Humour Books
Penguin Putnam Inc You Blew It
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Penguin Putnam Inc A Brief History of Vice
Book SynopsisA celebration of the brave, drunken pioneers who built our civilization one seemingly bad decision at a time, A Brief History of Vice explores a side of the past that mainstream history books prefer to hide. History has never been more fun—or more intoxicating. Guns, germs, and steel might have transformed us from hunter-gatherers into modern man, but booze, sex, trash talk, and tripping built our civilization. Cracked editor Robert Evans brings his signature dogged research and lively insight to uncover the many and magnificent ways vice has influenced history, from the prostitute-turned-empress who scored a major victory for women’s rights to the beer that helped create—and destroy—South America''s first empire. And Evans goes deeper than simply writing about ancient debauchery; he recreates some of history''s most enjoyable (and most painful) vices and includes guides so you can follow along at home. You’ll learn how to: • Trip like a Greek philosopher. • Rave like your Stone Age ancestors. • Get drunk like a Sumerian. • Smoke a nose pipe like a pre–Columbian Native American.“Mixing science, humor, and grossly irresponsible self-experimentation, Evans paints a vivid picture of how bad habits built the world we know and love.”—David Wong, author of John Dies at the End
£11.69
Harcourt Children's Books Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold Mr. Putter
Book SynopsisMr Putter is feeling a bit - Achoo - under the weather. And as everyone knows, it's no fun to be old with a cold. Luckily, Mrs Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke, know just what to do to help Mr Putter feel better.
£5.99
Gulliver Books Andy and Tamika
Book Synopsis
£7.59
Gulliver Books Andy Russell Not Wanted by the Police
Book Synopsis
£7.59
HarperCollins Rules for Aging
£15.29
Cengage Learning, Inc Amphigorey Also
Book Synopsis
£21.59
Oxford University Press Messing About in Quotes
Book SynopsisBecome a dazzling wit or enjoy a good laugh with this entertaining collection of humorous quotations, carefully handpicked and edited by writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth. From Art to Bores, Tennis to Wine, this little dictionary contains over 2,700 of the best quotations, from witty one-liners and funny phrases to pithy comments and unintended humour.If you live to be one hundred you''ve got it made. Very few people die past that age. - George Burns I thought coq au vin was love in a lorry. - Victoria WoodChampagne, if you are seeking the truth, is better than a lie-detector. - Graham Greene The trouble with a book is that you never know what''s in it until it''s too late. - Jeanette WintersonTrade ReviewAlways good for a laugh and there are lots of laughs, familiar and unfamiliar, on every page from many others wits. * Robert Tanitch, Mature Times *A great stocking filler. * The People's Friend *
£11.39
Oxford University Press Humour
Book SynopsisHumour has been discovered in every known human culture and thinkers have discussed it for over two thousand years. Humour can serve many functions; it can be used to relieve stress, to promote goodwill among strangers, to dissipate tension within a fractious group, to display intelligence, and some have even claimed that it improves health and fights sickness. In this Very Short Introduction Noel Carroll examines the leading theories of humour including The Superiority Theory and The Incongruity Theory. He considers the relation of humour to emotion and cognition, and explores the value of humour, specifically in its social functions. He argues that humour, and the comic amusement that follows it, has a crucial role to play in the construction of communities, but he also demonstrates that the social aspect of humour raises questions such as ''When is humour immoral?'' and ''Is laughing at immoral humour itself immoral?''. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewExcellent introduction. * Steven Poole, the guardian *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The nature of humour ; 2. Humour, emotion, and cognition ; 3. Humour and value ; References ; Further reading
£9.49
Oxford University Press Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations
Book SynopsisWriter, broadcaster, and wit Gyles Brandreth has completely revised Ned Sherrin''s classic collection of wisecracks, one-liners, and anecdotes. With over 1,000 new quotations from all media, it''s easy to find hilarious quotes on subjects ranging from Argument to Diets, from Computers to The Weather. Add sparkle to your speeches and presentations, or just enjoy a good laugh in company with Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Joan Rivers, Kathy Lette, Frankie Boyle, and friends. ''Now we have the World Wide Web (the only thing I know of whose shortened form-www-takes three times longer to say than what it''s short for)'' Douglas Adams ''Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber on weekends'' Woody Allen ''Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight'' Phyllis Diller ''Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it''s what you want before you commit'' Elizabeth Gilbert ''The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming Trade ReviewThis recommended dictionary will have people reading cover to cover just for fun. All libraries will want to add this to their reference collections. * Library Journal *Just the source for a quote to enhance any speech or piece of writing, whatever your subject. * Writing Magazine *the BEST bedside book in the world. * Vulpes Libris *A perfect Christmas gift for just about anyone with a sense of humour. * Welsh Border Life *Reviews from previous edition The ultimate guide to the sharpest, wryest and wittiest quips, put-downs and one-liners * Romford Recorder *However you like your humour, there will be something here for you and I defy you to leaf through it and find nothing to bring a smile to the lips. * Herts Advertiser *Does not disappoint... a brilliant manual for writers, after-dinner speakers and best men * South Wales Evening Post *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; How to Use the Dictionary ; List of Themes ; Dictionary ; Author Index ; Keyword Index
£13.49
Vintage Publishing The Hungover Cookbook
Book SynopsisMilton Crawford was born somewhere north of the Zambezi and west of the Rift valley in a small town in the middle of Africa. He has travelled the world in search of good liquor and in an attempt to outrun the hangovers that seem to follow him wherever he goes. He is an author and journalist, and in keeping with the most honourable traditions of the writing profession, a drinker of distinction. His previous books have been published under a more sober alias.Trade ReviewA nice play on the standard pairing of books and drinks * New Yorker *Not only is it full of fab recipes, it'll make you laugh too - no matter how terrible you're feeling * Cosmopolitan *This collection of meals designed to help mop up the toxins and return your skin colour to its usual pinkish winter hue is well-suited to a throneside location * Time Out *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Recipes from the Kitchen Drawer
Book SynopsisA collection of classic recipes in the form of simple, expertly drawn graphic illustrations. Each recipe is broken down into easy-to-follow steps, all cleverly displayed on one graphic table top, a bit like a comic strip recipe for grown-ups.... includes incredible hand-drawn, easy-to-follow recipes showing every slice, sizzle and stir... the comfort food you grew up with (think gooey cauliflower cheese, warming sausage and bean casserole and fresh, crumbly flapjacks)... thrifty, hearty home cooking with sensational soups, mouth-watering mains and puddings, plus biscuits and cakes made for sharing... perfect for first-timers and seasoned cooks alikeTrade ReviewThis slim volume has the edge on Deighton (Action Cook Book) when it comes to simplicity, and would make a great stocking filler for anyone about to leave home for the first time -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Not only do the delightful and meticulous drawings offer an eye-catching alternative to your average cookbook, they also illustrate how easy cooking can be * Yorker *A book of simple recipes in comic strip form * Daily Telegraph *
£9.50
Vintage Publishing French Revolutions
Book SynopsisBill Bryson on two wheels' IndependentSelf-confessed loafer Tim Moore, seduced by the speed and glamour of the biggest annual sporting event in the world, sets out to cycle the Tour de France. All 3,630km of it.A few weeks before the actual Tour de France, British writer Tim Moore sets out to cycle the course and offers a laugh-out-loud funny and highly entertaining account of how the great ride would feel when embarked on by an amateur. Racing old men on butchers'' bikes and being chased by cows, Moore soon resorts to standard race tactics - cheating and drugs - in a hilarious and moving tale of true adventure.Trade ReviewOne of the funniest books about sport ever written * Sunday Times *Bill Bryson on two wheels... A one-liner every other line...not so much witty travelogue as self-examination in a joke-heavy trial by fire * Independent *Moore is a talented and funny writer who, through a combination of slapstick, absurd simile and a healthy suspicion of French civilisation, gives us something to laugh at on almost every page * Daily Telegraph *Moore unleashes a high-energy torrent of astute observation and hilarious self-deprecation. Hailed as the new Bill Bryson, he is in fact a writer of considerably more substance... The jokes come thick and fast * Irish Times *Hilarious and inspiring... It is embarrassingly laugh-out-loud * Daily Express *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Hark A Vagrant
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 *
£17.09
Random House 100 Things Every Man Should Know
Book SynopsisGareth May has written one other book: Man of the World.
£11.69
Vintage Publishing Driving Short Distances
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 *
£13.49
Vintage Publishing Gironimo
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 *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Lost in Translation
Book SynopsisDid you know that the Japanese have a word to express the way sunlight filters through the leaves of trees? Or, that there's a Swedish word that means a traveller's particular sense of anticipation before a trip? This book includes a collection full of surprises that will make you savour the elusive, untranslatable words that make up a language.Trade Review...a collection of words you never knew you needed before * Huffington Post *Charming illustrations and sheer linguistic delight -- Maria Popova * Brainpicker *words you never knew you needed but now can’t live without * Saga Magazine *...a fantastic collection of words without English counterparts * Entertainment Weekly *… will make you think, laugh and discover situations you never knew there was a word for * ELLE Canada *
£12.34
The University of Chicago Press Two Jews on a Train Stories from the Old Country
Book SynopsisSo two Jews were on a train. "All Eastern European Jewish jokes start this way, or almost" says Adam Biro, who has assembled this rich volume of such stories, tales in which we hear the voices of generations using humour to teach about the delicacy, anguish, and unpredictability of life itself.Trade Review"In applying an Old World sensibility to the present, the author underscores the nature of the divide between them, and the increasingly despairing punchline of each joke seems to become: Why did You abandon us?" - The New Yorker "A sort of whimsical Jewish Arabian Nights that takes you to Baghdad and New York, Paris and Brussels. If its spirit could be summed up in one sentence, it might be the one from the book describing a 100-year-old patriarch, who 'loved life in spite of his infinite despair about human beings and their condition." - Elaine Kalman Naves, Montreal Gazette "Somewhere between Isaac Bashevis Singer and Morey Amsterdam." - Kirkus Reviews "You have to read Adam Biro... for the little details between the lines, which are awe inspiring!" - La liberte, on the French edition "There are tales of schnorrers, matchmakers, gossips, immigrants, a golf-playing rabbi.... Between the lines are tales of the fragility of love, friendship and of life itself, and the possibilities of redemption. The strength of these stories is Biro's skill as a story-teller and his apparent love of the material. He has a light touch and the tales are short, but packed full of imagery and emotion." - Sandee Brawarsky, Jewish Week
£15.00
The University of Chicago Press The Great LatkeHamantash Debate
Book SynopsisCreation versus evolution. Nature versus nurture. Free will versus determinism. Every November at the University of Chicago, the best minds in the world consider the question that ranks with these as one of the most enduring of human history: latke or hamantash? This great latke-hamantash debate, occurring every year for the past six decades, brings Nobel laureates, university presidents, and notable scholars together to debate whether the potato pancake or the triangular Purim pastry is in fact the worthier food. What began as an informal gathering is now an institution that has been replicated on campuses nationwide. Highly absurd yet deeply serious, the annual debate is anopportunity for both ethnic celebration and academic farce. In poetry, essays, jokes, and revisionist histories, members of elite American academies attack the latke-versus-hamantash question with intellectual panache and an unerring sense of humor, if not chutzpah. The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate is the first collection of the best of these performances, from Martha Nussbaum's paean to both foodsin the style of Hecuba's Lamentto Nobel laureate Leon Lederman's proclamation on the union of the celebrated dyad. The latke and the hamantash are here revealed as playing a critical role in everything from Chinese history to the Renaissance, the works of Jane Austen to constitutional law. Philosopher and humorist Ted Cohen supplies a wry foreword,while anthropologist Ruth Fredman Cernea provideshistorical and socialcontext as well as an overview of the Jewish holidays, latke and hamantash recipes, and a glossary of Yiddish and Hebrew terms, making the book accessible even to the uninitiated. The University of Chicago may have split the atom in 1942, but it's still working on the equally significant issue of the latke versus the hamantash. As if we didn't have enough on our plates, here's something new to argue about. . . . To have to pick between sweet and savory, round and triangular, latke and hamantash. How to choose? . . . Thank goodness one of our great universitiesChicago, no lessis on the case. For more than 60 years, it has staged an annual latke-hamantash debate. . . . So, is this book funny? Of course it's funny, even laugh-out-loud funny. It's Mickey Katz in academic drag, Borscht Belt with a PhD.David Kaufmann, Forward
£14.06
University of Chicago Press Serious Larks The Philosophy of Ted Cohen
Book SynopsisTed Cohen was an original and captivating essayist known for his inquisitive intelligence, wit, charm, and a deeply humane feel for life. For Cohen, writing was a way of discovering, and also celebrating, the depth and complexity of things overlooked by most professional philosophers and aestheticiansbut not by most people. Whether writing about the rules of baseball, of driving, or of Kant's Third Critique; about Hitchcock, ceramics, or jokes, Cohen proved that if you study the world with a bemused but honest attentiveness, you can find something to philosophize about more or less anywhere. This collection, edited and introduced by philosopher Daniel Herwitz, brings together some of Cohen's best work to capture the unique style that made Cohen one of the most beloved philosophers of his generation. Among the perceptive, engaging, and laugh-out-loud funny reflections on movies, sports, art, language, and life included here are Cohen's classic papers on metaphor and his Pushcart Prizewinning essay on baseball, as well as memoir, fiction, and even poetry. Full of free-spirited inventiveness, these Serious Larks would be equally at home outside Thoreau's cabin on the waters of Walden Pond as they are here, proving that intelligence, sensitivity, and good humor can be found in philosophical writing after all.
£80.00
The University of Chicago Press Serious Larks The Philosophy of Ted Cohen
Book SynopsisTed Cohen was an original and captivating essayist known for his inquisitive intelligence, wit, charm, and a deeply humane feel for life. For Cohen, writing was a way of discovering, and also celebrating, the depth and complexity of things overlooked by most professional philosophers and aestheticiansbut not by most people. Whether writing about the rules of baseball, of driving, or of Kant's Third Critique; about Hitchcock, ceramics, or jokes, Cohen proved that if you study the world with a bemused but honest attentiveness, you can find something to philosophize about more or less anywhere. This collection, edited and introduced by philosopher Daniel Herwitz, brings together some of Cohen's best work to capture the unique style that made Cohen one of the most beloved philosophers of his generation. Among the perceptive, engaging, and laugh-out-loud funny reflections on movies, sports, art, language, and life included here are Cohen's classic papers on metaphor and his Pushcart Priz
£21.00
McGill-Queen's University Press The Adventurers Glossary
Book SynopsisThe Adventurer’s Glossary takes readers on their own semantic exploration. Through more than 500 terms, sourced from Shakespeare, military and biker jargon, hip hop and surfer slang, and beyond, Joshua Glenn considers meaning and selfhood. This diverting survey, paired with copious illustrations by cartoonist Seth, is introduced by Mark Kingwell.Trade Review"A case for 'adventure' as a literary as well as a quasi-athletic genre and attitude, with a philosopher's aerial approach, a set of literary recommendations, and a great deal of cultural history baked into a very skimmable A to Z." Stephanie Burt, author of Don't Read Poetry: A Book about How to Read Poems"I read The Adventurer's Glossary with great interest and mounting enthusiasm; there is no book quite like it. I found surprises on nearly every page." Lucy Sante, author of Maybe the People Would Be the Times“Even the committed non-adventurer will have plenty to chew on: the obscure terminology and attendant descriptions are just plain fun. For whoever chooses to embark on this campaign — and however they choose to navigate it — there’s lots to explore. Or, to borrow several of Glenn and Kingwell’s terms, The Adventurer’s Glossary is a crackerjack corker, so fire away, Flanagan!” Literary Review of Canada
£16.14
Firefly Books Ltd Find the Poo
Book SynopsisThe dog's done its business. Your job is to find what it left behind in 22 hi-res photographs of grass, leaves and gravel. Entertaining fun for all dog owners.
£12.95
Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd 10 Second Sermons
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
£6.93
Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd Lives of the Improbable Saints
Book SynopsisFrom St Fillan of Munster, patron saint of the mentally ill, who read by the light of his miraculously glowing arm, to Santa Lucia, who tore out her eyes to dismiss the lascivious attentions of her would-be husband, here are nearly two hundred classic stories of the saints of Christian legend.Richard Coles, former half of 80s pop duo The Communards, now a Church of England priest and presenter of Radio 4's Saturday Live, has collected these wonderful tales from around the world. Despite their bizarre, colourful and sometimes grotesque stories, many of these saints are still celebrated and prayed to today.Every page illustrated by cartoonist Ted Harrison, giving the book a saintly Horrible Histories feel.
£9.49
Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd Even More Concise 10 Second Sermons
Book SynopsisOne of the mysteries of Christianity is why Christians rarely admit that so much of it is a mystery.'God, people, faith, the universe, the whole of creation Award-winning comedian Milton Jones considers the biggest questions using the smallest number of words. With short, sharp, surreal one-liners and an eye for what really matters, he may bring you closer to the answers than some of the longer sermons you've heard in church.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
£6.93
Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd Genesis The Bibluffers Guide
Book SynopsisLet there be light (entertainment)! Find out why God called it a day. Try Eve's apple crumble recipe. Wave an Allen key at Noah's ARKEA instruction manual. Study the scripts of CSI: Eden, The Jeremiah Kyle Show and Pharaoh's Apprentice.Bibluff your way through the Good Book's first book as Paul Kerensa introduces us to all the big players in the Bible's big opener, in bite-sized sketches, spoofs and scribbles.Whether you are a Bibliever or a Scripturesceptic, you'll boost your knowledge and your grin with this fun, reverent and relevant tale of creation, nation and dream interpretation, via the invention of wine, language and bellybutton fluff.Trade Review‘TV comedy is richer for Paul being a part of it.’ -- Miranda Hart‘A brilliant gag writer.’ -- Lee Mack‘Very funny, very clever. A wildly talented comic.’ -- Chortle.co.uk‘Ingenious.’ -- Evening Standard‘Dazzlingly funny.’ -- The Spectator
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd 365
Book Synopsis365 is James Robertson''s innovative collection of 365 stories, each 365 words long.In 2013, James Robertson wrote a story every day. Each was exactly 365 words long. A year later, on a daily basis, the stories were published on the Five Dials website. Now the 365 stories are gathered together in one volume. Some draw on elements of ancient myth and legend, others are outtakes from Scottish history and folklore; there are squibs and satires, songs and ballads in disguise, fairytales, stories inspired by dreams or in the form of interviews, and personal memories and observations. Underpinning all of them are vital questions: Who are we? What are we doing here? What happens next? ''Wow. James Robertson wrote a 365-word short story each day in 2013. They''ll be posted throughout 2014'' Ian Rankin, via Twitter ''A great storyteller'' The Times ''One of Britain''s best contemporary novelists'' Irvine Welsh, Guardian James Robertson is the author of five novels, The Professor of Truth, And the Land Lay Still, The Testament of Gideon Mack, Joseph Knight and The Fanatic. The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize and selected for Richard and Judy''s Book Club the following year. Joseph Knight was the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year in 2003 and And the Land Lay Still was recipient of the same prize in 2010.Trade ReviewA masterclass in the ventriloquism of fiction . . . a fertile mind and a great generosity of ideas * Guardian *An anthology of possibility about what the short form can do -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *the sheer diversity on display. . . keeps us turning the pages and trawling the months. * National *There is a huge diversity of subject matter and form across these stories, demonstrating the Scottish novelist's wide-ranging eye, and there is also a lightness; a wink and a playful nod that perhaps Robertson doesn't get to display in his more serious, longer pieces of fiction. * Big Issue *If you're looking for a Christmas present that keeps on giving . . . or if you fancy this yourself and can drop huge hints in someone's ear, then I don't think you could go wrong with 365 * dovegreyreder *What can you say in a few words? Everything, it seems. 365 worlds pressed between two covers -- Ali Bowden * Scotsman *Perfectly crafted -- Neil Ascherson * Herald *
£17.99
Penguin Books Ltd Mind Blown
Book SynopsisMatthew Santoro is a YouTube star whose videos have been viewed more than 500 million times. He is best known for his Top Ten lists of strange and surprising facts, and his popular series '50 Things to Blow Your Mind'. A former accountant, he won the 2015 Hubub #AcademySocial Award, as well as the fan vote for the 2015 Shorty Awards 'YouTube Star of the Year.' He lives in Toronto, Canada.
£12.99
Penguin Books Ltd Walkers Exercises for Ladies
Book Synopsis
£15.41
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Star Wars Be More Leia Find Your Rebel Voice And
Book SynopsisThis novelty Star Wars book is full of wise words and sage advice from the galaxy''s leading rebel, Princess Leia, and many other brave, confident characters. Full of Star Wars quotes, witty advice and stills from the iconic films, this book will help with everything from starting a revolution to succeeding at life in a galaxy of mindless stormtroopers. General. Senator. Princess. Rebel. Feminist icon. Leia Organa is a legendary Star Wars symbol of what it means to stand up for yourself and fight for what you believe in - no matter the personal cost. As the figurehead of the Rebellion and Resistance, and a prime example of an individual succeeding in a tyrannical workplace, Leia''s name is synonymous with courage, grit and conviction. Whether she is refusing to comply with Darth Vader''s demands, evading the wrathful clutches of the Empire or rescuing her friends from the Death Star, Leia is not afraid to challenge those in positions of authority and power. Fil
£6.99
Penguin Books Ltd Humour Seriously
Book Synopsis***WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER***''A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly'' Sarah Cooper''This book has finally convinced me that joking around can actually be important and powerful'' Ed Gamble''Eye-opening, important and utterly enjoyable. Come for the humour, stay for the insights'' Arianna HuffingtonHumour is a superpower. If you''re not using it, the joke''s on you.When we''re kids we laugh all the time. The average four year-old laughs as many as 300 times a day, while the average forty year-old laughs 300 times every two and a half months! We grow up, start working and suddenly become serious and important people, trading laughter for bottom lines and mind-dumbing zoom calls. But the benefits of humour for our work and life are huge. Studies have shown that humour makes us appear more competent and confident, strengthens our relationships, unlocks creativity and boosts resilience during difficult times. Dr. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas are on a mission to help everyone discover the power of humour. Based on the popular Stanford Business course, this book will show you how to mine your life for material, explore the Four Deadly Humour Myths and help you figure out which style of humour you fall into - The Magnet, The Sweetheart, The Sniper or the Stand Up. Drawing on behavioural science, advice from world-class comedians and stories from top leaders, Humour, Seriously will show you how to harness the power of humour every day. Trade ReviewHumour is magical. It can make fear and pomposity vanish and creativity and resilience appear in their place. The ultimate guide to using the magical power of funny as a tool for leadership and a force for good, Humour, Seriously is an intoxicating mix of science, strategy, and slapstick - a knee-slapping, mind-expanding tour de force * Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of When,, Drive, and A Whole Mind *A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly. And I'm not just saying that because they say I am smart, funny, and brilliant in it. Buy it * Sarah Cooper, Comedian and author of 100 Tricks To Appear Smart In Meetings *I've learned (often the hard way) that the best way to be taken seriously is to not take yourself too seriously. My teams are always at their best when approaching problems with levity, which entails both humility and optimism and always engenders trust. Plus, it's more fun - like this book! * Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Executive Chair of Google (Alphabet) *A sharp, incisive, and genuinely funny read. Humour, Seriously translates the knowledge of the world of comedy to tools that actually work in the world of business * Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies at The Second City *If you think your workplace would work better if everyone laughed more, this is your playbook * Chip Heath, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Power of Moments *I've always used humour as a secret weapon at Spanx. Jennifer and Naomi make a scientific case for the importance of humour and show it's an incredible way to connect with customers and build culture. This book will help anyone embrace the power of laughter * Sara Blakley, Founder and CEO of Spanx *Humour is an act of social courage that, when used correctly, has a transformative effect. Humour, Seriously gives us the tools we need to deploy humour expertly in any environment * Susan Cain, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Quiet *Eye-opening, hilarious, and absolutely original, Humour, Seriously will change the way you think on the job, about the world, and in your life * Leslie Blodgett, Founder and former CEO of Bare Essentials *Of all the known ways to ruin humour, the most common start with the words 'research,' 'analyze,' and 'professor.' The bad news is that this book features all of those words. Prominently. The good news is that against all odds, you'll actually have fun reading it. It probably won't turn you into Ali Wong, Dave Chappelle, or Hannah Gadsby, but it will give you a much deeper appreciation of how they think-and teach you some new ways to make people laugh * Adam Grant, New York Times-bestselling author of Originals and Give And Take, host of the TED podcast WorkLife *In this eye-opening, important and utterly enjoyable book, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas use science to explain how humour at work (and in life) helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and burnout. Come for the humour, stay for the insights * Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global *If this book and Brad Pitt walked into a bar, and I could only pick one, I'd take the book home with me * Nancy Lublin, Former CEO, Crisis TextLine and DoSomething.Org *Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas have written a remarkable book for a remarkable moment in history. I long ago learned that when weighed down by serious matters, one may best be taken seriously by seeking out a certain light-heartedness as an expression of humility, optimism and confidence on the road to the serious business of nurturing trust and leading others * Joel Peterson, Chairman of Jetblue Airways *This myth-busting, grin-inducing, data-driven humdinger of a book simply nails what I've clung on to for years: that humour can be more than ephemeral entertainment. When appropriately curated, it creates the right culture for success. In fact, its absence should be a cause for concern. You may eat your five a day and walk ten thousand steps but when did you last check if there was enough laughter in your life, in your team, in your business? If you had a centuries-old tried and tested tool that enhances rapport, creativity, collaboration, resilience, leadership, mental and physical health, sales and more - why wouldn't you use it? * Neil Mullarkey Author, speaker, improviser and Co-founder, London’s Comedy Store Players *I've been a comedian for ages, and this book has finally convinced me that joking around can actually be important and helpful.
£15.29
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Peanuts Book
Book SynopsisFrom the backyard to outer space, Charles M. Schulz''s Peanuts has been charming the world for more than 70 years. In this celebration of Schulz and his beloved work, explore rarely seen sketches, influential comic strips, and collectors'' artifacts. Pore over evolving artworks of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang. Chart the rich history of Peanuts as it grew to become the world''s favourite comic, and travel from 1950 to the present day, from California to Japan. Every page of this visual guide is an exhibition to treasure. Discover the enduring and nostalgic charm of Peanuts in this stunning anniversary book.With a foreword by Stephen Colbert. 2020 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
£19.00
Penguin Books Ltd Shged. Married. Annoyed.
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 *
£8.54
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Peanuts Be More Snoopy
Book SynopsisKeep the blues away with the power of positivity.Is the world getting you down? Struggling to find the silver lining to that cloud? Put your best paw forwards and ask yourself, What would Snoopy do? Learn to be more like the world''s most famous beagle. Embrace joy, champion your friends, lead the way, and spread happiness wherever you go.With original comic-strip artwork accompanied by sharp witticisms and sage advice, Be More Snoopy is the perfect gift for friends, family, and colleagues who need guidance on how to make the best of every situation. 2020 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
£7.99
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Peanuts Be More Charlie Brown Find Your Own
Book SynopsisDiscover a new philosophy and make it work for you.Is your kite stuck in a tree yet again? Unable to confess your love to your Valentine? Time to hunt for a new outlook on life and ask yourself, What would Charlie Brown do?Charlie Brown bounces back from disappointment on a daily basis and never gives up. Learn how to overcome obstacles, follow your own philosophy, and find the courage to kick that football. 2022 PEANUTS Worldwide LLC
£7.59
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Marvel Studios Be More Captain Marvel Embrace
Book SynopsisGo higher, further, faster with Captain Marvel and unleash your stellar potentialCaptain Marvel is one of the universe''s most powerful heroes and a star-spanning inspiration for others with her courage, determination, and sharp wit. Follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe''s cosmic Avenger as she and her allies triumph over the toughest challenges, emboldening those around them to unleash their full potential. When the call for help goes out anywhere in the universe, Captain Marvel reaches for the stars and lights the way. Packed with iconic movie scenes, inspiring quotes, and useful lifestyle tips from Marvel Studios'' blockbuster films, Be More Captain Marvel is the perfect gift for friends, family, and colleagues looking for guidance on being self-reliant, embracing change, and leading by example! 2023 MARVEL
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Britons Through Negro Spectacles
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 *
£10.44
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Is This a Joke No Its a Book
Book SynopsisConor Smith is the man behind @punhubonline and the largest puns comic creator on Instagram.
£9.49
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Absurdle
Book SynopsisAre you the nerdle who''s obsessed with sharing your Wordle streak?Ever had to mute your dedicated WhatsApp group when you failed to guess the daily word? Have you blocked your colleague on Twitter for their incessant perfect score sharing? Then this is the book for you! Hilariously funny, ridiculously silly and a tiny bit rude, Absurdle is the perfect parody on the viral game that everyone is talking about. Drawing on the instantly recognisable Wordle format with a humorous twist, Absurdle is a must-have for hundreds of thousands of Wordle fans, and those looking for a Secret Santa present or stocking filler for the Wordle obsessive in their lives.Drawing on Wordle''s instantly recognisable layout with its clever design, Absurdle features a series of completed Wordle-style challenges, but replaces the familiar, everyday answers with absurd, whimsical ones, complete with a witty response from the ''game'', in lieu of congratulations.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd How to Really be a Brit
Book SynopsisThis is the perfect gift for the least traditional person in your life - or an affectionate nod to the most!''Whilst the biggest political figures and finest historians have struggled for over a century to truly define what being British is, No Context Brits manages to do it five times a week, easily, on Twitter'' CAITLIN MORAN Do you know what year the Harrier jump jet was developed?What about the name of the first king of Scotland? Surely you must know the contents of the 1969 Bill of Rights?! Don''t know the answers? Sorry, according to the Home Office, you''re clearly not cut out to be a British Citizen. These inane questions have been posed by the Life in the UK test, more commonly known as the British citizenship test. If only there was an alternative test that wasn''t stuck revelling in past glories . . . one that was fun, irreverent and unafraid to offer a glimpse of real life in the UK.HTrade ReviewWhilst the biggest political figures and finest historians have struggled for over a century to truly define what "being British" is, No Context Brits manages to do it five times a week, easily, on Twitter -- Caitlin Moran
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Trigger
Book SynopsisIn The New Adventures of Old Sherlock, a brand-new series, Holmes and Watson return to the site of their most famous case and discover someone is hounding the Baskervilles!''Highly amusing. Vincent revives the great detective, putting Victorian values on a collision course with modern mores'' Lucien Young, author of Alice in Brexitland _____________________ Sherlock Holmes needs a holiday, so Dr Watson has taken him to Dartmoor, where they find a very changed Baskerville Hall. The gaunt, gothic mansion has gone: it's now an eco-friendly, zero-waste yoga retreat.But trouble is (cold-)brewing beneath the solar panels. Someone is stirring up hate against the supposedly woke agenda at Baskerville and is sending anonymous death threats, in the form of a gun's trigger and the word BEWARE'! Even worse, there are reports that the slathering hell-hound on the moor has returned!Can Holmes and Watson negotiate the heightened emotions between different social media tribes, without getting themselves permanently cancelled or even murdered*?*I mean looking at their track record, yes' is probably the answer, but it will be fun finding out! _____________________''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
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes and the Air Fryer of Doom
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
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Forgotten
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
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd My Uncle Oswald
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 *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Round the Bend
Book SynopsisAvoiding the legions of power-crazed traffic wombles attempting to block highway and byway, this title: shows how the world of performance cars may be likened to Battersea Dogs Home; reveals why St Moritz may be the most bonkers town in all of the world; and argues that washing a car is a waste of time.Trade ReviewBrilliant...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 *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Public Confessions of a MiddleAged Woman
Book SynopsisGlimpse into the life of one of Britain''s best-loved comic writers - Sue Townsend - with this hilarious collection of her anecdotes and musings. ___________Enter the world of Susan Lilian Townsend - all our welcome! This sparkling collection of Sue Townsend''s hilarious non-fiction covers everything from hosepipe bans to Spanish restaurants, from writer''s block to slug warfare, from slob holidays to the banning of beige.These funny, perceptive and touching pieces reveal Sue, ourselves and the nation in an extraordinary new light. Sit back and chortle away as one of Britain''s most popular and acclaimed writers takes a feather to your funny bone.Witty, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Public Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman (Aged 55) is essential reading for any Sue Townsend fan. _____________''Anyone who loved The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole will enjoy this collection of witty and sharply observed jottinTrade ReviewAnyone who loved The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole will enjoy this collection of witty and sharply observed jottings from the inimitable Sue Townsend. Great stuff * OK! *Full of homely, hilarious asides on the absurdities of domestic existence . . . What a fantastic advertisement for middle-age - it can't be bad if it's this funny * Heat *'It's as if Townsend has caught our idiosyncrasies on candid camera and is showing a rerun of all the silly clips ... the ideal dip-in-and-out book' * Time Out *
£10.44
