Humour Books

Book SynopsisIreland's Instagram sensation Meditations for the Anxious Mind takes us on a trip around Ireland of the likes you've never seen before, from the trolley-filled Liffey to the glamour of Navan.Ever been curious about Limerick's ancient mysteries or wondered what secrets Drogheda might hold? Well now you can visit the trolleys in the Liffey from the comfort of your armchair and learn the lesser-known facts about Ireland's greatest dumps.Did you know that there's no crime in Stoneybatter, because every time a fixie gets stolen they just say it happened in Cabra?Did you know people from Galway have a genetic defect that makes them think they built Supermacs themselves?Did you know that no one in Cork City can remember anyone's name, which is why Corkonians are either called bai', kid' or girl'?Why not go off the beaten track with Meditations for the Anxious Mind's Toxic Travel Guide and laugh your way around Ireland. We did the research so you don't have to smell the bin juice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWARNING: NOT SUITABLE FOR ART LOVERS. PERFECT FOR DOG LOVERS.The Sunday Times bestselling author of Rubbish Pet Portraits presentsWho's a Clever Boy, Then? is a hilarious exploration into the bizarre behaviour of our beloved four-legged friends. Ever considered your pooch to be super smart? Or claimed they are actually very intelligent'? Dog whisperer and illustrator extraordinaire @portraitsbyhercule reveals what your dog is really thinking when they are being petted: I'm going to milk this for as long as possible because you haven't seen what I've done in the bathroom yet. staring at you adoringly: Put your phone down, Susan, and I'll give you more likes than Facebook ever will. giving you evils: I'm not saying it's definitely time to get the hoover out, Kev, but I'm picking up fluff in places I don't want to pick up fluff.Trade Review Customer reviews of Rubbish Pet Portraits: –‘You’ve made my children cry.’ –‘It’s as if my eyes have stood on Lego’ –‘I’ve had to open my mum’s Christmas present to help me get over this. I’m covered in tears, Ferrero Rocher wrappers and shame.’

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Jews Don't Count A hugely heartfelt, funny, kind, fascinating, human and clever book ' ALAIN DE BOTTON Magnificent. Breathtaking. And shockingly rare another one-sitting wonder' STEPHEN FRYDavid Baddiel would love there to be a God. He has spent a lot of time fantasising about how much better life would be if there actually was such a thing as a Superhero Dad who chased off Death. Unfortunately for him, there isn't. Or at least, that is Baddiel's view in this book, which argues that it is indeed the very intensity of his, and everyone else's, desire for God to exist that proves His non-existence. Anything so deeply wished-for we will, considers Baddiel, make real. The admission of his own divine yearnings makes for a book that is more vulnerable and more understanding of the value and power of religion than most atheist polemics. A philosophical essay that utilises Baddiel's trademarks of comedy, storytelling and personal asides, The God Desire offers a highly readable new perspective on the most ancient of debates.Trade Review‘This is such a fabulous book. Honest, powerful, moving. Can’t remember ever liking a book “in praise of atheism” as much as this. Many atheists don’t really get religion. David Baddiel absolutely does.’ Giles Fraser Praise for Jews Don’t Count: ‘Jews Don’t Count is a supreme piece of reasoning and passionate, yet controlled, argument. From his first sentence, the energy, force and conviction of Baddiel’s writing and thinking will transfix you…as readable as an airport thriller…a masterpiece.’STEPHEN FRY ‘I don’t think I have ever been so grateful to anyone for writing a book. Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count is incisive, urgent, surprisingly funny and short. It’s also a beautiful piece of publishing. It needs to be read’JAY RAYNER ‘Brilliant, furious, uncomfortable, funny. Essential reading.’SIMON MAYO ‘I'm about a quarter of the way into this thus far and it's very well argued and written. It's a book you know the author HAD to write, and those are the best books’JON RONSON ‘I only big up work I really believe is good and this is extra-ordinarily good. And important’JONATHAN ROSS ‘This is brilliant – funny and furious, mostly at the same time’MARINA HYDE ‘A convincing and devastating charge sheet’ Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times ‘It is so gripping – I read it in a single sitting’ Stephen Bush, The Times ‘A fascinating book, I urge you to read it’ Piers Morgan ‘I really think it’s a great book … the real triumph is its tone, its straightforwardness, and its spectacular tact and wit’ Adam Phillips, author of Monogamy ‘Funny, complex and intellectually satisfying – a really good piece of work’ Frankie Boyle ‘Just so brilliantly argued and written, I was completely swept along’ Hadley Freeman ‘David Baddiel is a brilliant thinker and writer. Even when I disagree with him – especially when I disagree with him – I feel profound gratitude for his intellectual and moral clarity. This is a brave and necessary book.’ Jonathan Safran Foer

Read more less

Book SynopsisHello humans, my name's Lennnie, I'm a little blob that was sent by the book Gods to come check on you. So, let's get into it shall we?Hello, human, my name's Lennnie. It really is a chaotic torrential downpour of debauchery out there but I promise you're gonna be okay. REALLY TRULY ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY FINE. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now.Wherever we are in life, all of us yearn for a world filled with more kindness, compassion and community. Lennnie everyone's favourite adorable, sassy, loving animated blob is here for us, keeping it real, dodging empty platitudes and delivering a dose of gentle, down-to-earth positivity to get us through even the darkest days.

Read more less

Book Synopsis200 jokes to giggle, cackle and snort at this Christmas!Join the residents of Beanotown as they enter an epic festive comedy battle to find the best Christmas joke of all time.Each resident can only enter one joke, but they have LOADS of ideas. Can you help them decide which joke is funniest?Included are:Cool snowman jokes (duh)Rude(olf) reindeer jokes (a dozen duhs)Ho-ho-holarious Santa jokes (well, DUH!)And snow many more!Just try not to pee yourself with laughter no one likes yellow snow!

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen did you first realize you were black? How black are you? Can you swim? This guide challenges and satirizes the so-called experts, purists, and racists who purport to speak for all black people.Trade Review"A hilarious blend of razor-sharp satire and memoir...Using his own story and humor, Thurston demonstrates that the best way to 'be' anything is to simply be yourself." -- Publishers Weekly "Terrific...How to Be Black is an assault on nostalgia--a satirical, biographic attack on the idea that 'blackness' or any label should be derived from historical description." -- Fast Company Struggling to figure out how to be black in the 21st century? Baratunde Thurston has the perfect guide for you...Fans of Stuff White People Like, This Week in Blackness and other blogs that take satirical shots at racial stereotypes are sure to love How to Be Black. -- The Root "A hilarious look at the complexities of contemporary racial politics and personal identity." -- Booklist "One of the smartest and funniest books I've ever read." -- Christian Lander (via Twitter)

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the addictive and uplifting story of reinvention, self-discovery and the meaning of true love from the bestselling author of Life Swap and The Friends We Keep''Inspirational, uplifting, made me laugh and left me feeling very happy'' 5***** Reader Review''Compulsively readable'' Sunday Times''Perfect if you want to feel uplifted . . . So relatable'' 5***** Reader Review_______Jemima Jones is overweight. About seven stone overweight.Treated like a slave by her thin and bitchy flatmates, lorded over at the Kilburn Herald by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented, but better paid), her only consolation is food.What with that and her passion for her charming, sexy colleague Ben, she knows her life needs changing.But can Jemima reinvent herself?And should she?_______''The kind of novel you''ll gobble up in a single sitting'' Cosmopolitan''Green writes with acerbic wit about the law of the dating jungle'' Sunday ExpressReaders ADORE Jemima J:''Truly uplifting and fun'' 5***** Reader Review''I was utterly engrossed'' 5***** Reader Review''A fantastic book that you can''t put down'' 5***** Reader Review''Beautiful and heartwarming'' 5***** Reader Review''Light hearted, warm and funny'' 5***** Reader ReviewTrade ReviewThe kind of novel you'll gobble up at a single sitting * Cosmopolitan *The ultimate makeover novel * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow to be Free is Tom Hodgkinson''s manifesto for a liberated life.Modern life is absurd. How can we be free?If you''ve ever wondered why you bother to go to work, or why so much consumer culture is crap, then this book is for you. Looking to history, literature and philosophy for inspiration, Tom Hodgkinson provides a joyful blueprint for a simpler and freer way of life. Filled with practical tips as well as inspiring reflections, here you can learn how to throw off the shackles of anxiety, bureaucracy, debt, governments, housework, supermarkets, waste and much else besides.Are you ready to be free? Read this book and find out.''One of the most provocatively entertaining, creatively subversive and, frankly, essential manifestoes of this or any moment'' Time Out''Crammed with laugh-out-loud jokes and witty put-downs . . . acts as a survival guide for everything from the government to housework. Random

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Idle Parent is Tom Hodgkinson''s radical parenting remedy against stifled, mollycoddled children.Modern life is wrecking childhood. Why can''t we just leave our kids alone?If you''ve ever wondered why so many of today''s children are unhappy, spoilt, stressed and selfish, then the answers and the remedy are to be found in The Idle Parent. Tom Hodgkinson wants us to leave our kids be, to give them the space and time to grow into self-reliant, confident, inquisitive, happy and free people. Full of practical tips of what to do and (more importantly) what not to do, Tom will not only help your kids be happier, but also help you, their parents, live happier and more fulfilled lives. ''Wise, practical, funny, personal, it will make you a much better parent'' Oliver James''An inspiring book, genuinely subversive. Time to put away silly adult things and embrace childhood in all its messy glory'' London Lite

Read more less

Book SynopsisKate Beaton was born in Nova Scotia, took a history degree in New Brunswick, paid it off in Alberta, worked in a museum in British Columbia, then came to Ontario for a while to draw pictures, then Halifax, and now New York. Maybe the moon next time, who knows.Trade ReviewKate Beaton has become a Web comic superstar with her hilarious look at historical and pop culture tropes from Julius Caesar to Gatsby. Hark! A Vagrant is a newly expanded collection of her witty, literate comics. * Publishers Weekly *[Beaton's comics] are witty reinventions of literary and historical figures navigating modern times . . . A high-minded version of The Far Side that is at once of-the-moment and timeless. -- Deborah Vankin * Los Angeles Times *Simply put, this is the most well-drawn, funniest comic that I've read in a while. -- Adrienne So * Wired *[Beaton's] neat linework and terrific grasp of simple caricature and facial expression sells a lot of the best strips, including Sasaki Kojiro meeting an undignified end, Jane Austen and Nikola Tesla being pestered by their fans, and Lord Byron muttering 'Bitches, man' to a grieving Percy Bysshe Shelley. * The Onion *This is that rarest combination of literate irony and devastatingly funny humor. * Publishers Weekly *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJoff Winterhart is an artist, writer, occasional film-maker, 'drummer', and dog fan. His graphic novel Days of the Bagnold Summer was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award in 2012 and adapted into a film. His second graphic novel Driving Short Distances came out in 2017. He also made the animated films Two Guys I know and Violet and Turquoise, which won the Cymru BAFTA for best animation in 2003. He lives in Bristol, where he plays drums and writes songs in the long-running band Bucky, and thinks about getting a new dog.Trade ReviewIn Driving Short Distances Joff Winterhart has created an unforgettable central player, Keith Nutt, who deserves to join Keith Talent in the short but potent list of great British literary Keiths. He is an unforgettable character, beautifully drawn and exquisitely written, and he confirms Winterhart as one of the most talented graphic novelists in the UK. -- Zadie SmithMasterpiece is an overused word in reviews and ordinarily I avoid it with much the same determination as Keith tries to avoid getting crumbs on his work trousers. In this case, however, it is the only one that will do. Winterhart has delivered a perfect book -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Joff Winterhart’s follow-up to his sweet, loving, Costa Award-nominated debut Days Of The Bagnold Summer is another slice of pitch-perfect comic social realism. Imagine if Alan Bennett was a cartoonist and you’re halfway there… The whole thing is a lovely example of the Odd Couple format that slowly, carefully reveals its secrets. In short, it’s a Play for Today drama told in comic book form. -- Teddy Jamieson * Herald Scotland *With mournful ink-and-paint drawings and a talent for wordless suggestion, Joff Winterhart’s comics create a sad and very British kind of underdog comedy… At heart, this perfectly observed comic is a story about recovery. It’s also one of the best books of any kind that I’ve read all year. -- Tim Martin * Daily Telegraph *This graphic novel poignantly examines quarter-life crisis and surrogate father-son relationships… Joff Winterhart’s illustrations are marked by their grounded realism, and he explores the anxieties of being a young adult and the repetitions of small-town life. The book captures not only the central characters’ relationship, but also the familiar feelings of regret and boredom. * New Statesman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristianity is like a Cornish pastie. There's something in it, but sometimes it's difficult to find out what it is.'Award-winning comedian Milton Jones dissects the great pastie of faith with some short, sharp one-liners about God, the Church and being a Christian all designed to make us think about what we believe from a completely different perspective.Includes Milton's own cartoons!Trade Review'King of the surreal one-liners.' -- The Times'Sultan of the surreal.' -- The Guardian'He's fast, absurd and very funny.' -- Radio Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether you''ve barely recovered from spending lockdown with your other half or desperately heading to the clubs to meet ''the one'', SH**GED. MARRIED. ANNOYED. is here to see you through . . .THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE STARS OF THE CHART-TOPPING PODCASTNOW FEATURING A BONUS CHAPTER''An absolute triumph'' Daisy May Cooper''These two are bloody hilarious'' Zoe Sugg''A hilarious look at the highs and lows of relationships'' Sun__________SH**GED.Hitting the bars, necking drinks and necking strangers, stumbling home, one-night-stands, nightmare dates, thinking this one''s alright, ghosting, tears, more drinking, living off late-night chips.MARRIED.Meeting ''the one'', weekends away, moving in, declaring life-long love, stags and hens, the perfect wedding, the honeymoon period, getting through the hard bits together, starting a family.ANNOYED.Can you close the bathroom door if you''re doing that? Sleepless nights, arguing about whose turn it is to change the baby''s nappy, toys everywhere, only having two drinks, still being hungover, wondering when it all stopped being easy.Whether you''re sh**ged, married, annoyed, or all of the above, Chris and Rosie Ramsey write hilariously and with honesty about the ups and downs of dating, relationships, arguing, parenting and everything in between.Trade ReviewA hilarious look at the highs and lows of relationships * Sun *Laughed 'til I cried reading this. An absolute triumph! * Daisy May Cooper *These two are the BEST people and bloody hilarious * Zoe Sugg *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''We shall therefore confine our walk to Central London where people meet on business during the day, and to West London where they meet for pleasure at night. If you will walk about the first City in the British Empire arm in arm with Merriman-Labor, you are sure to see Britons in merriment and at labour, by night and by day, in West and Central London.''In Britons Through Negro Spectacles Merriman-Labor takes us on a joyous, intoxicating tour of London at the turn of the 20th century.Slyly subverting the colonial gaze usually placed on Africa, he introduces us to the citizens, culture and customs of Britain with a mischievous glint in his eye.This incredible work of social commentary feels a century ahead of its time, and provides unique insights into the intersection between empire, race and community at this important moment in history.Selected by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, this series rediscoveTrade ReviewMerriman-Labor was clearly way ahead of his time with this razor-sharp satire, with many of his observations both painfully accurate and not entirely without humour * Buzz Magazine *A.B.C. Merriman-Labor [is] a pioneer of West African literature who speaks truth to power using irony and wit * The Sierra Leone Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The New Adventures of Old Sherlock, a brand-new series, it's Christmas at Baker Street, and Holmes is obsessed his most fiendish of unsolved cases: someone is murdering Santas across London!''Highly amusing. Vincent revives the great detective, putting Victorian values on a collision course with modern mores'' Lucien Young, author of Alice in Brexitland _____________________ As Holmes and Watson struggle through the Christmas-shopping crowds, they must catch this most dastardly and un-Christmassy of villains, while sneakily trying to purchase each other's Christmas presents (they are in the world's least-secret Secret Santa, after all).Meanwhile, with the museums of London refusing to return cultural artefacts to their countries of origin, someone is taking matters into their own hands, and stealing back what was stolen.Are the cases connected, and could an ancient air fryer of demonic power hold the key to the mystery of the murdered Santas? And more importantly, can you prepare a whole Christmas dinner in an air fryer*?*Whether you can or not, Dr Watson's going to give it a jolly good try. Ho Ho Holmes!_____________________''This is a clever as parody gets. How Bruno Vincent has managed to maintain a Holmesian atmosphere with a machine gun gag rate is a mystery in itself. Wonderful stuff' Ian Moore, bestselling author of Death and Croissants

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The New Adventures of Old Sherlock, a brand-new series, Sherlock Holmes is feeling like an analogue detective in a digital world!''Highly amusing. Vincent revives the great detective, putting Victorian values on a collision course with modern mores'' Lucien Young, author of Alice in Brexitland _____________________ The world's richest and most obnoxious Tech Bro (freshly decamped to the English countryside) has invited Sherlock Holmes to visit and vanished before Holmes gets there! Did he intend for the Great Detective to investigate his disappearance?Dr Watson is alarmed that Sherlock Holmes is growing forgetful. He can hardly remember why he came into a room, and keeps misplacing things. Is he finally losing his memory? Or is all a ruse, to engage a villain who may or may not be a piece of malevolent AI? And while we're talking about things being de-crypted, could Holmes's supposedly deceased adversary Moriarty be behind it all?Only Sherlock Holmes can save the day and of course Watson, if he can recall where he wrote down his damned list of passwords*!*They've got to be somewhere _____________________''This is a clever as parody gets. How Bruno Vincent has managed to maintain a Holmesian atmosphere with a machine gun gag rate is a mystery in itself. Wonderful stuff' Ian Moore, bestselling author of Death and Croissants

Read more less

Book SynopsisA unique collection of stories, stand-up routines, sketches and interviews from comic legend Dave Allen, drawn together with the full co-operation of his family. 'A wonderful anthology of Allen's very best material.' JACK DEETrade Review'The Essential Dave Allen does exactly what it says on the tin, taking all his best material from the last four decades and collating them into pertinent sections. A great man is sorely missed, The Essential Dave Allen reminds us what a unique brain we had in our midst for so long.' * Irish Independent *'I thought the jokes would fall flat without that mellow Irish delivery and impeccable timing, but they fly off the page like candy-coated barbs. McCann's book offers interesting observations, too, about the man himself.' * Daily Telegraph *'He was an original. He carved his own path ... and he was a torchbearer for all the excellent Irish comics who have followed in recent years.' Eddie Izzard * Eddie Izzard *'He was the uncle to end all uncles, childlike yet oracular and possessed of a ravenous appetite for human folly. When he adjusted his waistcoat or shot his cuffs, dragons of unreason gasped and died at his feet.' Dylan Moran

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn anthology and miscellany of everything an Englishman should know: - From Austen to Wordsworth - Jerusalem to the Scout''s Honour - Kings and Queens of England to Land of Hope and Glory- Savile Row tailors to Jermyn St Shirt Makers - Tying a Windsor knot to making a pot of tea - Victoria sponge to fish pie - The rules of cricket to Gilbert and Sullivan operas

Read more less

Book SynopsisApproaching its 200th birthday in the rudest of health, the Spectator is known for the quality of its writing and the deep eccentricity of some of its writers. Given the freedom to say what they want, they take that freedom and more, and the result is original, provocative, often very funny, sometimes plain wrong. From Jeffrey Bernard''s reports from the Soho frontline and Auberon Waugh fulminating about hamburger gases in the early 1990s, we encounter in turn the wild stream of consciousness of Deborah Ross''s restaurant reviews, the pinpoint etiquette advice of Mary Killen, Rod Liddle''s frothing but elegantly sculpted outrage and the magazine''s secret weapon, low life adventurer Jeremy Clarke. This bumper selection, which also includes eminent diarists, mad letter-writers and Boris Johnson, amounts to a masterclass in comic writing, lovingly compiled and edited by Marcus Berkmann, who still can''t believe he wrote a monthly pop column for the magazine for twenty-eTrade ReviewA treasure trove to mine for one's own conversational repertoire -- Mary KillenThis gloriously entertaining volume draws together the wittiest writing from the Spectator magazine from 1990 to 2014 * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the astonishing and peculiar history of medicine with this perfect gift for history buffs, doctors, and anyone looking to be amazed by the brilliant and bizarre ideas that shaped the world of medicine as we know it.From the use of electric eels in ancient Egypt to medieval dentists burning candles to combat invisible worms, this book uncovers the weirdest medical practices throughout history, highlighting the most dubious ideas, strangest treatments, and biggest blunders. Entertaining, shocking, and sometimes stomach-turning, Strange Medicine presents strange but true facts and an honor roll of doctors, scientists, and dreamers who inadvertently turned the clock of medicine backward.Did you know: • Renaissance physicians timed surgical procedures according to the position of the stars?• Blood from beheadings was believed to cure epilepsy? • Dr. Walter Freeman, the world’s foremost practitioner of lo

Read more less

Book SynopsisJilly Cooper is a journalist, author and media superstar. The author of many number one bestselling books, she lives in Gloucestershire. She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Universities of Gloucestershire and Anglia Ruskin, and won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print lifetime achievement award in 2019. She was also appointed DBE in 2024 for services to literature and charity.

Read more less

Book Synopsis150 essential rules from the award-winning co-writer of Yes Minster and Yes Prime Minister, Hollywood movie director, producer, novelist and actor.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn his latest laugh-out-loud collection of misanthropic scribblings, hideous Q-list celebrity failure Charlie Brooker tackles everything from the misery of nightclubs to the death of Michael Jackson, making room for Sir Alan Sugar, potato crisps, global financial meltdown, conspiracy theories and Hole in the Wall along the way. The collapse of civilisation has never felt this funny (unless you''re a sociopath, in which case it''s been an uninterrupted laugh riot since the days of the Somme).This book is guaranteed to brighten your life, put a spring in your step, and lie to you on its back cover.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWould you like to eat whatever you want and still lose weight?Who wouldn''t? Keep dreaming, imbecile. In the meantime, if you''d like to read something that alternates between laugh-out-loud-funny and apocalyptically angry, keep holding this book. Steal it if necessary.In his latest collection of rants, raves, hastily spluttered articles and scarcely literate scrawl, Charlie Brooker proves that there is almost nothing in this universe, big or small, that can''t reduce a human being to a state of pure blind hatred.It won''t help you lose weight, feel smarter, sleep more soundly, or feel happier about yourself. It WILL provide you with literally hours of distraction and merriment. It can also be used to stun an intruder, if you hit him with it correctly (hint: strike hard, using the spine, on the bridge of the nose).

Read more less

Book SynopsisCount Arthur Strong tells the story of his extraordinary journey from his humble early years as the only son of a contortionist in wartime Doncaster to the dizzy heights and excesses of fame as one of the shining lights of popular entertainment. Count Arthur Strong is a show business legend, after-dinner speaker and a leading authority on Ancient Egypt, having been stationed there during his nation service. He has countless friends in the showbiz world. People like Barry Cryer, the white haired one with glasses off ''I''m Sorry I Haven''t Got A Clue'' and ''Jokers Wild''. This is his first volume, of what he believes may be a 6 volume collection, of his memoirs. He has a few select dates still available for anything (except window cleaning) and is represented, (if you can call it that) by Richard Daws at Komedia Entertainment. (Or if you want to go directly through me and pay cash, I can do that as well.) (In fact I prefer that.) Thank you.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome to QI: The Book of the Dead, a biographical dictionary with a twist - one where only the most interesting people made it in!QI have got together six dozen of the happiest, saddest, maddest and most successful men and women from history. Celebrate their wisdom, learn from their mistakes and marvel at their bad taste in clothes. Hans Christian Anderson was terrified of naked women, Florence Nightingale spent her last fifty years in bed, Sigmund Freud smoked twenty cigars a day, Catherine de Medici applied a daily face mask made of pigeon dung, Rembrandt van Rijn died penniless and Madame Mao banned cicadas, rustling noises and pianos. Carefully collected and ordered by the QI team into themed chapters with thought-provoking titles such as ''There''s Nothing Like a Bad Start in Life'', ''Man Cannot Live by Bread Alone''. Each chapter reveals hilarious insights into the true nature of the most interesting people who ever lived, including Isaac Newton, Ge

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the last five years, often when David Mitchell has been on holiday, the comedian Stewart Lee has been attempting to understand modern Britain, and his own place in it, in a series of irregular newspaper columns. Will Scotland become the Promised Land of the Left? Is it possible to live a life without crisps? Who was Grant Shapps? What does your Spotify playlist data say about you? Are Jeremy Corbyn and Stewart Lee really the new Christs? And so on. Selected, introduced, and where necessary, explained by the author and corrected by readers, Content Provider is funny, grumpy, provocative, confusing and brilliant.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDad suggests a sherry ''To keep us both going'', in the cosy front room with the firelight glowing ...Then out comes the Baileys. And mum hits the rum. Hours of merriment and a stocking-clad tango later, they drift off to sleep - the living room in disarray, the presents unwrapped and their careful Christmas preparations in ruins. But come morning it seems a mysterious visitor has saved the day This tipsy twist on the nation's favourite festive poem is the perfect gift for harassed parents everywhere.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHilarious and thought-provoking, the Man Who Has It All highlights the ridiculousness of the patronising advice thrown at working mums every day by reimagining it with dads in mind.' The Unmumsy MumWhile women are bombarded with advice about how to be the perfect mum, how to have a successful career and have glowing skin all at the same time, men have been left floundering.Thank God, then, for From Frazzled to Fabulous, which for the first time shows men how they, too, can have it all. As well as giving essential tips for career men and busy working dads, From Frazzled to Fabulous isn't afraid to address the big questions. Can curvy dads ever be truly happy? Can you be a dad and still feel sexy?This hilarious and eye-opening book, drawn from the hugely popular Twitter and Facebook accounts of the Man Who Has It All, offers men helpful advice about what your face shape says about your parenting skills, why staying hydTrade ReviewOn behalf of frazzled dads with a pH imbalance - and, of course, working mums who actually have to listent to this sh*t for real - we just want to say thank you. * Metro *Hilarious and thought-provoking, the Man Who Has It All highlights the ridiculousness of the patronising advice thrown at working mums every day by reimagining it with dads in mind. * the Unmumsy Mum *Really smart -- Gaby Hinsliff * Guardian *From beauty routines and housework expectations to the way mothers are often treated in the workplace, the Man Who Has It All shares expertly flipped one-liners. * Stylist *At last, a practical guide to help men stay hydrated and create the illusion of authority in the workplace ... I'd buy a copy for my partner, if only he had the time to read it! Bless him. * Slummy Single Mummy *I alternately sniggered and raged my way through this book. Devilishly genius. * Caroline Criado-Perez *A simple idea, beautifully executed, which pithily derides the blind eye that allows sexism to become endemic. * Richard Herring *For feminism that makes you laugh. Despair, but also laugh. * Glosswitch, New Statesman *I simply love @manwhohasitall. Nothing points up the absurdity and inequality of debates about care and career as effectivly as simply putting the shoe on the other foot. Follow him on Twitter and read this book! * Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America *Hilarious and eye-opening. * Huffington Post *Playfully subversive and long overdue, this book takes those ubiquitous gender stereotypes and grinds them to dust. Very funny indeed. * Rebecca Front *Making everyone giggle. * New York Post *Perfect satire. * Upworthy *If you love satire, you'll love this. * Viv Groskop on Woman's Hour *Terrific! * Joanne Harris *

Read more less

Book SynopsisGarfield?s back in this brand-new full-color compilation comic strip book?truly a must-have for fans!Garfield was born to be wired! Coffee?and lots of it?is the only way to kick-start his day. Got chocolate? He?ll binge on that, too. Garfield lovers will get a jolt of joy from this new collection of comics guaranteed to boost your spirits!

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom viral balloon-word artist and Instagram sensation Michael James Schneider (@blcksmth) comes a one-of-a-kind debut gift book with never-before-seen original artwork!

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisMatthew Parris''s Parting Shots is a treasure trove of wit, venom and serious analysis.Up till 2006 a British Ambassador leaving his post was encouraged to write what was known as a valedictory despatch, to be circulated to a small number of influential people in government. This was the parting shot, an opportunity to offer a personal and frank view of the host country, the manners and morals of its people, their institutions, the state of their cooking and their drains. But it was also a chance to let rip at the Foreign Office itself and to look back on a career spent in the service of a sometimes ungrateful nation.Combining gems from the archives with more recent despatches obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Parting Shots sheds light on Britain''s place in the world, revealing the curious cocktail of privilege and privation that makes up the life of an ambassador.''Wonderful ... a glimpse of that lost world of private eloquence and erudite candour'' Matthew d''Ancona, Evening Standard''Unbuttoned, indiscreet and very funny'' Yorkshire PostMatthew Parris had a short career in the Foreign Office where one of his tasks was to distribute incoming valedictory despatches. He was a Conservative MP from 1979 to 1986, since when he has worked as a journalist. He is the author of A Castle in Spain, Parting Shots, and A Spanish Ambassador''s Suitcase. He divides his time between Derbyshire (where his old constituency was situated) and east London.

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘What do you do?’ a guest inquired of the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party. ‘I had no idea what to say,’ the Queen told friends afterwards.  This specially updated edition, released to mark the passing of the late and much-missed monarch, is a collection of warm, amusing recollections from the royal household celebrating the lighter side of palace life. As the longest reigning monarch of this realm, the Queen represented stability, hope and continuity. We loved her because she was always there, didn’t make a fuss and was dedicated in her duty even in old age. But alongside her stoic and sensible exterior, she was also renowned for a playful and keen sense of humor, as seen when she delighted audiences all around the world by inviting Paddington Bear for tea to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.How exactly did the Queen reactwhen she found Table of ContentsForeword vii No Airs and Graces The Life of State – Not Always as Expected With the Truly Powerful Not Quite How We Should be Treated Our Jewels and Clothes Our Feminine Allure Married Life Royal Dining We Are Royal After All Staff With the Church Our Realms and Interests Over the Seas Our Wild Side What We Like and What We Don’t Like The Early Days What is Ordinary Life Like? Our Animal Kingdom Royal Mother Our Eye for Detail Cost Cutting Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press Within the Family House and Garden Sources

Read more less

Book SynopsisGirl: Giz a kiss.' Bloke: Let me swally me phlegm first.' Two aul dears queuing for the no. 27 bus. Just caught the end of the conversation: Old dear #1: Sure whoaya tellin. De kids dees days is terrible bold.' Old dear #2: And ye know it's not de parents I blame, it's the mudders an fadders.' Country girl gets on no. 16 bus and asks driver how much is the fare. Driver replies, Where are you going?' Country girl says, To get my hair done!' While visiting the Mater Hospital, hearing an old man complaining about the current conditions in hospital and being kept in a unisex environment: Old Man (to his daughter): I'm 92 years old and here I am being left on a bed in a corridor with all these other patients, and to make it worst it's bisexual!' Heard a girl answer her phone in the waiting room of Holles Street Maternity Hospital: Well, tell me, am I an Auntie or an Uncle?' D4 girl at Lansdowne Road for the All Blacks match. Just as the All Blacks begin the Haka, one girl says, Oh,

Read more less

Book SynopsisWaterford Whispers is Ireland's biggest satirical website and entertains hundreds of thousands of people daily with its hilarious take on the news of the day.This ninth annual in the bestselling Waterford Whispers series looks back, in its own inimitable way, at the year that was.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less