may I help you?*My name is Betty. I have depression. I have passion. I have tits the size of printers. And also: I have a brain full of women.There's Blanche VonFuckery, Ingrid St. Rash, and a host of otherssome cowering in sweatpants, some howling plans for revolution, and one, oh God, and one . . . slowly vomiting up a crow? Worried for her. These women take turns at the wheel. That's why I feel like a million selves. With a raised eyebrow and a soul-scalpel, I'd

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Book SynopsisFrom Julius Malema's tantrums to President Zuma's plane trips to Bakkies Botha's booting, this record features a big and busy year in news from the Rainbow Nation. Offering a candid South African perspective of current events, this annual utilizes the usual cast of characters to illustrate the country's current political state.Trade Review'Outrageously funny with unerring humour and intelligence' - Cosmopolitan Magazine 'A new niche in popular culture' - The New York Times 'Locates the common national funnybone' - The Washington Post

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Book SynopsisBrian Bilston is a poet and novelist. His poetry collections include You Took the Last Bus Home, Alexa, what is there to know about love?, Let Sleeping Cats Lie: Pet Poems, Days Like These: An Alternative Guide to the Year in 366 Poems and a festive collection, And So This is Christmas: 51 Seasonally Adjusted Poems. His debut novel, Diary of a Somebody, was shortlisted for the Costa first novel award. He has also published a collection of football poetry, 50 Ways to Score a Goal, and his acclaimed poem Refugees has been made into an illustrated book for children.

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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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