Non Fiction Books

Book SynopsisNobel Prize-winning author Canetti spent only a few weeks in Marrakesh, but it was a visit that would remain with him for the rest of his life. In The Voices of Marrakesh, he captures the essence of that place: the crowds, the smells - of spices, camels and the souks - and, most importantly to Canetti, the sounds of the city, from the cries of the blind beggars and the children''s call for alms to the unearthly silence on the still roofs above the hordes. In these immaculately crafted essays, Canetti examines the emotions Marrakesh stirred within him and the people who affected him for ever.Trade ReviewCanetti's feeling for the Orient is perceptible in The Voices of Marrakesh, a unique travel book -- John Bayley * London Review of Books *Cosmopolitan in the tradition of Goethe * New York Times *...this book takes on subtle dimensions as it ponders the inner meaning of new experience * Observer *One of his shortest, most beautiful and most approachable works * Independent *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Shifts and the Shocks, and one of the most influential writers on economics, a reckoning with how and why the relationship between democracy and capitalism is coming undone We are living in an age when economic failings have shaken faith in global capitalism. Political failings have undermined trust in liberal democracy and in the very notion of truth. The ties that ought to bind open markets to free and fair elections are being strained and rejected, even in democracy''s notional heartlands. Around the world, democratic capitalism, which depends on the determined separation of power from wealth, is in crisis. Some now argue that capitalism is better without democracy; others that democracy is better without capitalism.This book is a forceful rejoinder to both views. It analyses how the marriage between capitalism and democracy has become so fraught and yet insists that a divorce would be an almost unimaginable calamity. Martin Wolf, one of the wisest public voices on global affairs, argues that for all its recent failings - slowing growth, increasing inequality, widespread popular disillusion - democratic capitalism, though inherently fragile, remains the best system we know for human flourishing. Capitalism and democracy are complementary opposites: they need each other if either is to thrive. Wolf''s superb exploration of their marriage shows us how citizenship and a shared faith in the common good are not romantic slogans but the essential foundation of our economic and political freedom.Trade ReviewMartin Wolf has been an incisive commentator on economics and politics for a long time. This book is an excellent and thought-provoking synthesis of his views on democratic capitalism and how to fix it. -- Ben Bernanke, former chair of the Federal ReserveMartin Wolf is one of the deepest thinkers of our times and his latest book is a must-read! He brilliantly analyzes the causes of current crisis of democratic capitalism and presents the reforms needed to successfully rejuvenate it. He rightly calls for a new alliance of reformed democratic capitalist states to protect global peace, inclusive prosperity and the planet against plutocratic populism and tyranny. Hopefully, his words will be carefully read and heeded. -- Nouriel Roubini, Professor, New York UniversityMartin Wolf is a great humanist and a sharp analytical mind. He unfurls here a bracing indictment of democratic capitalism and an inspiring defense of it. To defend the values of freedom and dignity, democracy and capitalism must both be reformed. A necessary book- and a guide -- for our times -- Daniel Ziblatt, Professsor, Harvard University and co-author of HOW DEMOCRACIES DIEMartin Wolf brings together many decades' worth of thought and analysis into this superb synthesis. An important guide for anyone seeking answers to the most difficult questions of our time. -- Anne Applebaum, Atlantic staff writer and author of TWILIGHT OF DEMOCRACYMartin Wolf is our wisest, most acute, and most experienced commentator. He has long been an optimist, but no more. He believes that today's market economy is no longer compatible with a stable liberal democracy. As Plato long ago warned, insecurity and fear can be the gateways to tyranny. Wolf's recommendations are smart and sensible and perhaps not too late. A must read for both optimists and pessimists. -- Sir Angus Deaton, Nobel Prize in Economics 2015Martin Wolf has written the definitive account of what ails capitalism and democracy. This staggeringly erudite and beautifully written book is sure to become required reading for anybody who wants to understand how democratic capitalism slid into a deep crisis, why it is worth rescuing, and how to do so. -- Yascha Mounk, Professor, Johns Hopkins University and author of THE GREAT EXPERIMENTThe arrival of this book could not be timelier as the global economy darkens further. Who better than Martin Wolf, with his masterful knowledge of history and understanding of economics, to identify the twin threats of predatory capitalism and demagogic politics and to plot a narrow corridor to escape? It takes someone with a knowledge of the entire forest to isolate the rot at the base of the trees. -- Carmen M. Reinhart, Professor of Economics, Harvard UniversityPassionate, alarmed, wise: Martin Wolf has poured his soul into the book that may be recognized as his masterpiece. In it, he confronts the disturbing truths dismissed by his own complacent generation, and their consequences, with which the young will contend. -- Sir Paul Collier, author of THE FUTURE OF CAPITALISMThe Crisis of Democratic Capitalism will reach a wide and powerful audience. It will be read by world leaders and CEOs. If it convinces some of them to change tack, away from the plutocratic path that national and international economies are currently on, then we should all be grateful. -- William Davies * New Statesman *a cri de coeur ... This book, impressively researched, is ... a mine of information for anybody wanting to know about the forces driving the global economy in recent decades ... Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the others, as Churchill once said. And the same is true of capitalism relative to other forms of economic organisation. Fixing both is the task. -- David Smith * Sunday Times *The book's power lies in Wolf's central perception and the scale of the canvas he uses to illustrate it. The problems he describes - inequality, lack of social mobility, slowing productivity gains, the influence of money over politics, disaffection with democracy - are familiar, but by identifying them collectively as causes of the calamity he foresees, he gives new urgency to the need to address them. -- Emma Duncan * The Times *Martin Wolf is one of the world's most influential economists ... His new book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, is both his magnum opus and an explanation of his crisis of faith. ... Wolf argues that democracy and capitalism are complementary opposites: Opposites because capitalism depends on inequality of rewards while democracy depends on political equality, complementary because they both enshrine the principle of individual choice. But in recent decades this marriage of opposites has been falling apart, most importantly in the supposed standard-bearer of democratic capitalism, the United States. ... a penetrating analysis of Western society's ills -- Adrian Wooldridge * Bloomberg *The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism draws on the wisdom accumulated over his distinguished career... The case he makes is authoritative and compelling. * Economist *The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism will reach a wide and powerful audience. It will be read by world leaders and CEOs. If it convinces some of them to change tack, away from the plutocratic path that national and international economies are currently on, then we should all be grateful. -- William Davies * New Statesman *Martin Wolf shines a light on the doom loop of democratic capitalism ... in his fine new book -- Bill Emmott * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis''Will set your hair on end'' Telegraph, Top 50 Books of the Year''I forgot to breathe while reading The Fifth Risk'' Michael Hofmann, TLS, Books of the YearThe bestselling, no-holds-barred exposé of the people who are wrecking our democracy, by the master storyteller of our times ''The election happened ... And then there was radio silence.''The morning after Trump was elected president, the people who ran the US Department of Energy - an agency that deals with some of the most powerful risks facing humanity - waited to welcome the incoming administration''s transition team. Nobody appeared. Across the US government, the same thing happened: nothing.People don''t notice when stuff goes right. That is the stuff government does. It manages everything that underpins our lives from funding free school meals, to policing rogue nuclear activity, to predicting extreme weather events. It steps in where private investment fears to tread, innovates and creates knowledge, assesses extreme long-term risk. And now, government is under attack. By its own leaders.In The Fifth Risk, Michael Lewis reveals the combustible cocktail of wilful ignorance and venality that is fuelling the destruction of a country''s fabric. All of this, Lewis shows, exposes America and the world to the biggest risk of all. It is what you never learned that might have saved you.Trade ReviewStranger and more terrifying than fiction ... The characters are riveting, and the drama intense. It's a story so jaw-dropping that at times it's hard to believe it was not invented for film ... It paints a picture of America being not just pulled apart at the political seams, but in the very fabric of the government itself. * Daily Telegraph *A page turner ... Lewis's most ambitious and important book. * The New York Times Book Review *Who will fight for the censuses of this world? Who will defend the research grants, food-voucher programmes and risk management projects that quietly sustain a healthy nation? Step forward Michael Lewis. ... The result is a civics lesson worth taking ... Stunning. His message is powerful ... reminds us why good institutions matter, why skilled public servants are critical and what our government is actually for. * Sunday Times *Jaw-dropping ... genuinely stopped me in my tracks. -- Stefano Hatfield * i newspaper *Michael Lewis has a gift for identifying seemingly inaccessible subjects and spinning them into epic stories with Hollywood appeal. * New Statesman *Lewis's remarkable books tend to tell the stories of underdogs, heroically independent-minded people who zag when the world zigs. * Evening Standard *Risk has been the central theme of Lewis's highly successful career. ... The fifth risk is something impossible to conceive of in advance, or to prepare for directly. What matters is having a well-organised government in place to respond to these contingencies when they hit ­- exactly what the Trump administration has failed to do. * Guardian *Given that we now seem to be inhabiting a somewhat medieval world of plague and portent, I'd like to make the case for the prophetic powers of the US journalist Michael Lewis ... In December the notion [of the fifth risk] seemed wildly far-fetched. Four months on, it seems we will get the chance to find out if he was on the money. -- Tim Adams * Observer *The best part of The Fifth Risk is the evidence Lewis can add to the pile ... Lewis is a master of boiling down complexity into individual stories told by interesting characters. * The Times *Michael Lewis has a knack for making the complex appear simple. Here he uses the inner workings of the US Department of Energy to demonstrate how Trump is dismantling government. * i magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe life of Sir Harry Perry Robinson (1859-1930) unfolds like a Boy''s Own adventure. Born in India and educated at Oxford, Harry fled to the United States to make his name and fortune. After a stint in the gold mines of the American West, he became a major force in the railroad industry and helped to elect a U.S. President. Returning to England, Harry had a celebrated career as a book publisher (discovering the American author Jack London) and as a journalist for The Times, serving as the oldest correspondent during the First World War and going on to have one of the scoops of the century: the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923.Harry''s incredible journey unfolds against the background of his equally adventurous and accomplished family. His father, Julian, was an Indian Army chaplain and newspaper editor. His aunt was a suffragette and personal friend of both Disraeli and Gladstone. Brother Philip was a dashing foreign correspondent, arrested as a spy during the Spanish-AmerTrade ReviewWhat McAleer has come up with is a forensic yet readable account of the gifted, personally adventurous but politically conservative Robinson. * Dominic Maxwell, The Times *Robinson's journalistic career gave him a ringside seat at some of the most dramatic events of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, from the American Gold Rush of the 1880s to the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb. He had the three crucial attributes common to all great reporters: an eye for a good story, the wit and tenacity to research it properly and the ability to write it up in an entertaining way ... Joseph McAleer has performed a valuable service in bringing his fine work to the fore. * William Cook, The Spectator *Escape Artist is well researched and, for the most part, well-written * Wall Street Journal *I don't think I've ever enjoyed a memoir as much as I enjoyed this life of Harry Perry Robinson. The book is a 'keeper' that I intend to read more than once. Author Joseph McAleer has done us a great favor by so ably bringing this complex and intriguing character to life again. * David F. Beer, Roads to the Great War *Here is a life out of the ordinary that holds especial interest. * Philip Waller, University of Oxford, author of Writers, Readers, and Reputations: Literary Life in Britain 1870-1918 *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The English Family Robinson 1: Innocent Abroad, 1883-1886 2: Tycoon in Training, 1887-1894 3: Junior Kingmaker, 1895-1899 4: London Bookman, 1900-1905 5: Man of The Times, 1906-1913 6: War Correspondent, 1914-1918 7: World Traveler, 1919-1922 8: Tut Factotum, 1923 9: Elder Statesman, 1924-1929 Epilogue: 1930 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCaptain Scott's own account of his tragic race with Roald Amundsen for the South Pole thrilled the world in 1913. This new edition of his Journals publishes for the first time a complete list of the changes made to Scott's original text before publication.Trade ReviewDefinitive...Max Jones and the publishers are to be congratulated on this new version of a classic story, and for offering it at such a reasonable price. It should be the last word for a very long time. * Polar Record 42 *The mother of all books about walking ..beautiful edition. * Irish Timesn *

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Book Synopsis''Commit it then to the flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.'' Thus ends David Hume''s Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, the definitive statement of the greatest philosopher in the English language. His arguments in support of reasoning from experience, and against the ''sophistry and illusion'' of religiously inspired philosophical fantasies, caused controversy in the eighteenth century and are strikingly relevant today, when faith and science continue to clash.The Enquiry considers the origin and processes of human thought, reaching the stark conclusion that we can have no ultimate understanding of the physical world, or indeed our own minds. In either sphere we must depend on instinctive learning from experience, recognizing our animal nature and the limits of reason. Hume''s calm and open-minded scepticism thus aims to provide a new basis for science, liberating us from the ''superstition'' of false metaphysics and religion. His Enquiry remains one of the best introductions to the study of philosophy, and this edition places it in its historical and philosophical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Book SynopsisHow do you raise children to think creatively for themselves and thrive?Edward de Bono, one of the world leading authorities on creative thinking, shows how parents can raise happy, confident and self-assured children through his simple tips, tricks and exercises that you can do with your child. This book will help your child: - Use positive reinforcement effectively - Unleash their creativity - Make the best life choices - Plan well for the future Confidence is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child and through this book you will learn how to give them the best start in life.2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Lateral Thinking (1970) and the 35th anniversary of Six Thinking Hats (1985).Trade ReviewAn inspiring man with brilliant ideas. De Bono never ceases to amaze with his clarity of thought. -- Richard Branson

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Nobel Prize in Literature''Desperately important and impossible to put down. It is timeless. . . what shines clear from the testimonies is love - love which can make you do the most spectacular things '' Sheena Patel, Observer''- A new translation of Voices from Chernobyl based on the revised version -In April 1986 a series of explosions shook the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Flames lit up the sky and radiation escaped to contaminate the land and poison the people for years to come. While officials tried to hush up the accident, Svetlana Alexievich spent years collecting testimonies from survivors - clean-up workers, residents, firefighters, resettlers, widows, orphans - crafting their voices into a haunting oral history of fear, anger and uncertainty, but also dark humour and love. A chronicle of the past and a warning for our nuclear future, Chernobyl Prayer shows what it is like to bear witness, and remember in a world that wants you to forget.''Beautifully written. . . heart-breaking'' - Arundhati Roy, Elle ''One of the most humane and terrifying books I''ve ever read'' - Helen Simpson, ObserverTrade ReviewAbsolutely essential and heartbreaking reading. There's a reason Ms. Alexievich won a Nobel Prize -- Craig Mazin, creator of the HBO series ChernobylDesperately important and impossible to put down. It is timeless and has sparked so much thought about infinity, sacrifice, love and unspeakable grief. . . what shines clear from the testimonies is love - love which can make you do the most spectacular things -- Sheena Patel * Observer *A beautifully written book, it's been years since I had to look away from a page because it was just too heart-breaking to go on. Give me beautiful prose and I'll follow you anywhere -- Arundhati Roy * Elle *A collage of oral testimony that turns into the psycho­biography of a nation not shown on any map... The book leaves radiation burns on the brain -- Julian Barnes * Guardian *Absolutely fantastic -- Karl Ove KnausgaardA searing mix of eloquence and wordlessness... From her interviewees' monologues she creates history that the reader, at whatever distance from the events, can actually touch -- Julian Evans * Daily Telegraph *One of the most humane and terrifying books I've ever read -- Helen Simpson * Observer *Alexievich's documentary approach makes the experiences vivid, sometimes almost unbearably so - but it's a remarkably democratic way of constructing a book... When you consider the extent to which she has been traversing the irradiated landscape, you realise she has put herself on the line in a way very few authors ever do -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian *A moving piece of polyphony, skilfully assembled from what must have been a huge mass of material... We are living in Alexievich's 'age of disasters'. This haunting book offers us at least some ways of thinking about that predicament -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * New Statesman *This masterly new translation by Anna Gunin and Arch Tait retains the nerve and pulse of the Russian * TLS *Alexievich assembles the previously silenced or unsung heroes into a chorus that has the power to move, stun and inspire awe. The result is a remarkable oral history, an essential read -- Malcolm Forbes * Herald Scotland *Not merely a work of documentation but of excavation, of revealed meaning. It is hard to imagine how anyone in the West will read these cantos of loss and not feel a sense of communion, of a shared humanity -- Andrew Meier * The Nation *Alexievich serves no ideology, only an ideal: to listen closely enough to the ordinary voices of her time to orchestrate them into extraordinary books -- Philip Gourevitch * New Yorker *Alexievich has become one of my heroes -- Atul GawandeAwarding the Nobel Prize for Literature to Svetlana Alexievich is a brilliant choice that recalibrates the status of "non-fiction" in the literary canon -- Arifa Akbar * Independent *Through her books and her life itself, Alexievich has gained probably the world's deepest, most eloquent understanding of the post-Soviet condition -- Masha Gessen * New Yorker *Alexievich retreats into the wings to let her subjects speak. But this is the art that conceals art. Her editor's flair for selection, contrast and emphasis, her almost cinematic touch with cuts, pans and close-ups, make her a documentary virtuoso -- Boyd Tonkin * Spectator *Her interviews go on for hours. She goes back for more. She transcribes. She discards three-quarters of her material. She polishes. She takes pains to convey the cadence of a person's words. It shows. The distilled work goes deep into the subject. She is after the ephemeral; the emotion behind written history; the "history of the soul." Here, she believes, is where the truth lies -- Vanora Bennett * Prospect *This masterly new translation by Anna Gunin and Arch Tait retains the nerve and pulse of the Russian, conveying the angst and confusion of the narrators -- Serguei Alex. Oushakine * Times Literary Supplement *The last book that made me cry... incredible -- Joe Dunthorne * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019''The best introduction to the plays I''ve read, perhaps the best book on Shakespeare, full stop'' Alex Preston, Observer''It makes you impatient to see or re-read the plays at once'' Hilary MantelA genius and prophet whose timeless works encapsulate the human condition like no others. A writer who surpassed his contemporaries in vision, originality and literary mastery. Who wrote like an angel, putting it all so much better than anyone else.Is this Shakespeare? Well, sort of.But it doesn''t really tell us the whole truth. So much of what we say about Shakespeare is either not true, or just not relevant, deflecting us from investigating the challenges of his inconsistencies and flaws. This electrifying new book thrives on revealing, not resolving, the ambiguities of Shakespeare''s plays and their changing topicality. It introduces an intellectually, theatrically and ethically exciting writer who engages with intersectionality as much as with Ovid, with economics as much as poetry: who writes in strikingly modern ways about individual agency, privacy, politics, celebrity and sex. It takes us into a world of politicking and copy-catting, as we watch him emulating the blockbusters of Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd, the Spielberg and Tarantino of their day; flirting with and skirting round the cut-throat issues of succession politics, religious upheaval and technological change. The Shakespeare in this book poses awkward questions rather than offering bland answers, always implicating us in working out what it might mean.This is Shakespeare. And he needs your attention.Trade ReviewThe best introduction to the plays I've read, perhaps the best book on Shakespeare, full stop. This is a model of unpretentious, deeply researched, profoundly approachable criticism. It's a book to give to anyone who loves Shakespeare, but particularly to those who think they don't ... What This Is Shakespeare gives the reader most of all, though, is a licence to enjoy the plays without the cultural and historical baggage they so often carry -- Alex Preston * Observer *The question that hangs over every new book on Shakespeare is, "Why read this one?" The short answer is, because it is very good indeed. There is no shortage of eminent Shakespeare scholars, and in her role as professor of Shakespeare studies at Oxford, Smith certainly ranks among them; but more importantly for a book like this, she is perhaps the pre-eminent Shakespeare communicator working today ... This is Shakespeare cuts through the accumulated crust of "schoolroom platitudes", cant and literary piety in order to dust Shakespeare off and see him as he is, was, and might be -- Tim Smith-Laing * Daily Telegraph *I like this book very much. It explains accessibly, with learning lightly worn, why Shakespeare retains such a hold in our culture. Smith has done an exemplary job of restoring the greatest of English writers to his own time, and explaining why he then speaks to ours ... An invigorating examination of the pre-eminence of the most revered figure of English letters -- Oliver Kamm * The Times *Quirky, brilliant ... what's most bracing about Smith's book is the way she sees the plays as almost organic: not only contradictory but alive -- Daniel Swift * Spectator *This is Shakespeare wears its learning very lightly, although there are clear signs of that learning in every chapter ... Sane, sensible and suitably woke ... original and provocative analysis -- Lisa Hopkins * Times Higher Education *Thought-provoking, fizzing with jokes ... Smith is celebrating a Shakespeare who talks to the present. She does it all with such a light touch you barely notice how much you're learning ... Anyone who doesn't understand what the fuss is all about should read This Is Shakespeare -- Colin Burrow * Guardian *An outstanding book ... a distillation of intricate conceptual and textual cruces into readable prose ... lively and unexpectedly moving ... curious and passionate ... [It reminds me] why I came to enjoy Shakespeare so much in the first place -- Sophie Duncan * Literary Review *Intriguing ... Smith argues that the defining characteristic of Shakespeare's plays is their 'permissive gappiness'. This must also surely be the first book on Shakespeare to use the slang term 'woke' * Evening Standard *A joy to read, full of questions, surprises, and new ideas. Smith brings us remarkable new readings of Shakespeare, and a sense of how his work lives on the stage. A wonderful book -- Margaret DrabbleIf I were asked to recommend one guide for readers keen on discovering what's at stake in Shakespeare's plays, This Is Shakespeare would be it. Deeply informed, never dogmatic, and alert to how performance matters, Emma Smith understands that Shakespeare's plays prompt questions rather than provide answers. Her elegantly written and sharply observed book is richly rewarding. -- James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William ShakespeareA fascinating new perspective and an absolute pleasure to read -- Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-formed ThingImpeccable ... This is Shakespeare is the ideal book of its moment for unlocking the works of that most miraculous, mysterious and be-pedestalled figure in English literature [...] Smith's fresh approaches reveal something crucial about Shakespeare's ongoing relevance * The Saturday Paper *There's an invigorating frankness to Smith's approach [...] She generously leads an accessible and insightful route towards a provocative, complicating reading of Shakespeare's work. * GLOBE Magazine *Shakespeare pulled from his pedestal and made contemporary...this book is terrific...informative and, more importantly, very enjoyable * This England *Smith salvages Shakespeare from the status of isolated genius, and reveals him as an active participant in his own time and place. In turn, we the audience become active participants in the remaking of Shakespeare...This book puts the pleasure back into the plays, and there is no better reason to read about Shakespeare than that -- Sarah Ditum * The Lancet *Packed with sharp observations and illuminating commentary on the works and their afterlives...acute on the plays' modern resonances and how today's theatre troupes handle Will's less woke moments, such as The Taming of the Shrew. They won't cancel Shakey yet! * The Times Books of the Year 2019 *A brilliant and accessible tour of Shakespeare's plays that is also a radical manifesto for how to read and watch his work. Witty, irreverent and searching, this book shines dazzling new light on the oeuvre of the world's greatest literary genius. * Economist Books of the Year *A tonic ... This Is Shakespeare will, for some time to come, remain required reading for all those with more than a passing interest in Shakespeare ... ['Gappiness' is] a compelling way of evaluating afresh an author about whom we are often told that everything has been said ... Outstanding ... A model for almost everything that Shakespeare criticism for the general reader should be striving to achieve -- Rhodri Lewis * Prospect *Consistently fascinating [...] there's no denying the wit and intelligence [...] nor the dangerous readability of this thoughtful study. -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Read this and you will be seduced -- Val McDermid (Radio 4, A Good Read)Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Emma Smith is a courteous and helpful guide who wears her considerable learning lightly in this enjoyable, well-conceived, well-written book" -- Andrew Hadfield * Irish Times *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "A fascinating and provocative book" -- Daniel Swift * Spectator *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith: "Delightful... there is a bite in Smith's exuberant tales of buying, selling and displaying Shakespeare... beautifully judged, impeccably researched yet wry and affectionate" -- Jerry Brotton * Financial Times *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Brilliantly approachable and entertaining ... anarchic, counterintuitive, critical ... perfect" -- Alex Preston * Observer *Praise for previous works by Emma Smith "Delightful" * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE GRAND PRIX DU LIVRE D''IDÉESThe French: serious and frivolous, charming and infuriating, rational and mystical, pessimistic, pleasure-loving - and perhaps more than any other people, intellectual. This original and entertaining book shows exactly what makes the French so ... French.Trade ReviewThere could be no wiser or more witty guide to the problems of France today. -- Julian Jackson * Times Literary Supplement *A first-rate book... Sudhir Hazareesingh, brings an engaging personal angle to his ambitious cavalcade through four centuries of French intellectual thought... This vast, opinionated and wholly original book reminds us that ideas still count and that intellectual endeavour still has resonance in the face of the mercantile plutocracy that so much defines the way we live now. -- Douglas Kennedy * New Statesman *This book depicts Parisian society like a Cambridge party in which everyone knows the jokes, and everyone knows where the bodies are buried. You will read it not just with fascination, but with relish. -- Jonathan Clark * Times Literary Supplement (Books of the Year) *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE IN BIOGRAPHY WINNER OF THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHYWINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'' TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2016 The Return is at once a universal and an intensely personal tale. It is an exquisite meditation on how history and politics can bear down on an individual life. And yet Hisham Matar''s memoir isn''t just about the burden of the past, but the consolation of love, literature and art. It is the story of what it is to be human.Hisham Matar was nineteen when his father was kidnapped and taken to prison in Libya. He would never see him again. Twenty-two years later, the fall of Gaddafi meant he was finally able to return to his homeland. In this moving memoir, the author takes us on an illuminating journey, both physical and psychological; a journey to find his father and rediscover his country.''A beautifully-written memoir that skillfully balances a graceful guide through Libya''s recent history with the author''s dogged quest to find his father'' Barack ObamaHisham Matar''s new novel My Friends is available now!Trade ReviewWhat a brilliant book. The Return reads as easily as a thriller, but is a story that will stick; a person is lost but gravity and resonance remain -- Hilary MantelIt is likely to become a classic. -- Colm TóibínA total work of art. It reminded me of Solzhenitsyn. It is of the same importance. I love it. -- James RebanksWise and agonizing and thrilling to read -- Zadie SmithBristles with arresting wisdom -- Jeremy PaxmanA treasure for the ages -- Peter CareyTremendously powerful -- Nadeem AslamA magnificent memoir of exile and loss -- Rawi HageOne of the essential books of our times -- Adam FouldsA profound and powerful meditation on love, loss and exile * Sunday Express *A truly remarkable book * Daily Telegraph *Stands comparison with the best literature of exile * Prospect *[An] extraordinary memoir -- Financial TimesMarvellously well-handled memoir * Evening Standard *A tale of mighty love, loyalty and courage * Spectator *A masterful memoir, a searing meditation on loss, exile, grief, guilt, belonging and, above all, family. * Book of the Week, Sunday Times *Beautifully written * Economist *Exquisite * Observer *An astonishing political thriller * Mail on Sunday *[A] profound work of witnessing and grief... leaves a deep emotional imprint * Newsday *A moving, unflinching memoir of a family torn apart by the savage realities of today's middle east -- Kazuo IshiguroI have always admired Matar's tender and compassionate but equally strong and compelling voice -- Elif ShafakMr. Matar is not a wonderful writer because his father disappeared or because his homeland is a mess: he is a brilliant narrative architect and prose stylist, his pared-down approach and measured pace a striking complement to the emotional tumult of his material . . . This book is an extraordinary gift for us all * Wall Street Journal *Breathtaking memoir... an elegy by a son who, through his eloquence, defies the men who wanted to erase his father and gifts him with a kind of immortality * Washington Post 10 Best Books of 2016 *The Return moved me to tears and taught me about love and home -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Guardian Books of the Year *A desolating and powerful account of his son's search for his father, in life and death -- Hilary Mantel * New Statesman Books of the Year *Is it a sign, or a consequence, of this dreadful year that the best books displayed stern lucidity in the face of darkness and death? Hisham Matar's search for his "disappeared" father in The Return (note how badly British politicians come out of it) -- Julian Barnes * Guardian Books of the Year *A masterpiece . . . Its concision and reserve only heighten the power of a gripping and agonising story -- Alan Hollinghurst * Guardian Books of the Year *The Return is the self portrait of a haunting, a kind of political ghost story - made more unbearable by the beauty of its prose * Daily Telegraph Books of the Year *The intelligence and grace of Matar's writing is fuelled by a fierce and valid rage -- Rupert Thomson * Observer Books of the Year *For Matar, hope depends on individuals and families standing by cherished values -- Jonathan Benthall * Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year *A haunting and terrifying story, told with courage, anger, dignity and unswerving determination -- Blake Morrison * Guardian Books of the Year *Among the best of the year's writing... This book is his masterful ink-stained resistance * The Sunday Times *A beautifully-written memoir that skillfully balances a graceful guide through Libya's recent history with the author's dogged quest to find his father' -- Barack Obama

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Book SynopsisProvides nutrient recommendations based on physical activity and stage in life, major factors that influence nutrient needs. This report also looks at how nutrients are metabolized in the bodies of dogs and cats, indications of nutrient deficiency, and diseases related to poor nutrition.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Summary

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Book SynopsisOS Explorer is the Ordnance Survey's most detailed map and is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities like walking, horse riding and off-road cycling. The OS Explorer range of OL maps now includes a digital version of the paper map, accessed through the OS smartphone app, OS Maps. Providing complete GB coverage the series details essential information such as youth hostels, pubs and visitor information as well as rights of way, permissive paths and bridleways.

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Book SynopsisMore than twenty years ago, Jon Kabat-Zinn changed the way we think about awareness in everyday life with his now-classic introduction to mindfulness, Wherever You Go, There You Are. He followed that up with 2005''s Coming to Our Senses, the definitive book for our time on the connection between mindfulness and our well-being on every level, physical, cognitive, emotional, social, planetary, and spiritual. Now, the original text of Coming to Our Senses is being repackaged into 4 smaller books, each focusing on a different aspect of mindfulness, and each with a new foreword written by the author. In this second of these books, Falling Awake (which was originally published as Part III and Part IV of Coming to Our Senses), Kabat-Zinn focuses on the how of mindfulness--explaining how meditation brings us into intimate relationship with all our senses, how to establish a formal meditation practice, and how to overcome some of the common obstacleTrade Review'Jon Kabat-Zinn is one of the finest teachers of mindfulness you will ever encounter.' -Jack Kornfield, PhD, author of No Time Like the Present - Hachette Books

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Book Synopsis____________________THE EXPLOSIVE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''A bombshell.'' Daily Mail''Damning, terrifying and enraging.'' The Spectator____________________House of Trump, House of Putin offers the first comprehensive investigation into the decades-long relationship among Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Russian Mafia that ultimately helped win Trump the White House. It is a chilling story that begins in the 1970s, when Trump made his first splash in the booming, money-drenched world of New York real estate, and ends with Trump's inauguration as president of the United States. That moment was the culmination of Vladimir Putin's long mission to undermine Western democracy, a mission that he and his hand-selected group of oligarchs and associates had ensnared Trump in over more than two decades of shady business associations. As Unger traces Donald TruTrade ReviewA bombshell. * Daily Mail *Damning in its accumulation of detail, terrifying in its depiction of the pure evil of those Trump chose to do business with, and enraging in that — if Unger is right — Trump acted with impunity for decades to get filthy rich laundering the mob’s blood money. * The Spectator *There is a volcano's worth of smoke in House of Trump, House of Putin. * USA Today *The story Unger weaves with his original reporting is fresh, illuminating and more alarming than the intelligence channel described in the Steele dossier. * The Washington Post *Unger's contention is that a web of Trumpian connections to Russia explain the darkness at the heart of the Trump presidency. The crisp account of the rise of the Russian mafia and its expansion into the US is chilling. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisJames Hillman is a psychologist, scholar, international lecturer, and the author of some twenty-odd books including Re-Visioning Psychology, Healing Fiction, The Dream and the Underworld, Inter Views and Suicide and the Soul. A Jungian analyst and originator of post-Jungian 'archetypal psychology,' he has held teaching positions at Yale University, Syracuse University, the University of Chicago and the University of Dallas (where he cofounded the Dallas Institute for the Humanities and Culture). After thirty years of residence in Europe, he now lives in Connecticut.Trade ReviewAcute and powerful... -- Thomas Moore, author of Care of the SoulBrilliant... I found myself rethinking nearly everything about a life that I thought I knew and believed to be true -- Deirdre Bair, author of Anais Nin: A BiographyIn this brilliant, absorbing work, Hillman dares us to believe that we are each meant to be here; that we are needed by the world around us * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisHelps the player overcome problems, by building up a complete picture of each piece, through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific technical issues, then by studying prepared pieces with associated questions, and finally 'going solo' with a series of meticulously-graded sight-reading pieces.Trade ReviewThis series of very practical and productive workbooks, one per grade, was published several years ago and has been updated, according to the cover blurb, 'to support the revised ABRSM sight-reading criteria' in the 2009 syllabus. With hundreds of fascinating, short character pieces it is an inexhaustible resource for lessons - and delightful music in its own right. Helpful tips and tricks will improve pupils' chances of gaining more marks in this bit of the exam, and this is an honest, well-designed, reasonably priced package. I would recommend its use outside the exam preparation period rather than at the last minute, because the skills picked up will help in every aspect of piano playing, aural perception and general musical awareness. Piano Magazine, January 2009

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Book SynopsisHave you always wondered how to do a cryptic crossword?Solving one maybe easier than you think thanks to this book.The Telegraph''s Puzzle Editor, Chris Lancaster, shows how to crack cryptic crosswords in an easy-to-follow way.This simple-to-use guide will help you solve any cryptic crossword, whether you''re a complete beginner or a puzzler seeking to expand your knowledge. This book features:- Explanations of the common clue devices, including double definitions, hidden clues, charades, subtractions, homophones and container-and-contents clues- Work-throughs of practice crosswords- Tips for spotting each variety of clue - The top 10 solving tips you need to know- Advice on reference materials and taking your puzzling to the next level- Chris''s top-12 solving tips- Appendices of useful lists including single-letter abbreviations and a glossary of common ''crosswordese''Whether you''re a novice or

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Book SynopsisThich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar and peace activist. During the war in Vietnam, he worked tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam and his courageous efforts moved Martin Luther King to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. During the war, he founded the Van Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon and the School of Youth for Social Service. Forced into exile because of his efforts to negotiate peace in Vietnam, he continued his activism, rescuing boat people and helping to resettle Vietnamese refugees abroad. Today he lives in Plum Village, his meditation centre in France, and travels widely, leading retreats on the art of mindful living.

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Book SynopsisTwo respected Old Testament scholars offer a fresh, comprehensive treatment of the messiah theme throughout the entire Old Testament and examine its relevance for New Testament interpretation. Addressing a topic of perennial interest and foundational significance, this book explores what the Old Testament actually says about the Messiah, divine kingship, and the kingdom of God. It also offers a nuanced understanding of how New Testament authors make use of Old Testament messianic texts in explaining who Jesus is and what he came to do.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. The Seed, the Star, and the Template in the Pentateuch2. The Need for a King in Judges3. The Book of Ruth and the House of David4. The Heart of Kingship in 1-2 Samuel5. Failure and the Royal Ideal in 1-2 Kings6. Royal Messianic Expectations in Isaiah7. The Death and Rebirth of Kingship in Jeremiah8. The Prince Forecast in Ezekiel9. Kingship for a United Nation in Hosea10. David's Booth in Amos11. Davidic Rule in Micah12. The Sprout, the Divine Shepherd, and the Messenger in Zechariah and Malachi13. The Portrait of David in the Psalter14. Where Is David in the Book of Daniel?15. Kingship and the Temple in 1-2 Chronicles16. Looking Forward to the New TestamentConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisNew 2017 Cambridge A Level Maths and Further Maths resources help students with learning and revision. Written for the OCR AS/A Level Mathematics specifications for first teaching from 2017, this print Student Book covers the content for AS and the first year of A Level. It balances accessible exposition with a wealth of worked examples, exercises and opportunities to test and consolidate learning, providing a clear and structured pathway for progressing through the course. It is underpinned by a strong pedagogical approach, with an emphasis on skills development and the synoptic nature of the course. Includes answers to aid independent study.Table of Contents1. Proof and mathematical communication; 2. Indices and surds; 3. Quadratic functions; 4. Polynomials; 5. Using graphs; 6. Coordinate geometry; 7. Logarithms; 8. Exponential models; 9. Binomial expansion; Focus on proof 1; Focus on problem solving 1; Focus on modelling 1; Cross-topic review exercise 1; 10. Trigonometric functions and equations; 11. Triangle geometry; 12. Vectors; 13. Differentiation; 14. Applications of differentiation; 15. Integration; Focus on proof 2; Focus on problem solving 2; Focus on modelling 2; Cross-topic review exercise 2; 16. Working with data; 17. Probability; 18. Statistical hypothesis testing; Focus on proof 3; Focus on problem solving 3; Focus on modelling 3; Cross-topic review exercise 3; 19. Introduction to kinematics; 20. Motion with constant acceleration; 21. Force and motion; 22. Objects in contact; Focus on proof 4; Focus on problem solving 4; Focus on modelling 4; Cross-topic review exercise 4.

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Book SynopsisHow did racism creep into the algorithms that govern our daily lives, from banking and shopping, to job applications? Connecting the legacy of enlightenment racism to forms of discrimination in modern day algorithms and Artificial Intelligence, this volume examines what data feeds into AI technology - and how this data will shape the future of humanity. Delving into the narratives enveloping the development of AI systems, with a particular emphasis on tech-giants and the ideas of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Bill Gates, Arshin Adib-Moghaddam explains how and why technology aids and abets various forms of extremism, entrenches social hierarchies and discriminatory boundaries and how this will impact international security and human rights in the future.Trade ReviewWritten with intellectual flair, this is a stimulating if sobering assessment of what we can expect in a world increasingly dominated by biased AI. A must-read to understand the paradigm shift we are already experiencing, and better anticipate the all too human flaws in the embedded tech so rapidly accumulating in our techno-societies. * Roxane Farmanfarmaian, University of Cambridge, UK *A fascinating work on the age of artificial intelligence, surveillance, and algorithmic regimes. Arshin Adib-Moghaddam asks compelling questions regarding our dice-throw with the virtual, the digital, and the simulated, taking us into those timescapes of the near-beyond where we will have to confront dire questions of our own post-humanism. This work unveils with exceptional precision both the potentiality for catastrophic violence beneath the surface of such epochal technologies yet also an escape-route into its more boundless figurations. * Jason Mohaghegh, Babson College, USA *A cutting-edge piece of work illustrating how we can transform our psychology and change values within an AI-controlled system in the age of post-human society. * Hisae Nakanishi, Doshisha University, Japan *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Beyond Human Robots Chapter 2: The Matrix Decoded Chapter 3: Capital Punishment Chapter 4: Techno-Imperialism Chapter 5: Death-Techniques Conclusion: Decolonial AI - A Manifesto

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Book SynopsisThe story of Kilsoo Haanâs brilliant espionage, first against Japan and then against the Soviet Union - a huge advantage spurned.

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Book SynopsisThe Hoffman Process, founded by the late Bob Hoffman, is a highly respected and effective 8-day intensive course of emotional healing now practised in 14 countries around the world. The Process helps you face demons from your past - often rooted in your childhood and upbringing - and forgive, heal, and move on. Now, Tim Laurence, the director of the Process, brings its unique methods to a wider public. Some self-help books focus on therapeutic techniques, others on practical advice. But this is the only life-changing book to bridge the gap between the two, offering a unique perspective from which to bring benefits to all areas of your life. It aims to help you achieve:* Renewed enthusiasm for life * Increased self-confidence * Clearer sense of purpose * Greater spiritual identity * Better relationships with others * Relief from anger and depression A brilliant synthesis of Freud, Jung and other leading psycholTrade ReviewI have no doubt that the Hoffman Process was my salvation... I understand now what makes me tick. * Ruthie Henshall, The Times *in the world of personal development, the Hoffman Process ... is the next big thing * Amy Jenkins *essential for anyone on a healing path * Joan Borysenko *a banquet for the soul * Mark Victor Hansen *The Hoffman Process allows people to resolve many...issues; which...they have used to prop their character up...Through the Hoffman Process, I actually brought my faith into my daily actions. * Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One-Minute Manager *The equivalent of a psychological detox * Patrick Holford, author of Natural Highs *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERNIGEL - One of Britain''s favourite dogs! MONTY DON - One of Britain''s favourite presenters. When Monty Don''s golden retriever Nigel became the surprise star of BBC Gardeners'' World inspiring huge interest, fan mail and his own social media accounts, Monty Don wanted to explore what makes us connect with animals quite so deeply. In many respects Nigel is a very ordinary dog; charming, handsome and obedient, as so many are. He is a much loved family pet. He is also a star. By telling Nigel''s story, Monty relates his relationships with the other special dogs in his life in a memoir of his dogs past and very much present. Witty, touching and life-affirming, Nigel: My family and other dogs is wonderfully heart-warming. Monty Don is a great writer coming out of the garden and into the hearts and homes of every dog lover in the UK.<Trade ReviewHumane, engaging and eloquent * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisIn this international bestseller, the father of positive psychology draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to show you how to overcome depression, boost your immune system, and make yourself happier.Vaulted me out of my funk.... So, fellow moderate pessimists, go buy this book. The New York Times Book ReviewSharing simple techniques anyone can practice, Dr. Seligman explains how to break an I-give-up habit, develop a more constructive explanatory style for interpreting your behaviour, and experience the benefits of a more positive interior dialogue.With advice on how to encourage optimistic behavior at school, at work and in children, Learned Optimism is both profound and practical, and valuable for every phase of life.Trade ReviewAn optimistic case for optimism: you can learn it, you can measure it, you can teach it and you will be healthier and happier for it. -- Aaron T. Beck MD, founder of Cognitive TherapyVaulted me out of my funk . . . fellow moderate pessimists, go buy this book. -- Marian Sandmaier, New York Times Book ReviewOne of the most important books of the century. -- Dr Robert H Schuller, author of Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People DoA powerful blueprint for reforming your deepest pessimistic tendencies. -- Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

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Book Synopsis"Things of such magnitude deserve respect and understanding. They deserve to be remembered..."Artist and illustrator Jo Brown started keeping her nature diary in a bid to document the small wonders of the wood behind her home in Devon. The pages in this book are an exact replica of those in her original journal, a rich illustrated memory of Jo's discoveries in the order in which she found them.In enchanting, minute detail she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumble-bee, or a native bluebell. And she notes facts about their physiology and life history. Secrets of a Devon Wood is a treat for the senses, a hymn to the intricate beauty of the natural world and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finally put it down.Trade ReviewExquisite drawings and thoughtful annotations bring to life each new discovery, from a shiny-shelled green dock beetle to an inquisitive-looking crossbill. * Town & Country Magazine *This beautiful nature journal is an inspiration for all budding artists and naturalists, featuring exquisite illustrations by artist Jo Brown, with handwritten notes on what she has seen in the wood near her Devon home. * Woman & Home Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWITH A FOREWORD BY PATRICK BARKHAMAnd an essay by Welsh hill farmer, Dafydd Morris-Jones'One of the great no-holds-barred life-adventures in the wilds of the British landscape.' ADAM NICOLSONWritten on the eve of the Second World War, this memoir tells the remarkable story of how 21-year-old Thomas Firbank decided on impulse to purchase a 2,400-acre hill farm in the rugged, inhospitable mountains of Snowdonia, and how he and his wife struggled to build it back into prosperity. The book became an international bestseller, selling over half-a-million copies worldwide and pioneered the genre of 'good life' rural escape literature. This new edition is introduced with a foreword by the award-winning nature writer, Patrick Barkham, and includes an afterword by contemporary Welsh sheep farmer, Dafydd Morris-Jones.I Bought a Mountain is a thrilling human tale of tragedy and triumph, as well as a portrait of a lost era when farming was a communal endeavour, offering precious insights into conservation and sustainability relevant for today.Trade Review'"There's nothing so fine as courage," Thomas Firbank writes in I Bought a Mountain and that is the motto of the book: challenge after challenge faced, suffered and, in part anyway, relished for its stimulus. One of the great no-holds-barred life-adventures in the wilds of the British landscape. Every page is alive with the presence of the Welsh mountains and and their people, every chapter with the insistent, often beautiful, often savage realities of the natural world.' * Adam Nicolson *'One of the most compelling and successful 20th-century versions of the urge to escape to the country... deeply inspiring... highly pertinent.' * PATRICK BARKHAM *'Extraordinarily relevant... this book could have been written in 2022, with Firbank talking angrily of a country that needed to improve its self-sufficiency... Above all, however, he describes so movingly the privilege of farming this miraculous landscape.' -- Kate Green * Country LIfe *'A delightful book, full of vivid experiences.' * Telegraph *'Vitally convincing and exhilarating.' * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisJonathan Meades has an obsessive preoccupation with places. He has spent thirty years constructing sixty films, two novels and hundreds of pieces of journalism that explore an extraordinary range of them, from natural landscapes to man-made buildings and 'the gaps between them', drawing attention to what he calls 'the rich oddness of what we take for granted'. This book collects fifty-four pieces and six film scripts that dissolve the barriers between high and low culture, good and bad taste, deep seriousness and black comedy. Meades delivers what he calls 'heavy entertainment' – strong opinions backed up by an astonishing depth of knowledge. To read Meades on places, buildings, politics or cultural history is an exhilarating workout for the mind. He leaves you better informed, more alert, less gullible.Trade Review 'The scope of his ideas, the force of his arguments, the sheer vitality of his sentences: these things come at you like negative ions after a storm' Rachel Cooke, New Statesman 'For the last thirty years Britain's most consistently surprising and informative writer on the built environment' Owen Hatherley, London Review of Books 'Lively, inventive and pugnacious . . . In an English literary tradition that, sweeping up Ian Nairn, John Betjeman and Charles Dickens along the way, takes us back to William Corbett's Rural Rides' ' Jonathan Glancey, Architectural Review 'An indispensible companion to one of the most original and valuable commentators on architecture working today' Will Wiles, Building Design 'Meades is consistently, cuttingly entertaining' Edwin Heathcote, Financial Times Books of the Year 'Jonathan Meades is a consistently amusing and provocative polemicist and this book is a rollercoaster ride, though not to be consumed all in one go . . . It is all richly entertaining, invigorating and provoking' Tim Richarson, Literary Review 'One of the great revelations of Mr Meades's writing is his ability not just to expose the tawdriness and cynicism of those who manage our landscape and our past, but also to find interest and beauty in what others, affording it a passing glance, would find drab and unremarkable . . . It is an unfortunate cliché to call any book an eye-opener, but this one unquestionably is' Simon Heffer, Standpoint

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Book Synopsis'A joyously peculiar book' - The New York Times'A fascinating insight into Icelandic culture and a fresh perspective on her global influence. Warning: may well make readers wish they were Icelandic, too.' - Helen Russell, author of The Year of Living DanishlyThe untold story of how one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic has shaped the world for centuries.The history of Iceland began 1,200 years ago, when a frustrated Viking captain and his useless navigator ran aground in the middle of the North Atlantic. Suddenly, the island was no longer just a layover for the Arctic tern. Instead, it became a nation whose diplomats and musicians, sailors and soldiers, volcanoes and flowers, quietly altered the globe forever. How Iceland Changed the World takes readers on a tour of history, showing them how Iceland played a pivotal role in events as diverse as the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, and the foundation of Israel. Again and again, one humble nation has found itself at the frontline of historic events, shaping the world as we know it - How Iceland Changed the World paints a lively picture of just how it all happened.'Egill Bjarnason has written a delightful reminder that, when it comes to countries, size doesn't always matter. His writing is a pleasure to read, reminiscent of Bill Bryson or Louis Theroux. He has made sure we will never take Iceland for granted again.' A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of Thanks a Thousand and The Year of Living Biblically 'Bjarnason's intriguing book might be about a cold place, but it's tailor-made to be read on the beach.' - New Statesman 'Egill Bjarnason places Iceland at the center of everything, and his narrative not only entertains but enlightens, uncovering unexpected connections.' Andri Snær, author of On Time and Water 'Icelander Egill Bjarnason takes us on a high-speed, rough-and-tumble ride through 1,000-plus years of history-from the discovery of America to Tolkien's muse, from the French Revolution to the NASA moonwalk, from Israel's birth to the first woman president-all to display his home island's mind-opening legacy.' Nancy Marie Brown, author of The Real Valkyrie and The Far Traveller'I always assumed the history of Iceland had, by law or fate, to match the tone of an October morning: dark, gray, and uninviting to most mankind. This book challenges that assumption, and about time. Our past, much like the present, can be a little fun.' Jón Gnarr, former mayor of Reykjavík and author of The Pirate and The Outlaw 'How Iceland Changed the World is not only surprising and informative. It is amusing and evocatively animates a place that I have been fascinated with for most of my life. Well worth the read!' - Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres'An entertaining, offbeat (and pleasingly concise) history of the remote North Atlantic nation ... perfect for a summer getaway read' - The CriticTrade ReviewA fascinating insight into Icelandic culture and a fresh perspective on her global influence. Warning: may well make readers wish they were Icelandic, too. -- Helen Russell, author of The Year of Living DanishlyHow Iceland Changed the World is not only surprising and informative. It is amusing and evocatively animates a place that I have been fascinated with for most of my life. Well worth the read! -- Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning authorEgill Bjarnason has written a delightful reminder that, when it comes to countries, size doesn't always matter. His writing is a pleasure to read, reminiscent of Bill Bryson or Louis Theroux. He has made sure we will never take Iceland for granted again. -- A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of Thanks a Thousand and The Year of Living BiblicallyEgill Bjarnason places Iceland at the center of everything, and his narrative not only entertains but enlightens, uncovering unexpected connections. -- Andri Snær, author of On Time and WaterIcelander Egill Bjarnason takes us on a high-speed, rough-and-tumble ride through 1,000-plus years of history-from the discovery of America to Tolkien's muse, from the French Revolution to the NASA moonwalk, from Israel's birth to the first woman president-all to display his home island's mind-opening legacy. -- Nancy Marie Brown, author of The Real Valkyrie and The Far TravelerI always assumed the history of Iceland had, by law or fate, to match the tone of an October morning: dark, gray, and uninviting to most mankind. This book challenges that assumption, and about time. Our past, much like the present, can be a little fun. -- Jón Gnarr, former mayor of Reykjavík and author of The Pirate and The OutlawWhat Egill Bjarnason sets out to explain in How Iceland Changed the World his joyously peculiar book, is why it is also so full of farce and drive - why Iceland is a country with the soul of a very small town and yet can sometimes shut down the world. Bjarnason balances pride and realism so casually that you can almost take for granted a nation whose Parliament once voted to abolish the letter "z" (except in a few words such as "pizza"). -- The New York Timesan in-depth, informative, and fascinating chronicle of Iceland's mostly unknown contributions to the world -- Arab NewsAn entertaining, offbeat (and pleasingly concise) history of the remote North Atlantic nation ... perfect for a summer getaway read -- The CriticBjarnason's intriguing book might be about a cold place, but it's tailor-made to be read on the beach. -- New Statesman

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Book SynopsisAn ordinary woman: an extraordinary life In 1979 Helen returns from Algeria to a much-changed UK, where she must juggle sole parenthood with the demands of a successful career. Her life unravels when her older son develops acute leukaemia and his devastated brother spirals into depression and addiction. For a decade Helen battles to keep her family, and herself, together. Unable to save her sons, can she now save herself? “Takes us on a devastating yet inspiring journey through the loss of her sons just a few years apart. Writing with searing insight and exceptional beauty, Helen Bouchami reveals how grief gave way to the transformative, healing power of love, and ultimately, to a new sense of meaning in life.” Joelle Fraser, author of The Territory of Men and The Forest House

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Book SynopsisIs it better for a martini to be shaken, not stirred? Does it matter which order you add the ingredients of a Long Island Iced Tea? How many ice cubes can you add to a margarita without compromising the flavour?The perfect home begins with a blueprint and a dream, and your perfect cocktail should start the same way! The Architecture of the Cocktail will reveal the answers to all your cocktail queries and more.Focusing on the precise measurements to make the perfect drink as well as the recommended garnish and embellishments, you'll no longer have to guess what a cocktail should taste like.Laying out the exact measurements from the bottom of your glass to the top, you'll discover the order in which you should layer your liquor, the precise measurements needed, and even recommended brands.Not sure which stemware is appropriate? Consult the mini guide on identifying the correct stemware in the back of the book.Featuring 75 different cocktails and recipes (including specifications, notes,

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Book SynopsisSpark scientific curiosity from a young age with this six-level course through an enquiry-based approach and active learning. Collins International Primary Science fully meets the requirements of the Cambridge Primary Science Curriculum Framework from 2020 and has been carefully developed for a range of international contexts.The course is organised into four main strands: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Space and the skills detailed under the Thinking and Working Scientifically' strand are introduced and taught in the context of those areas.For each Workbook at Stages 1 to 6, we offer:A write-in Workbook linked to the Student's BookNew language development activities help build science vocabularyEarth and Space content covers the new curriculum frameworkThinking and Working Scientifically deepens and enhances the delivery of Science skillsActively learn through practical activities that don't require specialist equipment or labsScaffolding allows students of varying abilitie

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Book SynopsisAlison Smith is a sewing expert and tutor. Her sewing school, the Alison Victoria School of Sewing, is the largest independent sewing school in England. Alison regularly speaks at specialist sewing shows, is a regular contributor to Sewing World magazine, and has appeared on the ITV television series Ladette to Lady. In 2013 Alison was awarded an MBE for services to sewing and corsetry.

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Book SynopsisThe Divine Dance is a superb book from bestselling author and spiritual teacher Richard Rohr, exploring the doctrine of the Trinity and how it can transform our relationship with God.Trade ReviewFinding the sweet spot where contemporary science meets ancient mysticism, and theology meets poetry, The Divine Dance sketches a beautiful choreography for a life well–lived. In our joy or our pain, true life is always relational, a flow, a dance. (And was always meant to be.) -- Bono, U2The Divine Dance is not only Richard Rohr’s best book; it’s the best book on the Trinity I’ve ever read. Tender, human, both pastorally and psychologically brilliant, this is the work Rohr was born to do . . . An instant spiritual classic. -- Jonathan Martin, Author, How to Survive a ShipwreckRohr and Morrell have given us a liberating and yet totally orthodox invitation into the life of God. This book is a celebration of the Trinity, not as bad math (1+1+1=3), and not as baffling mystery to avoid, but as the divine movement of love. The Divine Dance is an example of why Rohr has had such a profound influence on so many Christians seeking to balance reason and mystery, action and contemplation, not to mention faith and real life. -- Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastor, House for All Sinners and Saints, Author, Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People, NadiaBolzWeber.comThe Divine Dance invites you into the heart of Christian mysticism: the lavish ever-expanding love of God. Richard Rohr and Mike Morrell show how the triune God is more than a philosophical concept—the Trinity is a joyous celebration of love and life, and we are all called to participate. -- Carl McColman, Author, The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, CarlMcColman.netA truly vital re-presentation of the fundamental truths that lie at the heart of the Christian gospel for a new age. Rohr and Morrell have written a soon-to-be classic that will re-enchant many with the beauty of the Christian tradition while causing us to expand and explore beyond the boundaries of rigid religiosity . . . a must-read for every Christian in the twenty-first century. -- Brandan Robertson, Author, Nomad: A Spirituality for Travelling LightWith the wisdom of C.S. Lewis and the accessibility of Rob Bell, Richard Rohr and Mike Morrell unpack our long-lingering questions about God, love, grace, and forgiveness, all through the lens of Trinitarian spirituality. This isn’t to say that this book answers every question. Like all good mystics, Rohr and Morrell circle our questions, reveling in the mystery of all that is. Join them. Stand with them "under the waterfall of God’s infinite mercy, and know that you are loved." -- David James Poissant, L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist; author, The Heaven of Animals, davidjamespoissant.comRichard Rohr is one of the great spiritual masters of our time, indeed of any time. His superb new book on the Trinity is vintage Rohr: clearheaded, provocative, inspiring, challenging, and, most of all, suffused with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity will of course always remain a profound mystery, but after reading Father Rohr’s book, you will experience it as a mystery that can, and will, transform your life. -- James Martin, SJ, Author, Jesus: A Pilgrimage and Seven Last WordsRichard Rohr has once again given us a remarkable book on a sub­ject that most Christians haven’t really thought about or prayed about, and yet we all agree is at the very heart of Christianity . . . [Richard's] heart is to reform Christianity from the bottom up by making clear the very shape of God, and in The Divine Dance he does just that . . the wisdom contained within these pages will enable us all to join in the dance of life! -- Francis MacNutt, Healing minister and author, The Healing Reawakening, christianhealingmin.orgMore and more people are struggling with conventional understandings of God, like the big white guy on a throne with a long beard and a fistful of swords and lightning bolts by which you (or your enemies) might be smitten at any moment if you don’t think or act correctly. For many, the concept of Trinity simply triples their God-problems. But in The Divine Dance, Richard Rohr and Mike Morrell explore the Trinity as a pathway beyond problematic understandings of God. This beautifully-written book can do far more than change your troubled thoughts about God: it can change your way of thinking about God entirely. -- Brian D. McLaren, Activist, speaker, and author, We Make the Road by Walking, brianmclaren.netThis is Christianity, awake. In The Divine Dance, Fr. Rohr and Mike Morrell inspire the mind and open the heart by exploring how a more robust Trinitarian theology can enliven faith in a way that’s rooted not only in Christian tradition, but in wisdom, experience, and love. -- Michael Gungor, Musician and author, The Crowd, the Critic, and the Muse, GungorMusic.comAn inspiring book whose richness is possibly best savoured when read intermittently, allowing it to become part of one’s own process of prayer. * Reform Magazine, May issue *an imaginative, provocative, and energised invitation to be renewed in the Trinitarian faith * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisOffers research about the mind and the brain that provides answers to a number of compelling questions. This book uses exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know result in in-depth learning. The knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in our education system.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 I INTRODUCTION; 3 1 Learning: From Speculation to Science; 4 II LEARNERS AND LEARNING; 5 2 How Experts Differ from Novices; 6 3 Learning and Transfer; 7 4 How Children Learn; 8 5 Mind and Brain; 9 III TEACHERS AND TEACHING; 10 6 The Design of Learning Environments; 11 7 Effective Teaching: Examples in History, Mathematics, and Science; 12 8 Teacher Learning; 13 9 Technology to Support Learning; 14 IV FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING; 15 10 Conclusions; 16 11 Next Steps for Research; 17 References; 18 Biographical Sketches of Committees' Members and Staff; 19 Acknowledgments; 20 Index

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Book SynopsisBusiness Model Generation is a handbook for visionaries, game changers, and challengers striving to defy outmoded business models and design tomorrow's enterprises.Trade Review"... an impressively comprehensive compendium of many of the most current ideas concerning the structure and development of businesses." (Anglohigher.com, May 2011). "... this handbook is likely to prove an excellent help for evaluating business models" (Anatello.com, July 2011)Table of Contents1 Canvas Definition of a Business Model 14 The 9 Building Blocks 16 The Business Model Canvas 44 2 Patterns Unbundling Business Models 56 The Long Tail 66 Multi-Sided Platforms 76 FREE as a Business Model 88 Open Business Models 108 3 Design Customer Insights 126 Ideation 134 Visual Thinking 146 Prototyping 160 Storytelling 170 Scenarios 180 4 Strategy Business Model Environment 200 Evaluating Business Models 212 Business Model Perspective on Blue Ocean Strategy 226 Managing Multiple Business Models 232 5 Process Business Model Design Process 244 Outlook Outlook 262 Afterword Where did this book come from? 274 References 276

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Book SynopsisBestselling author Philip Matyszak explores how the Greeks and Romans used magic, who performed it and why. Magic was everywhere in the ancient world. The supernatural abounded, turning flowers into fruit and caterpillars into butterflies. Magic packed a cloud of water vapour with energy enough to destroy a house with one well-aimed thunderbolt. It was everyday magic, but it was still magical. Philip Matyszak takes readers into that world. He shows us how to make a love potion or cast a curse, how to talk to the dead and how to identify and protect oneself from evil spirits. He takes us to a world where gods, like humans, were creatures of space and time; where people could not just talk to spirits and deities, but could even themselves become divine; and where divine beings could fall from or be promoted to full godhood. Ancient Magic offers us a new way of understanding the role of magic, looking at its history in all of its classical forms. Drawing on a wide array of sources, from Greek dramas to curse tablets, lavishly illustrated throughout, and packed with information, surprises, lore and learning, this book offers an engaging and accessible way into the supernatural for all.Trade Review'It’s funny, it’s interesting and it’s informative. The author’s borderline cynical humour, ironic take in parts of the book, and his powers of comparison are thoroughly entertaining' - The Secret LibraryTable of ContentsIntroduction: Discovering Ancient Magic 1. Talking to the Dead 2. Makers of Magic 3. Magic of Love and Hate 4. Magical Creatures 5. Protection against the Arts of Darkness 6. Looking to the Future

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Book SynopsisA pioneering look at early Scotland that transforms prehistory into gripping narrative history. The story of the land that became Scotland is one of dramatic geological events and impressive human endeavour. Alistair Moffat's gripping narrative ranges from the great thaw at the end of the Ice Age which was instrumental in shaping Scotland's magnificent landscape through the megalith builders, the Celts and the Picts, to the ascension of King Constantine II. Moffat deploys his knowledge with wit and deftness, interweaving the story with numerous special features on topics as diverse as cave drawings of dancing girls, natural birth control, the myth of Atlantis and the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence all of them valuable, sometimes quirky, additions to the whole picture. Rounding out the account is a selection of carefully chosen colour photographs that give a strong sense of the Scottish landscape and monuments. Erudite and entertaining, Before Scotland transforms our understTrade Review'Vivid and compelling' - The Sunday Herald'As fresh and warm as a dram of uisge beatha' - Focus'There’s a timelessness about people and landscape which is brought out quite brilliantly here. This book deserves to be very, very widely read' - Professor Barry Cunliffe, Oxford University'Lively and entertaining' - Scottish FieldTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Painted Islands 2. The Ice Domes 3. The Wildwood 4. The Kindred Ground 5. Homely Geometry 6. The Iron Warlords 7. Caledonia 8. The Last of the British

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