Humour Books

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Book SynopsisA delightfully illustrated guide to harnessing the rhythms of nature for self-care.We could all learn a thing or two about living in balance from our friends in the plant and animal kingdom. Take, for example, the jellyfish, one of the most energy-efficient animals in the world, moving through the ocean by contracting and relaxing, with frequent breaks in between. Or the avocado tree, which can credit its existence to a mutually beneficial relationship with the pre-historic sloth, followed by some hungry, hungry humans and the advent of agriculture. And then there is the oyster, producing a pearl as the result of an immune response when a grain of sand invades her system. What better example exists of how adversity can produce something beautiful?We need look no farther than nature—from the habits of the porcupine to the sunflower to the wombat to the dragonfly—for small and simple things we can do to slow down, rechTrade Review"Shah's humor is infectious, and her breezy approach makes learning from shrimp, sloths, spiders, and wombats, among many others, unexpectedly rewardigng." — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Book Review Editors'' Choice“A brilliant, honest, necessary book that exposes the intricacies of the human brain while showing us the way creativity and friendship can anchor us. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered if they see the world a little differently.” -Ada LimónA New Yorker cartoonist illustrates his lifelong struggle with OCD in cartoon vignettes frank and funnyJason Adam Katzenstein is just trying to live his life, but he keeps getting sidetracked by his over-active, anxious brain. Mundane events like shaking hands or sharing a drink snowball into absolute catastrophes. Jason has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a mental illness that compels him to perform rituals in order to protect himself from dangers that don’t really exist. He checks, washes, over-thinks, rinse, repeat. He does his best to hide his em

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"It’s like a rambunctious yard sale of her life, and it’s magnificent." — People "An endearing, hilarious, and beautiful essay collection." — The Skimm, "10 Books That'll Get You Out of a Reading Rut" "The Wreckage of My Presence will destroy you. Laughter through the tears. Love Casey Wilson!” — Amy Sedaris "I had the thrilling experience of laughing out loud throughout reading THE WRECKAGE OF MY PRESENCE! Casey is as hilarious on the page as she is in person, and her stories are often more bizarre than anything I’ve seen on the Housewives, with tons of heart." — Andy Cohen "Casey Wilson is laugh out loud funny, vulnerable, and honest. Reading this book made me feel like I’m hanging out with a best friend. What a pleasure and privilege to spend time with such an absolute treasure.” — Phoebe Robinson, bestselling author of You Can’t Touch My Hair “Reading Casey Wilson’s memoir is a lot like hanging out with Casey herself: you never want the fun to end. Laugh-out-loud funny, joyously raw and real, this book is like the great boozy night out we all need.” — Jessi Klein, New York Times bestselling author of You’ll Grow Out of It “A funny, irreverent memoir-in-essays. Reading The Wreckage of My Presence is like having a free-ranging chat with a friend that hits on all the important topics (grief, motherhood, The Real Housewives).” — Real Simple “Wilson turns the trappings of fame into rich fodder for highlighting the absurdities of her Hollywood life. Her humorous writing flows in a rapid-fire, conversational tone, but underneath the laughs, the constant, human, and very relatable undercurrent becomes more apparent. . . . will appeal to fans of other funny female essayists like Chelsea Handler and Mindy Kaling, whether or not they are already devotees of Wilson's work.” — Booklist “Completely shameless, but also incredibly endearing. . . . Wilson’s incredible collection of essays shines throughout, especially when seamlessly moving from gasp-worthy, low-brow humor to deeply heartfelt epiphanies about confidence, motherhood, and food addiction. VERDICT Equally irreverent and heartfelt, this collection is a roller-coaster. . . . You might cry and scream, but you’ll be eager to get back in line to take another ride.” — Library Journal “Funny and bold, occasionally manic or melancholy, and always hilarious and heartfelt. Fans will turn the last page wanting more. — BookPage

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Book SynopsisIt is a truth universally acknowledged that a good white person of liberal leanings must be in want of a Black friend.In the biting, hilarious vein of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life comes Ben Philippe’s candid memoir-in-essays, chronicling a lifetime of being the Black friend (see also: foreign kid, boyfriend, coworker, student, teacher, roommate, enemy) in predominantly white spaces.  In an era in which “I have many black friends” is often a medal of Wokeness, Ben hilariously chronicles the experience of being on the receiving end of those fist bumps. He takes us through his immigrant childhood, from wanting nothing more than friends to sit with at lunch, to his awkward teenage years, to college in the age of Obama, and adulthood in the Trump administration—two sides of the same American coin.

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Book SynopsisAn instant New York Times bestseller from Kelly Ripa—a sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories showing the many dimensions and crackling wit of the beloved daytime talk show host.In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen—a very wise woman who has something to say. 

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Book SynopsisA wonderfully candid memoir from one of the most recognizable faces of a generation, actor, writer, Youtuber, and television superstar, Josh Peck.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In this collection of sharp recollections, Jordan details his life growing up as a church-going boy outside of Chattanooga to misadventures in drag to moving to Los Angeles in the midst of the AIDS crisis. He is, in every sense, fierce, a hilarious storyteller who makes the mundane seem magical and a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ community... This breezy collection will appeal to readers of pop culture, celebrity memoirs, and Southern storytelling." — Booklist “Hilarious . . . highly entertaining . . . With a whole lot of heart and even more laughs, Jordan captures his personality perfectly on the page.” — The Nerd Daily

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"With humor, candor and the ease of a veteran storyteller, Tea reminds us that there is no making life in pursuit of a prefigured plan. We learn from what we least expect, propelled toward “the outer reaches of love, where it hits the limits of our understanding.” — New York Times Book Review "Whether Tea is writing nonfiction—including her PEN Award-winning 2018 essay collection “Against Memoir”—or cult-favorite fiction, her work is her own, ringing in her unmistakable voice: wry, witty, authentic, down-to-earth but also way-up-in-the-clouds. Above all, it’s the self-deprecating, self-aware and ultimately self-loving honesty that distinguishes Tea’s way of life and her irresistible, evocative and wise way of writing about it." — Meredith Maran, Washington Post "Tea’s account showcases the fluidity of contemporary identity and family bonds, but also of time and narrative. This overlapping of new romance and pregnancy, miscarriage and marriage, of triumph and vulnerability, of birth and death—and, we could add, of private joy amidst political despair—is a different kind of adventure. It’s not so much that one can move instantly from delight to despair, but that we experience both together, all the time." — New Republic “Author, poet, tarot legend, and organizer Michelle Tea has long been known as a fairy godmother of the millennial queer set, and in this blazing new memoir, she approaches the subject of parenthood (and all the poking, prodding, jaw-dropping expense, and nosy questions that it can entail for LGBTQ+ parents) with her signature verve.” — Vogue "Crack this marvel open in which Michelle Tea details “having” a baby in a way that’s part science experiment, part space voyage and maybe largest part prayer. She delivers her tale with enormous vulnerability, fierce honesty, and an unflagging commitment to the gnarly, frothy, performative condition(s) of giving birth and in the end she drops us all into an ecstatic basinet of total love. My God! Michelle is the best. Man can she live and write." — Eileen Myles, poet and author of Chelsea Girls “Encouraging and subtly radical” — Vogue “Winning, companionable, and intimate; [Tea] has a talent for letting you know her…The central question becomes: How do you have a baby and not lose yourself?” — The Nation "Tea’s journey to motherhood involved tarot cards, astrology, and witches; a loving queer community; a caring partner; and medical practitioners sympathetic to a queer woman’s desire for a baby. Though many anecdotes are amusing, she reveals the emotional and physical cost of the “baby-making/baby-failing roller coaster” that completely dominated her life...A refreshingly entertaining, lighthearted memoir about a serious topic." — Kirkus Reviews "Taken as a whole, Tea’s unconventional “birth story” serves as a celebration of the human body, its hidden miracles, and, as she aptly puts it, “not just the dramatic climax of a last push and a first breath, but the story of a choice made, a dare accepted, a journey undertaken.” This heartfelt work embraces every facet of the human experience: heartache, hope, and—with a little luck—joy." — Publishers Weekly “Tea takes readers on a whirlwind ride of a complicated conception and pregnancy. [Her] experience is a uniquely queer and feminist one that is rarely at the forefront of these discussions. For readers learning about the more technical (and sometimes grisly) side effects of fertility treatments and pregnancy for the first time, Tea’s exuberance and zest for the experience will hopefully offer solace.” — Library Journal "'Motherhood is psychedelic,' Michelle Tea writes in Knocking Myself Up, a book that gifts us a blow-by-blow of Tea’s journey in ecstatic, riotous, mind-altering colors. Watch out, though - the gossipy immediacy and hilarity of Tea’s voice may leave you unprepared for the “love as big as planets” that grows along the way, and eventually packs a real wallop. I’m so grateful for this necessary book, which makes me feel emboldened, buoyant, and less alone." — Maggie Nelson, award-winning author of The Argonauts "Michelle Tea has pulled off the impossible—a frank, funny, compelling memoir about birth and parenthood that pulls no punches but still manages to make the whole affair sound like a grand adventure. She brings her trademark compassionate curiosity to the vast universe that is creation." — Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of Libertie and We Love You, Charlie Freeman “Michelle Tea’s Knocking Myself Up takes the most quintessential human process— procreation—and completely reinvents what’s possible. Her trademark honesty and punk rock spirit are on full display here in her most indelible and unexpected book yet. People of all walks of life will find something to take away with them as we—as society—all grapple with what parenthood can and should really be.” — Isaac Fitzgerald, author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts "Every book by Michelle Tea is a revelation. This book is a big fat reminder that the mess of life and the mess of making life are one and the same, with joy and goop and frustration and loss and blood and sudden! giddy! triumph!” — Daniel Handler, author of All The Dirty Parts

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Book SynopsisAN NPR BOOK-OF-THE-DAY • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STAFF PICK • A NYLON MUST-READ • A FORTUNE NEW BOOK TO READ IN AUGUST“And, at the center of it all, am I actually nice or am I just performing a role I think I’m expected to play?” Mia Mercado is a razor-sharp cultural critic and essayist known for her witty and hilarious dissections of the uncomfortable truths that rule our lives. In this thought-provoking collection of new essays, Mercado examines what it means to be “polite,” “agreeable,” and “nice.” She covers topics from the subtleties of the “Bad Bitch” and why women dominate the ASMR market, to what makes her dog an adorable little freak and how you know if you’re shy. This is a book about the unspoken trick mirror of our “good” intentions: the inherent performance of the social media apology, celebrating men when they do the bare minimum, and why we trust a Midwesterner to watch our stuff when we go pee.Throughout, she ponders her identity as an Asian woman and asks what “nice” even means—and why anyone would want to be it. With writing that is as precise as it is profound, and cultural references that range from trash reality television to the New York Times Sunday-morning crossword puzzle, Mercado uncovers weird, long-overdue truths about our frailties and failings. In the end, she sees them not as a source of shame but as a cause for celebration. Filled with revelations that range from the silly to the serious,She’s Nice Though offers a mind-bending glimpse into the illusions and delusions of contemporary life—and reveals who we *really* are when no one is watching.Trade Review"A sharp essay collection that celebrates our collective insecurities and failures." — New York Times Book Review "In these intimate and sharp explorations, Mercado interrogates the origins and edges of her own affability, probing the ways in which gender, race, geography, and other identity markers can shape—or warp—human personality." — Poets & Writers "She’s Nice Though is the latest showcase of Mercado’s searing humor and insight. In her new book, she explores the limitations of being nice and polite. Delving into the cultural expectations of shallow pleasantries, Mercado wonders if there is actual value in being endlessly accommodating and polite. In humorous, relatable essays, Mercado explores this moral conundrum along with participating in the bread craze during the peak of the pandemic, her unique dog, what it’s like to be an Asian American woman living in the Midwest, the less than impressive “social media apology,” and more. " — Shondaland “In this hilarious collection, Mercado explores the concept of what it’s like to be a “nice girl.” She plays with form, including essays written as lists: [e.g.] ways she’ll die because she’s too nice to ask for help. Mercado is half Filipino, and she examines the stereotype of the submissive Asian woman and how that has influenced her life. Mercado’s laugh-out-loud [stories] will delight readers.” — Booklist “Mercado returns with another collection of humorous essays exploring her experience as an Asian woman from the Midwest. . . . Mercado maintains her self-deprecating humor while offering serious reflections on American culture, and the mix hits home. Mercado’s fans will eat this up.” — Publishers Weekly “Mia Mercado's writing is hilarious, warm, relatable, confessional and emotional. Her writing leaps off the page!” — Megan Amram, writer/producer of The Good Place and The Simpsons “A millennial humorist takes on timely topics. . . . An often amusing romp through contemporary issues by a popular humorist.” — Kirkus Reviews "This is a truly funny book...She's Nice Though skewers the full range of definitions—and expectations—of behaving well." — Vanity Fair

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Many have tried, and many will try, to capture the sweet, innocent insanity of life as a young girl during the ’90s and 2000s. None have come close to the comedic perfection Lillian Stone nails again and again in Everybody’s Favorite.” — Glamour “Stone’s painfully sharp observations will draw readers in, and her honesty will keep them enthralled. This will go a long way toward helping readers feel less alone.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “I love to hear funny people eviscerate themselves powerfully and with cutting humor. Lillian delivers in this nonstop review of her life, inner and, mostly, outer. Funny. Enjoy.” — Bob Odenkirk “If adolescence is a dumpster fire, Lillian Stone is an intrepid dumpster diver, rescuing the bric-a-brac of a bygone, early internet era and holding it up for us to admire. And cringe at. It’s the figuring-it-outness of Stone’s work I most adore. In this finely crafted coming-of-age tale, Stone jubilantly dismantles shame, both of body and spirit. A book to fold in your back pocket and take on the train, to fill with stars and scribbles and squiggly underlines. Judy Blume and John Waters, please step forward to claim your love child.” — Greg Marshall, author of Leg

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Book SynopsisThere were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings. In the fourth of the Bridgerton prequel series, following The Other Miss Bridgerton, we go back to where it all began. . . from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia QuinnShe was given two choices...Georgiana Bridgerton isn’t against the idea of marriage. She’d just thought she’d have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she’s abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.Enter Option #3As the fourth son of an earl, Nicholas Rokesby is prepared to chart his own course. He has a life in Edinburgh, where he’s close to completing his medical studies, and he has no time—or interest—to find a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridger

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Eli Rallo’s debut is not to be missed. Her writing is fresh, funny, and honest. I Didn’t Know I Needed this will be a bible to those navigating the sticky, confusing, and often accidentally hilarious world of modern dating." — Tara Schuster, author of Glow in the F*cking Dark and Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies “Funny, charming, and real, I Didn't Know I Needed This is the book every young woman definitely needs. Like a wise, compassionate, and highly entertaining big sister, Eli takes lessons she learned the hard (and often hilarious) way about navigating modern relationships and gaining self-worth, cutting through the confusion, and saying: You are more than enough, and it will all be okay." — Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone and co-host of the Dear Therapists podcast

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Book SynopsisMan Walks Into A Bar is a one-stop shop for anyone who likes to hear and tell jokes. The jokes are ordered thematically - wives, husbands, doctors, lawyers, the French, the Germans, jokes about nuns, jokes about monkeys, the lot. There are also regular panels which group jokes by type too - Essex girls, changing a lightbulb etc. Our material will turn you into the toast of your local pub or make you loathed in your own home - remember, it is all in the telling. From the sublimely erudite to stuff Frank Carson would turn down (the book has a ''world''s worst jokes'' section), this book can service you with every joke you''ll ever need.What do you call an eskimo chav?InnuinnitWhat did the zen student say at the hamburger stand?Make me one with everythingWhat''s Irish and lives in the garden?Paddy O''FurnitureTrade ReviewThe ultimate chuckle-fest * Modern Woman *Billing itself as "the ultimate collection of jokes and one-liners" pretty much sums up this 550-page book * The Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisWhether for the loo or bedside entertainment or as a work of reference or self-improvement The Funniest Thing You Never Said is the biggest and best humorous quotation book there is - a complete one-stop shop of witty one liners.Trade ReviewAn outstanding up-to-date anthology * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThere are lots of books about parenthood. But if you look closely most of them are about motherhood. Fathers get brief paragraphs about needing the odd cuddle themselves and being helpful for carrying the heavier elements of baby kit, but that''s it. Fatherhood - The Truth, on the other hand, is a shed-friendly man''s guide to the whole scary, life-changing business. One that looks beyond the happy-clappy cliches into the fiery hell of night feeds and projectile vomiting. ''Shit happens'' will suddenly start to make sense as a phrase. Providing crucial information and insight on every aspect of parenting with pitch-perfect humour, it takes the dad-to-be on a white-knuckle ride from conception to the first birthday that also considers the emotional truths and selfish imperatives that fathers are usually asked to bury out of sight. A personally informed journey, Fatherhood - The Truth also touches all the crucial practical bases to make it a one-stop, know-it-allTrade ReviewI laughed out loud and squirmed with awful recognition. Marcus Berkmann is one of our funniest writers, and he was sent by Heaven - or was it Hell? - to write Fatherhood -- Craig BrownBerkmann is a very funny writer ... the text is laugh out loud funny * Daily Express *Ambitious and substantial ... Berkmann is highly entertaining ... with an anarchic Monty Pythonesque sense of fun -- Alain de Botton * Sunday Times *The laughs come in every paragraph. A masterpiece about sad, neurotic British fathers * Sunday Telegraph *A man of infinite wisdom and experience when it comes to male parenting in the 21st century ... The daddy of baby guides ... quick-witted ... excellent * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisTony Hawks lives in London. He leads a diverse life and has various 'jobs', such as performing stand up comedy, appearing as a panellist on TV and radio (Have I Got News For You, Just A Minute, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue), acting, writing, playing tennis, and making music.Trade ReviewEven if you hate tennis and couldn't find Moldova on the map, you'll be charmed. Utterly recommended * FHM *Surprisingly touching as well as incredibly funny * The Oxford Times *I expected to find this book funny, which it is; I didn't expect to find it illuminating and rather moving, which it is too * Daily Mail *This immensely readable account, enriched with moments of true hilarity is, quite honestly, a bit of a gem * Living Abroad Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFormer sports journalist Geoff Tibballs has written nearly 100 books, including the The Batsman's Holding, the Bowler's Willey for Ebury.

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Book SynopsisKeep Calm and Carry On was a World War 2 government poster discovered in a dusty box nine years ago. Though it never saw the light of day in 1939 (it was only supposed to go up if Britain was invaded), it has suddenly struck a chord in our current difficult times, now we are in need of a stiff upper lip and optimistic energy once again. Gordon Brown had one up in 10 Downing Street and James May wears a Keep Calm T-shirt on the telly - it is suddenly everywhere. The book is packed full of similarly motivational and inspirational quotes, proverbs, mantras and wry truths to help us through the recession, from such wits as Churchill, Disraeli and George Bernard Shaw. Funny, wise and stirring - it is a perfect source of strength to get us all through the coming months.''A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain'' Mark Twain ''It''s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; itTrade ReviewThe best title on offer this year is Keep Calm and Carry On ... There isn't a single uninteresting entry and the range - Cicero, Shakespeare, George W. Bush. Impressive. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisLlewellyn Dowd and Phil McCracken met whilst serving in the French Foreign Legion. They were both dishonourably discharged on the same day, following an incident with the regimental camel. Llewellyn returned to live in the UK, where Who's Who lists his interests as: 'Camels; camel racing; painting pictures of camels'. He is married to wife Camilla. Phil currently lives in south-eastern Europe, where he presents a TV programme on farming: The Bulgarian Agrarian. He lives with his Moroccan partner, Keith.

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Book SynopsisPossibly the only drawback about the bestselling How To Be A Woman was that its author, Caitlin Moran, was limited to pretty much one subject: being a woman.In MORANTHOLOGY Caitlin ''gets quite chatty' about many subjects, including cultural, social and political issues which are usually left to hot-shot wonks and not a woman who sometimes keeps a falafel in her handbag. These other subjects include...Caffeine Ghostbusters Being Poor Twitter Caravans Obama Wales Paul McCartney The Welfare State Sherlock David Cameron Looking Like Ham Amy Winehouse The Big Society' Big Hair Nutter-letters Michael Jackson''s funeral Failed Nicknames Wolverhampton Squirrels' Testicles Sexy Tax Binge-drinking Chivalry Rihanna's Cardigan Party Bags Hot People Transsexuals The Gay Moon LandingsTrade ReviewHilarious [and] sharply intelligent ... she is one of the most astute social commentators hitting a keyboard today ... guaranteed to brighten up anyone's life * Independent *As insightful and every bit as funny as her last book, but with broader range * Elle *She is a brilliant, brilliant writer * Glamour *Properly funny, naughty and admirably no-nonsense, it’s every bit as brilliant as you’d expect * Closer *I adore, admire and am addicted to Caitlin Moran's writing -- Nigella Lawson

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Book SynopsisI've lived through ten iOS upgrades on my Mac and that's just something I use to muck about on Twitter. Surely capitalism is due an upgrade or two?'When Caitlin Moran sat down to choose her favourite pieces for her new book she realised that they all seemed to join up. Turns out, it's the same old problems and the same old ass-hats.Then she thought of the word Moranifesto', and she knew what she had to doThis is Caitlin's engaging and amusing rallying call for our times. Combining the best of her recent columns with lots of new writing unique to this book, Caitlin deals with topics as pressing and diverse as 1980s swearing, benefits, boarding schools, and why the internet is like a drunken toddler.And whilst never afraid to address the big issues of the day such as Benedict Cumberbatch and duffel coats Caitlin also makes a passionate effort to understand our 21st century society and presents us with her Moranifesto' for making the world a better place.The polite revolution starts here! Please.Trade ReviewShe is one of the most astute social commentators hitting a keyboard today ... guaranteed to brighten up anyone's life * Independent *the joy of Moran’s writing lies in how she combines thoughtfulness and intelligence with proper belly laughs. * Independent on Sunday *Spiky, funny and passionate * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest entertainers of his generation, Ronnie Barker was loved by millions for his roles in classic shows Open All Hours, Porridge and The Frost Report. Born in Bedford in 1929, Ronnie Barker began writing and performing in radio shows such as The Navy Lark. Barker met his comedy partner Ronnie Corbett while working on The Frost Report. Legend has it that they were signed up by the BBC after they impressed producers by filling in when a technical hitch occurred during the BAFTA awards. A gifted character actor as well as comedy writer, Barker went to star in classic sitcoms Open All Hours and Porridge.

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Book SynopsisMeet the ultimate Scrooge...The festive season in the small Cornish village of Portwenn is going to be anything but easy for curmudgeonly Doc Martin. His idea of a perfect Christmas Day is to remain steadfastly alone and catch up with back issues of The Lancet.However, Portwenn is fighting off the cold and frost with a period of determined revelry before it heads into its deep winter sleep, and his patients are even more exasperating than usual. Not to mention his on-off relationship with local school teacher, Louisa.It will take all of Doc Martin's willpower to fend off the attentions of the Christmas spirit...

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Book SynopsisJack-the-lad, wheeler-dealer and international playboy (just ask the manageress of El Sid''s, Torremolinos, 1978), this was a man destined for greatness. One day he would mature into an award-winning man of business*, thriving entrepreneur and glittering member of the jet-set. A force of nature, a man who beat the odds, if only for a bit. This is his story. The story of Derek ''Del Boy'' Trotter. Who else could tell the glorious tale of rags to riches to rags to rich(ish) but the man himself? You''ve heard of The Wolf of Wall Street, now meet the Pug of Peckham.*Trotter''s Independent Traders, employee of the year 1982 - 2003[He Who Dares has been written by the family of John Sullivan, creator and writer of Only Fools and Horses, who sadly died in 2011. Ebury Press have produced and published the book with full support and involvement of the family.]Trade Reviewsurprisingly poignant...an enjoyable read * Daily Express *His voice comes across effortlessly and it's hard not to warm to this poor man's Richard Branson as his charm wafts off the page. * Daily Express *serves as a fitting tribute to Only Fools writer John Sullivan * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisRichard Russo won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for his fifth novel, Empire Falls. He is also the author of Mohawk, The Risk Pool, Nobody's Fool, Straight Man, Bridge of Sighs and That Old Cape Magic, as well as a collection of stories, The Whore's Child. His original screenplay is the basis for Rowan Atkinson's film Keeping Mum. He lives with his wife in Maine and in Boston.Trade ReviewAfter a while you begin to wish you lived in Richard Russo's world * Sunday Times *A funny and clever novel * Times Literary Supplement *The author has never been funnier. It is a testament to Russo's skill and originality that Straight Man often seems as fresh as if it were the first of its sort * Literary Review *Sentence by sentence Richard Russo shows that his is an eminently accomplished comic talent * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTim Moore's books include French Revolutions, Do Not Pass Go, Spanish Steps and Nul Points and I Believe in Yesterday. He lives in London.Trade ReviewHe is a rare comic talent * The Times *A very funny writer, oozing with comic ideas... There are fantastic jokes here, some lovely observation and a wealth of delicious information * Daily Mail *Witty and ingenious * Guardian *An ideal balance of travel, anecdote and dry wit * Independent on Sunday *A brilliant book that sheds new light on our capital * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisDavid Nobbs was born in Kent. After university, he entered the army, then tried his hand at journalism and advertising before becoming a writer. A distinguished novelist and comedy writer best known for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, David Nobbs was acknowledged by his peers as a comic genius. He died in August 2015.Trade Review"A delicious entertainment, as comic and as sharp as they come" Guardian "The funniest character ever to emerge from the world of the commuter" Daily Express "David Nobbs's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious from start to finish and boasts an undercurrent of poignant seriousness. I would urge anyone who hasn't read it to do so." -- Nicholas Royle

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Book SynopsisMurphy''s Law - popularly known as Sod''s Law - with acknowledgements to Parkinson''s Law and the Peter Principle - explains the truth of man''s existence: that if anything can go wrong, it will. In three volumes of murphology, Arthur Bloch has provided the only comfort possible - laughter - for all those who have ever been exasperated by things going wrong, with a set of rules offering a wise and witty view of the human predicament in the cosmos.Trade ReviewArthur Bloch holds up a rickety umbrella to defend himself against slates dislodged by tornadoes ... and is ... very funny * Punch *

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Book SynopsisTim Moore's books include French Revolutions, Do Not Pass Go, Spanish Steps, Nul Points, I Believe in Yesterday and You Are Awful (But I Like You). He lives in London.Trade ReviewHe is a rare comic talent * The Times *A very funny writer, oozing with comic ideas * Daily Mail *An absolutely cracking idea for a book; it's got history, eccentric characters, personal growth - and plenty of really good jokes * Time Out *One of the classier writers of the humorous travel book... A very entertaining read * Observer *At last, a travel book that makes you think but also makes you laugh out loud * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisExperience the joie de vivre with this revolutionary non-diet book that is changing the way women eat and live everywhere How do French women do it? This is the book that unlocks the simple secrets of ''the French paradox'' - how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Classy, chic and expertly well-written, this is the book that we have all been waiting for. It''s the ultimate non-diet book; instead, showing how to eat with balance, control and above all pleasure. Eat, like a French woman.Trade ReviewMireille's book is for the woman in search of a better, sexier, happier lifestyle * Scotsman *Guiliano's advice is practical and sane * New Statesman *A gentle and painless introduction to the French women's well-honed tricks to get your figure back - and then keep it * Living France *Slender, elegant, well-spoken, sensible and unembarrassed by the frank embrace of stratagems * Paris to the Moon *Reveals the secrets of French women's eating regimes. Reader, it all sounds pretty good to me * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisTravels with Boogie is the story of two city slickers - one an unattractive but streetwise mongrel from Stockwell, the other the long-suffering author - and how they came to terms with England''s countryside and waterways.First they had to survive against all odds as they embarked on a heroic journey up hill and down dale, with rucksacks full of Kennomeat, along Britain''s longest coastal footpath - from Somerset to Devon, from Cornwall to Dorset. And they did it. Then, undaunted, they took on the treacherous waters of the Thames. Not exactly as Mark had planned, however: this time his companion was to be the delectable Jennifer - but she was held up at the office, and when Boogie was dropped off at the kennels the other dogs complained.Travels with Boogie is a witty and fascinating account of a mismatched couple and of the people they meet and places they visit.Trade ReviewThe humorous travel book we've been waiting for * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA Blandings novelUncle Fred is one of the hottest earls who ever donned a coronet. Or as he crisply puts it, ''There are no limits, literally none, to what I can achieve in the springtime.''Even so, his gifts are stretched to the limit when he is urged by Lord Emsworth to save his prize pig, the Empress of Blandings, from the enforced slimming cure of the haughty Duke of Dunstable. Pongo Twistleton knows his debonair but wild uncle shouldn''t really be allowed at large - especially when disguised as a brain surgeon. He fears the worst. And in yet another brilliant novel by the master of English comedy, Pongo will soon find his fears are amply justified.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill

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Book SynopsisA Jeeves novelCaptain Biggar, big-game hunter and all round tough guy, should make short work of the two bookies who have absconded with his winnings after a freak double made him a fortune. But on this occasion Honest Patch Perkins and his clerk are not as they seem. In fact they''re not bookies at all, but the impoverished Bill Belfry, Ninth Earl of Rowcester and his temporary butler, Jeeves.Bertie Wooster has gone away to a special school teaching the aristocracy to fend for itself ''in case the social revolution sets in with even greater severity''. But Jeeves will prove just as resourceful without his young master, and brilliant brainwork may yet square the impossible circle for all concerned.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill

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Book SynopsisP. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is widely regarded as the greatest comic writer of the 20th century. Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters - the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress of Blandings, Mr Mulliner, Ukridge, and Psmith. His humorous articles were published in more than 80 magazines, including Punch, over six decades. He was also a highly successful music lyricist, once with over five musicals running on Broadway simultaneously. P.G. Wodehouse was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for 'an outstanding and lasting contribution to the happiness of the world'.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill

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Book SynopsisFrom dardledumdue, which means daydreamer in East Anglia, through forkin robbins, the Yorkshire term for earwigs, to clemt, a Lancashire word that means hungry, this title investigates an astonishingly rich variety of regional expressions, and provides insight into the history of the English language.Trade ReviewIt's an interesting and, at times, hilarious read. One for word-lovers * The Sun *A scattershot guide to regional British vocabulary, from "gutties" to "woollyback" and beyond * Big Issue Scotland *An amenable, approachable but intelligent look at regional idiom and slang * thebookbag.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SIR PAUL MCCARTNEYFirst published in 1964 and 1965, In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works are a brilliantly inventive and offbeat collection of John Lennon's stories, drawings and poems.Trade ReviewLunatic humour... it defies description. It owes something to Lear's nonsense books, but from there on in Lennon is on his own... Zany, offbeat, and illustrated by his grotesque spidery pen. It jolts the reader into gusts of laughter * Guardian *Very funny... beautifully designed * Times Literary Supplement *Irresistible...the drawings are marvellous * Sunday Telegraph *Fascinating.... It goes down like pure whimsy and then back-kicks like a sick mule. * Sunday Times *Very inventive... It's all in Lennon's favour that despite the adulation and soft soap, he has remained as tough, arrogant and uncompromising * Observer *

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Book SynopsisOutspoken, opinionated, and never lost for words, Mark Kermode has carved out a career in print, radio and television based entirely on the belief that The Exorcist is the greatest movie ever made and that the Pirates of the Caribbean films should be buried in a very deep hole where they can never bother anyone ever again.Trade ReviewVery angry and very funny * Empire *Kermode has nutsy-boltsy knowledge, fierce and idiosyncratic enthusiasms ... and some very interesting things to say * Guardian *As impressive as it is entertaining ... Takes a wrecking ball to the studio chicanery * Word *Expertly written, funny and fascinating * Shortlist *Frankly alarming * Metro *

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Book SynopsisThe Danes are the happiest people in the world, and pay the highest taxes. 'Neutral' Sweden is one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world. Finns have the largest per capita gun ownership after the US and Yemen. 54 per cent of Icelanders believe in elves. Norway is the richest country on earth. This book deals with Nordic countries.Trade ReviewComprehensive and occasionally downright hilarious... I was laughing out loud -- Mariella Frostrup * Observer *An affectionate and informative study of a region. -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *[An] entertaining, warts-and-all, English expat look at the Nordic miracle. * Daily Telegraph *A thoroughly entertaining read, written brilliantly -- Bernard Porter * Literary Review *A welcome rejoinder to those who cling to the idea of the Nordic region as a promised land...the substance, more often than not, is spot on. * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWould you cheer if they sent you to Coventry? Could you stick up for Stoke or big-up Bracknell?Can you handle the thrill of Rhyl, the heaven of Hull or the mirth of Tydfil? In You are Awful, Tim Moore drives his Austin Maestro round all the places on our beloved island that nobody wants to go to our most miserable towns, shonkiest hotels, scariest pubs, and silliest sea zoos... But as the soggy, decrepit quest unfolds he finds himself oddly smitten, and the result is a rousing, nostalgic celebration of mad, bad But I Like You Britain.Trade ReviewFunny and squirmingly vivid * Daily Telegraph *There aren’t many travel writers funnier than Tim Moore * Independent on Sunday *A fine piece of comic writing...by the end of the book he is, unlike his Maestro, firing on all cylinders -- Nick Lezard * Guardian *A pilgrimage to the most derelict, unlovable and forlorn parts of Britain * Independent *Hilarious * Sun *There's a true affection in the descriptions of bypasses, roundabouts and rainy caravan parks -- Tom Cox * Daily Mail *Moore is...a likeable guide and a witty turner of phrases, and his plunges into local history as he tootles around in his decrepit Austin Maestro demonstrate a gift for bathos and an eye for the poetry of dereliction -- Euan Ferguson * Time Out *Moore has a nice line in description...and is able to describe the many absurdities encountered on his travels with admirable detachment * Choice Magazine *Hilarious... This book will have you in stitches... What emerges is a nostalgic celebration of just how mad Britain can be (5 stars) -- Hannah Britt * Daily Express *Tim Moore's wry portraits of unfashionable British towns nicely combine knockabout humour, witty one-liners and an undertow of sadness -- Sally Cousins * Sunday Telegraph *

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