Humour Books
Random House USA Inc The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Laurie Notaro has an uncanny ability to attract insanity—and leave readers doubled over with laughter. Need proof? Check out The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death and try not to bust a gut. Join Notaro as she experiences the popular phenomenon of laser hair removal (because at least one of her chins should be stubble-free); bemoans the scourge of the Open Mouth Coughers on America’s airplanes and in similarly congested areas; welcomes the newest ex-con (yay, a sex offender!) to her neighborhood; and watches, against her own better judgment, every Discovery Health Channel special on parasites and tapeworms that has ever aired—resulting in an overwhelming fear that a worm the size of a python will soon come a-knocking on her back door. In Notaro’s world, strangers are stranger than fiction. One must always check the hotel bathroom for hobo hairs and consciously remember
£12.59
Random House USA Inc Whiter Shades of Pale The Stuff White People Like
Book SynopsisHOW WHITE YOU ARE! If you thought you had white people pegged as Oscar-party-throwing, Prius-driving, Sunday New York Times–reading, self-satisfied latte lovers—you were right. But if you thought diversity was just for other races, then hang on to your eco-friendly tote bags. Veteran white person Christian Lander is back with fascinating new information and advice on dealing with the Caucasian population.Sure, their indie-band T-shirts, trendy politics, vegan diets, and pop-culture references make them all seem the same. But a closer look reveals that from Austin to Australia, from L.A. to the U.K., indigenous white people are as different from one another as 1 percent rBGH-free milk is different from 2 percent. Where do skinny jeans and bulky sweaters rule? Where is down-market beer the nectar of the hip? If you want to know the places cute girls with bangs and cool guys with beards roam and emo musicians and unpaid interns call home, y
£13.50
Random House USA Inc The Rain in Portugal
Book Synopsis
£12.80
Random House USA Inc The Tao of Bill Murray RealLife Stories of Joy
Book SynopsisPerfect for the Bill Murray fan in all of us, this epic collection of “Bill Murray stories”—many reported for the first time here—distills a set of guiding principles out of his extraordinary ability to infuse the everyday with surprise, absurdity, and wonder.No one will ever believe you.New York Times bestselling author Gavin Edwards, like the rest of us, has always been fascinated with Bill Murray—in particular the beloved actor’s adventures off-screen, which rival his filmography for sheer entertainment value. Edwards traveled to the places where Murray has lived, worked, and partied, in search of the most outrageous and hilarious Bill Murray stories from the past four decades, many of which have never before been reported. Bill once paid a child five dollars to ride his bike into a swimming pool. The star convinced Harvard’s JV women’s basketball team to play with him in a pri
£20.24
The University Press of Kentucky Inside Comedy
Book Synopsis
£25.16
Penguin Putnam Inc Were Here Were Queer Were Mad Libs
Book SynopsisMad Libs is the world’s greatest word game and the perfect gift or activity for anyone who likes to laugh! Write in the missing words on each page to create your own hilariously funny stories all about gay pride!Gay by birth, ADJECTIVE by choice! With 21 “fill-in-the-blank” stories about twinks, being bad at driving, and walking a little too fast, We''re Here, We''re Queer, We''re Mad Libs is the perfect activity for any proud queer person! Play alone, in a group, or at your next pride party! Mad Libs are a fun activity recommended for ages 18 to NUMBER.
£5.99
Penguin Putnam Inc Ode to Alcohol Mad Libs
Book Synopsis
£6.90
Penguin Putnam Inc Just Married Mad Libs
Book Synopsis
£6.79
Penguin Putnam Inc Stoned Off Our Mad Libs
Book Synopsis
£6.30
Henry Holt & Company Inc Never Sniff a Gift Fish
Book SynopsisMore humerous observations and insights into the agonies and ecstacies of hunting, fishing, and camping by the author of They Shoot Canoes, Don''t They?and other celebrations of life in the wild.
£15.29
MP-FLO Uni Press of Florida The State Youre In
Book SynopsisFor more than 30 years, investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman has chronicled the wildest stories Florida has to offer. Featuring a selection of columns that have appeared throughout Pittman's career, this book highlights just how strange and wonderful Florida can be.
£21.80
SPCK - Kregel Everywhere You Go Theres a Zacchaeus Up a Tree
Book Synopsis
£10.99
Wayne State University Press Writing Humor Creativity and the Comic Mind Humor
Book SynopsisProviding both theory and praxis, this volume explains how to write humour, comedy, satire, parody, nonsense, and both the literary and the joke monologue. It includes the history and cultural background of each major genre, followed by an array of writing exercises and examples.
£26.06
Wayne State University Press Rowan and Martins Laughin TV Milestones Series
Book SynopsisThe highest-rated US network programme during its first three seasons, comedy-variety show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC, 1968-1973) is an overlooked and underrated innovator of American television history. Ken Feil presents the first scholarly investigation of the series, exploring Laugh-In’s newness, sophisticated style, irreverence, and broad appeal.
£17.00
Hippocrene Books Inc.,U.S. Quebecois Dictionary Phrasebook English
Book SynopsisThis dictionary and phrasebook is designed for students and travelers visiting La Belle Province, eager to immerse themselves in Québécois culture and speak the language that more than 80 percent of Quebecers call their own. Written with the needs of English-speaking Americans and Canadians in mind, this easy-to-use, two-way language guide offers the visitor essential vocabulary and phrases for communicating and navigating with ease. * 4,000 total entries * Basic grammar * Essential phrases * Québécois expressions * Ideal for the traveler, student, or businessperson
£9.49
Rizzoli International Publications American Psycho
Book SynopsisInspired by the film American Psycho, a darkly humorous collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on how to make it in the cutthroat world of business, as well as pointers about work/life balance, dating, and personal style.Since its release in 2000, the film American Psycho, starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, has been lauded as a searing send-up of toxic masculinity and 1980s materialism. How to Make a Killing in Business . . . and Life draws upon the film?s macabre, campy humor, resulting in a funny advice book of sorts, with recommendations on how to slash the competition and dealing with the challenges of letting work bleed into personal life. The book combines dynamic art with darkly witty wisdom about how to get that coveted reservation at Dorsia, the dos and don?ts of choosing a business card, deep dives on the importance of pop music groups like Huey Lewis and the News, and ideas on how to dispose of your rivals. This compendium of tips is the perfect gift for fans of film, horror, and humor.
£13.46
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Sports from Hell My Search for the Worlds Most
Book SynopsisBestselling author and ESPN star, Rick Reilly delivers a hilarious, unabashedly fun, and at times, skin-searing tour through some of the world’s most amazing and outrageous sports From the physically and mentally taxing sport of chess boxing to the psychological battlefield that is the rock-paper-scissors championship, to the underground world of illegal jart throwing, Rick Reilly subjected himself to both bodily danger and abject humiliation (or, in the case of ferret legging, both) in order to personally find the world's strangest sporting event. Chronicling his adventures as only he can, Rick enters a world of bizarre characters, fierce competition, and exotic locals--with stops in Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, England, and even a maximum security prison at Angola, Louisiana--and the result is a laugh-out-loud book perfect for any sport’s fan.
£12.59
Hyperion Books Pure Drivel
Book SynopsisSteve Martin''s talent has always defied definition: a seasoned actor, a razor-sharp screenwriter, an acclaimed playwright, and, of course, the ingenious comedian who turned King Tut into a national craze. In this widely praised collection of humourous riffs, Martin shows he is also a master of the written word. From a wildly imaginative meditation on who Lolita would be at age fifty to a send-up of the warning labels on medicine bottles, these pieces, many of which first appeared in The New Yorker, hilariously and intelligently skewer the topic at hand. Pure Drivel will have readers crying with laughter--and marveling that in addition to all of his many talents, Steve Martin is also a superb writer.
£19.48
MP-OKL Uni of Oklahoma Call Me Lucky A Texan in Hollywood
Book SynopsisFrom his birth in Brownfield, Texas, to a family so poor “they could only afford a tumbleweed as a pet”, Bob Hinkle went on to gain acclaim in Hollywood. Through it all, he remained the salty, down-to-earth former rodeo cowboy from West Texas. More than forty photographs complement this rousing, never-dull memoir.
£17.06
MP-SYR Syracuse University P The Implacable Urge to Defame
Book SynopsisFrom the 1870s to the 1930s, American cartoonists devoted much of their ink to outlandish caricatures of immigrants and minority groups, making explicit the derogatory stereotypes that circulated at the time. In The Implacable Urge to Defame, Baigell examines more than sixty published cartoons and considers the climate of opinion that allowed such cartoons to be published.
£23.70
Running Press,U.S. What Would Ken Do
Book SynopsisThe Kenaissance is here and it's time to learn all about how to be more Ken with this officially licensed cheeky guide. Who wouldn't want to be as Ken-tastic as Ken? He's learned a lot about life with the help of some friends, and he wants to share it with the world. Ken is very happy to have learned some of his best life tips from Barbie; he’s accompanied her to bedazzle-studded dances, camping trips, rides in the pink convertible, and supported her throughout her glass ceiling-breaking moves that have made her the iconic sensation she is. Along the way, Ken has come into his own. This guide gives practical pointers on everything from style (who doesn't like a good disco suit) to self-care (healthy habits build confidence) and more. It reminds you that to be your best self you have to learn to take care of you and find what makes you shine--a Ken approved formula anyone can use! Barbie and Ken fans will love this full-color gorgeously styled little gift book. You won’t be able to get Kenough!
£14.39
Andrews McMeel Publishing Sad Nuggie 2026 DaytoDay Calendar
Book Synopsis
£16.31
MP-SYR Syracuse University P Captain America Masculinity and Violence
Book SynopsisReveals how the comic book hero has evolved to maintain relevance to America’s fluctuating ideas of masculinity, patriotism, and violence. Stevens outlines the history of Captain America’s adventures and places the unfolding storyline in dialogue with the comic book industry as well as America’s varying political culture.
£34.16
Penguin Random House LLC Wake Up Im Fat A Memoir
£14.25
Penguin Random House Group The Bap Handbook
£11.33
Little, Brown & Company Brain Droppings
Book SynopsisWith nearly 20 albums, two Grammys, two Cable ACE awards, and more HBO specials sunder his belt than anyone else, George Carlin is more popular than ever. Now, for the first time, Carlin has produced a book of original humor pieces, Brain Droppings. Filled with thoughts, musings, questions, lists, beliefs, curiousities, monologues, assertions, assumptions, and other verbal ordeals, Brain Droppings is infectiously funny. Also included are two timeless bonus items from the past, A Place for Your Stuff and Baseball-Football. Readers will get an inside look into Carlin''s mind, and they won''t be disappointed by what they find: I buy stamps by mail. It works OK until I run out of stamps. What year did Jesus Christ think it was? A tree: first you chop it down, then you chop it up. Have you ever noticed the lawyer is always smiling more than the client? I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing changed. If you ever have chicken at lunch and chicken at dinner, do you
£29.28
Hachette Book Group USA Napalm Silly Putty
£20.57
Shawnee Press musiciansjokebook
£9.09
Andrews McMeel Publishing May the Force Be with Us Please A Fox Trot Collection
Book SynopsisMom and Dad Fox cope with the trials and tribulations of modern life, from dumping their savings into dud stock, to a bug-bitten vacation, to coping with their offspring's pet iguana.
£14.19
Andrews McMeel Publishing Pass the Loot A Foc Trot Collection Foxtrot Collection
£14.19
Andrews McMeel Publishing DUPLEX The
£15.19
Andrews McMeel Publishing Citizen Dog
Book SynopsisA collection of cartoons shows the day to day struggle between a dog and his owner.
£15.19
Andrews McMeel Publishing Come Closer Roger Theres a Mosquito on Your Nose A Foxtrot Collection
Book SynopsisA collection of comic strips features the follies and foibles of the Fox family.
£14.19
Random House USA Inc Growing Up Catholic The Commemorative Catholic Jubilee Edition
£12.46
Crown Little Me The Intimate Memoirs of That Great Star of Stage Screen and TelevisionBelle PoitrineAs Told to
Book SynopsisBack in print at last! From the author of Auntie Mame: the bawdy, bestselling, bountifully illustrated autobiography of an imaginary diva whose life is one hilarious mishap after another.For Belle Poitrine, née Mayble Schlumpfert, all the world's a stage and she's the most important player on it. At once coy and coercive, with a name that means 'beautiful bosom' in French, she claws her way from Striver's Row to the silver screen. Recalling Belle's career, which ranged from portraying Anne Boleyn in Oh, Henry to roles in both Sodom and its sequel Gomorrah (not to mention the classic Papaya Paradise), Little Me serves up copious quanitites of husbands, couture, and Pink Lady cocktails, with international adventures and a murder trial to boot.A runaway bestseller that made its way to Broadway, starring Sid Caesar in 1962 and Martin Short in 1998, Little Me is now reprinted--with all of the 150 historic, hysteric
£16.19
Chartwell Books Unofficial Sabrina Carpenter Book and Crochet Kit
£16.19
Josef Weinberger Plays Third Week in August
Book Synopsis
£10.44
McNidder & Grace Ltd Stotty n Spice Cake
Book SynopsisStotty 'n' Spice Cake brings together wonderful regional recipes with a humorous helping of regional dialect and a generous serving of social history to give an insight into the North East kitchen.
£13.49
SPCK - Monarch Stand Up and Deliver A Nervous Rookie On The
Book SynopsisAndy's first hilarious and hectic year in the world of comedyTrade Review"A great read and highly recommended!" -- Inspire Magazine"Totally unputdownable and our book of the year." -- Sorted Magazine"Meticulously accurate, entertaining, surprisingly moving. Kind projects an accessible, warm, upbeat demeanour that makes for an easily enjoyable read." Chortle.co.uk (Chortle is the major comedy website in the UK) -- Chortle.co.uk
£8.54
Lion Hudson The Unfortunate Adventures of Tom Hillingthwaite
Book SynopsisTom has a burning desire to share the Good News with his neighbours. But as an evangelist he suffers from Foot in Mouth disease ...Trade Review"I laughed, I cringed and I cried - a fantastic book from a wonderful author." * Trans World Radio *
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd Relight My Fire
Book SynopsisBorn in Limerick and raised in Dublin, C K (Caimh) McDonnell is a former stand-up comedian and TV writer. He performed all around the world, had several well-received Edinburgh shows and supported acts such as Sarah Millican on tour before hanging up his clowning shoes to concentrate on writing. He has also written for numerous TV shows and been nominated for a Kid's TV BAFTA.His debut novel, A Man With One of Those Faces - a comic crime novel - was published in 2016 and spawned The Dublin Trilogy books and the spin-off McGarry Stateside series. They have been Amazon bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic. As C. K. McDonnell, he is the author of The Stranger Times series contemporary comic fantasy series.Caimh lives in Manchester. To find out more, visit whitehairedirishman.comTrade ReviewMcDonnell's world is transgressively hilarious, grimly banal and beguilingly warm. Of course there's a story that the intrepid journalists of The Stranger Times have to tease out: grave-robbing, cryogenics, a very angry witch, and a washed-up indie legend looking for a lost album, but the real joy lies in the pitfalls and pratfalls of getting there. -- Jamie Buxton * DAILY MAIL *An absolute riot of a read. * DAILY EXPRESS *Laugh-out-loud funny and full of colourful characters. * DAILY MIRROR *It’s no secret that here at SciFiTowers we’re massive fans of the Stranger Times series by C. K. McDonnell. Following the success of Love Will Tear Us Apart (which made February 2023’s list of best books), he’s back with book number four and we return to Manchester and the world of The Stranger Times newspaper who cover anything weird and wonderful. * SciFiNOW *I loved the dry and embedded humour of this book, it's the stuff of life . . . the whole thing is great fun. * SFCROSWNEST *
£17.09
Transworld Publishers Ltd I Feel Bad About My Neck
Book SynopsisNora Ephron was an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and film director of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail and Julie & Julia. She was also a bestselling novelist (Heartburn, made into a film starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep), and journalist. Her last books I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing were both huge international bestsellers. She died in 2012.Trade ReviewThe book that most influenced me... It triggered me to write my own book, and ask myself questions about who I was, what kind of woman I am and how the world had shaped me. * LILY ALLEN, Guardian *So bold and so vulnerable at the same time. I don’t know how she did it. * PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE, Vogue *
£9.49
Canongate Books How Are You Feeling
Book SynopsisHow are you feeling? Are you alright?If you could open your mind like a handbag and show us what was inside, what would we see?A bit of a mess?Don''t worry. This is a self-help book.You''ll feel better very soon.Trade ReviewFunny and profound and surprising all at the same time -- Harry HillDavid Shrigley is probably the funniest gallery-type artist who ever lives -- Dave EggersOn the kink of his line Shrigley can shift effortlessly from pathos to paranoia. And his work is funny - very funny; his timing devastatingly effective -- Will SelfExcellent . . . There's more to Shrigley than his knowing nods to high art * * Guardian, on Brain Activity, at the Hayward Gallery * *Shrigley deserves his immense popularity. For almost 20 years he has produced a ceaseless stream of ideas, observations, jokes and strange insights in the form of left-field drawings that have appeared in broadsheet newspapers, books and magazines as well as galleries. Deadpan, escapist and distinctively cack-handed, they make up a little world in themselves * * Observer * *Simultaneously unsettling and humorous * * Designboom, on Brain Activity, at the Hayward Gallery * *Shrigley mines a mordant, scatological seam, conjuring up the dark tradition of British humour that threw up Tony Hancock and Chris Morris. * * The Times * *[A] master of modern surrealism. * * Evening Standard * *With a casual gesture Shrigley points to that hideous shape whose name I've never known - and then he names it. And the name is profoundly, embarrassingly familiar. I'm laughing while frantically searching for a pen, so desperate to capture the feeling he has unearthed in me. -- Miranda JulyA must for fans of the absurd. * * ES magazine * *Half man, half legend. * * The Skinny * *An artist touched by comic genius and something like full-blown lunacy. * * The Lady * *David Shrigley messes with my head. -- Moira Jeffreys * * Scotland on Sunday * *One of the most successful contemporary artists of his generation . . . Sketchy, darkly humorous, occasionally violent and always arch, his drawings and animations are stylistically naïve, and his sculptures are intentionally awkward * * CityLife * *
£15.29
Plexus Publishing Ltd Totes Ridictionary
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Plexus Publishing Ltd Who Farted
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Oneworld Publications Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire
Book SynopsisThe hilarious story of one bag of cash, two best friends and a whole lot of trouble.Trade Review‘A million bucks. A million laughs. Okay, maybe not that many, but enough to get me told to quiet down on a flight. Tess is a narrator you won’t soon forget – both over the top and deeply real at the same time.’ -- Gordon Korman, author of Restart‘Top tier fun. Fast-paced, clever, and completely hilarious with the BEST cast of characters, including two incredible young entrepreneurs. Packed with life lessons too. LOVE IT TO BITS.’ -- Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Dosh‘A thoroughly entertaining read that children will storm through. Wise advice, lots of laughs and an important message about the things money can’t buy... Laughs, family, friendships and a thrilling adventure - Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire has it all.’ -- Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.'Any fan of the Treehouse series will have spent hours inventing the storeys, contraptions and rooms that would be present in their own treehouses, and Nat Amoore’s debut novel posits an equally enticing prospect: what would you do if you found a million dollars in your backyard?' * Guardian *‘Amoore writes with the confidence a good plot can bring – there is no need for drawn out ‘fillers’ because the action zips along with exuberance and energy... Despite its peppy tone and galloping plotline, this book has a strong moral core… Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire is a book with bounce, combining action with integrity and an open door to explore some of life’s bigger questions. Perfect for budding entrepreneurs, amateur detectives, would-be Greta Thunbergs and pretty much everyone in-between.’ -- Armadillo Magazine'Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire is pure fun and will appeal to both reluctant and keen readers alike . . . Amoore’s take is contemporary, super quirky and a rollicking adventure.' * Children's Books Daily *'I love this book because I could perfectly relate to most of the wacky things Tess did, and because it wasn’t too easy or too hard.' -- Kayla Ludeman, age 11'This is a lively but thoughtful middle-grade fiction that kids aged 8–12 will race through with great pleasure.' * Books + Publishing *'Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire is a lively, precocious book for readers with big ideas and big hearts.' * Readings *'This is a fresh, exciting and thrilling read for kids.' * Kids Book Review *‘Fresh, fast and truly laugh-out-loud funny… Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire is fun, easy to read and full of the good stuff that ten year olds need to know, not least the last lesson: we all make mistakes, learn from them and change.’ -- BookTrust‘An original and fun read from first page to last, of special note is the inclusion of real-life bonus tips on how to become a schoolyard millionaire inside!’ -- Midwest Book Review‘Sparkling with humour, this is a refreshingly thrilling story with a clear moral message. It is easy to read, fun and full of credible quirky characters… The chapter titles and the tips that can be found throughout the book are brilliant.’ -- The School Librarian
£6.99
Oneworld Publications Blurb Your Enthusiasm
Book SynopsisA dazzling dictionary of book blurbs, filled with writing tips, literary folklore and publishing secretsA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR ''A small masterpiece. There is something funny, notable or awe-inspiring on every single page’ Jenny Colgan, Spectator A joyful celebration of books - the perfect gift for bibliophiles, word lovers and anyone who’s ever wondered, should you judge a book by its cover? We love the words in books - but what about the words on them? How do they work their magic? Penguin Books blurb wizard Louise Willder joyfully divulges what those 100-or-so words can tell us about literary history, the craft of writing, authors from George Orwell to Zadie Smith, genres from children’s fiction to bonkbusters, cover design, the dark arts of persuasion and even why we read. She also answers burning questions such as: • Should all adjectives be murdered? • Is blurbing sTrade Review'A small masterpiece. There is something funny, notable or awe-inspiring on every single page. Some books simply slide into your life like good-humoured old friends. This is undoubtedly one of them.' -- Jenny Colgan, Spectator‘The bookiest book about books you’ll ever read – I loved it.’ -- Lucy Mangan, author of Bookworm‘Truly delightful… charming and gracefully learned… Louise Willder, a copywriter with decades of experience, brings so much joy and, indeed, enthusiasm to her book about books that anyone who revels in reading will find real enchantment here. I couldn’t have had more fun.’ -- Benjamin Dreyer, author of the New York Times bestseller Dreyer’s English'A little marvel...consummately brilliant' * Daily Mail *‘Very funny, erudite and profound. A delight!’ -- Nina Stibbe‘I love this book’s sheer happiness and humanity. It is rich, wise and soul-awaking, exhilarating-like-the-snowman-flying-through-the-air-of-human-gloriousness. And, God, she's funny. Buy it, read it, give it.’ -- Martin Latham, author of The Bookseller’s Tale‘Wise and witty...she is full of vim, blessed too with an unusual sense of enquiry, a comic turn of phrase and a talent for investigation into almost every nook and cranny of the business and pleasure of books.’ -- Carmen Callil * The Oldie *‘This total gem is an illuminating, dazzling, quirky, fascinating, erudite, thought-provoking, hilarious and totally essential celebration of the outside of books. Willder is my new style icon.’ -- Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice'Bookworms will devour this' * Good Housekeeping *‘This book is ace! A must-read for any and every writer or book-obsessed person!’ -- Sophie Hannah‘Jammed with funny, curious and stylish thoughts and insights, Blurb Your Enthusiasm will be loved by absolutely everybody with an obsessive interest in books and their appearance.’ -- Simon Winder, author of Germania'Studded with jewels' * Literary Review *‘Tracking the blurb through history, literary practices, authors’ lives, reading habits, and more, Willder opens up the world of wordplay that lies at the heart of writing and publishing.’ * Idler *‘Willder’s breezy book sweeps across publishing history, imbuing her research and professional expertise with the tantalizing thrill of dinner party gossip … so smart and witty that you barely realize how much she is teaching about writing’ -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *‘[Willder] is a charming guide not just to blurbs, but to first lines, hatchet jobs, puffs … I couldn’t, as the cliché goes, put it down.’ -- Laura Freeman * The Times, Best Books of 2022 *‘With chapters on swearing, spoilers and silliness (all acceptable in moderation), Willder makes a fine case for the blurb as an art form in its own right.’ -- Daily Mail‘Delightful … charming … this book feels like the surprising pleasure of a mimosa with breakfast or a bawdy song after dinner… Willder is the perfect guide’ -- Carrie Callaghan * Washington Independent Review of Books *‘Uproarious, gossipy and utterly fascinating: a masterclass in how to judge a book by its cover. It makes words seem weird and wild again.’ -- Henry Eliot, author of The Penguin Classics Book‘For anyone who needs or wants to use words persuasively, this is the most enjoyable masterclass you’ll ever read.’ -- Rob Williams, screenwriter of Killing Eve and The Victim'A zingy compendium… A crisp reminder of how profoundly words can affect us.’ -- Sunday Business Post'With chapters on swearing, spoilers and silliness (all acceptable in moderation), Willder makes a fine case for the blurb as an art form in its own right.' * Daily Mail *‘Louise Willder’s witty guide Blurb Your Enthusiasm is a treat for insiders and book-world fans… Wilder celebrates the practice of turning literature into a catchy product that both illuminates people about a book and retains the book’s mystique.’ -- Foreword Reviews‘A delight… She is a delightful and amusing guide to the subject. One for the book lover in your life.’ -- Herald (Glasgow)‘Funny and anecdote-crammed history of the art of the book blurb. You’ll definitely never read book jackets the same way again.’ -- Reader's Digest
£14.99
Oneworld Publications Animal Vegetable Criminal
Book SynopsisIn her addictive, bold voice, bestselling author Mary Roach delves into the unpredictable world where wildlife and humans meet.Trade Review‘A provocative and engaging exploration of our evolving relationship with the rest of nature.’ -- Guardian‘Combining diligently researched scientific reporting with the sniggering wit of a stand-up comic… Animal Vegetable Criminal loves an eyebrow-raising anecdote.’ -- The Times‘Bestseller Roach sheds light on nature’s malefactors in this often funny, always provocative survey…Roach’s writing is wry, full of heart, and loaded with intriguing facts… This eminently entertaining outing is another winner.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review‘Reading a Mary Roach book is like spending a luxurious and joyful evening with the perfect dinner guest. Delightful facts become indelibly etched in your brain, and only later do you realise that hours have passed and your face slightly hurts from smiling too hard. In Animal Vegetable Criminal, Roach’s peerless storytelling skills are paired with a sense of moral urgency, as she recounts stories of humans and other animals, uneasily and clumsily learning to co-exist in a world that they must now share.’ -- Ed Yong, science journalist and author of I Contain Multitudes‘Hilarious! With Animal Vegetable Criminal, Mary Roach again takes us into an unfamiliar scientific realm, in this case the science of managing the conflicts between humans and the natural world – lethal leopards, rampaging elephants, jet-downing birds, even killer trees. It’s an ever-widening conflict zone, but one that Ms. Roach gleefully mines for a multitude of bizarre facts that’ll make you snort coffee through your nose.’ -- Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile‘An idiosyncratic tour with Roach as the wisecracking, ever-probing guide… My favorite moments, ultimately, weren’t the funny ones, but those that reveal a bit of scientific poetry.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘With her characteristic dry wit, [Roach] brings an intense fascination to the seldom discussed details and the at times absurd miscellany in the unexplored corners of unappreciated research… It is impossible not to smirk, chortle and sometimes outright belly laugh as you read her many wry asides and funny but fascinating footnotes… But the real trick Roach pulls off is to keep you laughing while at the same time making sure the earnest points come across.’ * New Scientist *‘A hugely enjoyable exploration of what happens when the nature we’ve decided to love doesn’t love us back. By turns hilarious and horrifying – and often profound – Roach’s entertaining journeys are full of delightful curios and I was swept up in her joyful writing.’ -- Gaia Vince, author of Transcendence‘Each chapter is packed with the results of [Roach’s] detailed investigations. Roach uses footnotes to add both depth and lightness to the topic at hand by capturing misfit studies, asides, and hilarious tangents… Refreshing.’ -- Science‘Full of kernels of fascinating information… Her approach is informative and unpretentious, and she’s always armed with a dry sense of humor. Roach will change the way you think about the great outdoors. What more could you ask for?’ * BuzzFeed *‘The book brims with Roach’s irreverent humor, which particularly shines when she experiences human-animal conflict firsthand… A blend of modern science and history, with Roach’s flair for spotting hidden absurdities… As another entry in Roach’s canon of books, Animal Vegetable Criminal stands tall (and hairy), educating as much as it entertains.’ * Science News *‘[Animal Vegetable Criminal is] powerfully propelled by the force of Roach’s unflinching fascination with the weird, the gross and the downright improbable… There’s a wacky genius to [her] interjections… [Her] curious and generous engagement with her subjects makes for world-expanding reading.’ -- Washington Post‘Traveling from a bear seminar in Reno to a bird-infested island in the Pacific that plagued the American military during World War II, among many other venues, Roach joyfully explores how human culture and wildlife, including plant life, have either found ways to coexist or are constantly at odds. Throughout, Roach highlights people who are genuinely passionate about the work, and she also includes suggestions for readers on how to deal ethically (and effectively) with their own wildlife issues, wherever they live. From the terrifying to the frustrating, a great starting point for understanding the animal world.’ -- Kirkus, starred review‘A witty and thought-provoking look at the darker side of animal behaviour through the ages. Highly entertaining and informative – excellent popular science writing.’ -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and author‘As hilarious as it is thought-provoking, Animal Vegetable Criminal is a brilliant read. Only Mary Roach can make such an obscure subject so intriguing. From battles with birds to marauding macaques, Roach reveals what happens when nature breaks human laws, with fascinating results.’ -- Monty Lyman, author of The Remarkable Life of the Skin‘Mary Roach has been writing brilliant, funny and illuminating popular science books for years. Unfortunately – at least for those of us with ambitions to step into her shoes – she has gone and done it again! Animal Vegetable Criminal is as good as anything this wonderful author has ever written, and that is saying something.’ -- Graham Lawton, author of Mustn’t Grumble: The surprising science of everyday ailments‘I sometimes wonder what animals have done wrong to deserve humans and what we do to them. But I know that humanity has done something right to deserve Mary Roach, the best guide possible to the fascinating but sometimes fraught interactions between human, animal and nature. She prowls through this intersection of worlds with the sleek grace of a leopard, diving into garbage cans, Indian elephant politics and mass murders of murders of crows, with her usual wit and wisdom. There’s only one downside to this delightful and brilliant book, and that’s that the animals can’t read it too.’ -- Rose George, journalist and author of Nine Pints‘Animal Vegetable Criminal is as funny as it is immersive. It is littered with colourful details of characters… The book is sympathetic to the complex problem of our coexistence with nature, and maintains that the dilemma of animals disturbing the peacefulness of our existence is only increasing in urgency.’ -- New Statesman‘This book is such a rich stew of anecdotes and lore that it’s best savored slowly, bit by bit… No matter the situation, Roach approaches it with contagious enthusiasm.’ -- BookPage, starred review‘[A] splendid study of all things alimentary…’ -- Bill Bryson on Gulp‘The most entertaining writer in science.’ * The Times *'Mary Roach has a knack for finding quirky corners of science to explore and does so with unfailingly good nature and charm.' -- Fortean Times
£9.49
