Memoirs Books
Sort of Books Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia –
Book SynopsisMeet Chris Stewart, the eternal optimist. A man who flies to Spain, sees a peasant farm on the wrong side of the river and, with scarcely a second thought, hands over a cash deposit. And then finds he has acquired not just the farm, but the farmer, too, who has no intention of leaving. Not to mention the lack of running water, electricity or even a bridge. It would be enough to send most people straight back home. But Chris and his wife Ana are made of stronger stuff - and besides, they have sunk all their savings into their farm, El Valero, and buying a flock of sheep. So there is no turning back. Life gets tough, but it also gets good. Driving Over Lemons is that rare thing - a funny, insightful book that charms you from the first sun-lit page to the last. And one that makes running an Andalucian mountain farm seem like a half-decent career move. It has been a major bestseller both in Britain and Spain.Trade ReviewChris Stewart is one of life's bold originals * Independent *When an author is as modest and humorous as this, his story cannot be told too often. -- Elizabeth Buchan * The Times *Exquisite. In Driving Over Lemons the anecdote flourishes once more. -- Penelope Lively * Daily Telegraph *It is easy to enthuse about the simple pleasures of life, but hard to write about them well. Stewart's gift is to do so with the carefree manner of someone you've just met in a bar, and who is buying the drinks. -- Hugh Thomson * Independent *A wonderful book - funny, affectionate and reaching deep beneath the skin. Tuck it into your holiday luggage and dream -- Elisabeth Luard * Daily Mail *A funny, observant and personal account of what a man can learn, and what there is to appreciate in life. Marvellous -- John S. Doyle * Sunday Tribune *You just can't fail to like him and the world he spreads out for you: wayward sheep, eccentric ex-pats, hospitable (and slightly barmy) neighbours... Mr Stewart is that rare thing, the real McCoy -- Rosie Boycott * Guardian *Endearing, heart warming, self-deprecating, sometimes surreal... charming stuff -- William Leith * Standard *
£9.49
Random House USA Inc They Called Me a Lioness
Book SynopsisA Palestinian activist jailed at sixteen after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers illuminates the daily struggles of life under occupation in this moving, deeply personal memoir.“I cannot even begin to convey the clarity, the intensity, the power, the photographic storytelling of They Called Me a Lioness.”—Ibram X. Kendi, internationally bestselling author of How to Be an AntiracistONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Kirkus Reviews“What would you do if you grew up seeing your home repeatedly raided? Your parents arrested? Your mother shot? Your uncle killed? Try, for just a moment, to imagine that this was your life. How would you want the world to react?”Ahed Tamimi is a world-renowned Palestinian activist, born and raised in the small West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, which became a center of the resistance to Israeli occupation when an illegal, Jewish-only settlement blocked off
£14.24
Simon And Schuster Group USA My Time to Stand
Book Synopsis
£22.94
Chelsea Green Publishing Co One-Straw Revolutionary: The Philosophy and Work
Book SynopsisOne-Straw Revolutionary represents the first commentary on the work of the late Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka (1913 – 2008), widely considered to be natural farming’s most influential practitioner. Mr. Fukuoka is perhaps most known for his bestselling book The One-Straw Revolution (1978), a manifesto on the importance of no-till agriculture, which was at the time of publication a radical challenge to the global systems that supply the world’s food, and still inspires readers today. Larry Korn, who apprenticed with Mr. Fukuoka in Japan at the time, translated the manuscript and brought it to the United States, knowing it would change the conversation about food forever. The One-Straw Revolution, edited by Korn and Wendell Berry, was an immediate international success, and established Mr. Fukuoka as a leading voice in the fight against conventional industrial agriculture. In this new book, through his own personal narrative, Larry Korn distills his experience of more than thirty-five years of study with Mr. Fukuoka, living and working on his farm on Shikoku Island, and traveling with Mr. Fukuoka to the United States on two six-week visits. One-Straw Revolutionary is the first book to look deeply at natural farming and intimately discuss the philosophy and work of Mr. Fukuoka. In addition to giving his personal thoughts about natural farming, Korn broadens the discussion by pointing out natural farming’s kinship with the ways of indigenous cultures and traditional Japanese farming. At the same time, he clearly distinguishes natural farming from other forms of agriculture, including scientific and organic agriculture and permaculture. Korn also clarifies commonly held misconceptions about natural farming in ways Western readers can readily understand. And he explains how natural farming can be used practically in areas other than agriculture, including personal growth and development. The book follows the author on his travels from one back-to-the-land commune to another in the countryside of 1970s Japan, a journey that eventually led him to Mr. Fukuoka’s natural farm. Korn’s description of his time there, as well as traveling with Mr. Fukuoka during his visits to the United States, offers a rare, inside look at Mr. Fukuoka’s life. Readers will delight in this personal insight into one of the world’s leading agricultural thinkers.Trade ReviewCHOICE- "This book brings fascinating insight and perspective to the contributions of Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008), the founder of the worldwide natural farming movement. Written by a former student and farm intern of Fukuoka, it recounts his life and work, and documents the author's own travels in Japan and early experiences working on Fukuoka's farm in the 1970s. It goes on to discuss natural farming techniques using Fukuoka's farm as a case study, and describes the writing and publication of The One Straw Revolution (1975) and the resultant rise in international interest in natural farming. As it compares natural farming with indigenous farming, traditional Japanese agriculture, permaculture, and modern-day organic farming, the direction of the book changes from memory and reflection to an oversimplified discussion of agricultural theory. As a memoir it is compelling.”“Larry Korn shines a light on the path that Fukuoka discovered integrating indigenous agriculture with a deep reverence for the land and natural processes. Many revolutions of the sun later, it is clear that the continued illumination of this path is necessary to bring about a stewardship culture of soil, plant, animal, and human. We are fortunate to have a torch bearer in Korn who embodies the words of Taoist sage, Lao T’zu, ‘what you do is what you are.’”--Don Tipping, founder of Seven Seeds Farm and Siskiyou Seeds“This mind-opening book will provide the proper contextual knowledge and understanding on how nature works for any practitioner involved in farming, ranching, ecosystem restoration, or natural-resource management.”--Ray Archuleta, conservation agronomist, Natural Resources Conservation Service“Larry Korn virtually brings Masanobu Fukuoka back to life in One-Straw Revolutionary by highlighting his experience of more than thirty-five years of study with Mr. Fukuoka. Here we not only get a new look at Mr. Fukuoka’s natural farming but also his life in general. For those who have or have not read the insightful The One-Straw Revolution, I highly recommend this delightful book about one of the world’s great agricultural thinkers.”--John P. Reganold, Regents Professor of Soil Science & Agroecology at Washington State University“One-Straw Revolutionary is a profound sharing of the essential philosophy of natural farming translated through the friendship between Larry Korn and Masanobu Fukuoka. Larry’s engaging story offers wise insights into authentic practices that honor the community of all life. I deeply resonate with both the author’s perspectives and Fukuoka’s clear understanding of a revolutionary pathway for creating abundance by honoring the natural patterns of our earth.”--Katrina Blair, author of The Wild Wisdom of Weeds“In One-Straw Revolutionary, Larry Korn revisits his experiences with Masanobu Fukuoka, one of the most important thinkers in agricultural history. This book is a sort of sequel to Mr. Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution, clarifying and amplifying that book and then going on to reveal Mr. Korn’s own intriguing contributions to the new social and agricultural order.”--Gene Logsdon, author of Gene Everlasting and A Sanctuary of Trees “I still think The One-Straw Revolution is the best book Rodale ever published, and we can thank Larry Korn for bringing it to us. Larry’s deep insight into Fukuoka-san’s Zen-like approach to farming threw a new light on the organic method of farming and gardening for me, as I was then an editor of Organic Gardening magazine. Through Larry, I was able to see that the question is not, ‘What can I do next?’ but rather, ‘What can I stop doing without diminishing the results?’ This impulse toward simplicity is the master’s great gift to the world, carried forth into the world by Larry Korn.”—Jeff Cox, author of twenty books, including the best-selling From Vines to Wines and the James Beard Foundation-nominated The Organic Cook’s Bible, and former managing editor of Organic Gardening magazine
£999.99
Canongate Books Exit Wounds
Book SynopsisPeter''s mother is dying. Born in England and having spent most of her adult life as a doctor in Zimbabwe, she now lies on a hospital bed in the partitioned living room of his sister''s London apartment, her accent having overnight become posher than the Queen''s. Unsentimental, fiercely stubborn and at times hilarious, she finally drops her guard, losing all fear of conflict to become the family provocateur.While confronting the revelations of what his family was - and wasn''t - and the stoicism that sometimes threatened to destroy them, Peter also mourns the ending of his long marriage. At this point of rupture and healing, Peter reflects on his family''s legacy of exile and their tenuous hold on home.In Exit Wounds: A Story of Love, Loss and Occasional Wars, Peter Godwin considers, with both tenderness and candour, the life of émigrés, exiles and refugees, and grieves the many losses that make life both magnificent and unbearable. He brings us into the spac
£17.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd It Takes Blood and Guts
Book Synopsis 'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' Colin Murray 'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' Fearne Cotton ‘The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwoman’s memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era…Skin’s story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own…We now have a lot of language – intersectionality, microaggressions – to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skin’s Skin.’ OBSERVER ‘The epic tale of Glastonbury’s Black British headliner… Skin is one of the Britpop decade’s forgotten epics…Trade Review‘The epic tale of Glastonbury’s Black British headliner… Skin is one of the Britpop decade’s forgotten epics… Skin’s feet are positioned firmly on the ground throughout; she’s a winningly genial, sweary soul on paper. 4 stars’ -- Jude Rogers, MOJO‘The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwoman’s memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era… Skin’s story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own… We now have a lot of language – intersectionality, microaggressions – to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skin’s Skin.’ * OBSERVER *‘As a Black gay woman fronting 1990s rock band Skunk Anansie, Skin has broken her fair share of ground, but it has come at a personal cost. This is a story of resilience and courage, prejudice and passion’ * RED *'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' -- Colin Murray'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' -- Fearne Cotton‘The former Skunk Anansie singer pulls no punches in this heady trawl through her life from tough beginnings in Brixton to work as an LGBTQ+ activist and beyond’ * The I *
£9.49
Graphic Arts Books One Man's Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition:
Book SynopsisWinner of the National Outdoor Book Award. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of when Dick Proenneke first broke ground and made his mark in the Alaskan wilds in 1968, this bestselling memoir features an all-new foreword by Nick Offerman plus color photographs not seen in print for over 20 years.To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...to choose an idyllic site, cut trees, and build a log cabin...to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...to be not at odds with the world, but content with one’s own thoughts and company...Thousands have had such dreams, but Dick Proenneke lived them. He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. One Man’s Wilderness is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature’s events that kept him company. From Dick’s journals, and with firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting, Sam Keith has woven a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond.Trade Review"[Proenneke's] journals from the text of this handsome book, and his sparkling color slides illustrate it with a beauty that tugs at your heart and sets your heels to itching just a little. You owe yourself the pleasure of this book." * Biloxi Sun Herald *"The best modern piece of prose about Alaska, the one that gives the truest picture of what living in the bush today is like for the lone individual." * Anchorage Daily News *"This book made a big splash when it debuted in 1973. Keith based the text on the journals and photography of Richard Proenneke, who, after racking up years of 50-hour work weeks, did what many of us only fantasize about: he chucked it all and went to live in the woods. . . Proenneke has become an icon for naturalists. Though few will follow Proenneke's lead, his story can be quite inspiring." * Library Journal *"Richard Proenneke, an emigre from Iowa to Alaska, kept a journal during the time he was fulfilling his dream of living in an altogether undeveloped part of Alaska. Parts of the journal have been made into a book by Sam Keith, along with colored photos that prove Alaska is certainly one of, if not the, most beautiful places anywhere." * Boston Globe *"It is soul-reading -- the simplicity of a man's inner feelings stated in terms which leave no misunderstandings . . . A classic of its kind." * Lansing State Journal *"Many of us will never realize the dream of such an escape from our hectic, complex life to that of the solitude of the wilderness. But in the pages of this book we can share with a man who lived his dream. The book is certain to bring much pleasure to anyone who loves the outdoors." * Portsmouth Times *"This is a record of a man in our own time who went into the bush. It is the story of a dream shared by many, fulfilled by few, brought into sharp focus by the beautiful color photographs and the simple account of Proenneke's life." * Burlington Free Press *"Sometimes it is difficult for a person to know their strengths and weaknesses while living among others; one way to discover them is to live alone. Of course, most people will never venture far from the comforts of home, but Proenneke felt the call of the wild and lived the second part of his life in Alaska. . . . Keith and Proenneke were coworkers on Kodiak Island and formed a friendship that lasted for decades. . . Keith’s writing is clear and descriptive; one can sense each strike of the ax and draw of the knife. The reader feels he is experiencing the adventure as well. The journal descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness flow from the page to the reader." * Foreword Reviews *
£14.24
Granta Books A Book Of Silence
Book SynopsisAfter a noisy upbringing as one of six children, and adulthood as a vocal feminist and mother, Sara Maitland began to crave silence. Over the past five years, she has spent periods of silence in the Sinai Desert and the Australian bush and on the Isle of Skye. She interweaves these experiences with the history of silence told through fairy tale and myth, Western and Eastern religious traditions, the Enlightenment and psychoanalysis, up to the ambivalence towards silence in contemporary society. Maitland has built a hermitage on an isolated Scottish moor, and the book culminates powerfully with her experiences of silence in this new home.Trade Review'A Book of Silence grapples with ideas at the very heart of what it is to be human, and Sara Maitland is a joyous champion of the countercultural notion that silence is more than simply an absence of noise' -The Times 'Maitland's experience has been rich and thorough, and deeply enviable. Her book is probably unique in its subject, and timely, because good, healing silence is becoming hard to find, and we may not know we need it' - Guardian 'It is both an analytical, theoretical fascination and a personal one, her reading and her experience locked together, each testing and illuminating the other' - Economist 'Her dedication to the cause is both inspiring and shocking - There are many beautiful meditative passages in her meditation on silence - [A] wonderful salutary book' - Sunday Telegraph (Seven)
£9.49
Atlantic Books A Runner's High: Older, Wiser, Slower, Stronger
Book SynopsisDean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits, from running in the shoe-melting heat of Death Valley to the lung-freezing cold of the South Pole. He's raced and competed across the globe and once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days.In A Runner's High, Karnazes chronicles his return to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in his mid-fifties after first completing the race decades ago. The Western States, infamous for its rugged terrain and extreme temperatures, becomes the most demanding competition of his life, a physical and emotional reckoning and a battle to stay true to one's purpose. Confronting his age, wearying body, career path and life choices, we see Karnazes as we never have before, raw and exposed. A Runner's High is both an endorphin-fuelled page-turner and a love letter to the sport from one of its most celebrated ambassadors.Trade ReviewA book that will inspire athletes of all stripes, whatever their aches and pains, to hit the ground running. * Kirkus Reviews *Runners are sure to be captivated by this account of an unconventional endurance athlete who tenaciously challenges physical and mental boundaries. * Booklist *Fans of extreme sports will consider this a must-read and appreciate the pithy motivational bits peppered throughout ... But the winning tone and message will lend this broader appeal to inspiration-seeking readers and those who appreciate accounts of the gruelling end of human endeavour. * Publishers Weekly *Dean Karnazes' writing wakes up the appetite to run long distances. In this book, Dean takes us on a lifelong journey of ultramarathons, through the ups and downs, the friendships and lonely moments, and the struggles and rewards of each race. Dean writes in a direct and intimate way that keeps us reading like he runs - without stopping. -- Kilian Jornet, world champion ultramarathonerThose of us who devoured Ultramarathon Man are in for a treat. In A Runner's High, Dean reveals his heart and bares his soul. Returning to the legendary Western States, he openly and candidly shares the highs and lows of his life and career choices as an ever-enduring long distance runner. You will see Dean as never before, and you will be captivated and drawn into this adventure right alongside him. -- Kara Goucher, two-time Olympian & silver medalist at the 2007 World ChampionshipsFull of euphoric highs...a journey into distance running that is much less about sweat than about the emotional terrain that unfolds at the frontier of endurance. * New York Times on ULTRAMARATHON MAN *[Karnazes'] spirited memoir...can help mere mortals who want to push past their perceived limits or simply jump-start their sedentary lives. * Chicago Tribune on ULTRAMARATHON MAN *An exhibition of unadulterated courage and mental and physical stamina [for] anyone who likes to read about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. * Boston Globe on ULTRAMARATHON MAN *Heart-stopping stuff. * The Economist on ULTRAMARATHON MAN *Dean Karnazes' latest book, A Runner's High, is an unfiltered look inside the world of endurance sports from the original Ultramarathon Man. Dean has lived many lifetimes during his storied career and he takes us on that journey with all the detail, honesty and introspection of a man that's lived in those shoes. The narrative is snappy and humorous and we get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to live a life of adventure and all that comes with it: the good, bad and ugly but also the beautiful and sublime when everything magically comes together and you achieve something truly mind-blowing. -- Michael Wardian, Guinness World Record Holder & 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents winnerThis metaphor- and imagery-filled romp through the ultramarathon of life is a must read...We need more books like this about running - the ones not simply about training and winning, but the ones that explore running as a way to get to our most human selves, and running for running's sake. -- Mirna Valerio, runner, speaker, authorDean's accomplishments, his stories, his tenacity, his advice and his wisdom shine through in A Runner's High and will inspire the reader to believe that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, have the courage and run with your heart. -- Dave McGillivray, Race Director Boston Marathon, Ironman and Trans-America runnerI loved the vulnerability Dean exposes in his journey to show the reader that despite all the superhuman feats, he is human like the rest of us. His words have the ability to leave us wondering, what am I capable of? If you love stories about the power of the human spirit, this book is a classic. -- Tina Muir, Running For Real Founder and Professional RunnerA Runner's High is a powerful narrative on life, running and finding meaning through perseverance. Every runner should read this book -- Jason Koop, bestselling author of TRAINING ESSENTIALS FOR ULTRARUNNINGDean Karnazes' writing is as inspiring as his amazing running accomplishments...After reading A Runner's High, I had to go out and run! -- Jeff Galloway, US Olympian & creator of the Galloway MethodTable of Contents1: Endurance Never Sleeps 2: Growing Pains 3: Why We Run 4: Follow the Path 5: Can't Stop; Won't Stop 6: The Aftermath 7: The Silk Road Ultra 8: The Long Run 9: Chasing Windmills 10: Friendship and Fatherhood 11: Lost in a White House 12: Just Did It 13: The Cavs and the Cavs-Nots 14: To Cut Is to Heal 15: Back to the Start 16: Let's Get This Party Started 17: Loose Lug Nuts 18: The Silly and the Sublime 19: The Meltdown 20: Head Fake 21: Embrace the Suck 22: London Calling 23: The Light
£10.44
Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale A Clean Mess
Book Synopsis
£19.55
HarperCollins Publishers The Forgotten Child The powerful true story of a
Book SynopsisBased on a true story, The Forgotten Child is a heart-breaking memoir of an abandoned newborn baby left to die, his tempestuous upbringing, and how he came through the other side.It's a freezing winter's night in 1954. A baby boy, a few hours old, is left by his mother, wrapped in nothing but two sheets of newspaper and hidden amongst the undergrowth by a canal bank. An hour later, a late-shift postman is walking wearily home when he hears a faint cry. He finds the newspaper parcel and discovers the newborn, white-cold and whimpering, inside.After being rushed to hospital and against all odds, the baby survives. He's baptised by the hospital chaplain as Richard.Everything feels as though it's looking up; Richard is put into local authority care and regains his health. However, after nearly five blissful years in a rural care home filled with loving friends, it soon unfolds that his turbulent start in life is only the beginningBased on a devastating true story, this inspirational memoirTrade Review‘An incredible story of survival.’ The Sun
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Swim Bike Run
Book SynopsisSwim, Bike, Run - The ultimate guide to triathlon by Olympics heroes Alistair and Jonathan BrownleeA Number One Bestseller This is the story of how two skinny lads from west Yorkshire became the best triathletes in the world.Meet the Brownlees: Olympic Champion Alistair, World Champion Jonny. Brothers, training partners, rivals. They have obliterated the competition and set new standards for swimming, biking and running.In this revealing, often very funny book they take us inside their world. It''s both a riveting story of the races, the success and the brotherly rivalry, as well as a guide to triathlon with sections on how to swim, bike and run and packed with advice on nutrition, injury, and mental approach.This book will appeal to readers of cycling and running books like Mark Cavendish''s Boy Racer and Running with the Kenyans, as well as fans of Chrissie Wellington''s A Life Without Limits and Andy BeckeTrade ReviewMaybe their [Olympic] achievement was the greatest of all. Swim, Bike, Run is an absorbing account of this punishing sport for both aspiring participants and armchair masochists alike * Daily Mail *Sport has two new heroes: a couple of nice lads from Yorkshire * The Times *There is a golden rule in triathlon: when a Brownlee races, they win. They are incredibly close, do most things together, train as a team, and yet come the big race they are deadly rivals * The Guardian *Under the pressure of the biggest race of their lives, they delivered in unforgettable style * The Telegraph *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Meditations
Book SynopsisHow to live a better life. One of the most important books on Western philosophy - a powerful and inspirational guide for the complicated world of today''Refreshing and restorative'' GUARDIAN''An ancient work of spiritual reflection which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed'' OK MAGAZINEFew ancient works have been as influential as the MEDITATIONS of Marcus Aurelius. Filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behaviour, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus''s insights and advice - on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others - have made the MEDITATIONS required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style.In GregorTrade ReviewAn ancient work of spiritual reflection from the Roman emperor, which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed * OK MAGAZINE *MEDITATIONS is unaffected by time and offers plenty of wisdom * IRISH EXAMINER *Refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad * GUARDIAN *An ancient work of spiritual reflection from the Roman emperor, which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed. * OK! MAGAZINE - HOT STARS SUPPLEMENT *Meditations is unaffected by time and offers plenty of wisdom. * IRISH EXAMINER *
£8.54
Skyhorse Publishing Walking With Gorillas: The Journey of an African
Book SynopsisAn Inspiring Memoir, for Fans of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Frans De Waal. In her enchanting memoir, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, tells the remarkable story from her animal-loving childhood to her career protecting endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals. She is also the defender of people as a groundbreaking promoter of human public health and an advocate for revolutionary integrated approaches to saving our planet. In an increasingly interconnected world, animal and human health alike depend on sustainable solutions and Dr. Gladys has developed an innovative approach to conservation among the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and their human neighbors.Walking with Gorillas takes the reader on an incredible personal journey with Dr. Gladys, from her early days as a student in Uganda, enduring the assassination of her father during civil war, to her veterinarian education in England to establishing the first veterinary department for the Ugandan government to founding one of the first organizations in the world that enables people to coexist with wildlife through improving the health and wellbeing of both. Her award-winning approach reduced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on critically endangered mountain gorillas. In the face of discrimination and a male dominated world, one woman’s passion and determination to build a brighter future for the local wildlife and human community offers inspiration and insights into what is truly possible for our planet when we come together."Her story is amazing and I recommend this book to everyone interested in conservation, alleviating poverty, and the role of women in society. But perhaps most importantly it is a truly inspiring story of how one determined and dedicated woman overcame many setbacks and faced many dangers to follow and realize her dream. She has made a huge difference to conservation in Uganda and she is an inspiring example to young—and not so young—people everywhere." -- Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and UN Messenger of Peace, from the foreword Trade Review“I recommend this book to everyone interested in conservation, alleviating poverty, and the role of women in society. But perhaps most importantly it is a truly inspiring story of how one determined and dedicated woman overcame many setbacks and faced many dangers to follow and realize her dream.”—Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE and UN Messenger of Peace (from the foreword) “This uplifting debut by conservationist Kalema-Zikusoka reflects on her upbringing in Uganda and career as a wildlife veterinarian. Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1970, the author was two years old when her father, a former cabinet minister, was abducted and murdered by the forces of then-president Idi Amin. She recounts devoting herself to her education and enrolling at the University of London Royal Veterinary College, becoming at age 26 Uganda’s first veterinarian specializing in wild animals. Vivid anecdotes detail the sometimes gritty nature of her work with endangered mountain gorillas, as when she describes using sugar to help reduce swelling around a gorilla’s prolapse. Through her work, she became “convinced that you couldn’t keep the gorillas healthy without improving the health and well-being of the people with whom they shared their fragile habitats” and began studying disease transmission between humans and primates. That research, she relates, enabled her to successfully advocate for Uganda’s adoption of the “One Health” approach to conservation, which recognizes that human hygiene and health lead to better welfare for plants and animals. The heartwarming narrative testifies to the good that one person can achieve and illuminates the complex interdependence between human and their environments. Admirers of Jane Goodall will love this. (Feb.)—Publishers Weekly “Her zeal for animals and gorillas in particular, as witnessed in this book, have lead Gladys to ground breaking innovations in conservation winning her global awards. This is an awe-inspiring walk by a remarkable lady who stands to be counted among women of incredible determination and purpose.” —HRH Nnabagereka, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, Queen of Buganda Kingdom, Uganda “We eight billion humans are in a turf war with all other living species, one so lopsided that co-existing with them might seem a lost cause—until you meet Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. Her miraculous career, engagingly recounted here, has meant salvation for some of our rarest primate cousins and an inspiring reminder for us Homo sapiens of what imagination and persistence can accomplish,whatever the odds.”—Alan Weisman, author,The World Without Us andCountdown “Her vivid narration of the special relationship she has been able to cultivate with nature will leave you captivated and in an intense trance as she transports you to the deep woods of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and on an excursion that you will never forget.”—Kaddu Sebunya, CEO African Wildlife Foundation “With unwavering drive and passion, she transformed a childhood love of animals into a career as Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian and one of Africa’s leading conservationists. Filled with adventure and told with candor and heart, Walking with Gorillas is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary life.”—Thor Hanson, author ofHurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid,andThe Impenetrable Forest:My Gorilla Years in Uganda “Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a true force of nature. Her riveting story of growing up in Uganda and overcoming challenges to pursue a veterinary profession, reads almost like fiction—full of adventure, drama, passion, and lots of big, furry primates.” —Meg Lowman, National Geographic Explorer and author of The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the 8th Continent in the Trees Above Us “In one of the world’s most challenging environments, Dr. Gladys has put her life on the line to protect one of the world's most spectacular—and spectacularly threatened species, the mountain gorilla. A story which will inspire everyone, everywhere!”—Dr. Mark Plotkin, The Amazon Conservation Team, author of Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice “A concise and compelling autobiography, from a resilient ‘bridge-builder’: Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. It has been said: ‘When you build bridges, you get walked on from both sides,’—so true for Gladys who has faced prejudice from her own culture, for being a woman and for being African. But Gladys is a trailblazer, risk-taker and innovative. We all share this planet and it takes a person like Gladys to reimagine conservation and build bridges between culture and communities so that we all survive together. Gladys is my hero, Uganda’s hero, Africa’s hero, and the world’s hero.”—Catherine Kreutter, author of Old Mzee books “Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is one of Africa’s greatest conservation ecoheroes. Her work on mountain gorillas and her innovative approaches linking this essential conservation activity with the health of human communities living in close proximity is truly ground-breaking and serves as a model for other projects around the world. It is wonderful to now have her story told in her own words in this inspiring and delightful new book.”—Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D., Chief Conservation Officer, Re:wild (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation) “Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka's pioneering efforts to save endangered gorillas by improving local human health have been an inspiration to conservationists around the world. Her new memoir details this incredible journey, including the adversity she had to overcome and what she's learned along the way. She artfully illustrates the complexities of conservation, sheds light on how protecting nature helps us protect ourselves, and offers insights that are applicable to conservation programs worldwide. I strongly recommend this book!”—Rhett Butler, Founder and CEO of Mongabay “Walking with Gorillas is an inspirational account of one veterinarian's unwavering effort to prevent disease spillover by promoting a "One Health" approach and always, above all, listening and prioritizing local community members’ voices to create a better world for humans, animals and nature. This decade began with grave reminder of the danger of diseases jumping from animals to people and back, something Dr. Gladys has been committed to protecting us and wildlife from during her entire professional life.”—Dr. William Karesh, Author Appointments at the Ends of the World, President, World Organisation for Animal Health Working Group on Wildlife “Uganda deserves to be better known for its astonishing wildlife. And I can think of no better guide than the nation’s first wildlife veterinarian. Meet Dr. Gladys and enter the incredible adventure that has been her life." — Dr. Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel “Infused with the remarkable spirit of purpose, compassion and innovative thinking that is synonymous with Gladys herself, Walking with Gorillas is an inspiring memoir that showcases the importance of community-based conservation through one of Uganda’s most determined voices for wildlife. A captivating look at the dangers that humans pose to our closest of relatives, this book gives a compelling insight into the role that healthcare and women in society play in the author’s pioneering ‘One Health’ approach – one that the future of conservation surely depends upon. Simply, a must-read.”—Edward Whitley, OBE, Founder of Whitley Fund for Nature, Author of Gerald Durrell’s Army “Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka’s book, Walking With Gorillas, is a walk through the forests and landscapes of her life and the lives of those who have influenced her choices as a veterinarian, a leader, partner and mother. Her method for building community and improving methods for protection of the forest has not only had an impact on the survival of our closest relatives the great apes, it has added a chapter to our understanding of how to build a thriving relationship with nature. Her wisdom is what we urgently need as we meet the challenge of declining biodiversity and deforestation, pandemics and climate change. If the measure of a life is one’s legacy, Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka shows in her book that being part of a lineage is also important. Her learning from her forebearers while creating communities that live in harmony with all sentient beings is a model for public health, economic livelihoods and field science.”—Tom Cummings, Tallberg Foundation jury leader and Member Club of Rome, Chair, BLab Europe, Global Alliance for Banking on Values, Author of Leadership Landscapes
£17.00
Permuted Press Trailer Park Parable
Book Synopsis#17 on the PW Bestseller Trade Paper Frontlist Growing up amid addiction and chaos in a Minnesota trailer park, Tyler Zed and his two brothers broke the cycle of abuse and forged a different path.“Attempted murder victim told the Brainerd Dispatch she believes her sixteen-year-old son saved her.” This is the news article detailing the event that would drastically change Tyler Zed’s life and that of his family forever. Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, Tyler and his two brothers filled their days with chaotic fun, from playing hockey to building forts to making their own home movies. The household was also full of addiction and abuse that ultimately led to their father attempting to murder their mother on Christmas Eve 2007. Trailer Park Parable follows Tyler and his family before Christmas Eve 2007, the events leading to that night, and the years afterward. It trails the boys as they deal with
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Narrow Boat
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1944, and now reissued with new black-and-white illustrations and a foreword by Jo Bell, Canal Laureate, this book has become a classic on its subject, and may be said to have started a revival of interest in the English waterways. It was on a spring day in 1939 that L.T.C. Rolt first stepped aboard Cressy. This engaging book tells the story of how he and his wife adapted and fitted out the boat as a home, and recreates the journey of some 400 miles that they made along the network of waterways in the Midlands. It recalls the boatmen and their craft, and celebrates the then seemingly timeless nature of the English countryside through which they passed. As Sir Compton Mackenzie wrote, ?it is an elegy of classic restraint unmarred by any trace of sentiment? for a way of life and a rural landscape that have now all but disappeared.
£14.24
Everyman History of My Life
Book SynopsisThe name of Giacomo Casanova, Chevalier de Seingalt (1725-1798), in now synonymous with amorous exploits, and there are plenty of these, vividly narrated, in him memoirs. But Casanova was not just an energetic lover. In his time he was diplomat, business man, trainee priest, traveller, prisoner, magician, confidence trickster, gambler, professional entertainer and chalatan. He financed business projects, organised lotteries, wrote opera libretti and dabbled in high politics. Above all he was an autobiographer of enduring brilliance and subtlety who left behind him what is probably the most remarkable confession ever written. Casanova was a Venetian who explored to the full all the possibilities 18th century Venice offered by way of love and profit before being imprisoned, escaping from gaol, and fleeing from the city to begin travels which took him across Europe. In Moscow and London, Berlin and Constantinople, he met the famous men and women of the time - Catherine the Great, Voltaire, Louis XV, Rousseau - and recorded his encounters for the memoirs he wrote in retirement at the end of his life. These memoirs are by turns subtle, touching, thrilling, wonderfully comic and quite irresistible. Although the present edition includes one third of Casanova's enormous (though unfinished) book, it contains all his major adventures and all is greatest affairs of the heart. 'Casanova is unsurpassed as the recreator of the daily talking interests of 18th century Europe. he ranges from slut to patrician, from closet to cabinet, waterfront to palace.' - V S PRITCHETT
£17.00
Ebury Publishing Running with the Firm
Book SynopsisOf course I''m a f**king hooligan, you pr**k. I am a hooligan...there I''ve said it...I''m a hooligan. And, do you know why? Because that''s my f**king job. In 1995, a film called I.D., about an ambitious young copper who was sent undercover to track down the generals of a football hooligan gang, achieved cult status for its sheer brutality and unsettling insight into the dark and often bloody side of the so-called beautiful game.The film was so shocking it was hard to believe the mindless events that took place could ever happen in the real world. Well, believe it now... Almost twenty years on, the man behind the film has explosively revealed that the script was largely a true story. That man, James Bannon, was the ambitious young copper. The football club was Millwall F.C., and the gang that he infiltrated was The Bushwackers, among the most brutal and fearless in English football. In Running with the Firm, Bannon shares his intense and dangerous journey into the underworld of football hooliganism where sickening levels of violence prevail over anything else. He introduces you to the hardest thugs from football?s most notorious gangs, tells all about the secret and almost comical police operations that were meant to bring them down, and, how once you?re on the inside, getting out from the mob proves to be the biggest mission of all. A disturbing but compelling read, this is the book that proves fact really is stranger than fiction.Trade ReviewA must-read for fans -- Natasha Harding * The Sun *Brutal and searingly honest * Sunday Express *An entertaining and interesting first-hand account of a key point in British football history * FootyMatters.com *An amazing account of football hooliganism in its height and a brilliant read * sportsvibe.co.uk *Rather interesting book -- Libby Purves * BBC Radio 4, Midweek *
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers Can I Let You Go
Book SynopsisCan I Let You Go? is the true story of Faye, a wonderful young woman who may never be able to parent her unborn child.Faye is 24, pregnant, and has learning difficulties as a result of her mother's alcoholism. Faye is gentle, childlike and vulnerable, and normally lives with her grandparents, both of whom have mobility problems. Cathy and her children welcome Faye into their home and hearts. The care plan is for Faye to stay with Cathy until after the birth when she will return home and the baby will go for adoption. Given that Faye never goes out alone it is something of a mystery how she ever became pregnant and Faye says it's a secret.To begin with Faye won't acknowledge she is pregnant or talk about the changes in her body as she worries it will upset her grandparents, but after her social worker assures her she can talk to Cathy she opens up. However, this leads to Faye realizing just how much she will lose and she changes her mind and says she wants to keep her baby.Is it possibl
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Girl Alone
Book SynopsisAged nine Joss came home from school to discover her father''s suicide. She''s never gotten over it.This is the true story of Joss, 13 who is angry and out of control. At the age of nine, Joss finds her father's dead body. He has committed suicide. Then her mother remarries and Joss bitterly resents her step-father who abuses her mentally and physically.Cathy takes Joss under her wing but will she ever be able to get through to the warm-hearted girl she sees glimpses of underneath the vehement outbreaks of anger that dominate the house, and will Cathy be able to build up Joss's trust so she can learn the full truth of the terrible situation?Trade ReviewThe multi-million copy bestselling author.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers House of Glass The story and secrets of a
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller An utterly engrossing book' Nigella Lawson Remarkable and gripping' Edmund de Waal''A near-perfect study of Jewish identity in the 20th century I don't hesitate to call it a masterpiece' TelegraphAfter her grandmother died, Hadley Freeman travelled to her apartment to try and make sense of a woman she'd never really known. Sala Glass was a European expat in America defiantly clinging to her French influences, famously reserved, fashionable to the end yet to Hadley much of her life remained a mystery. Sala's experience of surviving one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history was never spoken about.When Hadley found a shoebox filled with her grandmother's treasured belongings, it started a decade-long quest to find out their haunting significance and to dig deep into the extraordinary lives of Sala and her three brothers. The search takes Hadley from Picasso's archives in Paris to a secret room in a farmhouse in Auvergne to Long Island and to AuschTrade Review‘This is a startlingly original book, remarkable and gripping’ Edmund de Waal ‘A magnificently vivid re-creation of her Jewish family’s experience of twentieth-century Europe, Hadley Freeman’s book is also an acute examination of the roots, tropes, and persistence of anti-Semitism, which makes it an urgently necessary book for us to read right now’ Salman Rushdie ‘This is an utterly engrossing book: one that manages to be an intimate family history and a meticulously researched account of a shocking period of world history at the same time. It may be an overused term of approbation, but it truly is unputdownable’ Nigella Lawson ‘House of Glass is extraordinary. It reads like a mystery and a memoir and a gripping history of the last century … Freeman doesn’t hide from the grey spaces people inhabit during wartime, or shy away from drawing the terrifying parallels to today’s iterations of those ancient hatreds. It is a brave and wonderful book’ Nathan Englander ‘This deeply moving book is so beautifully written – like hearing a fascinating conversation about the past, then being warmly welcomed into the very heart of it. This is a stunning memoir, and a thrilling detective story. I completely lost myself in its many worlds’ Marina Hyde ‘It glitters like a diamond – revealing not only the extraordinary story of the Glass family, but the many facets of twentieth-century Jewish experience. Written with lightness and warmth, this book is both timely and timeless’ Helen Lewis
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd A Pocketful of Happiness
Book SynopsisTrade Review‘Fascinating, funny and heart wrenching. Ultimately uplifting because it’s a beautiful and honest celebration of a deep, deep love’ -- Dame Julie Walters‘A gorgeously candid account of acting and showbusiness. And an intimate and heartfelt story of love, loss and a life spent together. I cannot remember being so moved by a book.’ -- Dolly Alderton‘An emotional rollercoaster – profoundly moving and wonderfully entertaining. A brilliant memoir about living, loving and losing.’ -- Bernardine Evaristo‘One of the bravest, strongest, funniest memoirs I’ve ever read’ -- Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry‘A deeply moving memoir from one of our greatest actors’ -- David Walliams'My friend has written a most remarkable book. Love, loss and the story of an extraordinary marriage. Heartbreaking and uplifting in its honesty' -- Rob Brydon'A very special, profoundly affecting read. 5 stars' -- Gyles Brandreth'What a book! To put it one way, you could describe the lovely Richard E. Grant's A Pocketful of Happiness as love, death, and showbiz stories - and while accurate, that would be to miss out both its fierceness and tenderness.' -- Nigella Lawson‘A Pocketful of Happiness documents the head and heart exploding overwhelm of grief … brutal but necessary’ * Sunday Times *‘Grant’s profoundly moving book, part love letter to his beloved wife, part gossipy memoir about his life and times, will resonate with anyone who ever lost a loved one’ * Daily Express *‘Richard E. Grant’s heartbreaking memoir recalls a long, happy marriage – and leaves us shattered for his loss’ * The Spectator *‘A touching account’ * The Observer *‘Incredibly moving’ * Daily Telegraph *
£17.00
Pan Macmillan The Archaeology of Loss: Life, love and the art
Book SynopsisWhen you find your husband lying dead, you think you will not forget a single detail of that moment. As an archaeologist, I like to get my facts right, and I will try my best to do so, but five years have passed since that day in 2016 and I am excavating my own unreliable memory. I cannot go back and check.'Extraordinary, unflinching, wonderful, moving' - Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina'This memoir has been compared to The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, and I can see why . . . In the end, there is so much love in this book. In writing such a meticulously honest book, she memorialises her cant-hating husband in the best way possible. I think he would be proud of her too.' The TimesSarah Tarlow's husband Mark began to suffer from an undiagnosed illness, leaving him incapable of caring for himself. One day, about six years after he first started showing symptoms, Mark waited for Sarah and their children to leave their home before ending his own life.Although Sarah had devoted her professional life to the study of death and how we grieve, she found that nothing could have prepared her for the reality of illness and the devastation of loss.Fiercely vulnerable, deeply intimate and yet authoritative, The Archaeology of Loss describes a universal experience with an unflinching and singular gaze. With humour, intelligence and urgency, it is in its very honesty that it offers profound consolation.'This book is a companion for anyone navigating the hardships of loss and uncertainty' - Octavia Bright, author of This Ragged Grace'A tender and big-hearted embrace of a book . . . A poetic excavation of loss, grief and ritual.' - Graham Caveney, author of The Boy with the Perpetual NervousnessTrade ReviewExtraordinary, unflinching, wonderful, moving -- Nina Stibbe, author of Love, NinaBracingly candid . . . Digs away at our collective fantasy that in dying or caring for the dying we are at our best. In reality, in either role we are often withdrawn, in pain, resentful, bad-tempered: our worst . . . addictively unsentimental * The Times *Scrupulously honest . . . Threaded through with tantalizing glimpses of the world of archaeology, Tarlow’s book is a raw, courageous examination of a sad ending to an uneasy relationship. * Times Literary Supplement *In Archaeology of Loss Sarah Tarlow has harnessed the consoling power of unvarnished truth. Direct, honest and deeply compassionate, this book is a companion for anyone navigating the hardships of loss and uncertainty, but it's also a celebration of all that love can stretch to hold. Informed by both Tarlow's lived experience and perspective as an archaeologist, it asks vital questions about what it means to live and die well. I found it both thought-provoking and moving. -- Octavia Bright, author of This Ragged GraceThe narrator has the scholar’s inability to soften or sweeten what she knows, which is that we don’t always love the dying and the dead, and that rage and mixed feelings are at least as interesting as sorrow. Look elsewhere for cheeriness; the pleasures offered here are those of intelligence and complexity in the hard times that will come to many of us. -- Sarah Moss * The Guardian *Brave, bold and exquisitely told and with such vibrancy and force, The Archaeology of Loss is a personal story of love, grief, and pain perfectly framed by the author's deep knowledge of the archaeologies of death and mourning. -- Helen Paris, author of Lost Property A wonderful work of memoir . . . powerful, fiercely honest, grippingly written and utterly immersive. -- Harry Whitehead, author of The Cannibal SpiritA tender and big-hearted embrace of a book, one that holds whole worlds in its arms: courtship, scholarship, reflections on death and its rituals. Here is an archeologist welding her intellectual acumen to her experience of her husband's terminal illness. A poetic excavation of loss, grief and ritual. -- Graham Caveney, author of The Boy with the Perpetual NervousnessA meticulously clear yet tender self-excavation exploring love and bereavement, today and through time, from a brilliant archaeologist. -- Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of KindredProfound and poignant . . . beautifully written. -- Melanie Giles * Antiquity *
£15.29
Bonnier Books Ltd How Not to be a Supermodel
Book Synopsis*THIS SUMMER'S MUST-READ NOUGHTIES NOSTALGIA MEMOIR*'Hilarious' CAITLIN MORAN'Witty, gossipy, self-effacing and deeply nostalgic, this is a joy for all of us who survived the noughties but have forgotten quite how. Much more than the memoir of a fashion model, this is the rarely-told insider story of the most glamorous, grotty and downright insane industries' SALI HUGHESJoin Ruth Crilly in this comic memoir as she teeters through the noughties and lifts the lid on her days as an international fashion model. Told with unparalleled wit and remarkable detail, this is a book for anyone who dreams big and aims high but never quite reaches their goal.At twenty years old, five feet eight and with boobs that were 'inconveniently fulsome', Ruth was not quite young enough, tall enough or waif-like enough to ever hope for a meteoric rise to supermodel status. And yet her sheer optimism and questio
£17.09
Little, Brown Book Group Lightning Can Strike Twice
Book SynopsisThe first book from professional boxer and social media star, Tommy Fury, revealing what life is like juggling his many identities: boxing champion, TV star, mental health advocate, fiancé and father.When Tommy Fury realised as a young boy that he wanted to become a boxer, the odds were stacked against him. His father was sent to prison when Tommy was only nine, casting his family life into chaos. He couldn''t afford a bus ticket to the gym to train, so he''d have to walk three hours instead. When he got there, everyone wanted to fight him - guys much older than him and twice his size - to say they could beat a Fury. In Lightning Can Strike Twice, Tommy Fury opens up about his incredible story - defying pressure and triumphing regardless of the weight of expectation on his shoulders - and the many sides to his life. He shares unfiltered stories about his experience on Love Island, candid insight into his life at home with Molly-Mae and their daug
£21.25
Bonnier Books Ltd Break Point: SAS: Who Dares Wins Host's
Book SynopsisDON'T MISS OLLIE OLLERTON'S MUST-HAVE SURVIVAL GUIDE, HOW TO SURVIVE (ALMOST) ANYTHING! PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW.THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLEROLLIE OLLERTON CO-HOSTS SAS: WHO DARES WINS ALONGSIDE ANT MIDDLETON, JASON FOX and MARK BILLINGHAM. THIS IS HIS INCREDIBLE TRUE STORYWhere is your break point?Is it here? Facing the gruelling SAS selection process on one leg, with a busted ankle and the finish line nowhere in sight?Or here? Under heavy fire from armed kidnappers while protecting journalists en route to Baghdad.Or is it here? At the bottom of a bottle, with a family in pieces, unable to adapt to a civilian lifestyle, yearning for a warzone?Ex-Special Forces soldier and star of TV's SAS: Who Dares Wins, Ollie Ollerton has faced many break points in his life and now he tells us the vital lessons he has learnt. His incredible story features hardened criminals, high-speed car chases, counter-terrorism and humanitarian heroics - freeing children from a trafficking ring in Thailand.Ollie has faced break points in his personal life too, surviving a freak childhood attack, run-ins with the law as a teenager rebelling against a broken home, his self-destructive battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his struggles with anxiety and depression. His final redemption as an entrepreneur and mental health charity ambassador has seen him overcome adversity to build a new and better life.'Everyone has the capacity for incredible achievement, because it's only when it's crunch time, when you're down to your last bullet - when you're at break point - that you find out who you really are.'
£8.54
Atlantic Books How Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant
Book SynopsisA beautifully written and compelling memoir of a largely unexplored area of medicine: transplant surgery.Leading transplant surgeon Dr Joshua Mezrich creates life from loss, moving organs from one body to another. In this intimate, profoundly moving work, he examines more than one hundred years of remarkable medical breakthroughs, connecting this fascinating history with the stories of his own patients.Gripping and evocative, How Death Becomes Life takes us inside the operating room and presents the stark dilemmas that transplant surgeons must face daily: How much risk should a healthy person be allowed to take to save someone she loves? Should a patient suffering from alcoholism receive a healthy liver? The human story behind the most exceptional medicine of our time, Mezrich's riveting book is a poignant reminder that a life lost can also offer the hope of a new beginning.Trade ReviewPart memoir and part historical account of the extraordinary pioneers who believed that people could berepaired and revived as the sum of their working parts... Moving * Financial Times *An outstanding memoir by a transplant surgeon who combines an autobiography and operating room dramatics with an equally engrossing history of his profession... this [medical memoir] ranks near the top [of the genre], in a class that includes arguably the best, Henry Marsh's Do No Harm * Kirkus Reviews *Monumental and enthralling. * New York Journal of Books *Fascinating... Compelling stories about an area of medicine shrouded in mystery. * Stephen Westaby *A beautifully written insight into an extraordinary area of medicine and a fascinating career. Heartbreaking and life-affirming in equal measure, it has all the makings of a classic. * Dr Max Pemberton, columnist and author of Trust Me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor *Table of Contents1: A Perfect Organ 2: Puzzle People 3: The Simple Beauty of the Kidney 4: Skin Harvest 5: Kidney Beans: Making Kidney Transplant a Reality 6: Open Heart: The Invention of Cardiopulmonary Bypass 7: Hearts on Fire: Making Heart Transplant a Reality 8: Sympathy for the Pancreas: Curing Diabetes 9: Prometheus Revisited: Liver Transplants and Thomas Starzl 10: Jason: The Secret Is to Live in the Present 11: Lisa and Herb: Should We Do Liver Transplants for Alcoholics? 12: Nate: The Selection Meeting, or Who Gets an Organ and Why? 13: Michaela: We Are All the Same on the Inside 14: As They Lay Dying 15: Healthy Donors: Do No Harm 16: Complications 17: Xenotransplantation: From One Species to Another 18: So, You Want to Be a Transplant Surgeon?
£10.44
Pan Macmillan An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
Book SynopsisBack on the earth after three spaceflights, Chris Hadfield's captivating memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth reveals extraordinary stories from his life as an astronaut, and shows how to make the impossible a reality. This edition contains a new afterword.Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield's success – and survival – is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it.In his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement – and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counter-intuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff.You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Colonel Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights in this book will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth – especially your own.Trade ReviewHouston, we have a superstar * Washington Post *Hadfield has done more than probably any astronaut since the Apollo missions to transform the image of space exploration . . . Space has rarely seemed to close, or the world so astonishing * Daily Telegraph *Table of ContentsIntroduction - i: Introduction: Mission Impossible Unit - Part 1: PRE-LAUNCH Chapter - 1: The Trip Takes a Lifetime Chapter - 2: Have an Attitude Chapter - 3: The Power of Negative Thinking Chapter - 4: Sweat the Small Stuff Chapter - 5: The Last People in the World Chapter - 6: What’s the Next Thing That Could Kill Me Unit - Part 2: LIFTOFF Chapter - 7: Tranquility Base, Kazakhstan Chapter - 8: How to Get Blasted (and Feel Good the Next Day) Chapter - 9: Aim to Be a Zero Chapter - 10: Life off Earth Chapter - 11: Square Astronaut, Round Hole Unit - Part 3: COMING DOWN TO EARTH Chapter - 12: Soft Landings Chapter - 13: Climbing Down the Ladder Acknowledgements - ii: Acknowledgments Index - iii: Index Section - iv: Illustrations
£10.44
Amaurea Press Better Broken Than New: A Fragmented Memoir
Book SynopsisFollowing a successful career as an award-winning, best-selling novelist, in 2004 Lisa St Aubin de Teran retreated to a remote village in northern Mozambique. There she found her own African roots, founded a charity, and confronted new challenges. Much has been written about her life and escapades with a trio of Venezuelan exiles, life on an Andean hacienda, her return to literary fame, and two decades living in a crumbling Umbrian palace. But despite all the media hype about her, she managed to hide much of her actual life. Now, like the Japanese art of kintsugi, in this new memoir Lisa puts the shattered pieces of her life back together, filling in many of the dramatic, and often scandalous, gaps. While her life has been said to be stranger than fiction, it is fiction that has kept her afloat. This autobiography sets the record straight and shows a writer who for over half a century has enjoyed following her dreams, even when those dreams outdistanced her reach.Trade Review"Lisa St Aubin de Teran writes with extraordinary vividness and clarity... She faces reality with a courage and skill that left me not knowing which to admire more: her gift as a writer or that she had the guts to carve out a place for herself in such an unforgiving world." (Independent) "Sensual, impressionistic prose that recreates vividly her experiences." (The Times) "An extraordinary woman... if you encountered her as a character in a novel, you'd want to read on." (Express) "She has the surrealist's gift for making the mundane exotic." (Financial Times) "Combines a powerful sense of place with an unusually compassionate understanding of human complexity." (Daily Telegraph) "The author has an enviable narrative gift, and there is something magical about her deployment of it." (Guardian) "A spellbinding storyteller." (The Listener)
£16.96
Faber & Faber My Roman Year
Book Synopsis
£18.70
John Murray Press Style and Substance
Book Synopsis''Compelling'' HARPER''S BAZAAR''Richly textured'' GRAZIA''Completely riveting . . . an eclectic compendium of style, subversion and literary snippets . . . all about the magical meaning of clothes'' CALENDAR MAGAZINEMaya Angelou imagined she''d feel like a movie star in a dress of lavender taffeta. Rachel Weisz loves the democracy of denim. Zadie Smith''s look differs depending on whether she''s in New York or London, while Joan Didion always packed the same clothes. Jarvis Cocker found inspiration at jumble sales, Bella Freud in Colette''s novels and Harris Reed in the gender fluidity of Virginia Woolf''s Orlando. Oscar Wilde understood the importance of proportions, Stanley Tucci favours a narrow stripe and Chloë Sevigny delights in traditional, with a twist. For Bernardine Evaristo style is about a refusal to be stereotyped. Jilly Cooper and Trade ReviewStellar * PANDORA SYKES *A rich and broad-ranging compendium of essays, interviews and eclectic snippets . . . sure to kindle plenty of curiosity and unexpected journeys of discovery; whether literary or sartorial. This curated patchwork of writing - new, old (both rediscovered and iconic) - is a perfect metaphor for the way Garnett works with clothes as a stylist, of course. She has a special skill for putting together a fashion editorial with an unexpected mix of designer and thrifted pieces, that makes the storytelling resonate with personality and vibrant life. * Calendar Magazine *Super stylist Bay Garnett has created a new, brilliant tome for the codes of dressing by excavating how others do it. Everyone from Joan Didion to Oscar Wilde, Chloe Sëvigny to Susie Cave appear in her new book Style and Substance - a perfect read for anyone looking to find a new lease of style life or just interested in examining the way icons dress. * i-D *A richly textured collection of essays . . . all about ideas and about cutting out the white noise of what you think you should do. What each perspective touches on is the importance of wearing clothes that feel true to who you are. * Grazia *Through a collection of essays, extracts and interviews, the esteemed stylist draws together a glorious celebration of the clothes we wear and the meaning behind them. From the looks of Maya Angelou and Zadie Smith to the power of drag and brilliance of thrifting, this is a wide- ranging delight. * i News *Gathering voices from past and present, Style and Substance peeks into the hearts and wardrobes of aesthetes including Chloë Sevigny, Stanley Tucci and Oscar Wilde. * Financial Times *A compelling new encyclopaedia of style. * Harper's Bazaar *Thoughtful and gloriously eclectic . . . a mix of old and new, which only amplifies Bay's ability to storytell. The perfect stocking filler! * Fashion Roundtable *A book where gravity mingles with frivolity, humour with weight, never taking itself or its subject too seriously,but allowing it the attention it deserves. In a world of fleeting trends, Bay Garnett has created an accessory to treasure, earning Style And Substance an enduring place in the canon of fashion literature. * Irish News *
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group The Lost Orchard
Book Synopsis''Blanc set about the most thorough apple-tasting and cooking project I have heard of . . . [The Lost Orchard] condenses the highlights, his love letters to the forgotten apple breeds.'' The Times''I began to dream about an orchard filled with thousands of fruit trees... Today we have an orchard with over 150 ancient varieties of apple. Each one has its heritage in a village or a county that used to thrive on that particular variety. They tell the story not only of what we have lost in Britain but also what we could regain.''Over the past seven years, Raymond Blanc has planted an orchard of 2,500 trees in the grounds of his hotel-restaurant in Oxfordshire. Yielding about 30 tonnes of fruit for his kitchen each year, it is full of ancient and forgotten varieties of British apples and pears, along with walnut trees, quince, medlars, apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, damsons and cherries. A further 600 heritage fruit trees have been aTrade ReviewThe recipes are lovely. . . [The Lost Orchard] is about Blanc's love of orchards and how he established one in England . . . It's also a guide to the varieties of apple, pear, fig, quince and stone fruit he has planted . . . offering tasting notes and history for each. As useful for gardeners as for cooks. * The Telegraph - One of their Top 20 cookbooks of the year 2019 *The recipes are lovely. . . [The Lost Orchard] is about Blanc's love of orchards and how he established one in England . . . It's also a guide to the varieties of apple, pear, fig, quince and stone fruit he has planted . . . offering tasting notes and history for each. As useful for gardeners as for cooks. * The Telegraph - One of their Top 20 cookbooks of the year 2019 *Raymond Blanc has created a garden haven at his Le Manoir restaurant in Oxfordshire . . . keenly aware of the perilous state of heritage apples, pears, cherries, medlars and quinces, he was determined to add an orchard of forgotten fruits to his ensemble. This magical book describes his quest and the hard work needed. * Simple Things *Raymond Blanc has created a garden haven at his Le Manoir restaurant in Oxfordshire . . . keenly aware of the perilous state of heritage apples, pears, cherries, medlars and quinces, he was determined to add an orchard of forgotten fruits to his ensemble. This magical book describes his quest and the hard work needed. * Simple Things *The legendary chef opens the door to a living library of lost varieties of heritage English fruit in a treasury of recipe and reflection. * Waterstones Weekly *The legendary chef opens the door to a living library of lost varieties of heritage English fruit in a treasury of recipe and reflection. * Waterstones Weekly *Blanc says [apples are] . . . the root of everything. A kind of symbol for Britain to move forward by reconnecting with the past. * The Times *Blanc says [apples are] . . . the root of everything. A kind of symbol for Britain to move forward by reconnecting with the past. * The Times *Blanc set about the most thorough apple-tasting and cooking project I have heard of . . . [The Lost Orchard] condenses the highlights, his love letters to the forgotten apple breeds. * The Times *Blanc set about the most thorough apple-tasting and cooking project I have heard of . . . [The Lost Orchard] condenses the highlights, his love letters to the forgotten apple breeds. * The Times *Beautifully written by our favourite French chef, these recipes are inspired by Raymond Blanc's love of the British orchard. It's a love affair with apples and a bit of history, too. * Closer *Beautifully written by our favourite French chef, these recipes are inspired by Raymond Blanc's love of the British orchard. It's a love affair with apples and a bit of history, too. * Closer *A beautifully presented recipe guide that doubles as a nostalgic paean to the heritage and provenance of forgotten varieties of British fruit, Blanc's latest volume is much, much more than just a cookbook. Adorned with evocative black and white drawings and a treasury of anecdote, The Lost Orchard is a sumptuous feast for the senses. * Waterstones *A beautifully presented recipe guide that doubles as a nostalgic paean to the heritage and provenance of forgotten varieties of British fruit, Blanc's latest volume is much, much more than just a cookbook. Adorned with evocative black and white drawings and a treasury of anecdote, The Lost Orchard is a sumptuous feast for the senses. * Waterstones *More than a cookbook, this is a love letter to the English orchard, [Raymond Blanc] writes tenderly about the hundreds of varieties he has planted in his orchard at Le Manoir, each as precious to him as a much-loved child. * Sunday Times – Best Food and Drink Books 2019 *More than a cookbook, this is a love letter to the English orchard, [Raymond Blanc] writes tenderly about the hundreds of varieties he has planted in his orchard at Le Manoir, each as precious to him as a much-loved child. * Sunday Times – Best Food and Drink Books 2019 *This is a reference book that you can turn to if you want to know anything about apples. It will fly off the shelves for hundreds of years. * Tim Hayward *This is a reference book that you can turn to if you want to know anything about apples. It will fly off the shelves for hundreds of years. * Tim Hayward *The Lost Orchard is a paean to the orchard behind the chef's restaurant in Oxfordshire. Each variety is described in terms of growing and cooking; the very names are evocative. The last chapter provides excellent fruit recipes. * Evening Standard - Best Cookbooks of 2019 *The Lost Orchard is a paean to the orchard behind the chef's restaurant in Oxfordshire. Each variety is described in terms of growing and cooking; the very names are evocative. The last chapter provides excellent fruit recipes. * Evening Standard - Best Cookbooks of 2019 *Raymond Blanc has spent the past seven years creating a 2,500-tree orchard at his Oxfordshire restaurant, Le Manoir. Here, he describes the experience with passion, introducing us to many 'forgotten' varieties, and revealing how best to use them in the kitchen. * The Week - Nine of the best food books from 2019 *Raymond Blanc has spent the past seven years creating a 2,500-tree orchard at his Oxfordshire restaurant, Le Manoir. Here, he describes the experience with passion, introducing us to many 'forgotten' varieties, and revealing how best to use them in the kitchen. * The Week - Nine of the best food books from 2019 *Must read! French chef Raymond Blanc has written a new book dedicated to the impressive orchard he has planted in the grounds of his hotel-restaurant in Oxfordshire, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, which is full of trees producing ancient and forgotten varieties of British and French fruit. * Living France *Must read! French chef Raymond Blanc has written a new book dedicated to the impressive orchard he has planted in the grounds of his hotel-restaurant in Oxfordshire, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, which is full of trees producing ancient and forgotten varieties of British and French fruit. * Living France *A true delight * The Caterer *A true delight * The Caterer *Blanc's enthusiasm fills this story with not only of what we have nearly lost in Britain and France, but what we could regain. * Love England *Blanc's enthusiasm fills this story with not only of what we have nearly lost in Britain and France, but what we could regain. * Love England *Raymond celebrates the gentler pleasure of home. He chronicles the 2,500-tree orchard he has planted in the grounds of his Oxfordshire hotel-restaurant, Le Manoir. He salutes the orchard's ancient and forgotten varieties . . . along with tempting recipes . . . - Waitrose WeekendRaymond celebrates the gentler pleasure of home. He chronicles the 2,500-tree orchard he has planted in the grounds of his Oxfordshire hotel-restaurant, Le Manoir. He salutes the orchard's ancient and forgotten varieties . . . along with tempting recipes . . . - Waitrose WeekendIn his book The Lost Orchard, Blanc writes with typical romance about the bountiful breadth of fruit varieties that England produced in the days before the supermarket era. * The Telegraph *In his book The Lost Orchard, Blanc writes with typical romance about the bountiful breadth of fruit varieties that England produced in the days before the supermarket era. * The Telegraph *You can't go wrong with the French chef's recipes, perfected over many years at his mother's side and in his Michelin-starred kitchen, but this is also a love letter to the English orchard, whose slow destruction he dates to the arrival of the Golden Delicious in the 1970s. He writes tenderly about the hundreds of varieties he has planted at Le Manoir. * The Saturday Review, THE TIMES *You can't go wrong with the French chef's recipes, perfected over many years at his mother's side and in his Michelin-starred kitchen, but this is also a love letter to the English orchard, whose slow destruction he dates to the arrival of the Golden Delicious in the 1970s. He writes tenderly about the hundreds of varieties he has planted at Le Manoir. * The Saturday Review, THE TIMES *
£11.69
Canongate Books Amateur: A Reckoning With Gender, Identity and
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-FictionShortlisted for the Wellcome Book PrizeIn this groundbreaking new book, Thomas Page McBee, a trans man, trains to fight in a charity match at Madison Square Garden while struggling to untangle the vexed relationship between masculinity and violence.Through his experience of boxing - learning to get hit, and to hit back; wrestling with the camaraderie of the gym; confronting the betrayals and strength of his own body - McBee examines the weight of male violence, the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes and the limitations of conventional masculinity. A wide-ranging exploration of gender in our society, Amateur is ultimately a story of hope, as McBee traces a way forward: a new masculinity, inside the ring and out of it.A graceful and uncompromising exploration of living, fighting and healing, in Amateur we gain insight into the stereotypes and shifting realities of masculinity today through the eyes of a new man.Trade ReviewAmateur is a beautiful and powerful book written by the superbly talented Thomas Page McBee. This memoir is such an important piece of trans literature to support and one that spoke to me deeply * * Elliot Page * *A visceral, sparky read . . . Beautifully written [and] deep and affecting . . . Absolutely fascinating -- BBC Radio 4 A Good ReadA blazingly wise and beautiful book -- A.L. KENNEDYMcBee's writing bristles with an elegant swagger . . . Amateur is as much a reconciliation as an emancipation . . . Punchy, thought-provoking stuff * * Sunday Times * *In an age when identity feels so splintered and fractional, McBee's empathy with men feels refreshing, but it's his determination to be accountable that is radical. He resolves his own masculinity crisis by doing the things men often think they're doing, but so often are not: listening, asking questions, seeking help, being vulnerable * * Observer * *Brave, honest and touchingly human . . . This is a beautiful book that will resonate . . . with anyone anywhere in the world who is determined to become a better, kinder human being -- ELIF SHAFAK * * Guardian * *Amateur is a heck of a tale, and McBee is a gifted memoirist * * Financial Times * *Amateur provocatively describes the ways in which an increasingly fragile patriarchal culture needs to keep men in their place. A quest for self-liberation, this loving and deeply intelligent exploration of contemporary masculinities is essential reading -- DEBORAH LEVYOne of my favourite books of 2018 . . . A memoir about boxing, masculinity and transitioning. It is exceptional -- NIKESH SHUKLAAn eye-opening story about gender and courage, and confirmation that there are many different fights to being a man * * Guardian * *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Eat, Gay, Love: Longlisted for the Polari First
Book Synopsis**LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE**'You've never read a travel memoir like this before' The Sunday Times, 'Pride Culture Guide''Sweet and fun, with real emotional depth and a rousing, feisty spirit'Matt Cain***In the spring of 2012, Calum finds himself single again after his relationship of six years comes to an end. Heartbroken, unhappy and unsure of what to do next, he leaves the hometown he has been in all his life to embark on a journey that takes him all around the world, from teaching in a school on the outskirts of Rome to exploring the sex clubs of Berlin, to raising tigers in an animal sanctuary deep in the jungles of Thailand. Along the way, he meets LGBT+ people from all walks of life and every part of the rainbow - from an Italian teenager struggling with a homophobic father to a kathoey navigating life as a trans person in Thailand, to a young HIV-positive man living on the streets of London. Their individual stories, not only of hardship and sorrow but also of profound strength and hope, show the breadth and depth of queer life and experience, shedding light on themes such as homophobia, sexual violence, marriage equality and gender identity. Through these meetings and friendships, Calum not only finds the encouragement to embrace life after heartbreak, but also discovers a beautiful, loving global community who support and uplift him through the best and worst moments of his time on the road. A travel memoir with a difference, Eat, Gay, Love is a celebration of the power of community and a personal tribute to the extraordinary lives of LGBT+ people everywhere in the world.
£10.44
Faber & Faber The Lady in the Van
Book SynopsisAdapted for the screen by the author from his celebrated memoir, Alan Bennett''s The Lady in the Van, is directed by long-standing collaborator Nicholas Hytner.The film tells the true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ''temporarily'' parked her van in Bennett''s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Their unique story is funny, poignant and life-affirming.The Complete Lady in the Van contains a Foreword by Nicholas Hytner, a substantial Introduction with diary entries by Alan Bennett, the original memoir and the screenplay. The book includes numerous illustrations by David Gentleman, who sketched on set throughout filming, and a colour plate-section including behind-the-scenes photographs and stills from the film
£15.29
Canongate Books Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper
Book SynopsisWhen Peter Hill, a student at Dundee College of Art, answered an advert in The Scotsman seeking lighthouse keepers, little did he imagine that within a month he would be living with three men he didn't know in a lighthouse on Pladda, a small remote island off the west coast of Scotland. Hill was nineteen, it was 1973 and, with his head fed by Vietnam, Zappa, Kerouac, Vonnegut, Watergate and Coronation Street, he spent six months on various lighthouses, "keeping" with all manner of unusual and fascinating people. Within thirty years this way of life was to have disappeared entirely. The resulting book is a charming and beautifully written memoir that is not only a heartfelt lament for Hill's own youth and innocence but also for a simpler and more honest age.Trade ReviewWhat makes Stargazing such a beautiful book is that it is more than an elegy to a vanished profession. It is a elegy to youth and to the constellation of dreams, ambitions and anxieties that is more intense at 19 than it can ever be again. * * Sunday Herald * *Both an elegy to an extinct way of life and a tribute to the spirit and expertise of the men who embodied this romance of sea and sky. * * The Observer * *Few of these books, however, are as wistfully evocative or as thoughtful as Hill's Stargazing. * * The Independent * *A passionate account and a fine commemoration of the first profession ever to be made totally redundant. -- Bella Bathurst, author of "The Lighthouse Stevensons"excellent * * The Scotsman Magazine * *
£10.44
Scribe Publications Promises to Keep
Book SynopsisPresident Joe Biden tells the story of his extraordinary life and career prior to his emergence as Barack Obama’s beloved, influential vice president. ‘I remain captivated by the possibilities of politics and public service. In fact, I believe that my chosen profession is a noble calling.’ – Joe Biden Joe Biden has both witnessed and participated in a momentous epoch of American history. In Promises to Keep, he reveals what these experiences taught him about himself, his colleagues, and the institutions of government. With his customary honesty and wit, Biden movingly and eloquently recounts growing up in a staunchly Catholic multigenerational household in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware; overcoming personal tragedy, life-threatening illness, and career setbacks; his relationships with presidents, world leaders, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; and his leadership of powerful Senate committees. Through these and other recollections, Biden shows us how the guiding principles he learned early in life — to work to make people’s lives better; to honour family and faith; to value persistence, candour, and honesty — are the foundation on which he has based his life’s work as husband, father, and public servant. Promises to Keep is an intimate series of reflections from a politician who surmounted numerous challenges to become one of America’s most effective leaders and who refuses to be cynical about politics. It is also a stirring testament to the promise of the United States.Trade Review‘A ripping good read … Biden is a master storyteller and has stories worth telling.’ * The Christian Science Monitor *‘A compelling personal story.’ * The New York Times *‘Moving … [Biden’s] response to tragedy and near death [is] both admirable and likable.’ * Salon *
£9.49
Ebury Publishing Without You, There Is No Us: My secret life
Book SynopsisIt is 2011, and all universities in North Korea have been shut down for an entire year, except for the all-male Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. This is where Suki Kim has accepted a job teaching English. Over the next six months she will eat three meals a day with her young charges and struggle to teach them to write, all under the watchful eye of the regime.Life at the university is lonely and claustrophobic. Her letters are read by censors and she must hide her notes and photographs not only from her minders but also from her colleagues, evangelical Christian missionaries, whose faith she does not share.As the weeks pass she discovers how easily her students lie, and how total is their obedience to Kim Jong-il. She also, bravely, hints at the existence of a world beyond their own: the internet, free travel, democracy, and other ideas forbidden in a country where torture and execution are commonplace. Yet her pupils are also full of boyish enthusiasm, with flashes of curiosity not yet extinguished.Without You, There Is No Us offers a moving and incalculably rare glimpse of life inside the world's most inscrutable country.Trade ReviewStrangely terrifying...A beautifully written book that greatly expands the limited bounds of what we know about North Korea's ruling class -- Barbara Demick, author of Nothing To EnvyThis superb work of investigative journalism is distinguished by its grave beauty and aching tenderness. -- Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of LossA rare and revealing insight into the world of this closed nation's "priviligentsia", a sector of society about which very little information is available. * The Times Online *(Suki Kim) lived under constant surveillance, fearful that she might slip up. * Daily Mail *A glimpse into the North Korean mind. * Francis Wheen, Mail on Sunday *
£12.34
Penguin Books Ltd Carry On Warrior From Glennon Doyle the 1
Book SynopsisDiscover the journey that led to the No. 1 international bestseller Untamed, from the life-changing guru that every woman needs''Do it. Read it. Live it. Practice it.'' ADELE''Profound. I can''t stop thinking about this book'' Brene Brown''What an absolute guru of a woman'' ELIZABETH DAY, author of HOW TO FAIL ''Here''s my hunch: nobody''s secure, and nobody feels like she completely belongs. Those insecurities are just job hazards of being human. On my deathbed, I''m not going to wish I had danced like JLo; I''m just going to wish I had danced more.'' On Mother''s Day, 2002, Glennon Doyle was unmarried, addicted to drugs, booze, food and bad love.But by a strange twist of fate, it was on this day that she discovered she was pregnant.After twenty years of wilful self-destruction, how could Glennon rise to the challenge of looking after the helpless, innocent child growing
£8.99
Penguin Books Ltd A Moment of War
Book SynopsisA Moment of War is the powerful and harrowing final book in Laurie Lee''s acclaimed trilogy that began with Cider with RosieLaurie Lee was still a young man when he decided to fight for the Republican cause in Spain''s civil war. But though he braved icy, storm-swept mountains alone to contact Republican sympathisers, he was immediately suspected of being a Nationalist spy. Imprisoned and almost executed by his own side, he eventually joined the International Brigade. This is the story of his experiences as a Republican soldier, fighting for the losing side in a doomed war.''A great, heart-stopping narrative of one young Englishman''s part in the war in Spain . . . crafted by a poet, stamping an indelible image of the boredom, random cruelty and stupidity of war'' - Literary Review ''This story aches with unforgotten cold and trembles with unforgotten terror'' -Guardian Trade ReviewA work of lyrical intensity. Read it and salute one of Britain's finest writers * Daily Mail *A great, heart-stopping narrative of one young Englishman's part in the war in Spain . . . crafted by a poet, stamping an indelible image of the boredom, random cruelty and stupidity of war * Literary Review *This story aches with unforgotten cold and trembles with unforgotten terror * Guardian *
£8.54
Atria Books Ambition Monster
Book SynopsisAn “intimate, intensely resonant memoir about workaholism, unresolved trauma, and the ‘addictive nature of ambition’” (Harper’s Bazaar), this is an anti-girlboss tale for our times for readers of Drinking: A Love Story and Uncanny Valley.After years of relentlessly racing up the professional ladder, Jennifer Romolini reached the kind of success many crave: a high-profile, C-suite dream job, a book well-received enough that reporters wanted to know the secrets to her success, and a gig traveling around the country giving speeches on “making it.” But beneath this polished surface was a powder keg of unresolved trauma and chronic overwork. It was all about to blow. Ambition Monster is a gutsy and powerful look at workaholism, the lingering effect of childhood trauma, and the failures of our modern rat race. This is a Cinderella story of success and a brutal appraisal of the cost of capitalism—perfect for people pleasers, overachievers, and those whose traumas have driven them to be perfect, no matter the cost. “If you find yourself on the other end of burnout, trying desperately to figure out a new way forward—wow, is this book for you” (Anne Helen Petersen, author of Can’t Even).
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers When in French
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARDOES I LOVE YOU' EVEN MEAN THE SAME THING AS JE T'AIME'?When Lauren Collins met a Frenchman at a party one night in London, she had no idea that she would one day wake up to find herself married to him, living in Geneva.Feeling almost voiceless in French-speaking Switzerland, Lauren was no longer able to order a salad, let alone talk to her husband's parents. But a language barrier was no match for loveA smart, funny and thoughtful look at how language shapes our lives, When in French shows what happens when two languages, and two very different cultures, collide.Trade Review‘I love Lauren Collins’s writing: as sparkling as Champagne and as nourishing as the most perfect French meal’ Hadley Freeman ‘Lauren Collins understands everything about language, love, time and place.This is a brilliant book’ India Knight ‘I devoured Lauren Collins’s sharp, funny tale of bilingual romance and learning to speak French. Part acerbic love letter to that language and part meditation on language itself, When in French is so charming it made me want to learn French too’ Adelle Waldman, author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. ‘Nobody is more observant of fine details, or more curious about the big picture … Collins makes the world seem like a bigger, more effervescent, more intoxicating place’ Elif Batuman, author of The Possessed ‘When in French is a celebration both of the weird and compendious ingenuity of language, and of the value of maintaining a spirit of linguistic and emotional inquiry’ Observer ‘A thoughtful, beautifully written meditation on the art of language and intimacy’ New York Times ‘I would recommend Lauren Collins’ lovely memoir to anyone who has ever tried and failed to learn French…a highly engaging primer on language…and a touching and funny love story’ Guardian
£10.44
Cornerstone A Moveable Feast
Book SynopsisPublished posthumously in 1964, A Moveable Feast remains one of Ernest Hemingway''s most beloved works. Since Hemingway''s personal papers were released in 1979, scholars have examined and debated the changes made to the text before publication. Now this new special restored edition presents the original manuscript as the author prepared it to be published. Featuring a personal foreword by Patrick Hemingway, Ernest''s sole surviving son, and an introduction by the editor and grandson of the author, Seán Hemingway, this new edition also includes a number of unfinished, never-before-published Paris sketches revealing experiences that Hemingway had with his son Jack and his first wife, Hadley. Also included are irreverent portraits of other luminaries, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ford Madox Ford, and insightful recollections of his own early experiments with his craft. Sure to excite critics and readers alike, the restored edition of A Moveable Feast b
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group In the Rhododendrons
Book Synopsis''IN THE RHODODENDRONS is vital consolation, amidst the amidst. It''s a triumph, an instant classic. Christle has become one of our art''s most urgent living practitioners'' Kaveh Akbar, author of Martyr!When Heather Christle realises that she, her mother, and Virginia Woolf share a traumatic history, she begins to rewrite and intertwine each of their stories, in search of a more hopeful narrative and a future she can live with.When Heather Christle realises that she, her mother, and Virginia Woolf share a traumatic history, she begins to rewrite and intertwine each of their stories, in search of a more hopeful narrative and a future she can live with.On a recent visit to London''s Kew Gardens, Christle''s mother revealed details of a painful story from her past that took place there, under circumstances that strangely paralleled Heather''s own sexual assault during a visit to London as a teenager.Her private, British mother''s revelation - a rare burst of vulnerability in their strained relationship - propels Christle down a deep and destabilising rabbit hole of investigation, as she both reads and wanders the streets of her mother''s past, peeling back the layers of family mythologies, England''s sanctioned historical narratives, and her own buried memories. Over the course of several trips to London, with and without her mother, she visits her family''s ''birthday hill'' in Kew Gardens, the now-public homes of the Bloomsbury set, the archives of the British Library, and the backyard garden where Woolf wrote her final sentence. All the while, she finds that Woolf and her writings not only constantly seem to connect and overlap with her mother''s story, but also that the author becomes a kind of vital intermediary: a sometimes confidante, sometimes mentor, sometimes distancing lens through which Christle can safely observe her mother and their experiences.Wide-ranging and prismatic, the fruit of an insatiably curious, delightfully brilliant mind, In the Rhododendrons is part memoir, part biography of Virginia Woolf, part reckoning with the things we cannot change and the ways we can completely transform, if we dare. This utterly original book will stir readers into new ways of seeing their own lives.
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers THE PRISON DOCTOR My time inside Britains most
Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERAs seen on BBC BreakfastHorrifying, heartbreaking and eye-opening, these are the stories, the patients and the cases that have characterised a career spent being a doctor behind bars.Violence. Drugs. Suicide. Welcome to the world of a Prison Doctor.Dr Amanda Brown has treated inmates in the UK's most infamous prisons first in young offenders' institutions, then at the notorious Wormwood Scrubs and finally at Europe's largest women-only prison in Europe, Bronzefield.From miraculous pregnancies to dirty protests, and from violent attacks on prisoners to heartbreaking acts of self-harm, she has witnessed it all.In this eye-opening, inspirational memoir, Amanda reveals the stories, the patients and the cases that have shaped a career helping those most of us would rather forget.Despite their crimes, she is still their doctor.Trade Review‘Written with both humour and deep concern for the lives of her incarcerated patients. It’s a poignant, compassionate read, giving an insight into the complicated and damaged lives of some of the offenders … a thoroughly enlightening and engaging book.’ Mail on Sunday ‘A fascinating, sometimes funny, often gruelling account of working behind bars.’ Observer ‘Not only features startling anecdotes but also the more rewarding aspects of her job – the prisoners who sent her letters of thanks, the ones for whom there remains hope.’ i newspaper ‘eye-opening … harrowing … Though so many of the tales are unbearably sad, and some details quite difficult to read without flinching, frequent moments of hope and humanity mitigate what could otherwise be a bleak look at life on the lowest rung of society’s ladder.’ The Telegraph ‘All of the highs and lows of prison life, with heart-warming honesty and anecdotes to make your sides split and your jaw drop in equal measure … Amanda has filled her book full of funny tales that both she and the inmates have had a good giggle at.’ Sunday Express S Magazine ‘An enthralling account.’ The Sun
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The View From the Corner Shop
Book SynopsisA lively diary chronicling the ups and downs of running a grocery shop in a Yorkshire town during the rationing years of the Second World War Kathleen Hey spent the war years helping her sister and brother-in-law run a grocery shop in the Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. From July 1941 to July 1946 she kept a diary for the Mass-Observation project, recording the thoughts and concerns of the people who used the shop. What makes Kathleen's account such a vivid and compelling read is the immediacy of her writing. People were pulling together on the surface ('Bert has painted the V-sign on the shop door…', she writes) but there are plenty of tensions underneath. The shortage of food and the extreme difficulty of obtaining it is a constant thread, which dominates conversation in the town, more so even than the danger of bombardment and the war itself. Sometimes events take a comic turn.
£10.44
Amazon Publishing Your Blue Is Not My Blue: A Missing Person Memoir
Book SynopsisFrom Aspen Matis, author of the acclaimed true story Girl in the Woods, comes a bold and atmospheric memoir of a woman who—in searching for her vanished husband—discovers deeper purpose. Aspen’s and Justin’s paths serendipitously aligned on the Pacific Crest Trail when both were walking from Mexico to Canada, separately and alone—both using thru-hiking in hopes of escaping their pasts. Both sought to redefine themselves beneath the stars. By the time they made it to the snowy Cascade Range of British Columbia—the trail’s end—Aspen and Justin were in love. Embarking on a new pilgrimage the next summer, they returned to those same mossy mountains where they’d met, and they married. They built a world together, three years of a happy marriage. Until a cold November morning, when, after kissing Aspen goodbye, Justin left to attend the funeral of a close friend. He never came back. As days became weeks, her husband’s inexplicable absence left Aspen unmoored. Shock, grief, fear, and anger battled for control—but nothing prepared her for the disarming truth. A revelation that would lead Aspen to reassess not only her own life but that of the disappeared as well. The result is a brave and inspiring memoir of secrets kept and unearthed, of a vanishing that became a gift: a woman’s empowering reclamation of unmitigated purpose in the surreal wake of mystifying loss.Trade Review“With fearless candor, [Matis] explores the details of her life, unearthing secrets and discovering an unknown strength despite her overwhelming loss. A beautifully written story of inspiration, courage, and ultimate transformation.” —Booklist “Your Blue Is Not My Blue is an intense reflection…Matis writes poignantly and powerfully about the shattering of her world and her investigation into what was left after collecting the broken pieces.” —CrimeReads “Aspen Matis is a hero and [an] inspiration. Your Blue Is Not My Blue will open the door to empathy, compassion, and healing for you and all those affected by you.” —Deepak Chopra, author of Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential “Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a sudden classic. Matis’s poetic language renders such a shocking story [that is] relatable and tear-jerking. She is a champion with a tender heart and fierce courage. This book isn’t for reading, but rather for transforming the filter and frame through which we view life and each other. A masterpiece!” —Kelly Sullivan Walden, author of I Had the Strangest Dream “Saturated with a gorgeous sensory awareness, Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a gripping read that wrestles honestly and sensitively with the ways we connect and the ways we miss one another.” —Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt “Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a haunting love story, a riveting mystery, and tale of gorgeous transformation all in one. Aspen Matis is an extraordinary writer. Each sentence is a marvel and a gem.” —Laura Zam, author of The Pleasure Plan “Raw, elegant, and a ringside seat to a young writer coming of age, Your Blue Is Not My Blue is at turns a tour de force and an intimate journey. In moments it’s as if Matis’s hand reaches out from the book and grabs the reader by the throat. Matis is a triumph and so is her memoir.” —Barney Scout Mann, author of Journeys North
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd What You Have Heard Is True
Book Synopsis''Astonishing, powerful, so important at this time'' - Margaret Atwood (on Twitter)''Riveting . . . intricate and surprising'' - The New York Times''Reading it will change you, perhaps forever'' - San Francisco ChronicleAn electrifying memoir set in the Salvadoran Civil War:the true story of a young poet who becomes an activist through a trial by fireCarolyn Forché, an American poet, is 27 when a mysterious stranger called Leonel appears on her doorstep, having driven direct from El Salvador. Her friend has heard rumours about who he might be - a communist, a CIA operative, a sharpshooter, a motorcycle racer, a revolutionary, a small coffee farmer - but nobody seems to know for certain. Captivated for reasons she doesn''t fully understand, she accepts his invitation to visit and learn about his country, and so becomes enmeshed in the early stages of a brutal civil conflict which will ultimately see the SalvTrade ReviewOnce Forché's story gathers momentum, it's hard to let the narrative go . . . Riveting . . . intricate and surprising * The New York Times *Indispensable . . . unflinching . . . Forché offers up a vast human landscape of terror, desperation and perseverance that stretches far beyond mere borders. It's more documentary than self-portrait, more camera than mirror. Reading it will change you, perhaps forever * San Francisco Chronicle *Gripping . . . 'I could just as well write my poetry from the quiet of my own study,' Forché writes, 'but I had known since childhood that human suffering demanded a response, everywhere and always.' A portrait of the artist as political and poetic ingenue, What You Have Heard Is True is just such a response, a riveting account of how she made good on that conviction. It bears eloquent witness to injustice and atrocity and to how observing them shaped a fearless poet * The Washington Post *Extraordinary . . . Written with a thriller writer's knack for narrative tension and a poet's gorgeous sentences and empathy . . . Though it took Forché half a lifetime to fully share what she saw - this time is also more cryptically recalled in her second book of poems, The Country Between Us (1982) - now is precisely when we need to see it * NPR *Her memoir traces her journey from political innocence to experience, and, in doing so, offers a model to others who might take the same journey . . . She remembers as much as possible, and the resulting memoir, once read, is difficult to forget * The Atlantic *Forché looks with a poet's acute grasp of sensory detail ... She meets priests, poets, campesinos, retired generals ... She runs from death squads, acknowledges American complicity in Salvadoran military's tactics, searches for the bodies of friends dumped on the black sand beaches. One can imagine this memoir being made into a film in the mould of The Killing Fields ... Written with great care, this clear-eyed memoir and its evocative black-and-white photos bear powerful witness to the atrocities committed by a government to repress its own impoverished citizens * Daily Telegraph *Forché ... writes with a startling, visceral clarity about grotesque events ... With her poems, and now with this exceptionally well-written and engrossing memoir, [Forché] has borne witness, remembered, tried to see. She has spent many years of her life telling the stories of El Salvador ... What You Have Heard Is True paints a stark, tangible and unforgettable picture of a nation descending into civil war and raises fascinating questions about the role of the observer ... Her writing has a way of scratching images into the memory * Daily Telegraph *
£10.44
