Humour Books

Book Synopsis**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**''I don''t think I''ve ever read a book that has made me cry with laughter as much as this one. It was very difficult reading it in public as I looked like a madman'' - Richard Herring James Acaster has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award five times and has appeared on prime-time TV shows like TASKMASTER,MOCK THE WEEK, LIVE AT THE APOLLO and WOULD I LIE TO YOU?But behind the fame and critical acclaim is a man perpetually getting into trouble. Whether it''s disappointing a skydiving instructor mid-flight, hiding from thugs in a bush wearing a bright red dress, or annoying the Kettering Board Games club, a didgeridoo-playing conspiracy theorist and some bemused Christians, James is always finding new ways to embarrass himself.Appearing on Josh Widdicombe''s radio show to recount these stories, the feature was christened ''James Acaster''s classic scrapes''. Here, iTrade ReviewJames Acaster has a brilliant comic mind, crackling with energy every bit as much as his corduroy slacks * Milton Jones *An amazing book of grimly hilarious true stories . . . with devastating deadpanlines. A total, bleak treat. * Daily Star *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“With I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf, Snider—an artist, writer and orthodontist—has gathered up a decade's worth of his comics for boisterous bookworms into one convenient volume…Snider’s thoughtful cartoons for bibliophiles also reveal he’s a well-rounded reader himself.” * New York Times Book Review *“This playful, self-aware collection of strips and gags on the joys and frustrations of reading and writing is equal parts lighthearted and sincere.” * Publishers Weekly *“...Grant Snider has a prescient book for these times…” -- Chris Arrant * Newsarama *“If you surround yourself with books and can’t imagine life without them, you’ll definitely want to add Snider’s new collection to your shelf.” * KMUW *“This is a delightful and humorous collection of comics about the joys of being a book lover, from collecting large amounts of books to (sometimes) getting around to reading them.” * Book Riot *“…colorful panels convey just the right amount of information, seasoned with sly allusions and inside jokes aimed at the avid reader. Anyone with the book bug will savor Snider’s brand of humor.” * BookPage *

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Book SynopsisCopyright 1984 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 SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * 'This really is the "everything you have always wanted to know about feminism but were afraid to ask" manual. Essential reading for the planet' EMMA THOMPSONTrade ReviewThis really is the "everything you have always wanted to know about feminism but were afraid to ask" manual. From a mind as lucid and witty as it is kind and empathetic comes essential reading for the planet -- Emma ThompsonThis really is the "everything you have always wanted to know about feminism but were afraid to ask" manual. From a mind as lucid and witty as it is kind and empathetic comes essential reading for the planet -- Emma ThompsonBreathes life into conversations about feminism * Phoebe Waller-Bridge, creator of Fleabag *Breathes life into conversations about feminism * Phoebe Waller-Bridge, creator of Fleabag *Quite possibly the defining feminist of our generation * Elizabeth Day, author of How to Fail *Quite possibly the defining feminist of our generation * Elizabeth Day, author of How to Fail *Very funny, very clever, very thoughtful and very relevant * Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love *Very funny, very clever, very thoughtful and very relevant * Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love *A passionate, funny, fresh, thought-provoking read, as engaging as it's informative * Barbara Ellen, Observer *A passionate, funny, fresh, thought-provoking read, as engaging as it's informative * Barbara Ellen, Observer *An incredible read on confidence, gender and looking after ourselves and each other -- Aisling BeaAn incredible read on confidence, gender and looking after ourselves and each other -- Aisling BeaSlicing through the fun and foibles of twenty-first-century womanhood with deft and funny prose, the book covers everything "from our noble goals to our worst hypocrisies". Existing fans of her podcast and newcomers alike will love this irreverent guide to a very modern tug of war * Red *Slicing through the fun and foibles of twenty-first-century womanhood with deft and funny prose, the book covers everything "from our noble goals to our worst hypocrisies". Existing fans of her podcast and newcomers alike will love this irreverent guide to a very modern tug of war * Red *Brims with facts and inspiring women you might not have heard of but are now glad you have ... [Deborah Frances-White's] mixture of wit, fallibility and inclusivity is immensely appealing ... The book emboldens women to find their voice, to say no more often, yes less, and to demand more than the 75p in the pound they get paid compared with men. Her genius for satire is what makes her voice so sonorous - her Open Letter from the Gentlemen of Hollywood, a riposte to the Weinstein saga, is worth the cover price alone. * Sunday Times *Brims with facts and inspiring women you might not have heard of but are now glad you have ... [Deborah Frances-White's] mixture of wit, fallibility and inclusivity is immensely appealing ... The book emboldens women to find their voice, to say no more often, yes less, and to demand more than the 75p in the pound they get paid compared with men. Her genius for satire is what makes her voice so sonorous - her Open Letter from the Gentlemen of Hollywood, a riposte to the Weinstein saga, is worth the cover price alone. * Sunday Times *The Guilty Feminist is accessible and honest, written with warmth. And the openness with which she and other contributors discuss their struggles make the book feel like a discussion with friends over a glass of wine . . . it is full of inspiring and challenging ideas, encouraging every woman to say: "I get to be heard. I deserve to be seen" * Daily Express *The Guilty Feminist is accessible and honest, written with warmth. And the openness with which she and other contributors discuss their struggles make the book feel like a discussion with friends over a glass of wine . . . it is full of inspiring and challenging ideas, encouraging every woman to say: "I get to be heard. I deserve to be seen" * Daily Express *A thorough look at how to be a better feminist and a better person, but manages to be funny and entertaining too ... I really appreciate that it looks at what we can practically do to make things better -- Amy Jones * The Pool *A thorough look at how to be a better feminist and a better person, but manages to be funny and entertaining too ... I really appreciate that it looks at what we can practically do to make things better -- Amy Jones * The Pool *An eloquent, entertaining read that does not shy away from serious issues including pornography and the gender pay gap * Evening Standard *An eloquent, entertaining read that does not shy away from serious issues including pornography and the gender pay gap * Evening Standard *Australian comedian Frances-White adapts her popular podcast into book format with this passionate and engaging manifesto, tackling everything from the diet industry to toxic masculinity while reminding readers that feminism isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal and sometimes it's ok to stumble * inews.co.uk, 12 best feminist books to read ahead of International Women’s Day 2019 *Australian comedian Frances-White adapts her popular podcast into book format with this passionate and engaging manifesto, tackling everything from the diet industry to toxic masculinity while reminding readers that feminism isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal and sometimes it's ok to stumble * inews.co.uk, 12 best feminist books to read ahead of International Women’s Day 2019 *Deborah Frances-White's book has all the joy, complexity, importance and pleasure of The Guilty Feminist podcast -- Stella DuffyDeborah Frances-White's book has all the joy, complexity, importance and pleasure of The Guilty Feminist podcast -- Stella DuffyFrances-White has a gift for using metaphor to explain basic feminist concepts * Independent *Frances-White has a gift for using metaphor to explain basic feminist concepts * Independent *From the hit podcast soon to be a live show, The Guilty Feminist has chapters which all begin with the phrase 'I'm a feminist, but ... ' offering numerous examples where noble intentions falter when set against the challenges of everyday life. Among the topics raised are make-up, rape fantasies, catcalling, manspreading, and 'bridezillas' * The List, Best Comedy Books of 2018 *From the hit podcast soon to be a live show, The Guilty Feminist has chapters which all begin with the phrase 'I'm a feminist, but ... ' offering numerous examples where noble intentions falter when set against the challenges of everyday life. Among the topics raised are make-up, rape fantasies, catcalling, manspreading, and 'bridezillas' * The List, Best Comedy Books of 2018 *

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Book Synopsis*From the 'anti-guru' author of the smash hit The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k and the New York Times bestseller Get Your Sh*t Together *Being yourself should be the easiest thing in the world. Yet instead of leaning in to who we are, we fight it, listening too closely to what society tells us. You Do You helps you shake off those expectations, say f**k perfect, start looking out for number one and keep on with your badass self. From career and finances to relationships and family, lifestyle and health, Sarah Knight rips up the rulebook to help you achieve your hopes and dreams. Writing about her mistakes and embarrassments in her own personal quest to 'do me' - because nobody gets everything right all day, every day - Sarah Knight shows why you can and should f**k up and teaches you to let yourself off the hook, bounce back and keep standing tall.What everyone is saying about Sarah Knight:'The anti-guru' Observer'I love Knight' Sunday Times 'Life-affirming' Lucy Mangan, Guardian 'Genius' Vogue Trade ReviewFor practical and sweary self-help advice with no bloody lectures, Sarah Knight is the bollocks -- Brigid Moss * The Pool *I love Knight's book * Sunday Times Magazine on The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k *Life-affirming * Guardian on The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k *Absolutely blinding. Read it. Do it. * Daily Mail on The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k *Changed my life . . . I wasn't alone - the book became an international bestseller * Vogue on The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k *Absolutely blinding. Read it. Do it. -- Liz Jones * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisYou found Wally - hallelujah! Now to find Jesus... God may move in a mysterious way, but his son is a real devil to track down. Seek and ye shall find Jesus in a multitude of unexpected places - crowded rock concerts, bustling supermarkets and packed weddings, to name but a few.

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Book Synopsis''Memories, aphorisms and stern good advice from America''s favourite naughty aunt'' Independent on Sunday''This book is as grown-up as a dirty martini'' Sunday Times''Sharp as a knife'' Daily Express___In her final book, Nora Ephron reflects on life, growing older, and everything she will and won''t miss. Filled with Nora''s trademark wit, wisdom and warmth.* No one actually likes to admit they''re old. The most they will cop to is that they''re older. Or oldish.* Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one.* I have been forgetting things for years-at least since I was in my thirties. I know this because I wrote something about it at the time. I have proof. Of course, I can''t remember exactly where I wrote about it, or when, but I could probably hunt it up if I had to.___Praise for Nora Ephron''So bold and so vulnerable at the same time. I donTrade ReviewYou don't have to be old to appreciate this collection of memories, aphorisms and stern good advice from America's favourite naughty aunt... snigger-out-loud... Reading this book is a little like being sat down by an older, wiser friend... good advice indeed * Independent on Sunday *Read Nora Ephron because she's funny, read her because she's wise, read her because she never writes a boring sentence, read her because she's sharp as a knife but her heart's in the right place... Enjoy! -- David Robson * Daily Express *As always, she has an eye for the killer detail... a mixture of memoir, rants and observations... This book is as grown-up as a dirty martini -- Daisy Goodwin * The Sunday Times *If we have to grow old (and as they say, consider the alternative) there's no better guide * People Magazine (Top 10 Books of 2010) *Tantalizingly fresh and forthright... She's self-effacing and brilliant. I use lines of hers all the time... She's like Benjamin Franklin or Shakespeare: her words are now part of the fabric of the English language * The New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisPeanuts goes noir when Charlie Brown gets caught up in a fake celebrity autograph ring and Linus starts his own church of the Great Pumpkin - until believers declare him a false prophet. In comedic counterpoint, Snoopy gets his driving license and Rerun pursues a comics career. Meanwhile, Olaf and Andy go on a quest for the only pop culture anthropomorph more famous than their brother - and 'Crybaby' Boobie makes a comeback.Trade ReviewCharles 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 WATERSIt'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 * *

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

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Book 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 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 SynopsisIn the 22nd volume of The Complete Peanuts, you'll see the whole gang waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting for a bus that never comes. Charlie Brown finally hits a game-winning home run - off Roy Hobbes' great-granddaughter no less! Linus lobbies the White House to nominate Snoopy for an open Supreme Court seat (alas, it goes to Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead). Woodstock discovers his long-lost grandfather's diary, detailing a hard life in captivity (i.e. a birdcage).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 EcoRepublishing Peanuts in one gorgeous volume after another is really the first time we can truly take a step back, appreciate Schulz's work as a whole and ultimately wrap our arms around the accomplishment of Charles Schulz. Sometimes, happiness is a warm book * * Huffington Post * *These timely re-issues illustrate not only the skill and subtle brilliance of his work but also the origins of the form beyond simple merriment * * Sunday Times * *All sorts of important writers have marvelled at the glorious simplicity of [Schulz's] draftsmanship and his unerring jokecraft, all underpinned by a quiet melancholy and stoicism . . . by some miracle, the entire Peanuts oeuvre is gradually being republished in this country, by Canongate . . . in lavishly appointed hardback . . . Unlike almost everything you read as a child, they are actually better than you remember them * * Spectator * *As essential as pop texts get * * The Onion * *Charles 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 WatersPeanuts was, is, and will continue to be the finest comic in the world. Bravo -- Ray Bradbury

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Europe as you've never known it before, seen through the peculiarities of its languages and dialects. Combining linguistics and cultural history, Gaston Dorren takes us on an intriguing tour of the continent, from Proto-Indo-European (the common ancestor of most European languages) to the rise and rise of English, via the complexities of Welsh plurals and Czech pronunciation. Along the way we learn why Esperanto will never catch on, how the language of William the Conqueror lives on in the Channel Islands and why Finnish is the easiest European language. Surprising, witty and full of extraordinary facts, this book will change the way you think about the languages around you. Polyglot Gaston Dorren might even persuade you that English is like Chinese.Trade ReviewDorren has such a light touch and a brilliantly roving eye that every page is to be savoured, like a local delicacy. His book is a wonderful celebration of cultural as well as linguistic diversity. -- Alex Bellos * Best Books About Language, for The Week *Through sixty compelling stories about European linguistics, it tells us an impressive amount about Europe ... An entertaining, accessible guide. * FT *Dorren's tour of the continent is a richly diverting exercise. He has something interesting to point out about nearly every topic ... brilliant. * The Guardian *The depth and breadth of Dorren's understanding and knowledge are awesome. * The Times *A new approach to understanding the world ... ideal for any cunning linguist. * Wanderlust *Gaston Dorren offers an excellent overview of Europe's languages ... It's very enlightening, and very well done * NRC Handelsblad *Joyful ... Lingo is that rare thing: a book about language the manages to be both genuinely interesting and enormous fun. Particularly impressive is Dorren's ability to flip with ease from jokes and surprising facts to the discussion of complex linguistic ideas ... For the sadly monoglot, Lingo is a wake-up call: a book that brims with joy at linguistic variety and invention, and reminds us what he - and we - are missing -- John Gallagher * Sunday Telegraph Seven *Full of charm and pleasing detail ... [an] amusing tour of Europe's linguistic landscape * Spectator *I love this book. It's witty and informative, with a wealth of engaging comments on all things language-related on our continent ... highly amusing ... the book's mine of information, make[s] this a great seasonal stocking filler - whether you're a lingophile or not. * Morning Star *This year's sleeper Christmas hit ... an amiable and entertaining examination of European languages in all their idiosyncratic glory. * Belfast Telegraph *Full of odd linguistic facts ... fascinating * Times Literary Supplement *I can't praise it enough. If you ever wanted to know how exactly Finnish and Hungarian are related and how Turkish fits in, it is clearly explained here in two to three pages. And so is everything else you ever wanted to learn about European languages but were afraid to ask. Brilliant, witty, excellent! * Times Higher Education *

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

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Book SynopsisHarry Mount and John Davie unlock the wisdom of the past in this light-hearted and fascinating book, revealing how ancient Latin can help us to live better in the present.There are so many Latin phrases in everyday use that often we use them without understanding the background and context within which they were actually used. ''Carpe diem''; ''Stet''; ''Memento mori''; ''Et tu Brute'' examples would fill a book. And often these phrases are also used in English translation: ''The die is cast''; ''crossing the Rubicon''; ''Rome was not built in a day''. Many of these phrases are humorous, but they are also a rich source of wisdom: the wisdom of the ancients. The chapters of this book include: Latin for Gardeners, the Great Latin Love Poets, Cicero on How to Grow Old Gracefully and Seneca''s Stoic Guide to Life. Each chapter starts with a quotation and is lightly sprinkled with many more, with accompanying English translations and entertaining cartoons and illuTrade ReviewBoth entertaining and informative, this is not to be missed. * This England *There’s much pleasure to be had in Et Tu, Brute?...which carries a lot of learning very lightly. * The Tablet *…filled with memorable and fun facts. * The Times Literary Supplement *…highly readable… the perfect approach… presented with verve and wit. * The Wall Street Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction A note on translation A timeline of Julius Caesar and the Roman Emperors 1. Writing on the Wall – Latin graffiti, from Pompeii’s brothel to Herculaneum’s tavernas 2. Ruling Britannia – Roman Britain, from Londinium’s first bankers to freezing legionaries on Hadrian’s Wall 3. Sex in Rome and the Rudest Poem in Latin 4. True Romance – the Great Latin Love Poets 5. Latin Jokes and Insults 6. Latin for Gardeners 7. Bathtime, Feasts and La Dolce Vita 8. Bread, Circuses and Gladiators 9. Plebs and Patricians – the Roman Class System 10. Empire and Emperors 11. The Divine Family – Religion and the Gods 12. Christian Conversion – how Christ went from Roman Victim to Roman God 13. Vesuvius Erupts – Pliny Reports 14. What did you get for Saturnalia? Martial’s Funny Festival Presents 15. Horace, the Sweetest Poet of All 16. Cicero on How to Grow Old Gracefully 17. Seneca’s Stoic Guide to Life 18. Your Vade Mecum – the Latin-English Glossary Roman Numerals Conclusion Acknowledgements Picture credits

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Book SynopsisJon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of many bestselling books, including So You've Been Publicly Shamed, The Psychopath Test, Lost at Sea, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Them: Adventures with Extremists. His acclaimed podcasts include two series of Things Fell Apart and The Butterfly Effect, and he co-wrote the screenplays for the movies Okja and Frank. He lives in New York.

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* From the writer and executive producer of the award-winning Netflix series The Good Place that made moral philosophy fun: a foolproof guide to making the correct moral decision in every situation you ever encounter, anywhere on earth, forever *'An absolute breeze to read; funny and enlightening and revealing' - Guardian'Enormously enjoyable, useful and readable' - The TimesHow can we live a more ethical life?This question has plagued people for thousands of years, but it's never been tougher to answer than it is now, thanks to challenges great and small that flood our day-to-day lives and threaten to overwhelm us with impossible decisions and complicated results with unintended consequences.Plus, being anything close to an 'ethical person' requires daily thought and introspection and hard work; we have to think about how we can be good not, you know, once a month, but literally all the time.To make it a little less overwhelming, this fascinating, accessible and funny book by one of our generation's best writers and adept minds in television comedy, Michael Schur, boils down the whole confusing morass with real life dilemmas (from 'should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?' to 'can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people?'), so that we know how to deal with ethical dilemmas. Much as Chidi used humour and philosophy to make Eleanor a less selfish person, Schur takes us on a journey through the 2,500-year discussion of ethics, sketching a roadmap for how we ought to act along the way.By the time the book is done, we'll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. OK, not quite. Instead, we'll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every dayWith contributions from Professor Todd May of Clemson University, who served as an advisor on The Good Place, this is a brilliant, clever and hugely entertaining book about one of the most important topics in the world.'The problem is, if all you care about in the world is the velvet rope, you will always be unhappy, no matter which side you're on.' - Tahani Al-Jamil, The Good PlaceTrade ReviewWhen I was asked to write a blurb about Mike Schur's book on ethics, I thought: no sweat, I'll just skim a few chapters, make something up, and then lie about having read it. After reading a chapter or two, I realized I had missed the point of the book. So I read the whole thing, and I can honestly say it's brilliant. How to be Perfect takes the delightful, funny lessons of The Good Place, and applies them to everyday life * Ted Danson *As someone who worries that a deep dive into morality will ruin my fun and problematic life, I was certain this book wouldn't be for me. Boy, was I wrong! It's so brilliant and funny and warmly written you don't realize you're becoming a better person just by reading it * Mindy Kaling *Have you ever wanted a friend to explain ethics so that you could understand the subject completely with minimal effort on your part? Well, meet your friend Mike Schur. This book will help guide you through the thorniest moral conundrums with clarity and hilarity, and it will greatly up your chances of ending up in...the Good Place * Kristen Bell *How to be Perfect is a kind, thoughtful, incredibly funny reflection on what it is to be a good human being. As a human being myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am certain that other human beings will enjoy it as well * Steve Carell *Read How to Be Perfect and laugh while you learn how to be a better person. And imagine what a great passive-aggressive gift this book would make! Hand it to someone and say 'I saw this and thought of you.' Then they say 'Oh, did you read this?' and you smile and say 'I don't need to' * Amy Poehler *Hilarious, thought-provoking, and ridiculously silly, How to be Perfect is a great read for anyone who loved The Good Place - or anyone who wants to be a good person. And as a bonus, once you've read the book, you become perfect * Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor *An enjoyably boisterous guide to the moral life. If you want to become morally better and don't mind being entertained in the process, you've picked up the right book * Jeff McMahan, Philosophy Professor, Oxford *An absolute breeze to read; funny and enlightening and revealing * Guardian *It's not only very funny [...] but there is real meat to the work too * Irish Times *Enormously enjoyable, useful and readable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisClassic Peanuts, with an introduction by John WatersTrade ReviewAll human life is here: childhood sadness, youthful romance, sarcastic dogs. Most impressive is the amount of expression Charles M Schulz was able to get into his characters' faces - notably the lips. That slight wobble in Charlie Brown's smile is utterly charming. * * Daily Telegraph * *As powerful a comic art-piece as anything out today . . . will delight Peanuts aficionados. * * Observer * *One of the finest cultural artifacts made in the 20th century. * * Russell T. Davies * *Peanuts was, and is, and will continue to be the finest comic in the world. Bravo. * * Ray Bradbury * *

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Book SynopsisA delightfully illustrated cult novel, literary satire and epic adventure.''Within the first 15 pages I was carried away by the sheer craziness of it all. Some Minipirates find a baby bear with blue fur inside a walnut shell floating on the ocean towards a giant whirlpool. They rescue him and teach him about knots and waves, and that a good white lie is often considerably more exciting than the truth. Then, when he outgrows their ship to such an extent that he is in danger of sinking it, they abandon him on an island with a bottle of seaweed juice and a loaf of seaweed bread. Thus Bluebear comes to the end of his first life and embarks on his second. By the end of the book, he has expended exactly half of his 27 lives. Again and again, Moers confounds our expectations as the narrative twists and turns, travels backwards and forwards in time. Part science fiction, part fairy tale, part myth, part epic, the book is a satire on all these genres and so constantly satirises itselTrade ReviewA yarn of drollery, deeper meaning and sheer lunacy * Rolling Stone *Sheer craziness * Daily Telegraph *The most entertaining book in years * Frankfurter Allemeine Zt *Moers' creative mind is like J. K. Rowling on ecstasy * Detroit News *

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Book SynopsisA 3,162 km race. A 48-year-old man. A 100-year-old bike. Made mostly of wood. That he built himself. Tim Moore sets off to recreate the most appalling bike race of all time. The notorious 1914 Giro d''Italia was an ordeal of 400-kilometre stages, cataclysmic night storms and relentless sabotage - all on a diet of raw eggs and red wine. Of the 81 who rolled out of Milan, only eight made it back.Committed to total authenticity, Tim acquires the ruined husk of a gearless, wooden-wheeled 1914 road bike with wine corks for brakes, some maps and an alarming period outfit topped off with a pair of blue-lensed welding goggles. From the Alps to the Adriatic the pair relive the bike race in all its misery and glory, on an adventure that is by turns bold, beautiful and recklessly incompetent.Trade ReviewA considerable achievement -- Duncan Craig * Lonely Planet Traveller *Painfully funny -- Tim Dowling * Week *A wonderfully written, extremely funny book... You read Gironimo! with a permanent smile on your face * UK Press Syndication *A superbly funny read * Cycling Weekly *Readers of Moore’s French Revolutions will not be disappointed by this hilariously painful, and poignant, adventure -- Anna Carey * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisMeet Oswald Hendryks Cornelius, Roald Dahl''s most disgraceful and extraordinary character . . . Aside from being thoroughly debauched, strikingly attractive and astonishingly wealthy, Uncle Oswald was the greatest bounder, bon vivant and fornicator of all time. In this instalment of his scorchingly frank memoirs he tells of his early career and erotic education at the hands of a number of enthusiastic teachers, of discovering the invigorating properties of the Sudanese Blister Beetle, and of the gorgeous Yasmin Howcomely, his electrifying partner in a most unusual series of thefts . . .''Raunchy and cheeky entertainment'' Sunday Express''Immense fun'' Daily TelegraphRoald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales Trade ReviewDeliciously sly * Observer *

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition of the sniffing, growling, yowling, yelping, eighth helping of John Hegley which contains some of the poet's funniest and most touching poems to date.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the first broadcast of Monty Python's Flying Circus on BBC Television in October 1969

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Book SynopsisRomesh Ranganathan is a comedian, actor and writer. A former maths teacher, he is now known for his award-winning series The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, his weekly topical show The Ranganation, his sitcom The Reluctant Landlord and the BAFTA nominated Asian Provocateur, which features Romesh's mum. Amongst all of this, he still manages to squeeze in time to record his award-winning podcast 'Hip Hop Saved My Life', to write his regular Midlife Crisis column for the Guardian, and to pen his bestselling autobiography, Straight Outta Crawley. DJ Muffin drops the Mic is his first children's book and gave him an excuse to write about two of his favourite things - hip hop and cake.Trade ReviewVery, very funny. I can’t recommend it highly enough. * Jonathan Ross *His ability to produce bitingly fresh gags marks him out from the crowd. * The Guardian *Frank and very funny. * The Daily Telegraph *Delivered with consummate skill... totally original. * Evening Standard *Irresistible gags with stink-bomb impact. * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAnyone who's never watched someone die is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity. Look Back in Anger premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1956. 'John Osborne didn't contribute to British theatre: he set off a landmine called Look Back in Anger and blew most of it up.' Alan Sillitoe 'A story of youthful insecurity inflamed by lack of opportunity and the terrifying, destabilizing force of love . . . Jimmy Porter could fill an opera house with his bellowing hunger for a bigger, better life and a loyal love to share it with.' New York Times 'Look Back in Anger presents post-war youth as it really is. To have done this at all would be a signal achievement; to have done it in a first play is a minor miracle. All the qualities are there, qualities one had despaired of ever seeing on the stage - the drift towards anarchy, the instinctive leftishness, the automatic rejection of official attitudes, the surrealist sense of humour, the casual promiscuity, the sense of lacking a

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Book SynopsisNick Sharratt's fabulously funny début novel is illustrated throughoutwith his irresistible wit and humour. The King and his catmust find a new home when their castle burns down in an UnfortunateIncident with a dragon. The King discovers lots of new experiences,from washing-up to shopping - then danger looms when the dragonmakes its return!

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Book SynopsisBoulevard Wren and Other Stories is the stunning follow-up to the bestselling Gospel According to Blindboy, and a warped mirror held up to the Irish psyche.Provocative and unsettling, the stories rove through the centuries, from the barren fields of Famine-struck Meath to the chaotic landscape of the near future, where social media has colonised the deepest recesses of the human subconscious. This is a world populated by characters lost and at odds with the demands of contemporary life, for whom the line separating redemption and madness has grown impossibly fine.Razor-sharp social commentary, it is an era-defining work from one of Ireland's most anarchic satirists.Praise for The Gospel According to Blindboy:Mad, wild, hysterical.' Kevin Barry, author of Night Boat to TangierThere is genius in this book, warped genius. Like you'd expect from a man who for his day job wears a plastic bag on his head but something beyond that too. Oddly in keeping with the tradition of great Irish writers.' Russell BrandOne of Ireland's finest and most intelligent comic minds delivers stories so blisteringly funny and sharp your fingers might bleed. In language so delicious you can taste it, we're shown holy and unholy Ireland: a land of lock-ins, nettle stings, stone-mad Cork birds, gas cunts and Guiney's jeans. No one is safe we all have the unmerciful piss ripped out of us and there's no escape from the emotional gut punches, expertly dealt.' Tara FlynnIf you've ever witnessed a Rubberbandits video you'll be anxious (there's no other word for it) to read this collection of short stories from one of the originators. I hesitate to use the word author as the experience is as close to reading a traditional short story as being burnt by a blow torch. Essential, funny and disturbing.' Danny BoyleDemented, dishevelled and deeply surreal Blindboy Boatclub's book will shock and delight.' Irish independentIt's not for the faint-hearted.' Joe.ieYou won't be disappointed. It will take you to places unexpected.' Ryan TubridyBusiness Post Book of the Year

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Book SynopsisA collection of cute and fruity puns for the epic fails in life.

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Book SynopsisPush all of your worries to the side with the Desktop Cat Vac! ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTIBLE: Inspired by the hilarious and popular internet cat meme  WIND-UP ACTIVATED: No batteries needed; just wind-up and watch it go BOOK INCLUDED: Learn about the special bond between cats and vacuums, plus cleaning and organizing tips from your feline friends in this 32-page fully illustrated miniature book UNIQUE GIFT: Perfect for cat lovers of all ages

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Book SynopsisHarriet Gibsone began her career as a runner for MTV, before becoming a music journalist in the 00s, writing for publications such as Q, NME, Time Out and Nylon. She spent eight years as a Guardian staff writer and editor and now has a column for its weekend magazine. Is This OK? is her first book.Trade ReviewLaugh-out-loud-on-the-train funny . . . swings between silliness and profundity . . . This is a book to hold on to and one to share, a warning and a map created by a watchful girl, telling others what may lie ahead -- Maeve Higgins, GuardianThis book is a delight - very real and very entertaining. -- Bob MortimerPersistently funny, ill-advisedly honest and deadly accurate . . . My mind is blown -- Caitlin Moran, author of More Than a WomanA hugely enjoyable read . . . [a] delight of a memoir -- Otegha Uwagba, The TimesEye-wateringly honest and all-too-relatable . . . funny and wise * Observer *Very funny and deeply moving. -- Sara PascoeHilarious and brutal! I could not put it down -- Lou SandersBrutally honest but brilliantly funny and poignant too . . . Utterly relatable * Glamour *Hilarious and cringe-inducingly nostalgic . . . It’s a cliché to say “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry”, but with this book, you really will * New Statesman *A singular and truly funny voice -- Jamie DemitriouDeeply intense, and insane (in a great way). -- Robert Popper, creator of Friday Night DinnerWritten with humour and intelligence * Stylist *A raw and funny memoir exploring mental health, illness and motherhood against the backdrop of obsessive internet and social media activity. * Huffington Post *Gloriously unfiltered, hilariously unhinged and utterly unlike anything else you'll read this year. Harriet's incredibly moving memoir made me laugh out loud, cringe, reminisce and think deeply. What a wonderful introduction to a truly singular comedic voice; I remain in awe! -- Yomi AdegokeVery funny and moving * Evening Standard *Devastating and funny as f*ck. I can't remember when I was last so struck by a voice . . . Harriet Gibsone is a SPECTACULAR writer -- Terri WhiteJust read this from its giggly heights to its mortifying depths . . . I feel like I've been through something. Something really worth going through. -- Frank Cottrell-BoyceBrilliant. Incredibly funny, chillingly accurate, real sad. Harriet Gibsone is a spectacular writer -- Stevie Martin

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Book SynopsisTHIS BUMPER COLLECTION OF THE FUNNIEST ANECDOTES, JOKES AND STORIES FROM CRICKET''S BEST-LOVED PERSONALITIES PROVES THAT CRICKET IS STILL A FUNNY GAME - EVEN WHEN RAIN STOPS PLAY! With a new introduction by Jonathan Agnew. In this updated and expanded edition of the popular THE WIT OF CRICKET you can read many more hilarious anecdotes about legendary cricketers such as Richie Benaud, Ian Botham, Donald Bradman, Geoff Boycott, Andrew Flintoff, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. There also dozens of humorous gaffes and giggles from the commentary box by Jonathan Agnew, Henry Blofeld, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Dan Norcross and others - not to mention sledging, short-sighted umpires, streakers, and the phantom sock snipper in the England dressing-room!

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Book SynopsisThe hilarious new collection of stories and observations from Jeremy Clarkson - setting our off-kilter world to rights with thigh-slapping wit once again.Who is that tractor-driving Gentleman Farmer? Has Jeremy turned into a horny-handed son of the soil?These and other perplexing questions may or may not be answered in the latest volume of Clarkson''s utterly unbiased musings on life, the universe and everything in between (except cars - this isn''t one of his four-wheel drive books).Inside you''ll also discover why: Bathing in crude oil isn''t for everyone People who go fishing hate their kids Noise-cancelling headphones will never silence James May The rambler who stole his marrow is in for itFull of fact-checked opinions and ideas so good they''re no longer following the science but chasing it up a tree, Can You Make This Thing Go Faster? is one hundred per cent guaranteed ClarksTrade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Clarkson * - *Brilliant . . . laugh-out-loud * 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 SynopsisFollowing the success of Don''ts for Husbands and Don''ts for Wives a brand new old collection of advice: - From Birth to Weaning - The care of Young Children - Boyhood and Girlhood''Don''t wash the baby in hot water, it would weaken and enervate the babe, and thus predispose him to disease. Luke warm rain water will be the best to wash him with.''''Don''t choose a wet nurse of a consumptive habit. Check if she or any of her family have laboured under king''s evil ascertaining if there be any seams or swellings about her neck.''''Don''t rock an infant to sleep, it might cause him to fall into a feverish, disturbed slumber, but not into a refreshing, calm sleep. Besides, if you once take to that habit he will not go to sleep without it.''''Don''t add either gin or oil of peppermint to the babe''s food. It is a murderous practice.''''Don''t purge an infant during teething or any other time. IF WE LOCK UP THE BOWELS, WE CONFINE THE ENEMY, AND THUS PRODUCE MISCHIEF.'Table of ContentsPregnancy and Childbirth Ablution Diet Sleep Health Clothing In the Nursery Amusements Boyhood and Girlhood

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Book SynopsisFind your unicorn magic with this fun self-help guide - and make your world more wonderful!

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Book SynopsisThe perfect book and gift to get the most out of your cock.Brilliant protein-packed meals that don't hold back on the spice.' Joe Dicks, bestselling author of High Impact Intercourse Training'This delightfully raunchily-titled read is, of course, a recipe book full of tongue-in-cheek ways to cook chicken ... everything from Cockporn Poppers to Cossie's Cockatore to Cock Pot Pie.' METRO'What a title!' Gok WanBy her own admission, Cossie Hussey loves cock. With How to Eat Cock, join her on a culinary exploration and learn to know your way around cock just as well as she does.With recipes honed by a childhood spent on her family farm - from sticky southern fried cock to gobble up with your hands, served with a creamy slaw to the ultimate cock monsieur, a steamy and indulgent feast to share with your friends- let Hussey show you how to get the very best out of your cock.Trade ReviewBrilliant protein-packed meals that don't hold back on the spice -- Joe Dicks, bestselling author of High Impact Intercourse TrainingWhat a title! -- Gok WanThis delightfully raunchily-titled read is, of course, a recipe book full of tongue-in-cheek ways to cook chicken ... everything from Cockporn Poppers to Cossie's Cockatore to Cock Pot Pie. * Metro *

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Book Synopsis'Equal parts insightful and entertaining - whatever your take on influencers, Bad Influence is a great read' YOMI ADEGOKE'Warm, juicy, and eye-opening, like having a chat with a best friend' ANNIE LORD'If ever a book captured the zeitgeist, this is it' GRACE CAMPBELL'Funny, warm and brilliantly engaging' LUCY VINEOenone didn't set out to become an influencer. The word barely existed when she started posting on Instagram at university to document her 'fitness journey' after a toxic relationship came to a messy end.In this humorous meditation on her digitized life, Oenone chronicles the pits and peaks of coming of age online. Grappling with modern-day issues on a public stage - from body image and personal boundaries to the limitations of online activism, Bad Influence examines what happens when your day-to-day reality becomes #content - and that #content pays your bills.It asks: can you truly be authentic online? Can social media be a force for good? Is it necessarily bad for our mental health?Written with wit, warmth and honesty, this is a candid account of what it really means to be an influencer, from someone still figuring it out: the good, the bad and the instagrammable.Trade ReviewA warm, witty peek behind the influencer curtain. Oenone is equal parts insightful and entertaining - whatever your take on influencers, Bad Influence is a great read * Yomi Adegoke *Warm, juicy, and eye-opening, like having a chat with a best friend * Annie Lord *Boldly unfiltered and beautifully written, Bad Influence is a fascinating peek behind the social media smokescreen. A smart and nuanced read for our extremely online times * Lauren Bravo *A brilliant and necessary look at an industry that is wildly misunderstood, as well as a thoughtful and self-aware interrogation of millennial culture, identity politics and contemporary relationships * Olivia Petter *Like a glass of wine with your most loveable, charming and vulnerable friend. Oenone brings so much nuance to the concept of influencing and living online...If ever a book captured the zeitgeist, this is it. * Grace Campbell *Bad Influence is witty, honest and refreshingly self-aware. It effortlessly encapsulates the experience of a generation fumbling through life against a backdrop of social media and explores what it truly means to be 'an influencer' in today's digital age. Oenone Forbat is one to watch * Hannah Skelley, Fashion Assistant at The Times *I absolutely flew through Bad Influence and loved every page. Oenone has written such a fascinating and self-aware dissection of what it's like to live life in this parallel online universe. It's not just an interesting and incredibly honest memoir, it's also funny, warm and brilliantly engaging. It will leave you questioning about so much - but definitely not how many stars this book deserves. Five stars! * Lucy Vine *A fun and frothy insight into what it really takes to game the algorithm. An ideal summer read * Evening Standard *Oenone writes with real honesty and authenticity, highlighting the good and the bad aspects of having a platform and exploring the life behind the grid squares - the anxiety, scrutiny, and judgement * Glamour *The strength of Bad Influence is its meditation on the deep-seated paranoia that comes with being constantly exposed to so many people * The Economist *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis***A Waterstones Best Paperback of 2022 pick***Perfect for fans of Radio 4's The Infinite Monkey Cage and Professor Brian Cox.'A delightful and scintillating hymn to science.' Professor Carlo RovelliComedian Robin Ince quickly abandoned science at school, bored by a fog of dull lessons and intimidated by the barrage of equations. But, twenty years later, he fell in love and he now presents one of the world's most popular science podcasts. Every year he meets hundreds of the world's greatest thinkers.In this erudite and witty book, Robin reveals why scientific wonder isn't just for the professionals. Filled with interviews featuring astronauts, comedians, teachers, quantum physicists, neuroscientists and more - as well as charting Robin's own journey with science - The Importance of Being Interested explores why many wrongly think of the discipline as distant and difficult. From the glorious appeal of the stars above to why scientific curiosity can encourage much needed intellectual humility, this optimistic and profound book will leave you filled with a thirst for intellectual adventure.Trade ReviewInce makes profound - and funny - reflections on our tiny lives in a massive universe. * Observer *A delightful and scintillating hymn to science. Resolutely a non-scientist, Robin Ince discovers with awe that when science addresses the "big problems" and destroys familiar beliefs, it does not leave us in a cold, meaningless and de-humanized world, but in a one which is colourful, human, full of intensity and wonder. * Professor Carlo Rovelli, bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics *Wonderful! A beautifully written elegy to science, combining wonder, mystery and humour. Curiosity dances across the pages. Robin's take on science is human, funny but also deeply enthralling. * Professor Alice Roberts, TV presenter, academic and bestselling author of Ancestors *Robin is the most engaging of science communicators. As someone who also struggled with science as a child, still finds physics an impossible foreign tongue, and came late to the fulfilment of a curious mind, I found this book by turns challenging, entertaining and moving. * Steve Backshall, BAFTA-winning British explorer, naturalist, presenter and writer *With razor-sharp wit and insight, Robin slices into the biggest questions of our time. The Importance of Being Interested left me smiling and thinking more deeply * Commander Chris Hadfield, astronaut and bestselling author *Brilliant and entertaining. Science is done by humans, and humans are the only reason that science matters: curiosity is part of human nature, but sometimes we need reminding just how much is out there to explore and enjoy. * Dr Helen Czerski, Physicist and bestselling author of Storm in a Teacup *Will gladden the heart and stimulate the mind... Sparkling. * Independent *Table of Contents1: Scepticism - From the Maelstrom of Knowledge into the Labyrinth of Doubt 2: Is God on Holiday? - Are There Still Enough Gaps for a God? 3: Armchair Time-Travel - Putting Out Your Beach Blanket on the Sands of Time 4: Big, Isn't It? - On Coping with the Size of the Universe 5: Escape Velocity - On Looking Back at the Planet from a Height 6: Why Aren't They Here? Or Are They.? - On Waiting for Our Alien Saviours 7: Swinging from the Family Tree - Inviting Yeast to the Family Reunion 8: The Mind Is a Chaos of Delight - On the Matter of Grey Matter 9: Reality, What a Concept - Can Anything Be What It Seems? 10: Imagining There's No Heaven - On Being Finite 11: More Important than Knowledge - On the Necessity of Imagination 12: So It Goes - Facing Up to the End of Everything

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Book SynopsisHoly Motherforking Shirtballs! The madly popular sitcom The Good Place, has propelled ethics and moral philosophy into the 21st century mainstream. The story of Eleanor Shellstrop, who has accidentally been sent to the Good Place after her death, continually challenges us to ask what makes for a ‘good person’? Taking inspiration from the show, this is a guide to ‘doing the right thing’. Using thought experiments, from the trolley problem to the balloon debate, as well as modern dilemmas like the etiquette of texting and ‘selfie’ culture (you’re going to the Bad Place), here is (nearly) everything you need to know about being in your own ‘good place’ in life.

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Book SynopsisFor every cat that hisses and stares at you, there is a happy cat somewhere in the world that would love to receive your attention. A celebration of joyful and jubilant felines, this book is especially crafted for all the cat lovers out there who are desperate to have a puss that loves them back.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts with the latest Titan Comics Peanuts Facsimilie book, the 18th in the series, featuring 128 pages of classic Peanuts strips from 1960-1962.

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be a good dog? Are tennis balls always real? Is a bark ever truly worse than a bite? All these questions and more are answered in Philosophers’ Dogs, the groundbreaking treat-ise that has been dog years in the making. The book reveals a long-kept secret: that every human philosopher has stolen their best ideas from their canine companions, shamelessly disguising the dogs’ original thoughts as their own.Featuring beautiful illustrations alongside meticulously researched historical fact,* Philosophers’ Dogs follows the trials, tribulations and tail-wagging of the pooches owned by famous philosophers and essayists. It is a vital addition to the bookshelves of philosophy students and dog lovers alike, packed with insights hitherto (wrongly) attributed to everyone from Confucius to Simone de Beauvoir via Socrates, Karl Marx and Mary Wollstonecraft. *Not necessarily historical or factual.

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Book Synopsis'I laughed a lot and now understand blokes a lot more than I ever wanted to' - Katherine Ryan'Geoff is one of the funniest intelligent thinkers in comedy and this book reflects that perfectly' - Romesh Ranganathan'Geoff's examination of blokeness is Geoff all over - funny and insightful, making serious points without committing the cardinal sin of taking itself too seriously. Top bloke.' - Adrian Chiles'Highly informative. Geoff will make a proper bloke out of me yet.' - Hugo Rifkind'A brilliant and hilarious book which defends blokes without denigrating women' - Konstantin Kisin If you see a man drinking a pint in an airport pub alone, that's a bloke. If you see a man driving to the tip on a Saturday morning with a smile on his face, that's a bloke. And if you see a man heading back from the tip and on the way to the pub, that's a very happy bloke.The British Bloke appears simple and straightforward. He loves football, cricket, beer, sheds, wearing socks and books about the SAS.But beneath that simple exterior lies a mysterious and complex being.In The British Bloke Decoded, writer, comedian and regular bloke, Geoff Norcott peels back the layers of blokedom, revealing the truth behind the sometimes inexplicable behaviour of Britain's husbands, dads and brothers.Based on 46 years of field research and almost scientific insights, Geoff digs deep into subjects as wide as: the value of Banter, the surprising roots of Mansplaining, the near impossibility of getting blokes to send birthday cards, and whether there could be a medal system for Hoovering.And ultimately, he concludes that whilst the toxic men have been grabbing all the publicity - perhaps now's the time to celebrate the simple British bloke in all his eccentric splendour.Trade ReviewGeoff's examination of blokeness is Geoff all over - funny and insightful, making serious points without committing the cardinal sin of taking itself too seriously. Top bloke. * Adrian Chiles *Highly informative. Geoff will make a proper bloke out of me yet. * Hugo Rifkind *A brilliant and hilarious book which defends blokes without denigrating women * Konstantin Kisin *I laughed a lot and now understand blokes a lot more than I ever wanted to -- Katherine RyanGeoff is one of the funniest intelligent thinkers in comedy and this book reflects that perfectly -- Romesh Ranganathan

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Book SynopsisThe countdown to the millennium has begun, and people are losing their heads. A so-called Y2K expert gives a presentation to Scotland's eccentric Tech Laird T.S. Mole's entourage in Edinburgh, and soon long hours, days, weeks and months fill with seemingly chaotic and frantic work on the 'bug problem'. Soon enough it'll be just minutes and seconds to go to midnight. Is the world about to end, or will everyone just wake up the next day with the same old New Year's Day hangover? A book about what we know and don't know, about how we communicate and fail to, My Book of Revelations moves from historical revelations to the personal, and climaxes in the bang and flare of fireworks, exploding myths and offering a glimpse of a scandal that will rock Scotland into the twenty-first century. As embers fall silently to earth, all that is left to say is: Are we working in the early days of a better nation?Trade Review'This novel is driven by an inexhaustible stream of imagination and Hood’s fearless desire to leave narrative conventions behind and fly unfettered into a realm of pure ideas. There are definite echoes of Lanark… and a sense that the Glasgow-born Hood is joining in, and extending, a conversation that’s been going on in the more adventurous Scots literature for the past century.' — Alastair Mabbott, The Herald

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Book SynopsisThis hilarious instruction book is here to help you accept that being a dog parent is not a choice, but a lifestyleYour dog rules your home and your heart. You bend over backwards to cater to their quirks. In fact, you would do anything for your pampered pup. So why is it that they treat your toilet like a cocktail bar, ruin your lawn with their antics, or scoot their butt across the floor when you have guests?Luckily, this no-nonsense survival guide is on hand to help you navigate canine parenthood. Whether you need to learn to never leave food unattended, that they will always choose puddle water over fresh, or simply to understand that there is never an acceptable excuse for showing affection to any other living creature, these pearls of wisdom are sure to make you an elite dog parent in no time.Filled with original illustrations and tongue-in-cheek advice, this sneak peek into the world behind those puppy-dog eyes will make the perfect gift for any

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