Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisFew people rode the popular wave of the sixties quite like Tara Browne. One of Swinging London's most popular faces, he lived fast, died young and was immortalized for ever in the opening lines of 'A Day in the Life', a song that many critics regard as The Beatles' finest. But who was John Lennon's lucky man who made the grade and then blew his mind out in a car?Author Paul Howard has pieced together the extraordinary story of a young Irishman who epitomized the spirit of the times: racing car driver, Vogue model, friend of The Rolling Stones, style icon, son of a peer, heir to a Guinness fortune and the man who turned Paul McCartney on to LSD.I Read the News Today, Oh Boy is the story of a child born into Ireland's dwindling aristocracy, who spent his early years in an ancient castle in County Mayo, and who arrived in London just as it was becoming the most exciting city on the planet. The Beatles and the Stones were about to conquer America, Carnaby Street was setting the style template for the world and rich and poor were rubbing shoulders in the West End in a new spirit of classlessness. Among young people, there was a growing sense that they could change the world. And no one embodied the ephemeral promise of London's sixties better than Tara Browne.Includes a sixteen-page plate section of stunning colour photographs.Trade ReviewTara Browne was the golden boy around whom, for a short while, the entire extraordinary world of Sixties London seemed to revolve. Tara knew everybody and they all loved him, not for his money, as he feared, but because he, above them all, embodied the spirit of the age. I absolutely loved this book. It's a brilliant, vivid portrait of extraordinary times -- Miranda Seymour, author of In My Father's House After all these years, we at last know about the real life of the lucky man who made the grade. I found it fascinating to discover the true story of Tara Browne, a legend in a lyric. -- Hunter Davies, author of The Beatles: The Authorised BiographyI loved it! Howard's skilful evocation of an extraordinary turning point in cultural history is an absolute joy to read. The life of Tara Browne offers the perfect conduit into a psychedelic world populated by a legendary cast of characters that you simply couldn't make up. While it's clear that Howard undertook years of rigorous original research, his prose is always gripping and never laboured. The deep but slightly exasperated affection Howard feels for Browne injects pathos into this highly entertaining account of an extraordinary, chaotic, high-octane life -- Eleanor Fitzsimons, author of Wilde’s Women: How Oscar Wilde Was Shaped by the Women He Knew Tara Browne held the rare quality of romance. A figure of intense but passive glamour, he stood at the epicentre of the bohemian Anglo-Irish aristocracy and 1960s London at its most swinging, yet somehow gave the air of merely passing through life. In a wonderfully readable book, gleaming with detail, Paul Howard evokes the splendid vanished worlds that Browne inhabited and - no easy thing to do - makes us believe in his elusive, imperishable enchantment -- Laura Thompson, author of Take Six Girls: The Lives of the Mitford SistersI read - no, devoured - I Read the News Today, Oh Boy. It's an absolute gem. Great humour is balanced with the sadness, and the writing is so deft with all that research woven so lightly into the mix. I can only imagine how much labour is involved in making it all flow so effortlessly -- John Butler, writer and director of The StagThis is a wonderful book about the Swinging Sixties; it opens a door into an extraordinary world that we all clung to long ago, and dreamed of remotely, at the other end of our tiny transistor radios. Back then we only knew the sound track. But this is the real thing. Man -- Michael Harding, author of Staring at Lakes: A Memoir of Love, Melancholy and Magical ThinkingA vivid and immaculately researched account of a remarkable life. A fascinating journey through post-war Irish and English society, in the company of a cast of extraordinary characters. -- Antony Edmonds, author of Oscar Wilde's Scandalous SummerI was fascinated to read this beautifully written book, which gripped me on many different levels. Vividly telling the extraordinary story of Tara Browne, a mythical figure through the Beatles' song, showing how extremes of love with no rules combined with limitless funds, is as disastrous as it is glamorous. Paul Howard documents in detail through his exacting conversations with many of the people in Tara's life, the post war/pre 60s British aristocratic attitudes - illuminating a life that seems more like centuries ago, than decades. Having been to Luggala as a child, and remembering my meeting with Oonagh, Paul brought her to life for me, told me much I had absolutely no idea about, showing both her brilliance and originality - and also the tragic outcome of many of her choices. It is a compelling read and a story that is only possible to believe because it is actually true. I can only hope that Julian and Dorian live more peaceful, if less exciting lives. -- Julia Samuel, founder of Child Bereavement UK and author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving Dramatic and engrossing . . . the opening chapters read like an Irish Great Gatsby by way of Downton Abbey . . . "A lucky man who made the grade", as The Beatles have it in A Day in the Life? This book removes Browne from a song lyric and repositions him as an alluring figure of wonderment . . . This is a masterpiece -- Brian Boyd * Irish Times *A richly populated history traced along this spirited character's journey from Ireland to Swinging London, it is a fascinating piece of work * Daily Telegraph *A masterpiece -- Ian O'Riordan * Irish Times *A compelling, sympathetic and unusually poignant book about someone whose star may have burned briefly, but who has left an indelible impression on almost everybody he left behind * Daily Mail *The devastating crash that killed him has become near folkloric, not least because of the Beatles song that is the title of this book. But for many people who read the news that day, Tara is alive and golden, beautiful and poetic, somewhere deep in their hearts today * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisFrom a bestselling writer, an intense and moving memoir about changing identity, complex sexuality, and enduring family relationships—now in paperback At age 36, while serving on a jury, author Molly Wizenberg found herself drawn to a female attorney. Married to a man for nearly a decade and mother to a toddler, Wizenberg tried to return to her life as she knew it, but she felt that something inside her had changed irrevocably. Instead, she would discover that the trajectory of our lives is rarely as smooth or as logical as we’d like to believe. Like many of us, Wizenberg had long understood sexual orientation as a stable part of ourselves: we’re “born this way.” Suddenly she realized that her story was more complicated. Who was she, she wondered, if something at her very core could change so radically?The Fixed Stars is a taut, electrifying memoir exploring timely and timeless questions about desire, identiTrade Review“The Fixed Stars is that rare thing, a groundbreaking, essential book about sexuality. Wizenberg’s incisive, generous laying-bare of her own experience will make many readers feel seen, understood, and not alone. This book is a triumph." -- Kate Christensen * author of Blue Plate Special and The Last Cruise *A work of blindsiding beauty. -- Nell Beram * Shelf Awareness *“The Fixed Stars is a nuanced look into two subjects frequently depicted as binary: love and sexuality. Wizenberg writes of her journey into queerness with tenderness and curiosity, two essential qualities for any sort of entry into new lands. This book spoke directly to my heart. Read it.” -- Esmé Weijun Wang * author of The Collected Schizophrenias *“In The Fixed Stars, Molly Wizenberg tackles the ever-shifting issues of marriage, motherhood, and sexual orientation with the same compassion and unflinching honesty that have become the hallmarks of her writing. She makes the everyday extraordinary and brings depth and complexity to the bigger questions in life. A beautiful read.” -- Erica Bauermeister * author of The Scent Keeper *“The Fixed Stars, like its protagonist, is both brave and sexy, both heady and bodily, and I ripped through this memoir like it was the most erudite romance novel in the world. This is a truly compelling look at sexuality, marriage, and parenthood in this century.” -- Emma Straub * author of All Adults Here and The Vacationers *“Interwoven throughout with research insights into the complexity of female sexual identity, Wizenberg's book not only offers a glimpse into the shifting nature of selfhood; it also celebrates one woman's hard-won acceptance of her own sexual difference. A courageous and thought-provoking memoir.” -- Kirkus Reviews“A spirited, terrifyingly courageous, and searingly honest memoir of finding sexual identity and strength.” -- Booklist“Wizenberg is an excellent writer; her meditations on what it means to know yourself—or think you know yourself—and how unpredictable and exciting life really is are a joy to read.” -- Electric Literature“This is a spirited, terrifyingly courageous, and searingly honest memoir of discovering sexual identity and strength.” -- Booklist“The Fixed Stars is a beautiful memoir about desire, divorce, coming out to family and friends and co-parenting through separation.” -- Parade“a touching look at modern love and life” -- Bustle“Through personal recollections, told in quietly beautiful prose you feel the urge to read out loud, she examines what happens before, during and after a seismic shift. A welcome reminder that sometimes feeling lost and found go hand-in-hand” -- A Cup of Jo

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Book SynopsisA new, addictive-to-read collection of essays and stories celebrating yarn—specifically, the knitter’s reputation for acquiring it in large quantities and storing it away in what’s lovingly referred to as a “stash.” The pieces in this collection span from comical to earnest, lighthearted to deeply philosophical, in a celebration of the how, why, when, and what of stashes each knitter has accumulated over the years. We’ll hear from bestselling authors, designers, yarn-store owners, essayists, sheep farmers, mill owners, and the people behind the world’s largest collective online stash, Ravelry.com.

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Book SynopsisIn late August of 2011, Shahbaz Taseer was driving to his office in Lahore, Pakistan when he was dragged from his car at gunpoint and kidnapped by members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a Taliban-affiliated terrorist group.Just seven months earlier, his father, Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab Province, had been shot dead by his guard for speaking out against Pakistan''s blasphemy laws.For almost five years Shahbaz was held captive, moved ever-deeper into the lawless Hindu Kush, frequently tortured and forced to endure extreme cruelty, his fate resting on his kidnappers'' impossible demands and the uneasy alliances between his captors and the Taliban and ISIS.Lost to the World is the remarkable true story of Taseer''s time in captivity, and of his astonishing escape. It is a story of extraordinary faith, bravery and sorrow, with moments of kindness and humour offering a hopeful light in the dark years of his imprisonment. By Trade ReviewAstounding-an honest and fascinating account of something almost no other person has survived. * Jemima Khan *This memoir is a complete tour de force of emotions. * Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and journalist *What a book. Lost to the World is a survival narrative unlike no other...Above all...a deeply moving testament to the triumph of human spirit. * Héctor Tobar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Deep Down Dark *An astonishing story. A fascinating book. * Hugo Rifkind *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author, neurosurgical ICU trauma nurse, and vice president of Amen Clinics Tana Amen shares how overcoming her traumatic past made her a passionate champion for others in need of healing and hope.A terrifying childhood of abandonment and abuse, battles with cancer and depression, and a never-ending fight to be valued for more than her outward appearance conspired to rob Tana Amen of a voice--and the healthy future she deserved. Then, as a single working-mother secretly suffering from an eating disorder, she met Dr. Daniel Amen, the world-renowned psychiatrist and groundbreaking researcher using brain-scan imagery to transform clinical practice. Through their relationship she was able to release her need for self-protection, find healing, and experience transformation and wholeness.Written in a refreshingly direct style, this powerful book is an eye-opening account of one woman''s courage to face her past and

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Book Synopsis"Cancer is not a laughing matter, as I was told by a cross German lady from Dortmund when I showed her this journal. She had herself had breast cancer and is right of course; there are lots of things that are not fun about cancer, most of them unavoidable. I was therefore as surprised as the next person to realise that a huge amount of funny things happen on the way to chemo, or indeed on the way to most places, and that once you get your eye in, you completely forget to be scared..." This is not just an educational book about cancer, although it is certainly safe to give to cancer patients as a cheerful present. More importantly, it sheds new light on: why Kim Kardashian is worth Keeping Up With; what playlists to make for MRI scans; the truth behind the legend of Medea; bikini etiquette on a deserted beach; what to do with a glut of rainbow chard; what an Oscar-winner should say in an acceptance speech; how to deal with cold-callers selling life insurance; and what to wear on a March Against Menopause (layers, obviously)...Trade ReviewA gem, a hilarious 100-carat perfect diamond of a gem.This made me laugh and feel like I'm not alone; whenever I feel down, I read it again.

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of a traumatic event, a young man navigates small-town gossip, grief and recovery amidst a culture of toxic masculinity. “A heart-soaring act of literary bravery,” Car Crash is a hopeful, raw coming-of-age story for our times (Trent Dalton). “Bruisingly insightful.”—The Guardian • “Delivers from the first arresting page.”—Inside Story • “Moving, lyrical, warmly told and very funny.”—Brooke Davis, author of Lost & Found • “Shines with a fierce intelligence.”—Kristina Olsson, author of Shell Why did he get to live, and not them? This question has plagued Lech Blaine ever since he was a teenager, when he got into a car that never arrived at its destination. Of his crew of friends who were in the car, Blaine was the only passenger who made it out unscathed. In the aftermath of the accident that sent shockwaves through his small town, Blain was thrust into the local spotlight, fielding questions from journalists, police, and feeling pressure to perform his grief in public and on social media. In a community where men were expected to be strong and silent, Blaine felt that he had no one to turn to with his complicated emotions. In Car Crash, Blaine offers an intimate, brave account of what it’s like to survive a tragedy that others didn’t––and a moving portrait of a young person struggling to define his own masculinity. Blaine was raised to believe that being masculine meant projecting toughness, stoicism, and dominance, and this belief leads him to alcohol and disordered eating to cope with his pain. But as Blaine finally learns to open up with family, friends, and a therapist, he comes to realize the meaning of true strength, and the power of vulnerability to bring hope and healing. “Some books just have to be written. And some books just have to be read.”—Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows UniverseTrade Review“It’s an affecting portrait of a survivor.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisNational Bestseller Legendary musician Richard Marx offers an enlightening, entertaining look at his life and career.Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, 1989’s Repeat Offender, was an even bigger smash, going quadruple platinum and landing two singles at number one. He has written fourteen number one songs in total, shared a Song of the Year Grammy with Luther Vandross, and collaborated with a variety of artists including NSYNC, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Keith Urban. Lately, he’s also become a Twitter celebrity thanks to his outspokenness on social issues and his ability to out-troll his trolls. In Stories to Tell, Marx uses this same engaging, straight-talking style to look back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he’d written for him then asked for a 50% cut—which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. He tells the uncanny story of how he wound up curled up on the couch of Olivia Newton-John, his childhood crush, watching Xanadu. He shares the tribulations of working with the all-female hair metal band Vixen and appearing in their video. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he’s experienced it over four decades—the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him—and that doctors haven’t been able to solve. Stories to Tell is a remarkably candid, wildly entertaining memoir about the art and business of music.Trade Review“[Marx] takes readers on a roller­coaster ride of a rock and roll story…Marx has led a fascinating life; fans of his music and those less familiar with him will be absorbed.” –Traci Glass, Library Journal

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Book SynopsisShining a light on mania, depression and everything in between, this no-nonsense guide to life with bipolar disorder gives advice on how to manage the condition and work towards stability.Drawing on his own experiences, Kai Conibear discusses the realities of life with bipolar and shares practical tips and advice. He explains different symptoms, including mania, hypomania, psychosis and depression, and gives advice on managing relationships, facing stigma and discrimination and learning to be comfortable with stability. The book also contains a chapter on how friends, family and caregivers can support someone with bipolar practically. Whether you suspect you have bipolar disorder, have been recently diagnosed or have been living with the condition for many years, this honest but hopeful guide is a must read.Trade Review[Kai's] story captures the challenges of trying to access the right service at the right time and the stark realities of living with bipolar. This book is a great read for someone recently diagnosed with bipolar as the narrative is so relatable and accessible due to its honesty. It will also be of particular interest to family members or friends trying to better understand and empathise with someone they care about; or anyone who would like more knowledge of bipolar, its impact and how you can start to build a life that is not defined by the diagnosis. -- From the Foreword by Calum Harris, Lorraine Gillies and Aditya Sharma, National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service, CNTW NHS Foundation Trust

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Book SynopsisMy illness may define the length of my life, but it won't define how I live it. My disability gave me the ability to understand and help others. And now I finally feel like I am living. 17-year-old Lewis Hine is a global phenomenon. Diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour and water on the brain at 17 months, he wasn't expected to survive. But Lewis proved everyone wrong; he's not only surviving but thriving. In one Facebook post on his 16th birthday Lewis invited everyone to see how he faces head on the challenges from his ongoing illness, and he went viral. 30 million views later, Lewis now spearheads a campaign, Friend Finder, to make sure no one ever faces childhood illness alone. In his memoir, Lewis reaches out to anyone who may feel isolated in their lives. After 13 brain surgeries and continual health problems, life for Lewis is a daily challenge. From the sheer physical challenges - he is at high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and has a pump in his brain just to keep him alive - to the horrendous bullying he's endured, he shares how he finds the strength to overcome all this and still lead a fun and fulfilling life. With a host of admirers around the world from Elton John to Kid Ink, Lewis is living his dream - even becoming Radio 1's Teen Hero of the Year. His story will make you laugh, cry and above all, feel inspired by life's endless possibilities, looking at the stars.Trade ReviewI love what Lewis has done with his life, it's so inspiring to hear. Giving him his Radio 1 Teen Hero award on stage at Wembley made me very proud, and hearing how loud the crowd screamed just showed what people thought of the amazing work he's doing. I saw first-hand the incredible things he is creating with Friend Finder when we worked on the prom together. Lewis is changing people's lives and he's a true teen hero. -- Nick GrimshawTo be comfortable in your skin was the biggest topic for me because I'm somebody who's always judged just by how I look. Lewis is showing the world it's OK to be different and that disabilities and personalities make the world colourful. Lewis said I'm his hero, well, he's mine. He is so young and going through so much just to stay alive and yet he gives his everything to help others and make a positive impact in the world. Keep fighting Lew. -- Kid InkTo me, in this day and age when we have so much bad news, it's so wonderful to see someone so young doing something so brave and so wonderful. It teaches us all a lesson. It's just really inspirational. -- Elton JohnLewis continues to do incredible things in his life and constantly proves that one person can make all the difference in other people's lives, and for that I (and everyone else) am forever grateful. -- KSILewis is a true inspiration for us all to remember to never give up on our hopes and dreams - stay positive and keep fighting! I feel very honoured to support Lewis with this book that also raises awareness of epilepsy. -- Jennie Jacques (Queen Judith in Vikings)

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational and insightful guide for those who want to get it all by doing less For women, a glass ceiling at work is not the only barrier to success - it''s also the increasing number of obligations they face once they leave the office. Women have become accustomed to delegating, advocating and negotiating for themselves in the workplace, but when it comes to managing home life, they are still juggling too many balls. A simple solution is staring them in the face: use these skills to negotiate in their personal lives. In Drop The Ball, Tiffany Dufu urges the reader to embrace imperfection, to expect less of themselves and more from others - enabling them to flourish at work and develop deeper, more meaningful relationships at home.Trade ReviewWe won't reach equality in the workplace without equality in the home. Drop the Ball shows how everyone benefits when men work toward equality - and how our relationships and our lives are richer when we lean in together -- Sheryl SandbergIf you could follow a path to a stronger marriage, a happier family, and greater economic and emotional security, would you be interested? I thought so. Tiffany Dufu's Drop the Ball is that path. And she's awfully good company along the way -- Susan CainTiffany Dufu writes with verve and wit, turning her life story into life lessons for all of us. A marvellous and instructive read! -- Anne-Marie SlaughterDrop the Ball is a must read for all women and girls. Tiffany Dufu reminds us that we must focus on what truly matters and let go of the rest. She gives us specific tools and techniques to help us achieve our goals and live authentic lives free of guilt and regret -- Reshma Saujani, founder Girls Who CodeIn sharing her moving personal story, Tiffany Dufu offers many practical suggestions for women to achieve their goals. But what influenced me the most about this book was the wisdom she imparts to men about how to be better partners in supporting the leadership journeys of the women in their lives. Drop the Ball is a refreshingly honest, remarkably inspiring read -- Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of 'Originals' and 'Give and Take'Drop the Ball is important, path-breaking, intimate, and brave -- Gloria SteinemTiffany is a prominent American feminist and this is a compelling book (...) Dufu believes that in order to lean in at work, women should correspodenly lean back at home * Harper's Bazaar *Simple yet effective and helpful -- Lorraine Candy * Sunday Times Magazine *While Dufu's book is about a high-achieving woman and probably resonates most with others in the same position, it's not only for women. It's for anyone used to being top of the class, to juggling every ball without letting one drop, to being put-together at all times. It's also for anyone who loves, or who shares a household with, that person. I've recommended it to friends, to coworkers, to acquaintances. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't anyone who shouldn't read Drop the Ball. -- Libby kane * Business insider UK *the book isn't just for working mothers trying to figure out how to make it all actually work. It's for any young, ambitious woman, and the loved ones in her life who want to see her succeed -- Lindsey Stanberry * Refinery29 *

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Book Synopsis"My life is a constant battle between vanity and laziness. This book has brokered the perfect peace deal!" - Graham NortonShould I tint my eyebrows?How can I get a squarer jawline?Which style of trouser would make my legs look longer?Leading lifestyle columnist and magazine editor, Jeremy Langmead, has men constantly asking him for answers to these questions and more.In Vain Glorious, he teams up with Harley Street aesthetic doctor David Jack to lift the lid on all the anti-ageing and beauty secrets now available for men, from Botox to hair thickening treatments. Dr Jack provides the medical expertise, whilst Langmead test-drives the products and procedures on offer - sharing often hilarious snapshots of his own hit-and-miss journey of rejuvenation, as well as sartorial tricks and insider tips from his time editing Esquire and running the men's fashion website mrporter.com. Vain Glorious is an honest and practical guide to help men feel comfortable in their own skin.Trade ReviewFunny, fast and fact-filled. Always a treat to witness Jeremy's adventures in the shallows of male vanity. * Richard Madden *Clear, concise, packed with info and hilariously candid - contains every single thing men need to know about looking good. It's like a bible. * India Knight *Epically judgy, revoltingly superficial and terrifyingly funny, Jeremy Langmead is a monster of vanity. I can think of no one on Earth or any other planet better qualified to write this book. * Alex Bilmes, Editor of Esquire UK *

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Book Synopsis‘A stunning and devastating indictment of a society scarred and defined by inequality, by one of the most charismatic and compelling voices in politics today’ Owen Jones ‘Faiza’s work is living proof that you don’t have to choose between focusing on class and battling racism, or to triangulate on hate in order to advance a political cause. She’s a testament to the power of rising with your community, and not out of it’ Ash Sarkar'Shaheen overcame a plethora of barriers to get to Oxford and become a leading statistician. In this thought-provoking read, she uses her own unlikely story to probe how society defines your chances in life – and what we can do about it' i At four years old, Dr Faiza Shaheen was told by her mum that one day she would study at the University of Oxford. As the daughter of a car mechanic attending state schools, the odds were lTrade Review‘A stunning and devastating indictment of a society scarred and defined by inequality, by one of the most charismatic and compelling voices in politics today’ -- Owen Jones‘Faiza’s work is living proof that you don’t have to choose between focusing on class and battling racism, or to triangulate on hate in order to advance a political cause. She’s a testament to the power of rising with your community, and not out of it’ -- Ash Sarkar‘A brilliant, forensic and also very personal analysis of how unfair life is in the most economically unequal country in Europe – giving power a strong dose of truth’ -- Professor Danny Dorling, University of Oxford‘In this impassioned and thoughtful book, Faiza Shaheen dismantles the myth of meritocracy and compellingly shows that we need to fundamentally challenge the unsustainable and unjust inequalities that abound in Britain today’ -- Professor Mike Savage, London School of Economics

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Book Synopsis*AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4 'BOOK OF THE WEEK'*'Lip-lickingly, dance-around-the-living-room good... A smash hit' Observer'Unflinching and heartwarming' - Adam Kay'Tender, clever and as funny as it gets ... a heart-piercing joy' - Lauren Laverne'An exceptional coming-of-age story [...] Pete Paphides may very well have the biggest heart in Britain' - Marina Hyde'I ADORE this utterly wonderful coming-of-age memoir. Joyful, clever, and a bit heartbreaking' - Nina Stibbe__________'Do you sometimes feel like the music you're hearing is explaining your life to you?'When Pete's parents moved from Cyprus to Birmingham in the 1960s in the hope of a better life, they had no money and only a little bit of English. They opened a fish-and-chip shop in Acocks Green. The Great Western Fish Bar is where Pete learned about coin-operated machines, male banter and Britishness.Shy and introverted, Pete stopped speaking from age 4 to 7, and found refuge instead in the bittersweet embrace of pop songs, thanks to Top of the Pops and Dial-A-Disc. From Brotherhood of Man to UB40, from ABBA to The Police, music provided the safety net he needed to protect him from the tensions of his home life. It also helped him navigate his way around the challenges surrounding school, friendships and phobias such as visits to the barber, standing near tall buildings and Rod Hull and Emu.With every passing year, his guilty secret became more horrifying to him: his parents were Greek, but all the things that excited him were British. And the engine of that realisation? 'Sugar Baby Love', 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', 'Tragedy', 'Silly Games', 'Going Underground', 'Come On Eileen', and every other irresistibly thrilling chart hit blaring out of the chip shop radio.Never have the trials and tribulations of growing up and the human need for a sense of belonging been so heart-breakingly and humorously depicted.*Listen along with Pete's BROKEN GREEK playlist on Spotify*'Heartfelt, hilarious and beautifully written, Broken Greek is a childhood memoir like no other' - Cathy Newman'So wonderfully written, such a light touch. Drenched in sentiment yet not in the least sentimental' - John Niven'It's brilliant. Sad, really funny and beautifully written ... just fantastic' - Alexis Petridis'A truly beautiful book' - James O'Brien'Intoxicating' - Kirsty Wark'Oh, how I love Pete Paphides and this book' - Daniel Finkelstein'A balm in these times' David Nicholls'Fantastic ... Can't recommend it highly enough' Tim BurgessTrade ReviewLip-lickingly, dance-around-the-living-room good... A smash hit -- Hannah Jane Parkinson * the Observer *I can't tell you how good this book is. Incredibly, it's Paphides's first - I'd be amazed (and disappointed) if it's his last -- Alan Johnson * New Statesman *Like the very best pop songs, it gets under your skin, and stays there -- Nick Duerden * Independent *Masterful -- Jamie Atkins * Record Collector *...you'll be enthralled by Paphides' funny, warm and sometimes heartbreaking account of how life-affirming music can be -- Jon Dennis * Telegraph *A perceptive writer, brilliant on bittersweet details... this is a plaintive account of cultural assimilation that is also brilliantly, honestly funny -- Andrew Male * Mojo *A damn-near perfect book -- Owen Richards * The Arts Desk *A book that will leave you smiling -- Martin Chilton * Independent *Wonderful -- Victoria Segal * Q Magazine *If you have ever... found solace in a song, you will relish this book -- Jackie Annesley * The Sunday Times *Paphides can write like a dream, and knows how to make his particular circumstances resonate for anyone who, when young, hungered for music... a terrific achievement -- Nick Lezard * Spectator *If you are in the market for a wonderfully written, deeply touching, pitch-perfect childhood memoir laced liberally with 70s nostalgia, then you need look no further * Long Live Vinyl *All the energy, thrill and immediacy of your favourite single. I can think of no higher praise than that -- Teddy Jamieson * the Herald *Tender, heartfelt, humane and very funny -- Joe Clay * The Times *The day before I read the last line of the last page, I was struck by an immediate longing to stay in it -- Andres Lokko * Svenska Dagbladet *Paphides turns what could have been just another immigrant story into a detailed profusion of fact, genuine fun and a yearning, yarn-spinning search for cultural identity -- Tony Clayton-Lea * Irish Times *Many of the challenges faced by young Paphides are standard childhood fare. It is in the telling that the author elevates his story to something rather beautiful -- Chris Deerin * Big Issue *This is such an exceptional coming-of-age story, not just because Pete Paphides has stunningly faultless emotional recall, but because he puts the memory to such warm and generous use. It is, for me, a study in kindness, borne of a lifetime of listening - to records, to his parents' stories of their past, to others, to everything. Perhaps three childhood years without speaking makes you the most extraordinary listener. I didn't just laugh and cry - though obviously I did both those things throughout. I completely fell in love with this book, and with its boy hero, though I'm sure he'd be far too modest and mortified to be described that way. He is, though. In fact, Pete Paphides may very well have the biggest heart in Britain * Marina Hyde *This is a truly beautiful book. It makes the deeply personal profoundly universal and reminds us all of how much we have in common, wherever our parents might have come from * James O'Brien *I thought I wouldn't be musicky enough. And then I started reading. I wish I'd started earlier! So moving. I'm having to read it in short instalments, which is a cruel constraint, but at least it means I have longer to go before finishing it. And I don't want to finish it ever * Nigella Lawson *Heartwarming, sharp and beautifully observed * Roisin Ingle *Oh, how I love Pete Paphides and this book. He can't write a paragraph that isn't funny or moving or insightful and often all three at once. For someone from a refugee family, like me, it just reads so true, but it's also a painting of another life so rich, so deep, that they should hang it in the National Gallery -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Unflinching and heartwarming * Adam Kay *Tender, clever and as funny as it gets ... a heart-piercing joy * Lauren Laverne *I ADORE this utterly wonderful coming-of-age memoir. Joyful, clever, and a bit heartbreaking * Nina Stibbe *Heartfelt, hilarious and beautifully written, Broken Greek is a childhood memoir like no other * Cathy Newman *So wonderfully written, such a light touch. Drenched in sentiment yet not in the least sentimental * John Niven *An absolute cherished read. Didn't want it to end * Annie Nightingale *Warm and eccentric, it's rightly being talked up as the Fever Pitch of Pop * Guardian *With its forensic attention to detail and exquisite unpacking of the pre-teen mind, Broken Greek is an intensely personal hymn that sings a universal tune. Like the very best pop songs, it gets under your skin, and stays there * i *Every single page is a joy to read, entertainingly but unsentimentally written ... This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read for a long time, a coming of age memoir that manages to be simultaneously tender, heartbreaking and laugh out loud funny * The Afterword *Epic childhood memoir * The Week *Utterly joyous * Financial Times *Entertaining, authentic and funny * Strong Words *A must-read for music fans * Sheerluxe *Such a heartfelt, genuinely affecting read * The Daily Express *A smart and nostalgic read * Magic FM *Endearing * Saga Magazine *Confessional, sorrowful and sublime * BA High Life Magazine *If you love music and how it weaves its way into our lives, this is a perfect read * Get Ready to Rock *A warm and welcome corrective to the typical music-themed coming-of-age tale * Radio Times *An extraordinary, moving and funny coming-of-age memoir * Love It! magazine *A love letter to cheesy 1970s pop * Telegraph *Funny and evocative * Guardian *A sweet and funny ode to the power of music * The Times *Anyone who has felt the power of pop to 'explain' their life to them, as Paphides has, will love this * Metro *There are a tonne of music-related memoirs by songwriters and music journalists out there, but this funny, soulful, coming-of-age autobiography will get under your skin like no other this year * The Big Issue *[Broken Greek] captures why the 1970s was such a weird decade and is also a loving testimony to the part music played in helping Paphides find a cultural identity. The book is also full of witty, authentic reflections on football, something you don't always find when authors horn in on the beautiful game. * Independent *Broken Greek took me on a fantastic journey back in to pop obsession and I loved it * Damon Albarn *Original, wry and radical * Mary Beard *This prize-winning memoir is a tender portrait of growing up between two cultures * Daily Mail *A delicious, music-mad coming of age memoir * Daily Mirror *Explains with enormous wit, warmth and pathos why pop music came to be [Paphides's] life-consuming passion * The Guardian *The model of the music-writer-memoir-with-a-twist ... enormous wit, warmth and pathos * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWhat would happen if you built one of the world’s most advanced societies inside a forest—and strove to make women full partners in power?After living for twenty-five years in New York, Naomi Moriyama moved with her husband and co-author William Doyle and their seven-year-old child to the vast forest of Finland's Karelia, a mysterious region on the Russian border that helped inspire J.R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth fantasies. She entered a life-altering zone of tranquility, peace, and beauty, the spiritual heart of the nation ranked as the happiest nation on Earth, with among the world's most empowered women. Finland is also the country with cleanest air and water and the best schools, a country where motherhood and fatherhood are championed by law, childhood is revered, schoolchildren are required to play outdoors multiple times a day, and trains contain mini-libraries and mini-playgrounds for children to enjoy. It was here in the Karelian forest that Naomi found a culinary symphony of succulent wild edibles, herbs, berries, mushrooms and fish, all freshly plucked from the moss-carpeted forest and sparkling clear streams. She also found something that changed her life—a tribe of invincible women who became her soul-sisters. As an idyllic summer and fall gave way to a sub-Arctic winter of mind-bending darkness and cold, Naomi faced her fears and her future. Over the course of six unforgettable months with her family and her new “sisters”, she found her life transformed, and discovered the power that lay within her all along. Then she tried to leave. But she kept coming back. Come, take a journey deep into Europe's most distant, magical wilderness, and join the sisterhood of the enchanted forest.

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Book SynopsisBorn in Vienna in 1936, David Pryce-Jones is the son of the well-known writer and editor of the Times Literary Supplement Alan Pryce-Jones and Therese “Poppy” Fould-Springer. He grew up in a cosmopolitan mix of industrialists, bankers, soldiers, and playboys on both sides of a family, embodying the fault lines of the title: “not quite Jewish and not quite Christian, not quite Austrian and not quite French or English, not quite heterosexual and not quite homosexual, socially conventional but not quite secure.”Graduating from Magdalen College, Oxford, David Pryce-Jones served as Literary Editor of the Financial Times and the Spectator, a war correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, and Senior Editor of National Review. Fault Lines is a memoir that spans Europe, America, and the Middle East and encompasses figures ranging from Somerset Maugham to Svetlana Stalin to Elie de Rothschild. As seen on Channel 4's My Grandparents' War, with Helena Bonham Carter, the memoir has the storytelling power of Pryce-Jones’s numerous novels and non-fiction books, and is perceptive and poignant testimony to the fortunes and misfortunes of the present age.

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Book Synopsis‘Highly eloquent, fascinating and deeply compassionate’ Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm We cannot know how to fix a problem until we understand its causes. But even for some of the most common mental health problems, specialists argue over whether the answers lie in the person’s biology, their psychology or their circumstances. As a cognitive neuropsychiatrist, Anthony David brings together many fields of enquiry, from social and cognitive psychology to neurology. The key for each patient might be anything from a traumatic memory to a chemical imbalance, an unhealthy way of thinking or a hidden tumour. Patrick believes he is dead. Jennifer's schizophrenia medication helped with her voices but did it cause Parkinson’s? Emma is in a coma – or is she just refusing to respond? Drawing from Professor David’s career as a clinician and academic, these fascinating case studies reveal the unique complexity of the human mind, stretching the limits of our understanding.Trade Review‘David’s stories are fascinating, and he does something quite remarkable with his tone. Here the obvious comparison is to the neurologist and prolific writer Oliver Sacks... Rarely have I read a book whose title is so true. Reading it was like standing on the edge of a great chasm and seeing how easily an unforeseen mishap could send any one of us tumbling in.’ -- New York Times‘A deeply moving book.’ * BBC Science *‘The first thing that comes across from the stories is David’s obvious compassion for his patients. This is typified not just by his thoughtful medical interventions and the doctor-patient conversations he recounts in vivid detail, but also by his willingness to raise hell with the relevant bureaucrats when pointless rules get in the way… David’s case studies are illuminating and benefit considerably from his warm, self-deprecating style.’ -- Dr Stuart Ritchie, Sunday Times‘A highly eloquent, fascinating and deeply compassionate book about the continuing mystery of mental illness and the cruel fallacy of seeing it as somehow less real and deserving than so-called physical illness.’ -- Henry Marsh CBE, neurosurgeon and author of Do No Harm'I was expecting this to make my brain hurt, but I was immediately hooked on it...A witty, humane and fascinating book.' -- Jo Brand‘The book leads the reader through each individual case with literary ease and clarity of explanation, generating understanding and a familiarity, as the reader becomes acquainted with each patient through his gentle, observant, often witty and always engaging narrative.’ -- Fortean Times‘Few are better suited to tell the story of our mental lives than Anthony David. He has written a beautiful, intimate book of the stories he's seen, one that probes at the nexus of the biological and societal...In his shoes, we get to step into the private realm of the psychiatrist's office, and often into the lingering questions left in the psychiatrist's mind.’ -- Dr David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford University and author of Incognito and The Brain‘David writes interestingly and in detail (with the patients' permission) about the disorders which his seven patients suffer and the way these affect their lives. He tells of his own actions, the questions he asks, the responses of the patients to his investigations and treatments, and his difficulties in finding the causes of their disorders. He is honest, too, about his successes and failures […] David's interactions with his patients bring this book to life. He is interested in his patients as individuals and wants to work with them to find the cause of the problem and the most effective treatment […] In the end, looking at the functioning of the brain may be like looking into the abyss, but with this book David hopes to 'demystify psychiatry' and 'help us to change things for the better'.’ * Midwest Book Review *‘An illuminating, thoughtful and humane encounter with the human mind.’ -- Nathan Filer, author of This Book Will Change Your Mind About Mental Health‘Some years ago I told the BMJ that the three biggest influences on me were Anthony Clare, Anthony Soprano and Anthony David. The first sadly is no longer with us, the second never existed, but I am delighted to say that the third has just produced the book we knew he alone could. It’s a classic – warm, erudite, and endlessly fascinating. It reminds me of Oliver Sacks in his prime, and there is no higher praise.’ -- Sir Simon Wessely, Professor of Psychological Medicine, King's College London‘What an insightful and heartfelt book. Professor David's seven in-depth cases expose both the rifts and junctures of the brain and the disordered mind. By emphasizing the subjective inner life of his patients, he provides a welcome antidote to the reductionist thinking of modern medicine while still adhering to sound principles of neuroscience.’ -- Dr Alan Ropper, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and author of Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole: Extraordinary Journeys into the Human Brain'Anthony David brings alive the specialist language of neuropsychiatry – the medical domain where the brain meets the mind – in a series of erudite, insightful and sympathetic accounts of individual patients and their families. This book is written on the basis of a lifetime’s clinical experience but readable by anyone who wants to know more about some of the most challenging and perplexing disorders of consciousness, thought and emotion.' -- Dr Edward Bullmore, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge‘This powerful book can help everyone understand our minds better.’ -- Dr Rahul Jandial, author of Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon'[R]eaders will be captivated... Fascinating stories from the practice of a skilled neuropsychiatrist.' -- Kirkus (Starred reviews)'Displaying intellectual curiosity and pragmatic compassion, David focuses on cases in which the physiological and the psychological converge… Readers will come away from this thoughtful work feeling a sense of connection to both the patients profiled and the practitioners who aim to understand them.' -- Publishers Weekly'Readers seeking a realistic approach to understanding the potential causes of mental illness will appreciate David’s thought-provoking reflections, as will mental health professionals and fans of Oliver Sacks’s The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.' -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Senator Bernie Sanders explains where he comes from. He describes in detail how, after cutting his teeth in the Civil Rights movement, Sanders helped build an extraordinary grassroots political movement in Vermont, making it possible for him to become the first independent elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in forty years and now the longest-serving independent in U.S. political history. An extensive afterword by The Nation's National Affairs correspondent John Nichols continues the story with Sanders's entrance into the Senate, the drama of the 2016 Democratic Primary, his ongoing resistance to Trump, and the thrilling launch of his 2020 bid for the White House. A new foreword by Nina Turner, former president of Our Revolution and co-chair of the Sanders for President campaign, provides a rare glimpse of Bernie as a person. Outsider in the White House tells the story of a passionate and principled political life.Trade Review"I endorse Brother Bernie Sanders because he is a long-distance runner with integrity in the struggle for justice for over fifty years. Now is the time for his prophetic voice to be heard across our crisisridden country." --Cornel West, author of Race Matters "Bernie's been in the forefront of all the crucial environmental fights of recent years." --Bill McKibben, cofounder of 350.org "Bernie is the real thing. He's not about reading the polls and finding out what he needs to say in order to get elected. He's about an unwavering commitment to basic justice, equality and sound financial sense." --Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's and founder of Stampede: Stamp Money out of Politics "I feel weird using words like 'values' and 'morals' because those are words that have been co-opted to justify terrible things like bigotry and greed. I'd like to take those words back and use them to describe Bernie Sanders because his moral compass and sense of values inspire me." --Sarah Silverman, comedian and social commentator Praise for the original edition, Outsider in the House "A clear, compelling and comprehensive vision for reinvigorating democracy, reducing poverty, rebuilding the middle class and restructuring our health care and education systems. Sanders gives us a vision of the day when 'we will no longer be outsiders in the House.'" --In These Times "Outsider in the House is a rare achievement: a concise, compelling book that both tells an interesting story and provides a readable, down-to-earth blueprint for political change." --The Onion "A road map for how progressives can win elections and not be a part of the two party duopoly." --Ralph Nader "A grass-roots 'how-to' guide, especially helpful and inspirational for prospective independent candidates--a firsthand description of the career of the most successful American socialist politician in modern times." --The Hill

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Book SynopsisIn this revelatory memoir, doctor Cynthia Li shares the truth about her struggle with a disabling autoimmune illness, the limitations of Western medicine, and what sufferers need to know to truly begin healing-mind, body, and spirit.Cynthia Li had it all: a successful career in medicine, a loving marriage, children on the horizon. But it all came crashing down when, within months of having her first child, she developed mysterious symptoms that baffled her doctors. After two years of "normal" test results with no relief from Western medicine, Li was no longer well enough to practice. Her quest for health became a solo odyssey-she had to find a way to heal herself.Brave New Medicine details the disabling autoimmune crisis that forced Li to question her own medical training and embrace the integrative principles of functional medicine to unlock her body's innate healing capacity . With the insight of an MD who was able to dissect and heal the root causes of her own autoimmune illness-one that conventional medicine said was incurable and irreversible-Li relates her story, including the emotional and spiritual shifts that occurred while investigating her true self, beyond illness and the conditions of the body.Millions of people are affected by chronic health conditions in the United States. But while issues such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia are receiving more and more attention, patients struggling with these mysterious autoimmune conditions are still dismissed by doctors and scientists in the established medical community. This is the harsh reality that doctor-turned- "difficult patient" Li faced firsthand when she developed autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic hypothyroidism (or Hashimoto's).Drawing on ancient healing arts, cutting-edge science, evolutionary biology, and the power of laughter and pleasure, this memoir offers support, validation, and a new perspective for anyone dealing with chronic illness or another health crisis. By sharing her own autoimmunity struggle, Li reveals the insider knowledge you need to start your own healing journey.

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Book SynopsisThrough conflicts in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, this is the vivid memoir of British sniper Craig Harrison.It takes a tough mindset to be a successful sniper, to be able to dig in for days on your own as you wait for your target, to stay calm on a battlefield when you yourself have become the target the enemy most want to take out. Craig Harrison has what it takes and in November 2009 in Afghanistan, under intense pressure, he saved the lives of his comrades with the longest confirmed sniper kill - 2,475 metres, the length of twenty-five football pitches.In The Longest Kill, his unflinching autobiography, Craig catapults us into the heat of the action as he describes his active service in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, and gives heart-stopping accounts of his sniper ops as he fought for his life on the rooftops of Basra and the barren hills of Helmand province. Craig was blown up by an IED in Afghanistan and left battling severe PTSD. AfterTrade ReviewFor any sniper, being able to place a projectile on a target at distance in combat can be a challenging task. There are a ton of factors that need to be taken into account for long distance shooting in order to achieve impact. For fellow sniper Craig Harrison, he truly went above and beyond and took the sniper's craft to a whole new high: placing a round on his targets at a distance exceeding a mile and a half (2475 m) while operating in the Helmand Provence, Afghanistan--a place I know all too well. It was an amazing shot that any sniper would be proud of and The Longest Kill is an amazing account of his impressive career. Congrats to Craig Harrison! * Nicholas Irving, former special operations sniper and New York Times bestselling author of The Reaper *

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Book Synopsis''DEEPLY HONEST, SURPRISINGLY HILARIOUS AND UPLIFTING'' The Pool ''HEART-WARMING: UNMISSABLE'' Damian Barr, MetroSusan Calman is a much-loved comedian and writer who has appeared on countless radio and television programmes from The News Quiz and Just a Minute to Armchair Detectives and Secret Scotland. She''s hosted the podcast Mrs Brightside and stole the nation''s hearts in Strictly Come Dancing. Her breakout solo stand up show, Susan Calman is Convicted, dealt with subjects like the death penalty, appearance and depression. It was the overwhelming and positive reaction to the show she wrote about mental health that made Susan want to write a more detailed account of surviving depression when you''re the world''s most negative and anxious person. The Crab of Hate is the personification of Calman''s depression and her version of the notorious Trade ReviewSusan Calman never fails to make me hoot with laughter * Sarah Millican *Fantastic, funny, moving... A perceptive look at depression - with added laughs' * Viv Groskop *The forthcoming, heartbreaking and heart-warming memoir from the Radio 4 favourite... Avoiding all the usual 'tears of a clown' clichés, she tackles homophobia, self-harm and finding your voice. Unmissable * Damian Barr, Metro *Deeply personal and painfully honest but funny * The Times Scotland *Calman's account of depression, though deeply honest, is surprisingly hilarious and uplifting * Hannah Varrell, The Pool *There are so many depressing books about being funny, so it's refreshing to ready a funny one about about being depressed. I have never laughed quite so heartily at someone else's genuine distress - which I hope is her intention * Miles Jupp *A really important message, but hilarious at the same time * BBC The One Show *Talked with engaging candour and humour about her own struggle to keep it at bay * Scotsman (Edinburgh Book Festival coverage) *A breezily accessible account * Metro *Wonderfully funny * BBC Woman's Hour *Candid and often laugh-out-loud-funny... There's no sense that Cheer Up Love is a deliberate act of catharsis or an attempt to hasten any kind of healing process. Instead Calman presents herself as a woman who has already come to terms with who she is * Sunday Herald *A compelling memoir... engaging insight... Susan's outstanding sense of humour shines through to create an uplifting survival handbook * The Lady *This is a book that everyone should read, and not only because it makes a serious issue both engaging and instructive... a vital account of mental ill-health * The National *A wonderful and honest book. I thoroughly endorse this product * Emma Kennedy *This is a book that, like a female stereotype, multitasks. For those who suffer from bouts of depression and mental illness it provides solace, understanding and advice. For those living with or close to people suffering from depression, it gives you insight into why some of your well meant but unhelpful or even damaging suggestions seem to fall on deaf ears. If you picked it up purely to find out what makes Susan Calman tick, where she comes from and incidents that shaped the comedian and writer here today, there's that too! * Kate Stone, Funny Women *More use than a standard self-help book * National *Her story is a pleasure to read... Calman's warmth and humour shines through * AND Guide ****PRAISE FOR SUSAN CALMAN***Glasgow-born comic Calman is a dead-cert-one-to-watch; she's got an infectious bubbly manner but a caustic edge too, and both can yield comedy gold * Guardian *Feisty Scot Calman is one of the best female comics to ever come out of the land of bagpipes and haggis. She'll make you chuckle your pants off * Time Out *Calman fizzed manic energy, alternating between confessional tales and playing with facts she teased out of the audience * Edinburgh Evening News *surely prove as useful for those in contact with depressives as it is for sufferers... the authenticity of her stories resonates more than any more formal study of depression ever could... darkly funny. * Chortle *

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Book SynopsisIncludes stories such as 'Laminex and Mirrors', 'Cross-Country', and 'Ashes'.

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Book SynopsisA personal investigation into women's hormones, periods, #MeToo and hysteria. An empowering mix of feminism, memoir, psychology and biology, determined to give women control over their own bodies.Trade ReviewMorgan peels away the mysteries of hormonal changes while stating clearly how long these discussions have been silenced. It's both fascinating and a huge relief to take this fresh look at our innermost selves in the company of a wise and kind voice * Grazia *The joy of Eleanor Morgan's guide is just how revealing and informative it is . . . she has created a go-to manual that also acts as an understanding of our minds as well as our bodies - how hormones can affect your self-belief, anxiety levels, confidence and beyond. An essential read for all adults, it should also be made part of the core curriculum up and down the land * Stylist * A must read for all generations and genders * iNews *"There is power in knowing ourselves better," writes Eleanor Morgan in her second book. Power through knowledge is precisely what she sets out to give the readers in this exploration into the myriad ways the body affects the mind. From a refresher course on the menstrual cycle to the societal and cultural ways in which women's bodies are controlled, Hormonal feels like an essential guide in helping us truly understand our cores * Vogue *A must-read. Informative, funny, moving and wise. It had me raging about the ignored reality of the female bodyIt is galling to read [in Hormonal] how often women's pain is dismissed. But it is the mental anguish caused (in part) by hormones that is the essence of Morgan's work. Anyone who suffers from PMS will find the relatability has you almost levitating with relief * Metro *Really interesting - about understanding women's reproductive health and reclaiming the h-word from its connotations of madness and hysteria * Sunday Times *Morgan's exploration of the chemicals that from puberty yank us lie a puppeteer's strings is a personal yet scientific, subtle and often lyrical work * The Times *An urgent page-turner connecting the thread between the author's own reproductive history and the cultural, political, and social factors that convince women their bodies are up for grabs, Eleanor Morgan makes a convincing case for calling out the patriarchal systems that substitute the word 'crazy' for real care. Reading Hormonal should be a rite of passage for every woman who wants to relearn her body and reclaim her selfHormonal is a thoroughly researched book on women's bodies and women's emotions, our moods and our physical memories. A topic that should never go out of style, especially in a time when our reproductive rights are being overturned and horrifically discarded, Eleanor Morgan has written and created a definitive road map for all of us. Filled with wisdom and wit and brilliant insight, Morgan covers everything from menstruation to menopause to the #MeToo movement, from PMS to PMDD to PTSD, from dietary supplements to dietary issues to hormonal replacement therapies. To quote Morgan, 'It is in our capacity to inquire, analyze, look around and ask for better that we are most powerful.' Eleanor Morgan has done just that * AMY FERRIS, author of Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis and editor of Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and Feeling Blue *A powerful and beautifully written account of Morgan's experiences with anxiety and depression, and a rigorously researched examination of why they happen and how they can be managed. As well as speaking to fellow sufferers, Morgan consults psychiatrists, psychologists, OCD specialists, gastroenterologists and nutritionists, and bones up on Kierkegaard, Freud and Hippocrates (the latter was the first to describe a patient with social anxiety).It is with a mixture of humanity and clear-sightedness that she analyses genetic and environmental influences, trauma, hormones, fertility, parenthood, medication, social stigma and language, all the while linking back to her own stories and those of fellow sufferers. In assuming the dual role of memoirist and investigative journalist, Morgan gradually comes to terms with her own anxiety disorder. She offers no firm answers or miracle cures, and is careful to remind us that, when it comes to mental illness, no two cases are the same. Her willingness to share what so many others strive to keep hidden, to thoroughly demystify her condition, is courageous and compelling * Guardian on Anxiety for Beginners *This fusion of memoir and scientific investigation is very accessible . . . with a generous dollop of humanity * Irish Times on Anxiety for Beginners *

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Book SynopsisRaja Shehadeh was born into a successful Palestinian family with a beautiful house overlooking the Mediterranean. When the state of Israel was formed in 1948 the family were driven out to the provincial town of Ramallah. There Shehadeh grew up in the shadow of his father, a leading civil rights lawyer. He vowed not to become involved in politics or law but inevitably did so and became an important activist himself. In 1985 his father was stabbed to death. The Israeli police failed to investigate the murder properly and Shehadeh, by then a lawyer, set about solving the crime that destroyed his family. In Strangers in the House, Shehadeh recounts his troubled and complex relationship with his father and his experience of exile - of being a stranger in his own land. It is a remarkable memoir that combines the personal and political to devastating effect.Trade ReviewA sad, dignified book. Shehadeh writes with great clarity and simplicity, but no bitterness, more in sorrow than in anger about the unhappy history of his family and country. * Independent *A remarkable human document that explains better than a hundred political treatises why there is still no peace in the Middle East -- Amos ElonA book with a huge sensory impact * Financial Times *Its intimate portrayal of one family's history offers important insights into the wider Palestinian story -- Stephen Howe * New Statesman *Distinctive and truly impressive * Economist *

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Book SynopsisLiving with cerebral palsy is enormously difficult. But what if you never knew you had it? This is the incredible story of Ilana Stankler. Born the second of premature twins, an hour apart, from a young age Ilana knew she was different, but for all the wrong reasons. A child of the 60s, Ilana experienced first-hand the way that disability was, at the time, so often brushed under the carpet, not spoken about. Her constant physical and mental struggles made her feel isolated, alone, frustrated, and misunderstood... and it took 46 years for her to find out why. Part memoir, part motivational guide, Cerebral Palsy: My story is Ilana's open and honest journey from an angry, confused child, knowing something was wrong, not knowing what was wrong, what her disability was, or that there was a diagnosis - to the `real' her - a courageous woman using her experiences and lessons to create inspiring messages about mental and physical health, resilience and change.

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Book SynopsisA BEST BOOK OF 2023 IN THE TIMES, GUARDIAN AND WALL STREET JOURNALFrom Hadley Freeman, bestselling author of House of Glass, comes a searing memoir about her experience with anorexia, and her long journey to full recovery.From the ages of fourteen to seventeen, Freeman lived in psychiatric wards after developing anorexia nervosa. For the next twenty years, she grappled with various forms of self-destructive behaviour as the anorexia mutated and persisted.Anorexia is one of the most widely discussed but least understood mental illnesses. In a brilliant narrative that combines personal experience with deep reporting on the issues around the illness, Freeman details her experiences with anorexia, and how she overcame it.Good Girls is an honest and hopeful story that will be profoundly helpful for those who suffer from an eating disorder, and those who desperately want to understand them.Trade Review‘A frank and insightful account … offers insight into the unique struggle of adolescent girls in an era when they are told they can be anything’ The Times ‘A clear-eyed view of a debilitating and misunderstood illness’ Guardian ‘Freeman manages to turn this tragic and taxing tale into a gripping story’ Financial Times ‘This is a vital contribution that it’s to be hoped will change how we understand anorexia, and perhaps also influence the messages we put across to young girls’ Jewish Chronicle ‘For parents of girls with eating disorders, this is vital, revelatory, and deeply moving’ Caitlin Moran ‘Recounting her years of anorexia with uncommon honesty, Hadley Freeman makes a powerful case for finding the will to live’ Lauren Collins, author of When In French ‘Breaking the silence around eating disorders with piercing honesty’ Hugo Rifkind, Times columnist ‘I urge any anorexic, or parent of an anorexic, to read this book’ Daily Mail ‘This is a heart-breaking account of what might lead someone to feel self-starvation is her only option and Freeman should be commended for her bravery in writing about this’ Evening Standard ‘She has brought to bear every ounce of her trademark clarity, precision and wit to render her own experience, and that of other women with anorexia, with the utmost specificity and sensitivity’ New York Times ‘Freeman is a brave, illuminating and meticulous reporter, and uses her experience wisely’ Observer

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times bestseller: the unflinching, raw and utterly hilarious book about parenthood that everyone should read'Very, very, very funny' JO BRAND'Bloody hilarious' CARIAD LLOYD'Full of honesty, heart and humour' JASON MANFORD'Raw, honest and hilarious' ROSIE RAMSAY'Refreshingly honest' ROMESH RANGANATHAN'Consistently funny and life affirming' JOSH WIDDICOMBE'I want my daughters to read this book' SINDHU VEEMy Child and Other Mistakes is the honest lowdown on Motherhood and all its grisly delights, asking the questions no one wants to admit to asking themselves - do I want a child? Do I have a favourite? Do I wish I hadn't had one and spent the money on a kitchen island instead? Stand-up comic, broadcaster and actress Ellie Taylor is relatable, clever and interested in how women can have it all. Her honest, hilarious and moving account of the whys and hows of having a baby makes perfect reading for expectant mothers and fathers everywhere, as well as those who've been there, done that, and wonder how on earth they did. In this very funny book she writes candidly about her own personal experience exploring the decision to have a baby when she doesn't even like them, the importance of cheese during pregnancy, why she took hair straighteners to the labour ward, plus the apocalyptic newborn days, childcare, work and the inevitable impact on life and love and most importantly, her breasts.READERS ARE LOVING MY CHILD AND OTHER MISTAKES***** 'Should be given out by health visitors to new moms' ***** 'It's like Ellie dove into my brain and wrote about my own personal experience of motherhood' ***** 'The comfort I took knowing I'm not alone has been like therapy!'***** 'I have recommended it to all my child raising friends.'***** 'An absolute must read'

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Book SynopsisThomas Buergenthal is unique. Liberated from the death camps of Auschwitz at the age of eleven, in adulthood he became a judge at the International Court in The Hague. In his honest and heartfelt memoirs, he tells the story of his extraordinary journey - from the horrors of Nazism to an investigation of modern day genocide. Aged ten Thomas Buergenthal arrived at Auschwitz after surviving the Ghetto of Kielce and two labour camps, and was soon separated from his parents. Using his wits and some remarkable strokes of luck, he managed to survive until he was liberated from Sachsenhausen in 1945. After experiencing the turmoil of Europe's post-war years - from the Battle of Berlin, to a Jewish orphanage in Poland - Buergenthal went to America in the 1950s at the age of seventeen. He eventually became one of the world's leading experts on international law and human rights. His story of survival and his determination to use law and justice to prevent further genocide is an epic and inspirational journey through twentieth century history. His book is both a special historical document and a great literary achievement, comparable only to Primo Levi's masterpieces.Trade ReviewAn understated and quietly powerful memoir ... A Lucky Child is not one to miss -- Libby Purves, Radio 4 MidweekWhat makes this memoir so rewarding is, in the darkness, the indomitable spirit of the child -- Genevieve Fox * Telegraph *A tour de force: simply narrated, at times almost naïve - and even more shocking as a result -- Camilla Long * Sunday Times News Review *What Buergenthal has to say, both in bearing witness to the Holocaust and in describing his moral coming-to-adulthood, deserves our attention. He has serious things to tell us about forgiveness, justice and the curious effect of deep trauma on the mind. -- Sam Leith * Daily Mail *A very life-affirming narrative ... positive and uplifting * New Books magazine *A book that extends the boundaries of the genre ... Buergenthal demonstrates a great depth of compassion and humanity and this inspiring book becomes essentially a story of hope and a reaffirmation of the generosity of the human spirit -- Stephen J. Mckinney * Expository Times *Reminiscent of Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel...Buergenthal [speaks] most eloquently for the millions of Holocaust victims who cannot. * The Oklahoman *Powerful ... The author's story is astonishing and moving, and his capacity for forgiveness is remarkably heartening. An important new voice joins the chorus of survivors. * Kirkus Reviews *Buergenthal's authentic, moving tale reveals that his lifelong commitment to human rights sprang from the ashes of Auschwitz. * Publishers Weekly *You think you've heard it all ... But this one is different. The clear, nonhectoring prose makes Buergenthal's personal story-and the enduring ethical questions it prompts-the stuff of a fast, gripping read. * Booklist *A Lucky Child does not wallow in the horrors nor does it shirk the darkest events. It is a clear-headed account of Buergenthal's experiences and how they determined his life. * The Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book Synopsis''Very funny, moving and heartwarming'' BOB MORTIMER''A bollockbuster!'' ADAM BUXTONIf we are cowardly, we are told to grow someIf we''re brave, we''re said to have huge onesIf it''s cold, they are liable to fall off - even if you''re a brass monkeyIf we''re in trouble, someone will threaten to break themIf we have to work hard, we might very well bust themIf we''re in somebody''s thrall, then they''ve got us by themAbout fifteen years ago, stand-up comedian and writer Richard Herring first took part in a campaign to encourage men to have a little (non-sexual) feel of their balls every now and again. But it was embarrassing and weird, and if there was something wrong, he didn''t want to know about it.Anyway, that kind of stuff only happens to other people, doesn''t it?At the start of 2021 Richard was diagnosed with testicular cancer. For a man whose output includes a stand-up tour titled Talki

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Book Synopsis“Beauchemin discovers again and again that happiness is a function of the connection between beings—the nonhuman animals as well as the human.”—Maria Popova, A Favorite Book of 2023For readers of Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights comes a joyful, tender memoir of encounters with animals and their potential to transform our lives through joy.Two mismatched ducks quarrel amorously. A tortoise basks on a rock in the sun. Four deer ceremoniously visit a writer’s garden to announce the arrival of a newborn fawn. In Archives of Joy, renowned poet, essayist, and novelist Jean-François Beauchemin turns his poetic and playful gaze to memories of animals he has known throughout his life, from fleeting encounters to deep relationships. With each meeting, Beauchemin returns to a simple thought: that joy in nature is an essential counterweight to the inescapable awareness of the brevity of life.In short, humorous, and often dreamlike vignettes, Beauchemin meditates on the mysteries of existence, the alchemy of memory, and the entwinement of the animal world with our own—whether he’s nursing an injured bird back to health, deciphering the gaze of a judgmental cat, or keeping company with a workhorse nearing its death.His life as a writer and his beloved pet dogs and cats feature often, as do the creatures he encounters in his garden, at farms, or on woodland walks: sparrows, crows, deer, foxes, horses, and cows. Deeply restorative, imaginative, and dreamily poetic, Archives of Joy is a memoir that will stay with readers long after its final page.Trade Review"Jean-François Beauchemin looks back, around and into the mystic, to great effect. His brief and often breathtaking reflections on creatures he has encountered throughout his life meld into a salve for the troubled, weary or distracted mind and will appeal to fans of Brian Doyle, Ross Gay and Margaret Renkl. . . [A] small treasure."—Bookpage/p>"I love this book! In a time when far too many people are estranged from nature, Archives of Joy will make you want to get outside and watch the animals you encounter wherever you are."—Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Dogs Demystified"I was taken with this book from the first page to the last, but how to describe it? Not poetry, not essay, not memoir, but all of these merging like watercolors on wet paper. Jean-François Beauchemin calls this collection 'a bestiary of memory.' What an apt description! Critters, both wild and domestic, accompany him through his wanderings, and the past, even the time before his birth, shines its light on the path he is walking now. The writing is grounded in the real and earthy, yet the imaginative leaps dazzle and delight. A tortoise contemplates death, God makes an appearance to apologize for giving dogs such a short life, a rabbit takes comfort in tarot readings in his favor. He calls himself 'a man who is always moved and amazed by the brevity of everything.' You, reader, will be moved and amazed too."—Lorna Crozier, Governor General's Award–winning poet and author of Through the Garden: A Love Story (With Cats) and After That"Referring to the work as a 'bestiary of memory,' the author embraces his past as he reflects on moments he's spent with the other denizens of his world in observations on each interaction that move from the practical to the metaphysical . . . A lovely, meditative volume."—BooklistPraise for the French Edition"Reading Jean-François Beauchemin is an experience in itself. It is like an exercise in meditation; like pausing in front of a particular image, in a suspended moment. It is him in the image—as he projects himself—but it is ourselves that we see, or rather those aspects of our own lives which have escaped us."—Le Devoir"[Jean-François Beauchemin] is an author known for his writings about life, full of deep and heartfelt reflection. He opens the door wide to allow us into the core of his being. He is the kind of person you meet and with whom, after the first sentence, and without quite knowing why, you are talking earnestly about the meaning of life."—Le Passe Mot

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Book Synopsis'A great read. I am honoured to have worked with such a legend' David Nott'A role model for women' Independent'A wonderful read' Julian Fellowes'Remarkable' Lauren Laverne'Charming' GuardianWe were occasionally expected to travel by ambulance to a serious case and would always have a kit of tools and drugs ready for emergency calls. On one occasion, we were responding to a man who had fallen into the hold of a grain ship and broken his leg. I was expected to go down a pole into the ship to administer analgaesia before he could be rescued. The 'audience' of shipworkers delighted in telling me that there were rats the size of dogs down in the grain. The other problem was that this was the era of the mini skirt, and you can imagine what that meant. Following the incident, I instituted the purchase of some 'Casualty Officers Emergency Dungarees' as an addition to the kit.Averil Mansfield established herself as a pioneer in every sense of the word when she qualified as a surgeon in the early 1970s. At the time just two per cent of her colleagues were female, and she was often met with surprise, bordering on disbelief and amusement, when telling people what she did. But time and again, Averil proved herself more than capable of the role which had been her greatest dream since the age of eight. After a formidable operating career in Liverpool and London, during which she made many enduring friendships, she went on to became the UK's first ever female professor of surgery.Life in Her Hands is the remarkable story of a truly trailblazing woman. Averil's account shines light on a medical and societal world that has changed beyond measure, but which - as she shows through her experiences - still has a long way to go for the women finding their place within it.Trade ReviewA great read. I am honoured to have worked with such a legend * David Nott *An amazing journey recounted with modesty and humour. A wonderful read * Julian Fellowes *Delightful, brave, funny, lovely and self-deprecating. Professor Mansfield really has paved the way for others * Dr Fiona Godlee, first female editor-in-chief of The British Medical Journal *Remarkable * Lauren Laverne *A role model for women * Independent *

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Book Synopsis**A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'He had the dream again last night... He taps the gloves of his unbeaten Polish opponent. There are rumours that the loser will be sent to the gas chamber.'In 1943, the Dutch champion boxer, Leen Sanders, was sent to Auschwitz. His wife and children were put to death while he was sent 'to the left' with the others who were fit enough for labour. Recognised by an SS officer, he was earmarked for a 'privileged' post in the kitchens in exchange for weekly boxing matches for the entertainment of the Nazi guards. From there, he enacted his resistance to their limitless cruelty.With great risk and danger to his own life, Leen stole, concealed and smuggled food and clothing from SS nursing units for years to alleviate the unbearable suffering of the prisoners in need. He also regularly supplied extra food to the Dutch women in Dr. Mengele's experiment, Block 10. To his fellow Jews in the camp, he acted as a rescuer, leader and role model, defending them even on their bitter death march to Dachau towards the end of the war.A story of astonishing resilience and compassion, The Fighter of Auschwitz is a testament to the endurance of humanity in the face of extraordinary evil.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of my childhood recollections while growing up in Glasgow. The streets were still for kids and we knew how to make our own fun, though some of the mischiefs we got up to may not be classed as fun nowadays.If we were poor, we didn''t realise it; if we were ill-treated, we thought of it as normal. Kids didn''t complain in those days (or they got a ''slap across the lug''). Kids knew their place, we just got on with life and enjoyed it to the fullest.As Billy Connolly would say: "What I''m about to tell you is true...well mostly."If any of my old pals, relatives, or friends recognise themselves on these pages, you''re most likely right...but I have changed the names (in some instances) to protect the guilty!

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Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times bestseller.Winner of 'Humour' – Goodreads Choice Awards, Best Books of 2023.Henry Winkler, launched into prominence by his role as 'The Fonz' in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is.Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s reveaTrade ReviewSmart and entertaining -- New York TimesYou want to brew him some tea, pat his arm. His tender memoir isn’t explicitly dishy. It’s an excavation of his challenges, pain and neuroses -- The Washington PostSharing memorable and funny behind-the-scenes moments, Being Henry entertains as an introspective, self-deprecating, and quite moving memoir from a versatile actor . . . The many, many fans Winkler has gathered over his 50 years in Hollywood won't be disappointed by this charming memoir -- BooklistThis charming autobiography of personal struggles during times of career success and challenge deserves a big thumbs-up -- Kirkus[An] inspirational story of one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures who became an unlikely TV screen icon and later a champion for those with dyslexia -- Associated Press

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Book SynopsisTake a peak behind the curtain of some of the biggest publishing moments in the past several decades with forty-year industry veteran John Sargent.Turning Pages: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher is the well-told story of forty years in the publishing business. For twenty-four of those years, John Sargent ran one of America’s largest publishing companies. Rather than a straight chronological narrative, Sargent uses the best stories of those years to give us an intimate look inside book publishing. In weaving these stories together, he brings the reader with him through triumph and despair, and a very interesting daily life. The reader will meet his odd publishing family, his interesting authors, and the celebrities with whom he worked. Sargent tells the tale of publishing Monica Lewinsky and recounts what it was like to have an author meeting in Buckingham Palace. He takes the reader with him into the Macmillan battles with Amazon, the Department of Justice, and President Donald Trump. In Turning Pages, the reader will share his occasional pain and seemingly endless joy, from a one room schoolhouse in Wyoming to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa. Full of humour and grace, this is a book for those who enjoy a good story about a fascinating life. This behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest moments in publishing over the last several decades is a must-read for every person who loves books and has always wondered about the industry surrounding them.Trade Review“Turning Pages by John Sargent is everything I expect from this extraordinary, honorable, and talented man. I will always be grateful that a big part of my career took place at St. Martin’s Press under his leadership; I could always count on John to do the right thing, even when it was hard and unpopular. His wide-ranging life story—unexpected and interesting from the very start—is insightful, thoughtful, and hard to put down. I laughed—I even cried—and enjoyed every moment of the ride.”—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Four Winds and The Nightingale "Turning Pages is funny, thoughtful, profoundly moving, and deeply insightful. With this book, a memoir but really a series of beautifully written vignettes, John Sargent has invited us into an extraordinary life and a remarkable career, as he takes us from unfortunate buckaroo to the very top of the New York publishing world. We meet his titan of a grandfather, known as Efendi (the first initials of his name), as well as his eccentric, passionate, one-off mother, and all the characters in this full life. I loved this book, but then, in all candor, I love John Sargent. Himself a titan, an eccentric, a passionate one-off. And a great friend and champion of freedom of speech, of writers, of all voices, especially the dissenting ones. Turning Pages is not just a wonderful book; it is a call to awareness, even as it entertains."—Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A remarkable and absorbing memoir—funny, poignant, and rich with insights about books, authors, the publishing business, and life. An extraordinary cast of characters has trooped through John Sargent's life, and they're all here, finely drawn, page after page.”—Rick Atkinson, New York Times bestselling author and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner “Cometh the hour, cometh the man… I don’t have too many heroes, but one of them wrote the book you’re holding. Like a publishing industry Zelig, John Sargent, the former CEO of Macmillan, has been at every pivotal point in the industry with heart and brains. Some of that literary magic must have rubbed off because no one could have told this epic story but the man himself—and tell it he does.”—Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire series “In Turning Pages, John Sargent has created an addictively entertaining, moving, and highly unusual memoir by telling the best (and only the best) stories from a remarkable life and career. Reading this book is like sitting by a campfire with one of the most consequential figures in contemporary book publishing as he shares tales of friendship and leadership—along with inspiring observations about writers, publishing, and life. With locations ranging from a one-room schoolhouse in Wyoming to the wilds of Alaska to the wilder boardrooms of Amazon and beyond, this is a gem of a book told with immense modesty and wry grace.”—Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club and We Should Not Be Friends

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times-bestselling author of The Gutsy Girl, a funny, inspiring, deeply researched exploration into the science and psychology of the outdoors and our place in it as we age.Caroline Paul has always filled her life with adventure: From mountain biking in the Bolivian Andes to pitching a tent, mid-blizzard, on Denali, she has never been a stranger to the exhilaration the outdoors can hold. Yet through it all, she has long wondered, Why aren't women, like men, encouraged to keep adventuring into old age?Tough Broad is her quest to understand not just how to live a dynamic life in a changing body, but why we must. She dives deep into the current research on aging, and highlights the results with the stories of women like 93-year-old hiker Dot Fisher-Smith, 80-year-old SCUBA diver Louise Wholey, 52-year-old BASE jumper Drew Brooks, 64-year-old birdwatcher Virginia Rose, and the many septuagenarian Wave Catchers who boogie board together in the San Diego surf. These women aren't experts. But their experiences and the scientific studies that back them up offer important insight into our own physical and emotional health as we age, showing that growing older is no reason for women to sell themselves short. Tough Broad is a high-spirited call for women to embrace the outdoors, not back away from it, in our fifties, sixties, seventies, and beyond, casting our own futures in a new and dazzling light.

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Book SynopsisAfter working at Jamie Oliver''s ''Fifteen'' restaurant in London for seventeen years, Danny McCubbin bought a house for one euro in the small Sicilian town of Mussomeli and started a community kitchen. The Good Kitchen has grown to not only help feed a village, but to inspire other community kitchens across the globe.Danny shares the pivotal moments of his journey, the life lessons, the human connections, and the food and recipes behind it all since opening the Kitchen''s doors in July, 2021. Simplicity is at the heart of every meal, cooking with vegetarian surplus food of all kinds proving that delicious meals can be prepared from the most inexpensive ingredients.Danny provides recipes that stay true to the rich Sicilian food tradition whilst also being adaptable according to the ingredients available, and teaches home cooks as well as aspiring community chefs how to upscale simple recipes to provide meals for many people. He also shares various hints and tips on pr

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Book SynopsisIt was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow-and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling-and how their lives would play out from that point on.For Harry, this is that story at last.Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness-and, because he blamed the press for his mother's death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn't find true love.Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple's cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

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Book SynopsisHow is a person changed by commitment to their passion, and how does their commitment change over time? These are questions that esteemed climber Sonnie Trotter asks as he reflects on the most thrilling adventures of his sport and his life.Trotter has been dangling from astonishingly high places for over 25 years, more than half his life. He’s been at the forefront of the sport for most of that time, specializing in first ascents on rock faces most people cannot imagine scaling. InUplifted, Sonnie recounts the most memorable moments of his career but also the rich relationships, including with epic climbers such as Tommy Caldwell ("Dawn Wall") and Alex Honnold ("Free Solo"), that are the spine of the sport, as well as the psyche that draws one to and evolves as one grows into and through this unique and challenging endeavor.From learning to climb in an ancient grain silo in southern Ontario, to mastering some of the hardest, tallest rock climbs on Earth, Sonnie shares entertaining but candid tales about life on the road, living in the dirt, overcoming obstacles, and changing within his sport. He writes as if he is sharing stories around the campfire at the end of a great day, when you are bone-tired but loving the camaraderie, so much so that you don’t want to retire to your tent. He embodies a “humble masculinity” in what is perceived as a high-adrenaline, hard-charging sport, but reveals that it is very much about careful consideration, insightful reflection, and balancing challenge and risk.Sonnie speaks openly about how his attitude towards the risks climbing demands has changed as he has aged and changed his life’s circumstances. Now married with two young children), he describes how he has reconciled these parts of his life and his identity. This is a crossroads that many - whether from commitment to a sport or through other circumstances of life - have faced and will relate.

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Book SynopsisThe Number One Bestseller!''Thrilling and insightful'' Ray D''Arcy, RTÉ ''Intriguing . . . a great read . . . it''s the story of Ireland in a way'' Nicola Tallant''Important and compassionate'' Irish Times* * *''A fascinating, deeply personal journey inside of some of the most high-profile and grotesque crimes of the past four decades . . . a rare insight into the darkest recess of human nature'' Paul Williams, Irish IndependentAfter a forty-year career in the gardaí Christy Mangan knows how hard it is to solve a murder. Now, in Cracking the Case, he takes a deep dive into how investigations are run.The book includes infamous and iconic cases such as that of Fr Niall Molloy whose violent death after a high society wedding became a source of feverish conspiracy theories; the notorious ''Scissor Sisters'' case in which two sisters killed and dismembered their mother''s abusive lover; and the tragic murder of teenager, Keane Mulready-Woods, as part of a gangland turf war in Drogheda.In these and other fascinating stories, Mangan details the care investigators take in trying to give victims'' families answers and to see justice done. He also shows a deep understanding of the complex reasons people are drawn into crime or commit unthinkable acts.Cracking the Case is a remarkable insight into the mind of a gifted garda working at the highest level.Christy Mangan retired at the rank of chief superintendent in 2022.* * *''The people who most ought to read it are the country''s lawmakers and the top rank of An Garda Síochána'' Irish Times ''Lots of fascinating stories'' Matt Cooper, Today FM ''Compelling'' RTÉ Guide

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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning journalist Kara Swisher comes a witty, scathing, but fair accounting of the tech industry and its founders who wanted to change the world but broke it instead.While tech titans bragged they would ''move fast and break things'', Kara Swisher was moving faster and breaking news. Covering the explosion of the digital sector in the early 1990s, she developed a long track record of digging up and reporting the truth of this new world order. Her consistent scoops drove one CEO to accuse her of listening in the heating ducts and for Facebook''s Sheryl Sandberg to once say: ''It is a constant joke in the Valley when people write memos for them to say, I hope Kara never sees this.''Burn Book is part memoir, part history and, most of all, a necessary recounting of tech''s most powerful players. This is the inside story we''ve all been waiting for of modern Silicon Valley and the biggest boom in wealth creation in the history of the world.While still in college, Swisher got her start at The Washington Post, where she became one of the few people in journalism interested in the emerging field of tech. She was among the first to recognize the potential of the internet, accurately predicting that ''everything that could be digitized, would be digitized.'' She went on to work for The Wall Story Journal, joining with Walt Mossberg to start the groundbreaking AllThingsD conference, as well as pioneering online tech sites.It''s only a slight exaggeration to say Swisher has interviewed everyone. Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Bob Iger, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Meg Whitman, Peter Thiel, and Mark Zuckerberg are just a few who Swisher made sweat-figuratively and, in one famous case, literally.Despite the damage she chronicles, Swisher remains optimistic about tech''s potential to help solve problems and not just create them. She calls upon the industry to make better, more thoughtful choices, even as a new set of powerful AI tools are poised to change the world yet again. At its heart, this book is a love story to, for, and about tech from someone who knows it better than anyone.Burn Book includes soaring tales of innovation and brilliant entrepreneurs, as well as Silicon Valley''s much more complex history of striving, success, and failure. The book details how the commercial internet came into being and how, for all it has given the world, it now sits at the center of global power, creating a clear and present danger to humanity.

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Book Synopsis* “A love story about the miracle of friendship.” —Maggie Smith * “Fearless and unflinching.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette * From the author of Group, a New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club Pick, a poignant, funny, and emotionally satisfying memoir about Christie Tate’s lifelong struggle to sustain female friendship, and the extraordinary friend who changed everything.After more than a decade of dead-end dates and dysfunctional relationships, Christie Tate has reclaimed her voice and settled down. Her days of agonizing in group therapy over guys who won’t commit are over, the grueling emotional work required to attach to another person tucked neatly into the past. Or so she thought. Weeks after giddily sharing stories of her new boyfriend at Saturday morning recovery meetings, Christie receives a gift from a friend. Meredith, twenty years older and always impeccably

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Book SynopsisTrimming a parrot''s beak, emptying a dog''s anal glands and neutering a cat - then lunch - followed by some tricky horse dentistry, amputating a lamb''s leg and calming a distressed client... It''s all in a day''s work if you''re a vet: a delicate balance of managing animal welfare and ethics, educating people in pet ownership and aligning their expectations with real-life outcomes. As a job, it spans everything from managing the heartbreak of euthanasia, to informing owners that under no circumstances should they take their dog''s worming pills, even if they''re sure they have worms. During his twenty-five-year career, Welsh vet Siôn Rowlands has experienced almost every animal medical issue imaginable, from rescuing an injured horse from the edge of a cliff to moisturizing a baby elephant. He''s also witnessed ridiculous moments, surreal situations and the real toll it can take on a person. Frank, funny and moving in equa

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Book SynopsisAdrian Charles Edmondson is an English actor, comedian, musician, writer and television presenter. He studied drama at Manchester University where he met his comedy partner Rik Mayall. The influence of the absurdist dramatists he studied and his early love for The Goon Show, The Muppets and Monty Python are all reflected in his comedy practice. He and Rik were part of the first wave of Alternative Comedy where their glorious pursuit of laughter and anarchic performances changed the comedic landscape forever.He starred as Vyvyan in The Young Ones, the series that blasted its way onto our screens tearing into our preconceptions of what television comedy could be. Adrian has since had a very significant career. A career that has taken him in later years into straight' acting as well, at the RSC, BBC TV's War and Peace and EastEnders, and as a writer of books for adults and children. He has also had an award-winning music career with hisTrade ReviewBoarding school, despair, love, music, Rik Mayall – everything Adrian Edmondson writes about makes you love him desperately -- Caitlin Moran, journalist and author of How to Be a WomanThe berserker from The Young Ones and Bottom tells his story with self-effacing charm and no end of backstage anecdotes * Ian Rankin *This is a bloody good book. Lots of people live interesting lives, but very few people can write genuinely interesting books about those lives. Adrian Edmondson has done both. And while it is incredibly funny, it is also a lot, lot more than that * Miles Jupp *The bravest, most affecting celebrity book of the year * Daily Express *Edmondson can be very funny and very poignant simultaneously * Daily Mirror *A hilarious romp through a golden era of comedy and a searingly honest and moving memoir * Red Magazine *

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