Humour Books

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the Donald makes his second bid for a second term in the White House, gird yourself for the possibility of another four years of President Trump with this charming introduction to the man and his world . . . _________'When Donald won the election, he did not believe it. This election was a bad, unfair election, said Donald, about the election that he won. One day, Donald might lose an election. He will not like that election at all. And when Donald is told it is time to stop being the President, who knows what exciting things will happen next?'_________'Anyone can grow up to become the President. Or they can become President first and think about growing up later.'_________This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. Something the President himself could do with. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. Praise for The Story of Brexit:'Hilarious' Stylist'One of the Best Comedy Books of 2018' The List'The latest offering in the hilarious Ladybird for Grown Ups series is a funny mickey-take of the Brexit debate (and boy, do we need some fun)' Sunday PostTrade ReviewPraise for The Story of Brexit * - *One of the Best Comedy Books of 2018 * The List *The latest offering in the hilarious Ladybird for Grown Ups series is a funny mickey-take of the Brexit debate (and boy, do we need some fun) * Sunday Post *Hilarious * Stylist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of essays examining what it means to be a man in today's world. Categories: non-fiction, memoir, essays, culture & society

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first set of books collecting Bill Watterson's timeless Calvin and Hobbes comics in a compact, portable format designed to introduce the timeless adventures of a boy and his stuffed tiger to a new generation of readers. Featuring nearly 500 comics from the strip's debut in November 1985 through March 1987, this is the first set in a series of seven."At some level, all American childhoods are the same, which probably explains our lasting love affair with Calvin and Hobbes." —The Washington PostCalvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger first appeared in 1985 and could be read in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. This compact, portable new format is designed to introduce the timeless adventures of Calvin and Hobbes to a new generation of readers, and will fit easily into backpacks as well as on the collector's shelf. Featuring archival slipcase and cover art selected by the author, The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium pays tribute to the strip's origin in newspapers while appealing to both new and existing fans of Calvin and Hobbes. This set is composed of two 144-page paperback books, including nearly 500 comics from the strip's debut in Nov. 1985 through March 1987. It is the first of seven sets total to be released between 2023 and 2026.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMore than 1,000,000 copies sold!Don''ts for Husbands is a facsimile of the original 1913 edition, containing hundreds of snippets of entertaining advice for a happy marriage. While some are quirkily of their time, and rich with fascinating insights into the history of relations between the sexes, many contain wisdom that rings true more than 100 years after they were written.Inside you can find advice on topics such as habits, jealousy, household management, hobbies and even hints on finance. There is much wisdom to be taken from this little book to ensure matrimonial bliss:''Don''t forget to be your wife''s best friend as well as her husband. True friendship in marriage does away with all sorts of trouble.''''Don''t insist upon having the last word. If you know when to drop an argument, you are a wise man.''''No doubt you are a very clever fellow, and it is an education for her to listen to you, but she also may have some views worth mentioning.''This charming pocket-sized edition is perfect as a Christmas stocking filler, or as a gift (along with the matching Don''ts for Wives) for newly-weds, engagements and anniversaries.Trade Review'Words of wisdom for a happy marriage from nearly a century ago... The advice comes from a set of guidebooks on marriage written on the eve of the First World War which are predicted to shoot to the top of the bestseller list. The somewhat old-fashioned 'Don'ts for Husbands and Wives' penned by Blanche Ebbutt in 1913 were first published at a time when women stayed at home while their husbands went out to work. Times have changed since then, but the advice could be considered as relevant today as ever.' Daily Mail, May 28, 2007 'Tips for a happy marriage published nearly a century ago look set to be a hit this year. The guidebooks are seen now as amusing and wise - and relevant in 2007.' Daily Express, May 29, 2007 '[The author's] wit and wisdom are set to find a new audience... [they] evoke a world where domestic servants were taken for granted and men viewed women as second-class citizens, to be patronised or set to work on domestic tasks. Wives receive sisterly instructions designed to make them the best possible partners for the flawed, often ridiculous men they have married.' The Times, May 28, 2007 'Today they are enough tomes about men being from Mars and weird rules of dating... so it is expected that Blanche Ebbutt's oeuvre will provide more comedy value than useful advice. And yet... there are eternal verities there... There are plenty of gloriously retro bits about women censoring their men's socks and husbands learning to "lead" rather than "drive" their wives; but who could argue when Ebbutt says that there is an art in being married, and that you should not "exhaust your artistic power in getting married" but put some effort into staying that way... What is required, Ebbutt hints from the grave, is simple niceness: be as considerate towards a life partner as towards a friend... So, go on: clear up those pencil sharpenings, chaps. And women, tell Him Indoors that his hair looks nice. Can't hurt, can it?' Libby Purves, The Times, May 29, 2007 'Really charming but ultimately wise little books, great ad hoc wedding gifts and also very funny.' Matthew Perren, I-on (September 2007)Table of ContentsPreface 1. General Habits 2. Personal Relations 3. Jealousy 4. Hints on Finance 5. Household Matters 6. Recreation and Holidays 7. Health 8. Dress 9. Hobbies 10. Food 11. Children

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor all the West''s failings - terrible food, cold weather, and questionable politicians with funny hair to name a few - it has its upsides. Konstantin would know. Growing up in the Soviet Union, he experienced first-hand the horrors of a socialist paradise gone wrong, having lived in extreme poverty with little access to even the most basic of necessities. It wasn''t until he moved to the UK that Kisin found himself thriving in an open and tolerant society, receiving countless opportunities he would never have had otherwise. Funny, provocative and unswervingly perceptive, An Immigrant''s Love letter to the West interrogates the developing sense of self-loathing the Western sphere has adopted and offers an alternative perspective. Exploring race politics, free speech, immigration and more, Kisin argues that wrongdoing and guilt need not pervade how we feel about the West - and Britain - today, and that despite all its ups and downs, it remains one of the best places tTrade ReviewKisin has written a lively and spirited book defending the society he is grateful to have found himself in. If I can return the compliment, we are lucky to have him. -- Douglas Murray * Telegraph *Kisin's book [has] a powerful moral quality that ultimately makes it worth reading * Sunday Times *An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West is a paean to the freedom and dignity that many in the West take for granted. With solemnity and irreverence, Kisin, who grew up in the Soviet Union, explains that the loss off liberty is not imprisonment - it is horror. We are not born valuing self-determination, free speech and open inquiry. Each generation must relearn and fight for these values or we will revisit the horrors of the past upon ourselves. This book is a reminder of what's at stake. -- Peter BoghossianKisin's cool, steady but urgent message, that we should value and protect what we have, could not be more timely amid today's shrill screams about the various 'isms' and 'phobias' of which our country is irredeemably guilty * spiked *[Kisin is] a comedian by trade, but a writer by nature . . . powerful . . . a deadly warning which somehow manages to be bright and breezy * Spectator *[An] excellent book . . . both a thank-you to the country [Kisin] now calls home and a reminder to many of his generation that they should be careful what they wish for. * Daily Mail *An engaging writer with a nice line in self-deprecating wit * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Nerd royalty'' Ben Goldacre ''Laugh-out-loud funny'' Bill Gates''Totally brilliant'' Tim HarfordWHAT IF you still had so many more strange questions about the universe?And WHAT IF Randall Munroe, former NASA roboticist and xkcd creator, were prepared to move mountains, fill the solar system with soup and alter the space-time continuum to answer them?Whether it''s how to make a lava lamp out of lava or feeding the inhabitants of New York to a T. Rex, welcome to the weird, wonderful (and sometimes terrifying) world of WHAT IF? 2Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR WHAT IF?Nerd royaltyBrilliant * Rolling Stone *With this book you're a kid with a chemistry set all over again...required reading for grown-ups * Register *Smart answers to silly questions: Randall Munroe reveals all * Guardian *PRAISE FOR WHAT IF? 2 Randall Munroe [is] the guru of absurd science questions . . . What If ?2 is stuffed with questions that are fanciful in the asking, but perfectly - and playfully - informative in the answering. The questions throughout are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. Do you need any of this information? No. Are you happy - indeed, delighted - to have it? Almost certainly yes. Science isn't easy, but in Munroe's capablehands, it surely can be fun. * Time Magazine *One of my favourite books of the year. * Financial Times *Head-scratching . . . seemingly simple conundrums lead to the most fascinating of rabbit holes. * WIRED **Staff's Favourite Books of 2022* A dense litany of thoroughly researched explanations of intensely silly hypotheticals. Perfect if you enjoy it when stuffy figures of authority crack a smile. Or if you like it when black holes form. That happens a lot. * Newsweek *One of my favourite books of the year

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new edition of Keri Smith''s bestseller, with updated materialThink of Wreck This Journal as the anarchist''s Artist''s Way -- the book for those who''ve always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it.For anyone who''s ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book featuring a subversive collection of suggestions, asking readers to muster up their best mistake - and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them).Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in destructive acts - poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, colouring outside the lines, and more - in order to experience the true creative process. With Keri Smith''s unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs your '90s knowledge da bomb? Are your crossword skills all that and a bag of chips? The 411 is that these puzzles are filled with clues that blossom with rad '90s trivia and pop culture references, from the Spice Girls to Troll dolls to Clueless and beyond. Plus, the puzzles progress from easy to hard, which makes this book perfect for '90s kids of all skill levels and those looking to take a step-by-step approach to solving. If you get stuck, the answer section explains it all for you.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's time to celebrate the end of an era - and the start of a whole new one! Ah, retirement - from here on out it's all lazy lie-ins, pleasant afternoons in the garden (or the garden centre), long lunches with friends and evenings spent in a comfy chair in front of the fire, right? Wrong! Welcome to a world where you're halfway to the office before you realize you don't work there any more, you somehow seem to have even less free time than before to do all the things you need to do, and suddenly daytime TV seems a whole lot more appealing than it ever used to... This indispensable handbook, packed with amusing illustrations, is here to guide you through the pleasures and pitfalls of being retired. Most importantly, though, it'll teach you how to how to make sure you always get a decent afternoon nap. This book is perfect gift for retirees, offering tongue-in-cheek advice on how to make the most of their new-found freedom.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPeanuts surges into the 1970s with Schulz at the peak of his powers and influence: a few jokes about Bob Dylan, Women''s Liberation and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex aside, these two years are as timeless as Peanuts ever was. Sally Brown elbows her way to center stage, at least among the humans, and is thus the logical choice for cover girl . . . and in her honour, the introduction is provided by Broadway, television and film star Kristin Chenoweth, who first rose to Tony-winning fame with her scene-stealing performance as Sally in You''re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.Two long Summer-camp sequences involve Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty, who has decided that Charlie Brown is madly in love with her, much to his clueless confusion. Snoopy shows up at camp as well, as does Peppermint Patty''s new permanent sidekick, the one and only Marcie. The eternally mutable Snoopy mostly shakes off his World War I Flying Ace identity and turns into Joe Cool, college hipster extraordinaire. He writes a fan letter to his favourite author, Miss Helen Sweetstory, then goes on a journey to meet her, and finally enlists Charlie Brown''s help when her latest opus, The Six Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out, falls afoul of censors.Also, Woodstock attends worm school, falls in love with a worm (perhaps the most doomed unrequited Peanuts love story ever!), and is nearly eaten by the neighbours'' cat . . . Peppermint Patty is put on trial for another dress code violation . . . Snoopy turns Linus''s blanket into not one but two sportcoats . . . Lucy hits a home run . . . and the birth of one Rerun Van Pelt!Trade ReviewBeautifully designed . . . One of the high-water marks of post-war popular culture * * Daily Telegraph * *The world of Peanuts is a microcosm, a little human comedy for the innocent reader and for the sophisticated * * Umberto Eco * *A delicious wallow in a nostalgic world that has a lot more bite than readers may recall. Schulz portrays a children's world that's anything but idyllic, complete with fusspots, tortured artists, exclusive clubs, insecurities and kites that refuse to fly. The Peanuts landscape is the familiar neighbourhood, with trees, sidewalks, sandboxes, ball fields and remarkably generic interiors. As always, the illustrations are a marvel of simplicity and the insights are haunting * * Publishers Weekly * *Highly recommended to any Peanuts fan * * Salon * *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 marveled 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 * *The Complete Peanuts is beautifully bound, a comprehensive resource and, with an index and introduction, a useful contextualisation of a modern legend. * * The Skinny * *The Complete Peanuts has framed Charles Schulz's enduring masterpiece about as well any lifelong fan could've hoped. * * "The Best Comics of the '00s: The Archives", The A.V. Club * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCelebrating the 60th anniversary of Thelwell's Angels on HorsebackTrade Review" 'The master English cartoonist ... a laugh a page' Publishers' Weekly"

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNorman Thelwell took his first kitten home in a shopping-bag slung from the handlebars of his bicycle at the age of ten. He still has the scars to prove it. Magnificat is a comic tribute to the mysterious relationship human beings have long had with the feline species.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'FASCINATING' Guardian 'WE LOVE THIS BOOK' Blackwells 'THE BEST GIFT BOOK THERE IS' IndependentA GUIDE TO LIVING IN DARK TIMES, FROM PEOPLE WHO REALLY DIDBursting with wisdom and artwork from the Middle Ages, this handy guide will give you time-tested solutions for all of life's biggest problems. Whether it's choosing an appropriate dog name like Garlik or Filthe, becoming an irresistible suitor even though you can't joust, surviving encounters with rabbits and dragons, or coming to terms with your inevitable demise, this book is full of illuminating advice that is sure to brighten up the darkest of times.Full of quizzes, how-to-guides, diagrams, and flow charts that take you from birth to your gruesome death, this is the ultimate laugh-out-loud read for history buffs.Trade ReviewA gently fascinating insight into the marginalia of a lost era. -- Phil Harrison * The Guardian *Olivia Swarthout prowls the web for little-seen snippets of medieval art and life to share with the world. We love this book that is a result of her work - full of illuminating advice that is sure to brighten up the darkest of times. * Blackwells *[An] account of the most bizarre illustrations from the Middle Ages * The Art Newspaper *Brilliantly funny… Olivia celebrates the wonderful weirdness of the past… [in this] gleeful book * Simple Things, *Christmas Gift Guide 2023* *I have pondered meaningful poetry, those that challenge and change our view of the world. I have considered great design and art books, which offer a view of a better world. History that shows how this world came to be or fiction that conjures new ones. But I have settled on the best gift book there is: a collection of curious, stupid and perplexing little drawings from medieval manuscripts, accurately and straightforwardly titled Weird Medieval Guys. This is the rare book you can judge from its cover, and it’s exactly what it suggests. I genuinely struggle to think of a person who might not love it ... If they enjoy one picture of an army of knights attacking a giant snail then they’ll enjoy the rest of the book; if they don’t, then you should stop being their friend and you’ve solved the problem of buying them a gift either way. -- Andrew Griffin * The Independent 'Best Books to Gift (and gift again)' *The best gift book there is: a collection of curious, stupid and perplexing little drawings from medieval manuscripts… I genuinely struggle to think of a person who might not love it * Independent, *Christmas Gift Guide 2023* *Richly illustrated and lightly written… Weird Medieval Guys follows the tradition established by medieval preachers and artists themselves: laughter, wonder and a little shock now and then [that] can spark fascination * Apollo *Weird Medieval Guys is a riot ... It’s bright and colourful and would make a perfect gift for anyone with an interest in history. Full of stunning imagery, interactive maps and quizzes, and brilliant medieval facts, it is enticingly re-readable and will remain a favourite for the non-expert, while also being enjoyable to the specialist. -- Madeleine S. Killacky , PhD Candidate in Medieval Literature at Bangor University * Morning Star *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCritical Times is the brilliant new collection of acerbic sketches of contemporary political life by The Times's master of satire, Peter Brookes. Brookes, multiple winner of the British Press Awards Cartoonist of the Year, here showcases the stand-out pieces from his opinion-page cartoons in The Times, each up to the minute and breathtaking in its bite and wit. Critical Times subjects our political overlords to the most brutal of roastings, ridiculing those who profess to lead us and holding the mighty to account. Always hilarious and beautifully crafted, these cartoons - from Brexit to Trump, and back again - are the sumptuous evidence of a contemporary genius at work. Seen through the mind of Peter Brookes evidence that we are indeed living through critical times.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHave you forgotten how to relax and enjoy yourself? Do you run around in circles mistaking dizziness for happiness? Your troubles are over, for you hold in your hands the means to take control of your destiny, to turn your back on obligation and conformity, or at least hide from them in the toilets for a bit.Shirk, Rest and Play is a comprehensive illustrated handbook for wannabe drop-outs, dreamers, drifters and gadabouts. Authors Andrew Grumbridge and Vincent Raison – along with their panoply of wastrel acquaintances – offer ruminations about finding beauty in the ordinary, lessons in tactical slacking and detailed advice on how to get more out of life by doing less.They cover all aspects of modern existence, moving smartly through Childhood, Work, Leisure, Home, Money, Health & Beauty and, of course, Death, where even amid the tears and sadness, you can still find plates of mini-burgers.This book is the call to arms you’ve been waiting for, giving you all the tips, shortcuts and (de)motivation you need to duck out of the system and live life on your own terms.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Vital reading'' STYLIST''...hooting with laughter - what a swashbuckler that Hannah Jewell is'' MARINA HYDE''Because 100 Nasty Women is so easy to read and witty, I didn''t expect it to be the life changing, important book that I''m discovering it to be'' PHILIPPA PERRY''A fantastic addition to your feminist library and historical knowledge.'' ANN SHEN, author of Bad Girls Throughout History* * * * * *100 fascinating and brilliantly written stories about history''s bravest, baddest but little known ''nasty'' women from across the world.These are the women who were deemed too nasty for their times, too nasty to be recognised, too nasty to be paid for their work and sometimes too nasty to be allowed to live. When you learn about women in history, they''re often made out to be shining, glittering souls. But when you hear about these Bold-Yet-Morally-Irreproachable Women of History who wTrade Review'Both heartbreaking and hilarious, this book aims to give every woman "who gave zero f*cks" the respect and notoriety they have always deserved and long been denied. Vital reading' * STYLIST *'Laugh-out-loud funny and inspiring . . . Read it to pick a glorious new role model ... and feel more connected to strong women all across time' -- Krista Suh, creator of the Pussyhat Project and author of DIY Rules for a WTF WorldA fun, hilarious read that will make a fantastic addition to your feminist library and historical knowledge -- Ann Shen, author of BAD GIRLS THROUGHOUT HISTORY'Because 100 Nasty Women is so easy to read and witty, I didn't expect it to be the life changing, important book that I'm discovering it to be' -- Philippa Perry'Hooting with laughter - what a swashbuckler that Hannah Jewell is' -- Marina Hyde'Like Rebel Girls for adults' -- Katy Lovell

Read more less

Book SynopsisFind out if your cat is Pussolini or Mother PurresaIn ancient Egypt cats were viewed as gods and in modern day they are no stranger to worship as the internet's favourite animal, but have you ever stopped to consider the true nature of the smug little creatures we so willingly welcome into our homes? Is your cat a dazzling Dolly Purrton in the making? Or a hateful Hannibal Lickter waiting to strike? Find out with this killer purrsonality quiz. With 16 personality profiles and tips on how to live in harmony with your cat, whatever their result, find out if your furry housemate dreams of world peace or world domination.

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou love your furry friend and they love you too... lots. But has your dog ever gone a bit too far in pursuit of your approval, their good intentions leading to mischief and chaos? Brimming with humorous illustrations and witty captions, this book is here to help you appreciate the hilarious ways your pet pup tries to show their love.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

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

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMore stories of mayhem from the world's favourite dysfunctional family - the Simpsons! In 'The Absent-Minded Protester', it's Grampa's turn to take to the streets of Springfield in the guise of his graffitti-writing, outlaw, alter-ego, El Grampo! And in 'Dullards to Donuts' Homer's favourite food becomes strangely addictive, as Mr Burns introduces his own unique brand to the power plant. Finally, in 'Sense and Censorability', Homer and Comic Book Guy plead the First Amendment to defend their right to read comics. A worthy cause.. but then you knew that, right?

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERHead back down to Clarkson Farm with the bestseller from our favourite welly-wearing wannabe farmer, Jeremy Clarkson___________Enthusiastic trainee farmer Jeremy Clarkson made just 144 in his first year at Diddly Squat Farm. This year he''s determined to do better. Not because he now knows what he''s doing. But because he''s fed up of getting stick from Kaleb.Yet farming continues to be a challenge.For instance . . . Loading a grain trailer was more demanding than flying an Apache gunship? Cows were more dangerous than motor-racing? It''s easier to get planning permission to build a nuclear plant than to turn a barn into a restaurant?Jeremy''s always got a plan. Loads of them. Often cunning.Not always greeted with wild enthusiasm by Kaleb and Cheerful Charlie, however . . .___________PRAISE FOR DIDDLY SQUAT<Trade ReviewIf you want a laugh, it's Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat: 'Til the Cows Come Home . . . The book will keep us going until the next TV series appears. * Spectator *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe days of wooing your love with embarrassing poetry or rambling love letters are over. Here begins the new dawn in the evolution the language of love: emoji. With a wealth of emojis on offer to convey your adoration, from kissy faces and hearts-for-eyes, to saucier combinations like the lock and key, there is no end to the ways you can declare your love. And this book will guide you through each stage of your relationship with phrases for every occasion. Step back Shakespeare: wherefore are thou, aubergine?Sections include: pick-up lines, what not to say on a first date, how to say ‘I love you’, living together, the proposal, breaking up, love songs and romantic films (sure you can translate ‘Ghost’, but how would you do ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’?). A perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, you’ll never just send a boring row of hearts again.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of insightful and uproariously funny non-fiction by the bestselling author of INFINITE JEST - one of the most acclaimed and adventurous writers of our time. A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING... brings together Wallace''s musings on a wide range of topics, from his early days as a nationally ranked tennis player to his trip on a commercial cruiseliner. In each of these essays, Wallace''s observations are as keen as they are funny. Filled with hilarious details and invigorating analyses, these essays brilliantly expose the fault line in American culture - and once again reveal David Foster Wallace''s extraordinary talent and gargantuan intellect.Trade ReviewIt's the kind of book you can't even put down while brushing your teeth. He's damn good. I take my hat off to him. * GUARDIAN *Enviably good. * SUNDAY TIMES *Like sea air, David Foster Wallace is so bracing. * GLASGOW HERALD *Brilliant. * MAXIM *

Read more less

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

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRhetoric gives our words the power to inspire. But it's not just for politicians: it's all around us, whether you're buttering up a key client or persuading your children to eat their greens. You have been using rhetoric yourself, all your life. After all, you know what a rhetorical question is, don't you? In this updated edition of his classic guide, Sam Leith traces the art of argument from ancient Greece down to its many modern mutations. He introduces verbal villains from Hitler to Donald Trump - and the three musketeers: ethos, pathos and logos. He explains how rhetoric works in speeches from Cicero to Richard Nixon, and pays tribute to the rhetorical brilliance of AC/DC's "Back In Black". Before you know it, you'll be confident in chiasmus and proud of your panegyrics - because rhetoric is useful, relevant and absolutely nothing to be afraid of.Trade ReviewReading this book is the equivalent of lounging in a leather club armchair, wreathed in cigar smoke and a couple of whiskies down, alongside a companion who's being funny and clever about Homer and Hello! magazine by turns. -- Charlotte Higgins * Guardian *Entertaining ... You finish this book more than ready to rock a first in rhetoric. -- Hermione Eyre * Evening Standard *This is the best available analysis -- Boris JohnsonWitty and revealing ... the chapter on Arrangement alone would probably bump up most student degrees by a class, not to mention the average oration -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Leith gives modern relevance to an ancient practice. Read this entertaining and instructive book and you will never again mistake an occultatio for an occupatio. -- Ian Finlayson * The Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplore the life-changing magic of trigonometry with Matt Parker, stand-up mathematician and No. 1 bestselling author of Humble PiWhy can no two people ever see the same rainbow? What happens when you pull a pop song apart into pure sine waves and play it back on a piano? Why does the wake behind a duck always form an angle of exactly 39 degrees? And what did mathematicians have to do with the great pig stampede of 2012? The answer to each of these questions can be found in the triangle. In Love Triangle, stand-up comedian, ex-maths teacher and Sunday Times number one bestselling author Matt Parker is on a mission to prove why we should all show a lot more love for triangles, along with the useful trigonometry and geometry they enable. To make his point, he uses triangles to create his own digital avatar, survive a harrowing motorcycle ride, cut a sandwich into three equal parts, and measure tall buildings while wearing silly shoes. But soon these hare-brained experiments begin to re

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo you know your Boosterism from your Backstopectomy? Can you tell Prometheus from Cincinnatus, and if so, do you know what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to say when he namechecks esoteric figures from the classics, quotes obscure phrases from history, or even just plain makes words up? Certainly, Johnson is the most verbose Prime Minister of recent years, the result no doubt of a classical education, a closet full of public-school confidence and a former career as a wordsmith for The Times. Boris, more than perhaps any other leader, knows the importance of words, but he also knows how to have serious fun with them.Trade Review"For the past three decades Simon Walters has been Westminster's most brilliant political journalist. In The Borisaurus, he applies his talents to a fascinating exploration of how Boris Johnson has invented a new type of political discourse. Everyone who wants to understand British politics today must read this book and keep it by their desk." - Peter Oborne, broadcaster, columnist and former chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph "Some PMs have struggled with language, so get others to write their words. Boris sees language as Play-Doh, as raw material to be manipulated into an infinite number of novel shapes and combinations. This ingenious book takes us on a journey into the mind of our Play-Doh player-in-chief." - Anthony Seldon, historian and author of May at 10 "Boris Johnson is perhaps the most beguiling wordsmith of the age, soaring to the peak of high office on wings of glittering prose. How did he amass his memory bank of instantly retrievable bon mots and pitch-perfect classical allusions? Here, Simon Walters studies the BoJo trail from Eton to Downing Street, filtering the pure ore from the glister of fool's gold." - Trevor Kavanagh, journalist and former political editor of The Sun

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen The Life of Brian was first released in 1979 it was hailed by most as Monty Python's finest parody and denounced by a few as the most blasphemous film of all time. But, with its unforgettable songs and its infinitely quotable script it has gone on to become an enduring cult classic.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Priestdaddy caused a sensation when it hit bookshelves in 2017'' Vogue ''Glorious'' Sunday Times''Laugh-out-loud funny'' The Times''Extraordinary'' Observer''Exceptional'' Telegraph''Electric'' New York Times''Snort-out-loud'' Financial Times''Dazzling'' Guardian''Do yourself a favour and read this memoir!'' BookPageWINNER OF THE THURBER PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOURThe childhood of Patricia Lockwood, the poet dubbed ''The Smutty-Metaphor Queen of Lawrence, Kansas'' by The New York Times, was unusual in many respects. There was the location: an impoverished, nuclear waste-riddled area of the American Midwest. There was her mother, a woman who speaks almost entirely in strange riddles and arnings of impending danger. Above all, there was her gun-toting, guitar-riffing, frequeTrade ReviewGlorious * Sunday Times *Extraordinary * Observer *Electric * New York Times *Exceptional * Telegraph *Snort-out-loud * Financial Times *Dazzling * Guardian *

Read more less