Humour Books

Book SynopsisAdd a touch of playfulness to your practice with the adorable cat tarot cards of Mystic Cats Tarot. From illustrator and designer Michelle Romo, this cat tarot deck is the purr-fect addition to any tarot toolkit.TheMystic Cats Tarotdeck is full of adorable kitties, frogs, rainbows, and more.

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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 “smart and thoughtful and even a little offensive” (Sacha Baron Cohen) collection of essays on the cultural flashpoints of today.Growing up, Jena Friedman didn’t care about being likable. And she never wanted to be a comedian, either. She wouldn’t discover her knack for the funny business until research for her college thesis led her to take an improv class in Chicago. That anthropology paper, written on race, class, and gender in the city’s comedy scene, was, in Jena’s own words, “just as funny as it sounds.” But it did lay the groundwork for a career that has seen her write and produce for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the Oscar-nominated Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Friedman&rsquo

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Book SynopsisTobin Mitnick, JewsLoveTrees creator and shameless tree lover, leads you, the tree-curious, through the wonderful world of North American trees with fact, opinion, and humor. In Must Love Trees, Mitnick invites you to share his deeply personal connection to our forest companions in ways that expand the storied genre of nature writing. From an imagined dialogue with the world’s oldest bristlecone pine, to the minutiae of tree huggability, to the emotional toll of taking up the practice of bonsai, this fresh take into the world of trees is divided into three equally humorous and insightful sections. The first section discusses Mitnick’s personal opinions and relationship with trees while the second section describes the science behind trees (from tree botany to tree biology to tree ecology). In the final section, Mitnick answers the question: Who would these trees be if they all attended high school together? Tobin’s detailed description of a tree in action and his thorough run-down of our most-treasured North American trees (all 100 of whom happen to be classmates at “Tree High North America”), makes this compilation an original and occasionally outlandish guide for both the budding and seasoned tree-lover.Must Love Trees features beautiful drawings of a vast selection of North American trees, including: Renowned icons like the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Beloved favorites like the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) Historical tragedies like the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Menacing creepers like Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) Unsung wonders like the Common Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba) Part textbook, part memoir, and part comedy, Must Love Trees is the most complete—and most unconventional—story of our forest pals ever told.Table of ContentsIntroduction What You Can Expect from This Book Prologue An Imagined Dialogue with Methuselah, the Oldest (?) Tree in the World 8 Part I My Personal Experience with Trees and Thoughts Derived Thereof CHAPTER 1 My Everyday Tree-Sperience CHAPTER 2 “Arbor-Culture” CHAPTER 3 Bonsai — a Wonderful Way to Torture Oneself CHAPTER 4 Around the House and Neighborhood CHAPTER 5 Look on My Pine Cone Home, Ye Mighty, and Despair! CHAPTER 6 Climate Change and Trees Part II A Tree, Basically CHAPTER 7 Tree Botany CHAPTER 8 Tree Biology CHAPTER 9 Tree Ecology Part III A Slightly Opinionated Guide to North American Trees CHAPTER 10 Spotting Your Tree Pals at the Big Game: How to Use the Tree Guide CHAPTER 11 Gymnosperms CHAPTER 12 Angiosperms CHAPTER 13 UNPOPULAR TREE OPINION: These Two Beloved Trees Are Not Trees Epilogue An Imagined Dialogue Between Myself and a Magnolia Tree Glossary References and Further Reading Acknowledgments About the Author

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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 SynopsisReaders can discover all the foul facts about the STORMIN' NORMANS, including why Norman knights slept with a dolly and why Crusader ships were defended with barrels of pee. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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Book SynopsisLottie Jackson is a writer, editor and disability activist. Featured in the Sunday Times Style's Women of the Year 2020 as 'an important emerging voice', her work offers a vital dissection of the myths that beset disability. She has written for British Vogue, Elle, Guardian, The Sunday Times and Telegraph, bringing her fresh perspective on the most urgent conversations of today that strike at the heart of identity, social progress and diversity. In 2020, she was selected for Penguin Random House's award-winning WriteNow programme. Her writing redefines what it means to be disabled with nuance and wit, inspiring us to see new ways of existence.

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Book SynopsisFastest wins. Your adventure starts now ... This is a race. It is not a race against the clock, because that would be a far easier race. Clocks can be fast, but clocks never win races. It's nearly always humans, sometimes horses, and occasionally dogs. This is a race against your fellow Taskmaster players. You are competing against everyone else who is reading this book. All you've got to do is find The Taskmaster's Head first. This is a race with many twists and turns, that requires very little running, much sideways thinking and quite a lot of patience. Thankfully, there will be a shedload of tasks along the way to distract you. There are tasks to do on your own, tasks to do with your family and friends, and tasks for bigger groups too. Some of these distractions may slow you down, but some may help you get where you need to go. As always, enjoy them, do your best, make good choices. So get going. Take on the tasks. All the information you need is in the book... Alex Horne, Taskmaster's Assistant

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Book SynopsisThe Peanuts gang offer their wisdom on family life in this beautifully produced gift book for all generations. Whether it's Charlie Brown helping his little sister Sally with her homework, Snoopy going in search of his beloved sister Belle or Linus learning how to cope with having a big sister who is always in charge, in this new book siblings are celebrated in all their glory. Even Lucy will admit that little brothers can sometimes be useful to have in your corner. The millions of faithful Charles Schulz fans and those who fondly remember our best-loved beagle and his friends will cherish this latest title in Canongate's Peanuts Guide to Life series.Trade ReviewIt'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 * *Charles Schulz was an American treasure - an artist, philosopher, and keen observer of human life -- BILL CLINTONThe 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 WATERSI became obsessed by it. The obvious thing is the wit, and the irony, but there's also a sort of spiritual simplicity in Woodstock and Snoopy, silent clowns who have the deepest thoughts about the human conundrum. And the set-up of the boy who always underachieves and his dog who's brilliant at everything - it's hilarious. We all went to school with a Lucy, or a Linus, or a Pigpen -- JUDE LAW * * Daily Telegraph * *

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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 SynopsisBill Bryson’s first travel book, The Lost Continent, was unanimously acclaimed as one of the funniest books in years. In Neither Here nor There he brings his unique brand of humour to bear on Europe as he shoulders his backpack, keeps a tight hold on his wallet, and journeys from Hammerfest, the northernmost town on the continent, to Istanbul on the cusp of Asia. Fluent in, oh, at least one language, he retraces his travels as a student twenty years before.Whether braving the homicidal motorists of Paris, being robbed by gypsies in Florence, attempting not to order tripe and eyeballs in a German restaurant or window-shopping in the sex shops of the Reeperbahn, Bryson takes in the sights, dissects the culture and illuminates each place and person with his hilariously caustic observations. He even goes to Liechtenstein.Trade ReviewA breezy and entertaining account of what it is like to be utterly at sea in a continent most of his readers will regard as familiar * Independent on Sunday *Hugely funny (not snigger-snigger funny, but great-big-belly-laugh-till-you-cry funny) * Daily Telegraph *Undoubtedly the most enjoyable travel book of the year * Time Out *This is the travel book that every Inter-Rail vagrant would love to write; the Animal House of the genre * New Statesman *

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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 SynopsisWhile staying with his Aunt Dahlia to help out in the election at Market Snodsbury, Bertie Wooster comes up against the familiar horrors of Florence Craye, his former fiancee, and Roderick Spode, head of the Black Shorts, in a plot tangle from which, as usual, only the ingenuity of Jeeves can save him.Trade Review"Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in." Evelyn Waugh; "He exhausts superlatives" Stephen Fry; "Pure word music" Douglas Adams; "The Everyman edition promises to be a splendid celebration of the divine Plum" The Independent; "The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare" Evening Standard; "A handsome, collectable hardback edition" Lynne Truss, The Times"

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Book Synopsis"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" - a fiendishly clever mash-up of Jane Austen's beloved classic with all-new scenes of zombie mayhem - is "A New York Times" bestseller and a major pop culture phenomenon. This graphic novel adaptation, featuring all-original art, will bring this sensational tale to a whole new audience. 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains'. So begins "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" - Jane Austen's immortal classic, now brought to glorious, gory new life with original, all-new scenes of zombie mayhem. Seth Grahame-Smith's irreverent and witty reworking of this novel immediately struck a nerve: The book quickly became "A New York Times" bestseller - and one of the most buzzworthy and blogged-about pop culture sensations of the year. Now "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" is a graphic novel - the perfect format to bring this remixed masterpiece to zombie-loving pop-culture fans.

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Book SynopsisHis first new collection of short humor in fifteen years is classic Woody Allen. Zero Gravity is the fifth collection of comic pieces by Woody Allen, a hilarious prose stylist whose enduring appeal readers have savored since his classics Getting Even, Without Feathers, Side Effects, and Mere Anarchy. This new work combines pieces that have appeared in The New Yorker along with ten written exclusively for this book, each a comic inspiration. Whether he’s writing about horses that paint, cars that think, the sex lives of celebrities, or how General Tso’s Chicken got its name, he is always totally original, broad yet sophisticated, acutely observant, and most important, relentlessly funny. Along with titles like “Buffalo Wings Woncha Come Out Tonight” and “When Your Hood Ornament Is Nietzsche,” included in this collection is his poignant but very funny short story, "Growing Up in Manhattan.”Zero Gravity implies writing not to be taken seriously, but, as with any true humor, not all the laughs are weightlessTrade ReviewPraise for Mere Anarchy, Woody Allen's previous collection of his short humor pieces:“The stories in Mere Anarchy deliver the same joys and foibles that have been with its author from the start.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times“Uproarious . . . In each story the ornate and the vulgate slam together and make it rain polysyllabic absurdity.”—Wall Street Journal“Like the Carnegie’s one-pound sandwiches, Allen’s literary slapstick is . . . comedy on wry.”—USA Today“Brilliant neurotica . . . Unfailingly entertaining . . . [An] obsessive and seriously funny book.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review“Will put a rictus on your kisser. . . . The animating comedy is part S. J. Perelman and part borscht belt: Allen piles the ludicrous on top of the ridiculous and tops it with an acidic lemon squeeze, and then just keeps the jokes coming.”—Publishers Weekly"The topsy-turvy literary allusions pour from Allen's pen like bullets from a Gatling gun (an appropriately obscure simile), exposing the intellectual pretensions of a ragtag assortment of Allenesque everymen—endearingly unkempt nebbishes who, despite knowing their Dostoevsky, can't quite deal with the absurdities of daily life."—Booklist

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Book SynopsisHilarious and relatable comics about one young woman's life, relationships, and day-to-day humorous musings on why it's good to leave the house sometimes—and when it's better to stay home.Cassandra Calin’s ability to document the hilarity of relatable everyday events in a series of webcomics has generated a huge following on social media. This beautifully illustrated compendium of first-person comics about the trials of the single life, school, stress, junk food, shaving, and maintaining a healthy self-image. Cassandra Calin's comics frequently highlight the humorous gap between expectations and reality, especially when it comes to appearance and how much she can accomplish in one day. This book is funny, lighthearted, introspective, and artistically stunning—the perfect gift for young women, recent graduates, and anyone who might need a little comedic incentive to leave the house today.

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Book Synopsis''I can''t think of a better way to learn about artificial intelligence, and I''ve never had so much fun along the way'' Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Option B AI is the technology of the future, but how does it actually work? A hilarious, transporting look under the hood of the technology that''s changing the world - and why it''s dumber than we thinkYou Look Like a Thing and I Love You is one of the best pickup lines ever . . . according to an artificial intelligence trained by scientist Janelle Shane, creator of the popular blog AI Weirdness. She makes silly AIs that learn how to name paint colors, create the best recipes, and even flirt (badly) with humans - all to understand the technology that governs so much of our human lives. We rely on AI every day for recommendations, for rust AI with matters of life and death, on the road and in our hospitals. But how smart is AI really . . . and how does it solve problems, understand humans, and drive self-driving cars?This hilarious introduction to the most interesting science of our time, shows us how these programs learn, fail, and adapt - and how they reflect both the best and the worst of humanity.Trade ReviewIf you're terrified that artificial intelligence is going to take over the world soon, you clearly haven't asked a computer to write pickup lines, name pets, or do anything else social or creative. Janelle Shane has, and she's the perfect tour guide to explain what machine learning can and can't do - and how it's already affecting your life. I can't think of a better way to learn about artificial intelligence, and I've never had so much fun along the way -- Adam Grant * New York Times bestselling author of ORIGINALS *If you're worried about what AI is doing to the world, this book may not exactly reassure you, but it will definitely equip you with greater understanding in a highly readable manner. Shane's sense of humor and enthusiasm for her topic shine through. Recommended for anyone who wants to better understand the strengths and limitations of artificial intelligence, but also for anyone who likes watching computers fail hilariously -- Gretchen McCulloch * New York Times bestselling author of Because Internet *Few recent innovations are so revolutionary as machine learning - and none are so poorly understood by the public, pundits, and policy makers. In You Look Like a Thing and I Love You, Janelle Shane delivers a fun, common-sense guide to the technology that's shaping our future -- William Poundstone * author of Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? *While everyone else is making questionable predictions about the future of AI, Janelle Shane cuts through the fog by telling you how AI actually works. And, even better: she makes it fun! -- Zach Weinersmith, creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal * New York Times bestselling author of Soonish *Machine learning algorithms are becoming more entrenched in our everyday lives, but they're far from perfect. Janelle Shane takes readers on a light-hearted adventure into the world of machine learning in the wild, examining what these algorithms are really learning - and what they're misunderstanding completely. If you're interested in learning about machine learning and artificial intelligence, trying to understand our robot overlords, or just love weird and interesting science, you can't miss this book -- David Ha, Lead Researcher, Google BrainThis book is scary, not because of how smart AI is, but how weird and too often dysfunctional. If Janelle Shane is a real person, and not some kind of writing robot, she demonstrates the superiority of natural intelligence in the task of making a technical topic irresistibly funny and compelling -- Roy Peter Clark * author of Writing Tools *Janelle Shane's goofy experiments with AI reveal a lot about the future. This book will make you laugh, but you'll also get a crash course in how AI works-and why it's not quite ready to take over the world. A delightful way to learn about the technology that's poised to change our lives -- Annalee Newitz * author of Future of Another Timeline *Janelle Shane has hit the trifecta - the most hilarious, educational, and overall best explainer of artificial intelligence ever written (and drawn) -- Eric Topol * author of Deep Medicine *You Look Like a Thing And I Love You is an incredibly accessible, informative, and (this is equally-important) hilarious look at how the AIs deciding things around us operate. They're not magic, and they're not even that mysterious - but in Janelle Shane's hands, they're hysterical -- Ryan North * New York Times bestselling author of How to Invent Everything *Janelle Shane makes the kind of neural networks that go viral. Her quirky creations autonomously stumble and grumble ... the output of her networks is typically silly and charming in equal measure * Slate *Janelle Shane is quickly becoming the internet's neural network queen * Nerdist *An accessible primer ... illustrated with charming cartoons, oddball case studies (self-driving cars in Australia were confused by kangaroos), and wry observations about the often-hilarious failures of artificial intelligence to comprehend human contexts * Publishers Weekly *Creative and hilarious * New York Post *Janelle Shane of A.I. Weirdness is awesome * BoingBoing *

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Book SynopsisWe''re going on a bar hunt.We''re going to find a cool one.The babysitter''s booked.We''re not old!Bestselling authors Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd also happen to be parents, so they understand the complications of organising a rare night out. In this parody of the famous children''s book, two parents set off for a night on the tiles, and encounter a series of watering holes and bars before an alarming encounter with a ''bear'' sends them running home to their children.Gillian Johnson is the author and illustrator of the successful Monster Hospital and Thora series for children. Her illustrations bring this story to life, gently parodying the original but adding an anarchic edge as the evening progresses.We''re not going on a bar hunt again!Trade ReviewThis is the new Go the F**k to Sleep, guaranteed to make you chuckle if you've managed to go through the rigmarole of organising a babysitter and a night out only to regret it the next day. * Best *. . . a parody that will draw a smile from any parent. * The Guardian *This is the genius work of Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees, a couple who turned their rare date night into such a funny parody of classic kids' book, We're Going On A Bear Hunt, it's become a bestseller. Easy to sing, hilarious and slightly naughty - what's wrong with celebrating British pub culture in a cute, innocent way? * Sunday Mirror *I killed myself laughing at this book till the kids went to sleep. Then I went out. * Jenny Colgan *Expect parenting LOLs galore. * Mother&Baby *A genius idea and very funny. I'm buying this for everyone I know with kids. * Ben Hatch *This parody of We're Going On A Bear Hunt Might Be The Best Book Title Ever. Yes, We're Going On A Bar Hunt might just be this year's must-have Christmas gift for all parents of young children. * HuffingtonPost.co.uk *It’s very funny. If you’re a parent who’s ever attempted to leave the house after having kids then this is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. * Sonny and Luca blog *Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees' parody together with Gillian Johnson's fabulous illustrations make for a perfect book summing up the trials and tribulations of a rare night out for parents . . . leave it around for the babysitter to read and she might be a bit more understanding when you stagger in pretending to be sober! * Parenting Without Tears blog *

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'Hilarious and painfully accurate, The Very Hungover Caterpillar is liable to be one of those parodies that becomes more famous than the original.' IndependentIn the gloom of the room, a fully dressed man lies on the sofa. The next morning, the TV comes on and - ugh! - ! up lurches a thirsty and very hungover caterpillar. From the bestselling authors of We're Going on a Bar Hunt, comes another hilarious parody of a much-loved children's book. This time, we follow the quest of one man as he attempts to shake off his hangover, through eating whatever he can get his hands on, and annoying his family in the process. The perfect book for anyone who fondly remembers the original, but has now grown up and knows all too well just how painful hungover days can be . . .

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Book SynopsisI'm Jen Brister: stand-up comedian, middle-aged adolescent, and mum. But not that mum - I'm the other one.'Hysterical, important, moving, wonderful' Sara PascoeConfused? Two years ago, my partner (a woman - we're not solicitors) gave birth to twins. (I know! Believe me, I'm still reeling myself.) Like every new parent, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. Add 'gay' and 'non-biological' to the mix and what do you get? Not a weird box of detergent, but a panicked beige lesbian desperately googling, 'Will my babies love me?' at 3 a.m.A very funny, very honest look at parenting life, from IVF awfulness to crying over the pages of sleep training manuals. A perfect gift for any parent who feels they don't fit the mould of a traditional family.*LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI PRIZE*'Damned funny. You'll find the pages of this book brimming with rich and wonderful proof' Hannah Gadsby'A side-splittingly honest look at the grim realities of same-sex parenting' DivaTrade ReviewI love Jen Brister. She is a like mind and damned funny. You’ll find the pages of this book brimming with rich and wonderful proof of all of this ... and more * Hannah Gadsby *Jen is one of the funniest comedians I’ve ever seen and her book is predictably hysterical. It’s also moving, important and wonderful * Sara Pascoe *Jen Brister is bloody funny both on stage and in this brilliant book * Sarah Millican *Fresh, heartwarming and very, very wise. The funniest and most refreshingly honest account of being a parent that I've ever read * Frankie Boyle *The Other Mother, is a side-splittingly honest look at the grim realities of same-sex parenting * Diva *

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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 SynopsisLife is much too short to give any real amount of f*cks. Who is this book for?People who give too many f*cks to things they shouldn’t give a f*ck about. You have a finite amount of f*cks, spend them wisely.This book contains the word f*ck over 44 thousand times, which is a world record**Probably, I don’t give a f*ck if that’s true or not and I couldn’t be f*cked to count them.

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Book Synopsis ''A purrfect gift for a loved one with a special affinity for the feline'' ''An absolute must for any cat lover''''Curiosity is more than a desire to discover. It''s a lifestyle, and a purrvilege. It''s hours of observing a fly on the wall. It''s entering the sock drawer just before it closes. It''s sniffing the lampshade one more time . . .''Such is the wisdom of Curious Zelda: social media star, agony aunt, yoga teacher, cat. In The Adventures of a Curious Cat she gives insight into her view of the world and dispenses unparalleled wisdom. Zelda explains, in her unique voice, how to handle humans, how to communicate with furniture, and most importantly how to live a life curiously. It''s the ultimate self-help guide for any cat, or indeed, their human.

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Book SynopsisCleverly whimsical yet oddly informative, The Oatmeal.com is an immensely popular site full of comics, quizzes and stories. This collection presents classic favourites as well as all-new hilarity with any never-before-seen comics, such as 8 Reasons to Keep a Canadian as a Pet, 6 Reasons Man Nipples Are Awesome & 5 Reasons to Have Rabies Instead of Babies. Inman creates these quirky scenes for theoatmeal.com, which launched in July 2009 and already has more than 82 million page views. In fact, every 15 to 30 seconds, someone Google''s one of theoatmeal.com''s creations. Now, 60 of Inman''s comic illustrations and life-bending guides are presented in full-colour inside5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides).Trade Review"Matthew Inman is the Gary Larson of the Internet age." (Ken Wheaton, Advertising Age)"If Inman isn't a king of the Internet, he's certainly among its royalty. The Oatmeal is one of the most popular humor sites on the web." (Todd Leopold, CNN)"In 2009, Inman put his hand to the page, and the world hasn't stopped laughing since." (Nick Carbone, Time)"Dangerously funny." (TODAY.com)"Delightfully absurd musings on both everyday life and fantasy from an unusually creative mind." (Kirkus Reviews)

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Book SynopsisFor generations, conventional wisdom stated that you could never sell a book with 'penis' in the title - until Quirk's "Penis Pokey" shattered all of the rules, racking up 100,000 in net sales in just 18 months. In this same tradition comes "How to Live with a Huge Penis" - a gift every man will cherish, regardless of whether or not he actually needs it. Frankly, it's enough for someone to think he needs it. This hilarious self-help parody is full of compassionate advice for men afflicted with Oversized Male Genitalia (OMG).Far too often, these men are banished to the fringes of society, victims of their own freakish length and girth. But Dr. Richard Jacob and Rev. Owen Thomas are here with a message of tolerance and hope, along with hilarious advice on 'coming out' to your family, sharing your assets with a partner, and avoiding injury in the workplace. Complete with a daily affirmations journal and inspiring quotes from leading self-help experts, "How to Live with a Huge Penis" will send an uplifting message to men around the world.

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Book SynopsisNaming a boat is as personal as naming a baby (even if few male skippers would risk telling the wife that). The culmination of many years of dreaming and penny pinching, the purchase of a boat of any size is a huge event for any sailor, and with that comes serious naming pressure. Many boatowners have a secret fear that someone else got their brilliantly original name first or ruined it for ever by reducing its reputation to snigger-worthy opprobrium. Sometimes it's so difficult to name a boat that skippers are desperate enough to ask the sorts of people who think Boaty McBoatface would be a good choice The perfect gift for any skipper or would-be skipper, and featuring hundreds of common and uncommon names, this entertaining little book will answer perhaps the most important question new owners should ask themselves: what will this name say about me? And as everyone knows, once you've named a boat, you never ever change it, so it also answers the question: what is myTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: Underpinned by history, psychology and a large dash of humour, his latest book is a witty guide to boat naming. * Coast magazine *Offers an A-Z of boat names both good and bad, common and uncommon, and answers the all-important question of what the name of your vessel says about you. * Welsh Coastal Life *An essential guide including an interesting history, a fair bit of psychology and a lot of humour. * All at Sea *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW NOVEL FROM THE BOLLINGER SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF ENGLAND'S LANE.'There's a lot of brilliantly observed detail... it's very funny and very sharp' Michael PalinGeorge is a fashion mad Beatles fan, selfish and cruel. Why his girlfriend Dorothy loves him is a mystery to her and to his best friend Sammy. When George callously chucks her he cannot anticipate that his life, post 1964, will never be the same. And forty-four years later, when George is sixty-four, rich and successful, his past will catch up with him and his family.'Connolly unfolds a rich and compelling drama of life that is anything but everyday' Daily Mail'It is Connolly's skill to get the reader to laugh at what should make you cry or at least wince' Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewA lot of brilliantly observed detail . . . very funny and very sharp. -- Michael PalinA writer of considerable power and subtlety. * Guardian *Connolly creates a sense of intimacy and collusion with his reader that is rare in contemporary fiction. * Financial Times *He remains essentially a comic novelist, but one whose work has its dark, even sinister side . . . There is no other novelist today who writes quite like Connolly. * Scotsman *Connolly remorselessly points up social pretensions with the eye of Dostoevsky . . . this satire on human behaviour is timeless. * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWHERE'S WALDO? meets HBO's GIRLS in this clever seek-and-find book by Lenny Letter illustrator Sally Nixon.

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Book SynopsisFrom the world leader in fascinating facts and amusing true stories comes a book about how to feed, clothe, and protect yourself in the wilderness…and might even make you want to avoid anything resembling the wilderness forever.For more than 25 years, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader has helped you learn amazing things you didn’t know. Now, Uncle John will show you how to do things you didn’t know how to do…and probably should never, never, never actually do, unless you’re in a survival situation and really, really, really need to do. It’s How to Fight a Bear...and Win. A new approach to survival guides and how-to books, this book provides step-by-step instructions for how to make do in any rugged terrain. But if you’re expecting “how to start a fire,” think again. This isn’t the kind of book that will tell you how to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together—it will tell you how to make a fire using a car battery. It will also tell you: How to swing from a vine like Tarzan How to land an airplane in an emergency How to fight a bear…and win How to perform emergency surgery in the woods How to identify what insects you can--and cannot--eat And lots, lots more.

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Book Synopsis‘I have the best ghosts, everyone says so’President Ebenezer Trump is a rich old fool, whose heart is as small as his hands and whose words are as false as his hair. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by three spirits, all intent on changing his evil ways: Bill Clinton, the jovial Ghost of Christmas Past; Barack Obama, the big-eared Ghost of Christmas Present; and the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him how abolishing Obamacare will finish off Tiny Tim…'This Scrooge is gonna be yooooge...'

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Book Synopsis''TOM PHILLIPS IS A VERY CLEVER, VERY FUNNY MAN'' Greg JennerThis is a book about TRUTH - and all the ingenious ways, throughout history, that we''ve managed to avoid it.We live in a ''post-truth'' age, we''re told. The US has a president who openly lies on a daily basis (or who doesn''t even know what''s true, and doesn''t care). The internet has turned our everyday lives into a misinformation battleground. People don''t trust experts any more.But was there ever really a golden age of truth-telling? As the editor of the UK''s leading independent fact-checker, Tom Phillips deals with complete bollocks every day. Here, he tells the story of how we humans have spent history lying to each other - and ourselves - and asks an important question: how can humanity move towards a truthier future?PRAISE FOR HUMANS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW WE F*CKED IT ALL UP:''F*cking brilliant'' Sarah Knight, The Life-ChaTrade ReviewFor Tom Phillips and HUMANS:In dark times, it's reassuring to learn that we've always been a bunch of clueless f*cking nitwits -- Stuart Heritage * Don't Be a Dick, Pete *A light-touch history of moments when humans have got it spectacularly wrong... Both readable and entertaining * Telegraph *If you find yourself looking at the news and wondering how humanity has got so many things wrong, over and over again, this book is a very funny answer to just that question' -- Mark Watson, comedian

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Book SynopsisPacked with witty career advice for budding entrepreneurs, this Star Wars self-help book is full of brilliant business advice and funny quotes from Lando Calrissian and other Star Wars characters.As the galaxy''s resident wheeler-dealer, Lando has lots of useful advice for the business novice. If you''re setting up a start-up and want to know how to win over investors, when to back away from a deal, or how to gamble away the fastest starship in the galaxy, this is the book for you! With additional tips from other galactic scoundrels, including Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, Watto, Qi''ra and even some sound business advice from Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, you''ll be well and truly equipped to grow your amazing new venture and win at life! The perfect gift for colleagues and friends alike, Star Wars: Be More Lando is a tongue-in-cheek guide to winning over heroes and influencing droids. It features favourite moments from the Star Wars

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Book SynopsisTHE ENTERTAINING AND HEARTWARMING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER.Like many couples, Dick and Angel had long dreamed of living in France, but where others might settle for a modest bolthole in the French countryside, the Strawbridges fell in love with a 19th-century fairytale château, complete with 45 rooms, seven outbuildings, 12 acres of land and its own moat.Throwing caution to the wind, Dick and Angel swapped their two-bedroom flat in East London for an abandoned and derelict castle in the heart of the Loire valley and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their two young children Arthur and Dorothy.Sharing their full journey for the first time, A Year at the Château follows Dick and Angel from when they first moved to France in the depths of winter and found bedrooms infested with flies, turrets inhabited by bats, the wind rattling through cracked windows, and just one working toilet, which flushed into the moat, through to the monumental efforts that went into readying the château for their unforgettable wedding and their incredibly special first Christmas.Along the way we'll read glorious descriptions of rural life in France, with charming characters, delicious food and wonderful seasonal produce, together with the extraordinary list of renovations and restorations Dick and Angel completed, many of which were never shown on TV.As warm and entertaining as their much-loved show, A Year at the Château is a truly irresistible story of adventure and heart, epic ambitions and a huge amount of hard graft.

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Book SynopsisFrom Monte Carlo to Shanghai, Bikini to Samarra, Around the World in 80 Words is a whimsical voyage through the far-flung reaches of the English language.; What makes a place so memorable that it survives for ever in a word? In this captivating round-the-world jaunt, Paul Anthony Jones reveals the intriguing stories of how 80 different places came to be immortalised in our language.; Beginning in London and heading through Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas, you'll discover why the origins of turkeys, Brazil nuts, limericks and Panama hats aren't quite as straightforward as you might presume. You'll also find out what the Philippines have given to your office in-tray; what an island with more bears than people has given to your liquor cabinet; and how a tiny hamlet in Nottinghamshire became Gotham City.; Surprising and consistently entertaining, this is essential reading for armchair travellers and word nerds. Our dictionaries are full of hidden histories, tales and adventures from all over the world - if you know where to look.Table of ContentsCONTENTS; Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi; 1. London, UK Kent Street ejectment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1; 2. Vire, France vaudeville.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5; 3. Saverne, France zabernism.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9; 4. Spa, Belgium spa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19; 5. Neander Valley, Germany Neanderthal. . . . . . . . . . . 24; 6. Amsterdam, Netherlands ampster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28; 7. Copenhagen, Denmark Great Dane. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31; 8. Oslo, Norway Oslo breakfast.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35; 9. Ytterby, Sweden yttrium.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39; 10. Helsinki, Finland Finlandisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43; 11. Dubna, Russia dubnium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46; 12. Balaklava, Ukraine balaclava. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51; 13. Istanbul, Turkey turkey.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55; 14. Nicosia, Cyprus copper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58; 15. Abdera, Greece Abderian laughter.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61; 16. Sofia, Bulgaria buggery.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64; 17. Skopje, Macedonia macedoine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67; 18. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Balkanisation.. . . . 70; 19. Zagreb, Croatia cravat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73; 20. Kocs, Hungary coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77; 21. Rakow, Poland Racovian.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80; 22. Jachymov, Czech Republic dollar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83; 23. Kahlenbergerdorf, Austria calembour. . . . . . . . . . . . 87; 24. Magenta, Italy magenta.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90; 25. Jura Mountains, France/Switzerland Jurassic. . . . . . 94; 26. Monte Carlo, Monaco Monte Carlo fallacy. . . . . . . . 97; 27. Porto, Portugal port.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100; 28. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain sherry.. . . . . . . . . . . . 104; 29. Gibraltar Siege of Gibraltar.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106; 30. Tangier, Morocco tangerine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108; 31. Algiers, Algeria Algerine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111; 32. Canary Islands canary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114; 33. Timbuktu, Mali Timbuktu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117; 34. Conakry, Guinea guinea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120; 35. Brazzaville, Congo conga.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123; 36. Stellenbosch, South Africa Stellenbosch.. . . . . . . . . 125; 37. Mocha, Yemen mocha.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128; 38. Cairo, Egypt fustian.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130; 39. Bethlehem, Palestine bedlam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134; 40. Mount Nebo, Jordan Pisgah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137; 41. Samarra, Iraq appointment in Samarra.. . . . . . . . . . 139; 42. Qumis, Iran Parthian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141; 43. Bukhara, Uzbekistan buckram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144; 44. Kabul, Afghanistan Afghanistanism. . . . . . . . . . . . 148; 45. Deolali, India doolally.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151; 46. Colombo, Sri Lanka serendipity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155; 47. Samut Songkhram, Thailand Siamese twins. . . . . . . 158; 48. Phnom Penh, Cambodia gamboge. . . . . . . . . . . . . 162; 49. Shanghai, China Shanghaiing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164; 50. Shangdu, China Xanadu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167; 51. Kagoshima, Japan satsuma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170; 52. Manila, Philippines Manila paper.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 173; 53. Makassar, Indonesia antimacassar. . . . . . . . . . . . . 175; 54. Tasmania, Australia vandemonianism.. . . . . . . . . . . 178; 55. Karitane, New Zealand Karitane.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 182; 56. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands bikini.. . . . . . . . . . . 185; 57. Klondike, Canada Klondike. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188; 58. Admiralty Island, Alaska, USA hooch.. . . . . . . . . . 191; 59. Hollywood, California, USA Hollywood no.. . . . . . . 193; 60. Jalap, Mexico jalapeno. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196; 61. San Jose, Costa Rica Panlibhonco. . . . . . . . . . . . . 199; 62. Panama City, Panama Panama hat.. . . . . . . . . . . . 202; 63. Lima, Peru Lima syndrome.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205; 64. Stanley, Falkland Islands Falklands effect.. . . . . . . . 209; 65. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil nut.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 211; 66. Cayenne, French Guiana cayenne pepper. . . . . . . . . 216; 67. Daiquiri, Cuba daiquiri cocktail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218; 68. Hamilton, Bermuda Bermuda.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221; 69. Buncombe, North Carolina, USA bunkum.. . . . . . . 224; 70. New York, USA tuxedo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227; 71. Toronto, Canada Toronto blessing.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 230; 72. Labrador, Canada Labrador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233; 73. Geysir, Iceland geyser.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236; 74. Limerick, Ireland limerick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239; 75. Dublin, Ireland donnybrook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243; 76. Glasgow, UK Glasgow magistrate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 246; 77. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Newcastle programme. . . . 251; 78. Gotham, UK Gothamite.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255; 79. Coventry, UK send to Coventry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259; 80. Porlock, UK person from Porlock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263; Epilogue.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267; Select bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269; Acknowledgements.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

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Book SynopsisPursue a more mindful life with words of wisdom from esteemed Star Wars mentors Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Luke Skywalker.A balanced mind. Inner calm. A positive influence on the world. A Jedi must embody all of these qualities in order to master the Force. But these same self-enlightenment skills can also help you to master a chaotic life in a galaxy much closer to home.The heroes of the Star Wars galaxy have faced many trials and tribulations during their adventures. Learn from their experiences-and in many cases mistakes-to discover new mindfulness techniques to deal with stressful situations. Whether it be coping with relationship struggles, managing workplace stress, or trying the save the galaxy from your overbearing father, Star Wars: Be More Yoda not only provides tips for mindful thinking, but will bring a moment of joy to your day.The perfect gift for Star Wars fans, Star Wars: Be More Yoda is an entertaining guide to mindfulness, featuring iconic moments and famous sayings from the Star Wars movies alongside light-hearted life lessons. & TM 2018 LUCASFILM LTD. Used Under Authorization.

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Book SynopsisStitch your favorite Bob Ross quotes in Bob Ross Cross Stitch—featuring 12 inspirational cross stitch patterns celebrating the artist.Trade Review“An attractive, quirky set of patterns that is on-trend for text-based, relatively quick and simple cross stitch patterns.” * Booklist *"What a great confluence of two great crafts, painting and cross stitch." * CraftGossip *

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Book SynopsisCopyright © 1988 FarWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.The Far Side®, FarWorks, Inc.®, and the Larson® signature are registered trademarks of FarWorks, Inc. in certain countries.

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Book SynopsisFrom the talented brother-sister duo of Stephen and Anita Mangan comes this exciting fully illustrated adventure.

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Book SynopsisPrivate Eye: The 60 Yearbook is a history of the last 60 years, as seen by Britain's first, most successful and indeed only fortnightly satirical magazine. From the Beatles to Brexit, JFK to Trump, the Moon landings to the Mars landings, it tells the story of the past six decades as they were recorded in the Eye's pages. The news stories you remember - and plenty you may have forgotten - are retold in cartoons, covers and the magazine's legendary spoofs as well as extensive extracts from some of its best-loved features like Mrs Wilson's Diary, Dear Bill and The Secret Diary of John Major. It is also the story of the headlines Private Eye made itself, from the earliest stirrings of investigative journalism exposing the Poulson Scandal and Ronan Point, through major miscarriages of justice like the Stephen Lawrence case and the Lockerbie cover-up and national scandals that have cost the country billions in dodgy PFI contracts, government cock-ups and secret sweetheart tax deals. Inside are the stories that led to the fall of two cabinet ministers, countless corrupt business figures and even the official in charge of making sure everyone else in Whitehall's behaviour was above board. It includes writing by such satirical giants as Peter Cook, Richard Ingrams, Craig Brown, Auberon Waugh and Ian Hislop, and pictures by some of the world's best cartoonists including Michael Heath, Gerald Scarfe, Nick Newman, Willie Rushton, Robert Thompson and Ken Pyne.

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Book SynopsisPrince Philip was a man of many, many words. For almost eighty years since he first entered the public's eye, Prince Philip had been telling the world exactly what he thought of it.Over the years, Prince Philip's quips and wisecracks have been labelled as shocking and even outrageous, but at the root of this colourful royal was a very funny man who seemingly never took life too seriously. He was an icon of the royal family and a reminder of a time when the world was a different place – and for that, we, the Great British public, salute him.This tiny tome is a celebration of his extraordinary life in the service of his subjects, as well as a compilation of his best (and worst) one-liners, in his own inimitable style.'I rather doubt whether anyone has ever been genuinely shocked by anything I have said.'Prince Philip, in an interview, 1999. Smashing Fact No.1:Philip was 13 years old when he met his future wife, Elizabeth. They were both attending the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and the Duke of Kent in 1934. Elizabeth was eight at the time. The pair met again five years later.Table of ContentsKing's Speech • Royal Flush • Duke of Hazard • Prince Squirming • Silly Philipisms • The Gaffer.

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Book SynopsisPROUD. ERECT. COCKS. You won’t believe your eyes. This book contains some of the world’s most impressive cocks! Paired with hilarious captions, these pics will have your jaw hitting the floor in no time. Go on – you know you want to sneak a little peak at these beautiful sturdy beasts!

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Book SynopsisWhat Could Possibly Go Wrong... is the eighth book in Jeremy Clarkson''s bestselling Clarkson on Cars series.There''s nothing quite like messing about on four wheels. In fact, there''s no better way to contemplate the madness of the world than from the driver''s seat of something which is zooming by very fast indeed. Or so Jeremy Clarkson believes. For he''s been pondering some really rather important matters, such as why:- God has a streak of German perfectionism- Crab spread beats Heston Blumenthal''s rhubarb mousse- Monaco''s billionaires are ruining the Grand Prix- The back of a dog tastes nicer than marzipanSomeone''s got to. And while a full tank and the open road might not quite reveal the meaning of life, there''s certainly some fun to be had along the way . . . ''Brilliant . . . laugh-out-loud'' Daily Telegraph''Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube'' EveniTrade ReviewBrilliant . . . laugh-out-loud funny * Daily Telegraph *Outrageously funny . . . will have you in stitches * Time Out *Very funny . . . I cracked up laughing on the tube * Evening Standard *

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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 SynopsisWith new, updated material, P. J. O'Rourke covers the whole election process from the pig pile of presidential candidates circa June 2015, through his come-to-Satan moment with Hillary and the Beginning of End Times in November 2016, to the current shape of US politics.How the Hell Did This Happen? answers the key question of the 2016 presidential election: Should we laugh or should we cry or should we hurl? (They are not mutually exclusive.)Trade ReviewO'Rourke has a nice, world-weary way with the US's present political follies... He hasn't lost his gift for the brutally effective one-liner. * Guardian *scabrously witty, inventive and rich in historical detail... O'Rourke is never less than pleasurable company. There were chapters in this book I read twice just for the fun of it... I am already looking forward to the companion volume What The Hell Happens Next? * The Times *extremely funny * Sunday Times *O'Rourke has a real eye for the vagaries of American politics and, on occasion, piercing insight. * Observer *O'Rourke has been for decades the wittiest guide to America, and the usual ingredients are packed into this volume. How the Hell Did This Happen? is scabrously witty, inventive and rich in historical detail. * The Australian *Whether you agree with him or not, P.J. writes a helluva piece. * Richard Nixon *Who better than one of America's most-respected humourists to make sense of an election in which real life frequently appeared to approach satire? * The Week *P.J. O'Rourke is like S.J. Perelman on acid. * Chris Buckley *P.J. O'Rourke was really the first to inject non-liberal hilarity into political discourse . . . But more important, he was able to yank conservatives out of the hands of the humorless and shrill, and make such writing accessible . . . He changed my life. * Greg Gutfeld *[O'Rourke] occupies a rare place among the laughing class: He has somehow avoided the orifice obsession that captivates many of its members; he identifies as Republican; and he is no mere thumb-sucker, having visited more than 40 countries to report on wars, regime changes, economic revolutions and the experience of drinking cocktails garnished with the poison sacs of cobras. * Wall Street Journal *Outspoken conservatives have long been a minority in comedy, particularly in the mainstream media, which provided an opportunity for P.J. O'Rourke, who for decades cornered the market for prominent right-wing humorists . . . If his wry essays have a mission statement . . . it's this: Starchy ­Republicanism is really, really fun. * New York Times Book Review *As a cultural analyst, O'Rourke's ability and willingness to simultaneously lampoon and celebrate himself and his generation are unequaled. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''The funniest book in the English language .'' Richard Osman''It made me laugh so much I fell out of bed.'' Sebastian FaulksMichael Frayn''s classic novel is set in the crossword and nature notes department of an obscure national newspaper during the declining years of Fleet Street, where John Dyson dreams wistfully of fame and the gentlemanly life - until one day his great chance of glory at last arrives. Michael Frayn is the celebrated author of fifteen plays including Noises Off, Copenhagen and Afterlife. His bestselling novels include Headlong, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Spies, which won the Whitbread Best Novel Award and Skios, which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. ''Still ranks with Evelyn Waugh''s Scoop as one of the funniest novels about journalists ever written.'' Sunday Times ''A sublimely funny comedy about the ways newspapers try to

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] A howl drifted up from nearby woodland and everyone shifted closer together. 'How about a ghost story,' suggested George.From the author of November 2016 Number One Christmas bestseller, Five on Brexit Island, join the Five in their next hilarious adventure in this bestselling series for grown-ups!It's a dark winter's night and the Five are scaring themselves witless recounting tales that would terrify the bravest of souls. From encounters with American werewolves and being lost in space, to ghostly graveyard apparitions, it is hardly surprising that there is a sleepless night ahead of the intrepid crew. Even grumpy old Uncle Quentin and kind Aunt Fanny cannot be relied upon to be entirely themselves . . .

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