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Book SynopsisRecord three years' worth of magical memories with this beautiful one-line-a-day memory journal inspired by the charm of the Harry Potter films and Hogwarts.

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Book Synopsis24 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe is as divided as ever. The passengers of the low-budget airlines go east for stag parties, and they go West for work; but the East stays East, and West stays West. Caricatures abound - the Polish plumber in the tabloids, the New Cold War in the broadsheets and the endless search for 'the new Berlin' for hipsters. Against the stereotypes, Agata Pyzik peers behind the curtain to take a look at the secret histories of Eastern Europe (and its tortured relations with the 'West'). Neoliberalism and mass migration, post-punk and the Bowiephile obsession with the Eastern Bloc, Orientalism and 'self-colonization', the emancipatory potentials of Socialist Realism, the possibility of a non-Western idea of modernity and futurism, and the place of Eastern Europe in any current revival of 'the idea of communism' - all are much more complex and surprising than they appear. Poor But Sexy refuses both a dewy-eyed Ostalgia for the 'good old days' and the equally desperate desire to become a 'normal part of Europe', reclaiming instead the idea an Other Europe.Trade ReviewA necessary corrective to the paper-thin portrayal of Eastern Europe by Western media. Pyzik's writing is clear, direct, knowledgeable - and partisan, in the best sense of the word. --Daniel Trilling, author of Bloody Nasty People: The Rise of Britain's Far Right.

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Book SynopsisBlade Runner 2049: The Storyboards is a celebration of the rarely-seen artwork that was key in building the harsh, yet strangely beautiful, environments in the film. This remarkable book presents a fresh look at Blade Runner 2049, including scenes that were later altered or cut out entirely, along with new, in-context commentary from storyboard artists Sam Hudecki and Darryl Henley throughout.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the global success of Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse, an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance. The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters is an in-depth behind the scenes look at the epic movie. Packed with concept art, on-set photography, and insight from key members of the production—including director Michael Dougherty—this beautiful book tells the story of how Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah were brought to terrifying life.Trade Review“A hefty book that will keep kaiju fans staring for long hours into the night, The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a delight.” - Adventures in Poor Taste“particularly fun for anyone who is a fan of concept art and mega-monsters” - Borg.com “stunningly gorgeous” - Fangirl Nation“a must have for anyone interested in making films or if you’re a Godzilla fan - or both!” - Toho Kingdon“a fantastic and informative book for those who enjoy and are interested in the process of making movies” - Cinema Sentries “extremely well done with stunning artwork and interesting looks at the decisions made and roads not taken” - Forces of Geek “A labor of love through and through... A great collector’s item for any fan of the Godzilla franchise. It ties well into the film of which it was created and it gives lots of details.” - Geekisphere

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Book SynopsisThis essential guide to doing social research in this fast-evolving digital age explains how the digital revolution is transforming the way social scientists observe behavior, ask questions, run experiments, and engage in mass collaborations.Trade Review"Winner of the 2019 PROSE Award in Textbook / Social Sciences, Association of American Publishers""Winner of the AAPOR Book Award, American Association for Public Opinion Research"

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Book SynopsisCelebrate Korean culture whilst learning about its past and present in this stunning and fascinating guide. In recent years, Korean popular culture has taken the form of a tidal wave sweeping over the West. Whether it’s music, film, drama series, fashion or cuisine, South Korea is establishing itself as a key player on the world stage. And the Korean Wave (Hallyu) shows no sign of stopping. Even before Squid Game and the award-winnning film Parasite, K-pop had become a $5 billion industry and Korean food had become the exciting new regional cuisine in restaurants and bars. K Culture will reveal all aspects of South Korea's way of life, both historically and in its new found fame. Including sections on K-pop bands, cinema, drama, art, comics, food, fashion and night-life, with features within each section on the best films, shows, stars, artists etc. – this book offers different gateways into contemporary South Korea and what drives it. Also highlighted is the global influence, with a focus on eight cities from around the world (including London, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, New York and L.A.) that have embraced this dynamic culture. This book is a stunning, informative and fun handbook to the Korean Wave.

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Book Synopsis‘Ferociously smart. A rare combination of guilty pleasure and intellectual insight’ VOGUE ‘Perceptive. Refreshing. Tears away layers of false readings and conspiracy theories’ NEW YORK TIMES Intricately researched. Churchwell’s Marilyn is a complex, well-rounded creature in the best sense – the human sense’ OBSERVER There are many Marilyns: sex goddess and innocent child, crafty manipulator and dumb blonde, screen legend and Hollywood victim. In this incisive and subtle book, Sarah Churchwell looks at how the stories we tell have trivialised a woman we supposedly adore, and at what they reveal about our attitudes towards sex symbols and icons, to women, death, biography and Marilyn herself.Trade ReviewInventive and entertaining ... Churchwell seems to have invented an altogether new form of biography * LITERARY REVIEW *A splendid metabiography of one of the great icons of the twentieth century -- BOOKS OF THE YEAR * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Refreshing … [Tears] away layers of false readings and conspiracy theories * NEW YORK TIMES *Ferociously smart … A rare combination of guilty pleasure and intellectual insight * VOGUE *Untangles the threads of Monroe’s life story, isolating the essential cornerstones of the Monroe myth * INDEPENDENT *

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Book SynopsisProviding information not found in standard guides about daily interactions, cultural dos and don'ts, etiquette, and the ways business is conducted Culture Smart! Rwanda gives you the tools for a successful visit to this beautiful land. It guides you through daily interactions, cultural dos and don'ts, traditions and cultural practices, etiquette, and the ways in which business is conducted. It provides a brief overview of Rwandan history, and practical suggestions for safety and travel. "The Land of a Thousand Hills," is known for its abundant natural beauty and iconic wildlife, from chimpanzees in the Nyungwe Forest to the returning lions and rhinoceros of Akagera National Park. This is a country of tea, coffee, and intricately woven baskets, of expressive drumming, and the subtle and artistic Intore dancers. It has a growing film industry, a world-class cycling team, a thriving contemporary music scene, and a burgeoning economy. The capital, Kigali, glimmers with new construction, and has become a home for investment and economic growth. Rwandans today remain a dignified, reserved, and welcoming people. They share a deep pride in their unique culture and history demonstrated by their eagerness to showcase it to visitors and they are dedicated to development. But to get the most from your stay, plunge in deeper and get to know them on their own terms, and you will find that you can make lifelong friends.Trade ReviewCulture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers...' Sunday Times Travel, ' the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries.' Global Travel, ' full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas.' Observer, ' as useful as they are entertaining.' Easy Jet Magazine, ' offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world.' New York TimesTable of ContentsBrief History Politics - Economic Life Traditions - Friendships & Family Relationships Bureaucracy Religion Humour - Local Holidays Taboos Invitations Gifts Dress - Business etiquette - Punctuality & Appointments - Team working Communication Negotiating - Women in Society Tips - Eating Out - Traditional Food - Dos and Don t - Making Friends

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Book Synopsis''Buoyed by an appealing and measured sense of affection. Whether you love Marvel 3000 or you''re a Scorsese sympathisers, MCU is worth your time, being a pacy, lively account of the single most important studio of the century... This account offers a wealth of insight.'' - EmpireMarvel Entertainment was a struggling toymaker not even twenty years ago. Today, Marvel Studios is the dominant player both in Hollywood and in global pop culture. But what accounts for its stunning rise? In MCU, beloved culture writers Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards draw on more than a hundred interviews with actors, producers, directors, and writers to present the definitive chronicle of Marvel Studios and its sole, ongoing production, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As they delve into the studio''s key moments - from the contentious hiring of Robert Downey Jr. for Iron Man to the negotiations over Disney''s acquisition of Marvel to studio head Kevin Trade Review'A superb chronicle of how Marvel Studios conquered Hollywood.... This definitive account of the Hollywood juggernaut thrills.' * Publishers Weekly *'The book every MCU fan needs to read.' -- Alan Sepinwall * author of The Sopranos Sessions *'A gift. Comprehensive, accessible, and entertaining, MCU makes for a great primer on a modern pillar of Hollywood entertainment.' -- Nicholas Quah * Vulture and New York Magazine *'I watched all the movies. I devoured all the articles. I listened to all the pods. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the MCU . . . and then I read this magnificent book. For fans, by fans; hilarious, gripping, and emotional; no infinity stone is left unturned. I loved it three thousand.' -- Damon Lindelof * Emmy-winning screenwriter *'A riveting, deeply researched history of the collaborative wizardry and backstage showdowns behind Marvel Studios' popcorn-movie empire.' -- Douglas Wolk * author of All of the Marvels *'Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards deliver the definitive chronicle of the greatest cinematic achievement of all time. An absolute treasure trove of depth and detail that will delight both new Marvel fans and Marvel zombies from way back, like me.' -- Jeff Cannata'I thought I was an authority on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I was wrong. This impeccably researched and reported tome is both a propulsive page turner and a real peek behind the curtain into how you build a cultural phenomenon, brick by obsessive brick.' -- Marc Bernardin * screenwriter and comic book author *'A deeply researched and engagingly written spin through Marvel history that gives credit where it's due, without papering over cracks. Even the biggest fan will find new revelations and new perspectives in the often first-hand accounts of the studio's climb to world dominance.' -- Helen O’Hara * Empire Magazine *'At some point, the movies based on the Avengers superhero group and its individual members ceased to be just comic-book entertainment; they became cultural touchstones. Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards bring extensive knowledge to the task of determining how, and they obviously love the craft of cinema . . . Something important took place when the Avengers assembled, and this book provides the background for the sprawling canvas.' * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe must-read memoir from the visionary figure behind Manchester''s legendary music scene, from The Haçienda to The Warehouse Project.Tales From the Dance Floor is an electrifying journey into the heart of Manchester's music culture with its most influential promoter.Over the past three decades, Sacha Lord has hosted countless iconic parties, booked legendary DJs, and shaped an underground scene that influenced a generation. Working with iconic acts including the Prodigy, New Order, the Chemical Brothers, Snoop Dogg, Fat Boy Slim, Andrew Weatherall, Aphex Twin, Four Tet, the Gallagher brothers and Jamie XX, he has thrown some of the biggest parties that the UK has ever seen.But it wasn't an easy road to get there. As this no-holds-barred account makes clear, Manchester's music revolution was fuelled by raw energy, creativity, enterprise and a number of other unidentified substances. From drive-by shootings to gang turf wars and nights out that never ended, Sacha Lord reveals, at 130bpm, the highs and lows of life bringing some of the planet's biggest stars to the world's greatest city.Featuring makeshift helipads, oysters with Grace Jones and more drugged-up rats than you could shake a big stick at, Tales From the Dance Floor is an absolute banger of a book.

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Book SynopsisThese days there are rules for everything and terrible consequences for disobeying them. Find out how easy it is tie yourself in knots with Red Tape . . .''Your call is important to us,'' says the lady on the help-line.The call is important because it is currently making the company 48p per minute.''__________''Sam has forgotten her password so she cannot access her e-mail account.She can reset her password using a memorable name, but she has forgotten her memorable name too, so the account locks.Sam automatically receives a link so she can reset her password.It is sent to her e-mail account.''__________This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups

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Book Synopsis3, 2, 1... inhale, deep. From the Victorian infirmary and the sex clubs of the 1970s, poppers vapour has released the queer potential inside us all. This is the intriguing story of how poppers wafted out of the lab and into gay bars, corner shops, bedrooms and porn supercuts. Blending historical research with wry observation, Adam Zmith explores the cultural forces and improbable connections behind the power of poppers. What emerges is not just a history of pub raids, viral panics and pecs the size of dinner plates. It is a collection of fresh and provocative ideas about identity, sex, utopia, capitalism, law, freedom and the bodies that we use to experience the world. In Deep Sniff, what starts as a thoughtful enquiry into poppers becomes a manifesto for pleasure.Trade Review"A pharmacornucopia of sensory pleasures, Adam Zmith’s Deep Sniff is an entire queer curriculum opened up by poppers.""Absorbing, riotous, keenly-researched and utterly celebratory, Deep Sniff is exactly the kind of queer history we need right now! Through the heady prism of poppers, Zmith explores the queer body with such curiosity and nuance – and explodes just how very political and ongoing the search for autonomous pleasure really is."“A fascinating, joyful social and personal history of an underrated drug. Zmith manages to capture not just the intriguing story of poppers and their role in queer life, but also something of their ineffable chemical pleasure.”“Adam Zmith's Deep Sniff is a fascinating dive into the history of a common, yet rarely remarked upon part of gay male life in the late 20th and early 20th century: poppers. Deftly intermingling history, personal experience, and cultural commentary, Deep Sniff is a remarkable addition to queer history.”“A book on poppers and its dilated pleasures is long-overdue. Knowledgeable and naughty, Deep Sniff is a giddy, unashamed rush that doesn’t need to be kept in the fridge after opening.”

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Book SynopsisAndy Miller traces the circumstances surrounding The Village Green Preservation Society released in November 1968, and celebrates the songs pieced together by a band who were on the verge of disintegration and who refused to follow fashion.Trade ReviewThis detailed tome leads the reader through the often fraught construction of what is now regarded as Davies's [sic] masterpiece- and, like the best books of its ilk, it makes the reader want to either re-investigate the album or hear it for the first time. * Blender Magazine, October 2003 *Miller takes an in-depth look at the Kinks' nostalgic and autobiographical album, released in 1968 , at the worst possible time, when rock was all about rebellion and psychedelia...This is the sort of focus that my make you want to buy a copy, or dig out your old one. * Rob Mackie, The Guardian *A compelling portrait...Miller's insight into the album's thematic structure is as eloquent as any writing on The Kinks * Philadelphia City Paper *...this is a charming and valuable addition to the series. * Joe Pettit, Ugly Things, Issue 25 *So thorough is Miller's survey of the period. * Pop Culture Press *Kinks commander Ray Davies once described the Beatles as "the boy next door only better." Miller notices this is a deeply autobiographical comment, and he's unquestionably in the tank for both that boy and that boy's nostalgia-driven magnum opus. But Miller tempers his enthusiasm with research, with and detailed-if-straightforward analysis of the songs, the time, the players and the fascinating history of the very English temperament that produced this most English of magnum opuses. * Austin American-Statesman, Oct. 17, 2004 *One of the hallmarks of the 33 1/3 series is the track-by-track runthrough, during which the author proceeds, often in painstaking detail, to describe each song on a given album in order. Occasionally this can be redundant or tedious, but one of the first great examples is in Andy Miller’s book on the Kinks’ finest hour. -- Stephen M. Deusner * Pitchfork *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, in-depth exploration of the creation and legacy of the classic Withnail & I, featuring interviews, essays, and fascinating never-before-seen archive material. Authorised by author and director Bruce Robinson, who provides an exclusive foreword, Withnail & I: From Cult to Classic charts the extraordinary journey of a beloved cult film from being 'just thoughts really' to becoming a permanent feature in any list of the Best British Films ever made. For the first time the surviving players have been interviewed for this book about their parts in the making of the movie, and the lasting effect it had on their lives. Bruce Robinson offers detailed insights into his creative process and influences, while new interviews with the film's stars Richard E Grant and Paul McGann provide personal insights into the impact that making and living with Withnail & I had. Illustrated throughout with never-before-seen photography and archive material, and featuring contributions from famous fans like Sam Bain, Margaret Cho and Charlie Higson, this is the definitive, must-have book on Withnail & I.Trade Review"A handsome scrapbook of interviews with key personnel, memorabilia and testimonials from celebrity fans – is a matryoshka of nostalgia: a 2023 book about a 1987 film set in 1969, in which multiple characters mourn the end of an era." The Spectator "Toby Benjamin’s handsome book is clearly a love letter to the film, bulging with great photos, snippets of behind-the-scenes gossip, interviews with what remains of the cast and crew and fans’ observations. The publishers have done him proud." Westminster Extra "It combines revelatory insight with deep affection for one of the finest British films ever made." The Observer "It’s full of warmth and insight, and spot on when it notes that the real genius of the film is not its quotability, or even the drinking game in which you try to match Withnail glass for glass, but its lingering sadness." The Times"Writer Toby Benjamin understands [Withnail & I] innately and pours his heart into this compendium of Withnailia. The highlights are his incisive interviews with a rant-heavy Robinson, the two leads and Ralph Brown (Danny the dealer), not to mention key behind-the-scenes folk including DoP Peter Hannan, who all offer richly evocative insights." Total Film"Withnail & I: from Cult to Classic charts the journey of a film that was initially a flop, gained a following among students...and then assumed a granite-like position in the culture, comparable to the King James Bible or Cilla Black" The Guardian"Withnail & I: From Cult to Classic, edited by Toby Benjamin, features Q&As with its cast, as well as its director, and celebrates its ongoing cultural significance." The Independent"It's always good to have the Withnail team reminisce" Empire

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Book SynopsisLearn to draw expressive faces to communicate thoughts, feelings and emotions! Drawing characters with realistic facial expressions is a challenging and critical skill for every manga artist and storyteller. Drawing Manga Faces & Expressions is an invaluable practical guide for illustrators who wish to bring their drawing skills to the next level! This book contains over 175 detailed step-by-step lessons and 1,200 drawings, with practical advice and helpful tips on every page.The tutorials covered in this comprehensive guide include: How to draw realistically consistent faces from every possible angle How to draw attractive eyes, noses, mouths, ears and hairlines for any age or gender How to apply shading to make your characters' faces appear three-dimensional How to express emotions like joy, anger, fear, surprise, sadness, wonder, confusion and calm And so much more!

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Book SynopsisA rare collection of more than 200 full-color and black-and-white souvenir photographs and memorabilia that bring to life the renowned jazz nightclubs of the 1940s and 1950s, compiled by Grammy Award-winning record executive and music historian Jeff Gold and featuring exclusive interviews with Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins, Robin Givhan, Jason Moran, and Dan Morgenstern.In the two decades before the Civil Rights movement, jazz nightclubs were among the first places that opened their doors to both Black and white performers and club goers in Jim Crow America. In this extraordinary collection, Jeff Gold looks back at this explosive moment in the history of Jazz and American culture, and the spaces at the center of artistic and social change. Sittin’ In is a visual history of jazz clubs during these crucial decades when some of the greatest names in in the genre—Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, and many others—were headlining acts across the country. In many of the clubs, Black and white musicians played together and more significantly, people of all races gathered together to enjoy an evening’s entertainment. House photographers roamed the floor and for a dollar, took picture of patrons that were developed on site and could be taken home in a keepsake folder with the club’s name and logo.Sittin’ In tells the story of the most popular club in these cities through striking images, first-hand anecdotes, true tales about the musicians who performed their unforgettable shows, notes on important music recorded live there, and more. All of this is supplemented by colorful club memorabilia, including posters, handbills, menus, branded matchbooks, and more. Inside you’ll also find exclusive, in-depth interviews conducted specifically for this book with the legendary Quincy Jones; jazz great tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins; Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion critic Robin Givhan; jazz musician and creative director of the Kennedy Center, Jason Moran; and jazz critic Dan Morgenstern.Gold surveys America’s jazz scene and its intersection with racism during segregation, focusing on three crucial regions: the East Coast (New York, Atlantic City, Boston, Washington, D.C.); the Midwest (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City); and the West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco). This collection of ephemeral snapshots tells the story of an era that helped transform American life, beginning the move from traditional Dixieland jazz to bebop, from conservatism to the push for personal freedom.Trade ReviewA great book…A story that needs to be told! — Sonny Rollins Vivid and beautiful... — Los Angeles Times Unprecedented...explores a seminal period in jazz culture, including how [jazz clubs] broke racial barriers...an incredible trove of unseen photos and memorabilia as well as exclusive interviews with Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones and Dan Morgenstern, among others. — JAZZIZ Magazine Sending big-time props to my brother, Jeff Gold, on the release of his new book, Sittin' In—the first book exclusively dedicated to the story of America’s jazz clubs...This book covers the incredibly important role jazz played in integration, as jazz clubs were among some of the first places that allowed integration during the Jim Crow era, on stages & in the audiences. It was never about the color of your skin...jazz was & is simply about, “Can you play, sucka!” & that’s exactly what this book is about! — Quincy Jones A vibrant history of jazz clubs...beautifully designed...meticulously laid out and researched. — AllMusic/The Year’s Best Music Books Sittin’ In is fabulous: well thought out, beautifully put together, and artfully done with superb taste. A treasure. — Herb Alpert A beautiful book...highly, highly recommended. — Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang/SiriusXM Absolutely fascinating...a thoroughly entertaining, coherent, visually enticing package. — Analog Planet Sittin’ In is in a word—exquisite. Meticulously laid out and extensively researched, it’s a deep dive into this amazing period of American cultural history. These venues and this amazing music were among the best vehicles for integration the country ever had. This was an America really making a go of bringing people together. It wasn’t legislation. It was Jazz. And it worked. We are incredibly lucky to have Sittin’ In. The musicians in these pages made some of the most sublime music you will ever hear. Seek it out if you have not already. — Henry Rollins Without a doubt a MAJOR contribution to jazz history in so many ways. An explosion of never-before-seen images, an expert history of the music it celebrates, and lengthy and superb interviews with a killer-row of musicians and scholars. Truly a must-have for anyone for whom swing is the thing. — Loren Schoenberg, Former Executive Director/Current Senior Scholar of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem Any research project of this depth and breadth deserves celebration, especially when it focuses on places and ideas that are usually dismissed in most jazz histories and studies. So valuable, and so browsable—to use a book industry term, one I have affection for, that basically says, "jump in anywhere and carry on from there..." That's this book. With inspired, insightful interviews with Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins, Jason Moran, and others. — Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece, A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album, and The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records This book is a revelation. In these unique images of mid-century jazz clubs, the camera is turned on the audience—showing the hidden history of racial integration. — Jon Savage, author of England's Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock; The Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division, 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded; and Teenage: The Creation of Youth Culture You definitely feel like you’re back in the era when looking at these photos...just fascinating. — Press Play with Madeline Brand/KCRW Los Angeles This marvelous book is a must tor anyone interested not only in the history of jazz and American city culture but also tor it's wondrous design...Take the trip! It just might blow your mind... — Nels Cline/Wilco and The Nels Cline Singers Book of the year! Easily! — Johan Kugelberg, author of The Velvet Underground: New York Art and Punk: An Aesthetic Sittin' In is a book that has a lot to say, with or without words…It champions and shines a long overdue light on a golden era of our society. Jazz is the backdrop and, as it still does today, feeds the very soul. But here we take a closer look and see that the jazz culture was, and is, a powerful spirit of our humanity. — All About Jazz This wondrous book is most appreciated...The real joy here is just looking at all of the photos of “regular” jazz fans sitting in booths, just hanging out and enjoying themselves in clubs. Souvenir photos of people gathering in booths, as well musicians on stage reveal a culture and worldview of life’s simpler pleasures. The writings, as well as the wonderful photos and illustrations all seem to shout out “this is what you are missing in life” and makes me pray for a return of people putting the real meaning into the term “jazz club”. — Jazz Weekly Serious jazz fans should have this book…A sharp, clear explanation of a long-gone era of musical and social exploration. — The Arts Fuse ...a swinging book, with amazing interviews and pictures about jazz clubs. You really might want to check it out. — Penn Jillette This handsome book looks back not only to the distant years of clubs long gone, but to a seemingly equally distant time...when we could gather freely with one another, relax, and enjoy the best live music in the land. — Wall Street Journal ...offers an unprecedented look inside the jazz clubs from this era across the United States. Drawing on an incredible trove of never-before-seen photos and memorabilia, [Gold] gives us a glimpse at a world that was rich in culture, music, dining, fashion, and more. — LA Weekly ...serves as a welcome escape for those yearning to see live music again. — Jewish Insider This is a terrific book about the history of jazz clubs and the great artists who played them. Highly recommend! — Billy Crystal Jeff Gold's Sittin' In is a terrific new book documenting the jazz clubs of the 1940s & 1950s...the photographs are a treasure, and the text is fascinating. Even if you aren't an aficionado of the jazz of this era, or of jazz in general, the stories of the time and of this culture (let alone the lasting impact on music) make this one well worth owning. — Benmont Tench What a great book—I’m staggered by the archival material that’s been researched. — Bill Wyman The images testify not just to jazz’s popular peak but to a now-distant optimistic moment of promise in American life...These images bequeath a rarely published view of Black American middle-class life at mid-century: relaxed, elegant, and urbane...You also come away struck by how singular this postwar moment was. Finally, though, you come away refreshed by the spirit of what once was, a spirit that rebukes and shames where we seem to be today. — The New York Review of Books Excellent. — The Daily Beast

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Book Synopsis'The loveliest and certainly the most human book about pop music I've ever read A delightful and humane soap opera, a real page-turner, full of rounded and entirely recognisable characters.' Jon Ronson, Daily TelegraphTrade Review‘THE LAST PARTY is a title that deserves to stick around the book charts.' Mark Lawson, Guardian 'THE LAST PARTY is that rare thing, a book principally about rock musicians that is a compulsive page-turner.’ The Sunday Times 'Compelling … it reminds us what a corrosive and mean place the pop world can be.' Mojo 'A fine, bittersweet read.' Q Magazine

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Debut Food Book of the Year at the Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards 2024Guild of Food Writers 2024 Finalist, Food Book of the YearA lyrical, amiable and educational celebration of what may be our greatest achievement: the chippy.' Stuart MaconieStep inside and unwrap this deliciously entertaining look at Britain's national dish.There is a corner of every town and city in Britain where the air is tangy with vinegar and the scent of frying. Following the irresistible lure, Daniel Gray ponders the magic of chippies and the delights they have sprinkled among us for the last 150 years as he investigates the social and sociable history of fish and chips.Travelling to chippies from Dundee to Devon via South Shields, Oldham, Bradford, Bethnal Green, the Rhondda Valley and more Daniel Gray explores our fish-and-chip nation to show how chippies have helped emancipate women, promote equality for immigrants and shape local and national identity.Whether you were raised eatTrade Review‘This is a lyrical, amiable and educational celebration of what, alongside The Beatles, Shakespeare and the NHS, may be our greatest achievement: the “chippy”. Fair warning, it will make you very hungry.’ Stuart Maconie 'Daniel Gray writes with great humour and takes tender delight in the people he meets. His book is as warm and comforting as a bag of chips on a cold night.' Peter Ross 'Engaging … Sprinkled with a digestible amount of social history and commentary. Like the dish, leaves you with a warm feeling afterwards.' Daily Mail ‘Light bite rather than a full fish supper, this is a delightful mix of travelogue and fish-flavoured fact. Good fun.' Annie Gray ‘Gray is a master at finding the universal in the local and the profound in the so-called everyday.' Ian McMillan ‘As satisfying and tangy as a pineapple fritter after the swimming baths.’ Harry Pearson ‘Witty, authoritative and timely. … Vivid, rich prose shimmering with warmth and a belief in the fundamental goodness of people.’ The New European ‘Warm, wise and witty.’ Charlie Connelly 'A highly entertaining, historically nuanced account. Wonderfully atmospheric.' Andrew Martin ‘An affectionate appreciation of a great British institution. As tasty as a fresh cod.' Arthur Matthews ‘There's a fantastic musicality to Gray's writing. We hear the sizzle of the fryer, the lilts of local accents and the buzz in the air as people wait in anticipation for their food.’ The Scots Magazine

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Book Synopsis"An electric story filled with gripping personalities, compelling backstage histories, and a clear message for the divided America of today: the forces that fear change can win for a time, but in America the future always gets the last word.Trade Review"Rock Me On The Water documents the high-octane storybook world of Los Angeles in 1974 with masterful intimacy and fearless cultural analysis. His well-rendered portraits of Jackson Browne, Linda Rondstadt, Joni Mitchell, David Geffen and other luminaries of the time are sublime. This is an extremely kinetic historical document, and a testament to Brownstein's lasting importance as both a fact-driven journalist and elegant prose-stylist. A must read!" — Douglas Brinkley, author of American Moonshot “Brownstein’s kaleidoscopic account of a historic generational transformation that took place in American culture, American politics, and American life in the crucible of modern Los Angeles during the magical year of 1974. It encapsulates in compelling detail the moment when young people and young ideas were moving in on an older generation, based on the strength of new-found creativity and idealism. It documents the triumphs and failures of that new generation with vividness, humor, and, most of all, deep understanding. Running through every page is the author’s deep love for his adopted home. A beautiful ride through an unforgettable time." — Jon Landau “One of the sharpest analysts of American politics, Ron Brownstein in Rock Me on the Water offers a fresh, vivid and insightful look at how politics and popular culture intertwined to reshape American life at a moment of profound generational transition — LA in the early 1970s. It's an electric story filled with gripping personalities, compelling backstage histories, and a clear message for the divided America of today: the forces that fear change can win for a time, but in America the future always gets the last word. A lyrical recreation of a magical moment.” — Jake Tapper “Engrossing. . . . What Brownstein has done is expertly knit the scenes together, giving the reader a plus-one invite to the heady world of Hollywood parties, jam sessions and pitch meetings, as well as a pointed demonstration of how culture can be made and unmade.” — New York Times “Ron Brownstein has written a truly terrific book! I moved to LA in Jan. 1974 when this story opens but it is about so much more than a city. It is insider scoops of pop culture leading us out of Nixon, as it will lead us out of Trump. I should be working but can’t stop reading.” — John W. Dean, CNN contributor and former Nixon White House Counsel “My friend and CNN colleague Ron Brownstein has written a terrific book. Rock Me on The Water tells the amazing story of 1974 and how it changed the U.S. If you’re old enough to have lived through 1974, it will bring back memories. If you’re too young, you will learn a lot.” — Wolf Blitzer, anchor of The Situation Room, CNN "Sweeping cultural history. . . . Enriched by interviews with the period’s luminaries, including Warren Beatty and Linda Ronstadt, this astute and wide-ranging account shows how L.A. led the U.S. into an era when the 1960s counterculture became mainstream." — Publishers Weekly "An endlessly engaging cultural history that will resonate with anyone alive in 1974." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Brownstein knits together the threads of history to show that, for the first time in 1974, politics and entertainment were not separate things, that the line between the two was blurred almost to the point of irrelevance. An insightful, expertly written book." — Booklist “Excellent.” — Politico “More than just summarizing or reviewing what such films and shows were about, the author dives deep into how they were created, financed, promoted and received. His many interviews with actors, writers, directors and executives of that era lend such renderings veracity and energy.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “I’m absolutely loving Rock Me on the Water, Ron Brownstein’s riveting new book about L.A., circa ‘74, when the City of Angels was the hub of an extraordinary revolution in film, music, culture and politics. Really a fun read. Highly recommended!!” — David Axelrod, Senior Political Commentator, CNN “This is a terrific book about a pivot-point in US cultural history, which led to reshaping our political landscape. Ron Brownstein is a dadgum genius. Highly recommend this book.” — Paul Begala, CNN contributor and former counselor to President Clinton “One of the very best on 1974 — a hinge of cultural history for American TV, movies & music. All in his new book Rock Me on The Water.” — Major Garrett, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News “In his brilliant cultural history, Rock Me on the Water, Brownstein drops enough names to fill the once-massive Los Angeles phone book (remember those?), elicits memorable moments from several entertainment industries, and recalls political machinations across decades.” — Los Angeles Review of Books “Brownstein paints Los Angeles in 1974 as a kind of patchouli-scented version of Florence during the Renaissance, bursting with creative energy in television, movies and music. From Joni Mitchell to Archie Bunker, a year of cultural ferment is presented here in all its richness.” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice “Brownstein, a veteran reporter and now a senior editor at the Atlantic, makes all this cultural history memorable by telling much of his story through profiles of figures like Jack Nicholson, Norman Lear, George Lucas, Ms. Ronstadt and Mr. Browne, and the Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey.” — Wall Street Journal “Timely and relevant.” — She Reads “Convincing. . . . The book truly sparks to life.” — PopMatters “Brownstein’s chronological retelling of the intersections of art, politics and pop culture in a stormy year in American history is both nostalgic and entertaining.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewArt historian Fossi (Art in Florence) and photographers De Marco and Dondero trace how Vincent van Gogh’s travels inspired his art in this perceptive, richly illustrated work. Fossi maps out van Gogh’s life in chronological order, weaving together letters, paintings, and images, along with contemporary photographs from De Marco and Dondero, who set out on a trip across Europe to photograph the geography and places that inspired his works...Insightful and illuminating, this poetic work will entrance historians, artists, and art lovers. — Publishers Weekly (starred review) With this compact trove of contemporary photographs juxtaposed with Van Gogh’s artworks, homes, and friendly commentary, the intensity of the artist’s life will go down more easily. Van Gogh fans will enjoy walking in his footsteps, and it will surely inform new audiences as well. — Library Journal

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Book SynopsisKeep Calm and Carry On was a World War 2 government poster discovered in a dusty box nine years ago. Though it never saw the light of day in 1939 (it was only supposed to go up if Britain was invaded), it has suddenly struck a chord in our current difficult times, now we are in need of a stiff upper lip and optimistic energy once again. Gordon Brown had one up in 10 Downing Street and James May wears a Keep Calm T-shirt on the telly - it is suddenly everywhere. The book is packed full of similarly motivational and inspirational quotes, proverbs, mantras and wry truths to help us through the recession, from such wits as Churchill, Disraeli and George Bernard Shaw. Funny, wise and stirring - it is a perfect source of strength to get us all through the coming months.''A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain'' Mark Twain ''It''s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; itTrade ReviewThe best title on offer this year is Keep Calm and Carry On ... There isn't a single uninteresting entry and the range - Cicero, Shakespeare, George W. Bush. Impressive. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisWe''re constantly being told that popular culture is just mindless entertainment - but, as Steven Johnson shows in Everything Bad is Good for You, it''s actually making us more intelligent. Steven Johnson puts forward a radical alternative to the endless complaints about reality TV, throwaway movies and violent video games. He shows that mass culture - The Simpsons, Desperate Housewives, The Apprentice, The Sopranos, Grand Theft Auto - is actually more sophisticated and challenging than ever before. When we focus on what our minds have to do to process its complex, multilayered messages, it becomes clear that it''s not dumbing us down - but smartening us up. ''As witty as Seinfeld and as wise as ER''  New Statesman ''Wonderfully entertaining''  Malcolm Gladwell ''A vital, lucid exploration of the contemporary mediascape''  Time Out ''A guru for Generation Xbox''  Financial Times ''A must-read''  Mark Thompson, former Director-General of the BBC Steven Johnson is the bestselling author of Mind Wide Open, Where Good Ideas Come From, and Emergence: The Connected Lives Of Ants, Brains, Cities and Software, named as one of the best books of 2001 by Esquire, The Village Voice, Amazon.com, and Discover Magazine, and a finalist for the Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism.

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Book SynopsisIn these breathtaking intellectual adventure stories, covering everything from criminology to ketchup, job interviews to dog training, Malcolm Gladwell looks under the surface of everyday life to show how the most ordinary subjects can illuminate the most extraordinary things about us and our world.''Masterpieces in the art of the essay'' Steven Pinker, The New York Times''Beautiful ... brings together the writing that made Gladwell the extraordinary figure he is today ... one of the most imaginative non-fiction writers of his generation'' Ian Sample, Guardian ''Chatty, perceptive, impish and amiable ... Comes exuberantly close to ... what goes on inside other people''s heads'' Philip Womack, Daily Telegraph ''Gladwell makes the world seem fresh and exciting again'' Evening StandardTrade ReviewGladwell's range is impressive and his writing never less than engaging * FT *The pieces form a dazzling record of Gladwell's art * Guardian *Make your social commentary sparkle with Malcolm Gladwell's latest * Sunday Times *He's able to examine what look like the most mundane aspects of our daily lives and to reveal the cleverness - and the strangeness - within * Sunday Telegraph *Vibrant, colourful and packed with surprises * Guardian *Gladwell soars high * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisBoth Flesh and Not combines David Foster Wallace''s best-loved essays with work never before published in the UK.Beloved for his brilliantly discerning eye, his verbal elasticity and his uniquely generous imagination, David Foster Wallace was heralded by critics and fans as the voice of a generation. Collected in Both Flesh and Not are fifteen essays published for the first time in book form, including writing never published before in the UK.From ''Federer Both Flesh and Not'', considered by many to be his nonfiction masterpiece; to ''The (As it Were) Seminal Importance of Terminator 2,'' which deftly dissects James Cameron''s blockbuster; to ''Fictional Futures and the Conspicuously Young'', an examination of television''s effect on a new generation of writers, David Foster Wallace''s writing swoops from erudite literary discussion to open-hearted engagement with the most familiar of our twentieth-century cultural references.A celebr

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Book SynopsisWhen a society becomes more affluent, does it lose other values? Are the skills that education and literacy gave millions wasted on consuming pop culture? Do the media coerce us into a world of the superficial and the material - or can they be a force for good? When Richard Hoggart asked these questions in his 1957 book The Uses of Literacy Britain was undergoing huge social change, yet his landmark work has lost none of its pertinence and power today. Hoggart gives a fascinating insight into the close-knit values of Northern England''s vanishing working-class communities, and weaves this together with his views on the arrival of a new, homogenous ''mass'' US-influenced culture. His headline-grabbing bestseller opened up a whole new area of cultural study and remains essential reading, both as a historical document, and as a commentary on class, poverty and the media.

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Book Synopsis''Delightfully good ... an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture ... full of love for and fascination with everything from the origins of heavy metal in the metal-bashing industries of the West Midlands to John Lennon''s and Damien Hirst''s lust for money'' Nick Cohen, Observer''Terrific ... I defy you not to be swept up in a narrative that''s as colourful as it is dramatic'' - John Preston, Mail on Sunday''Dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny'' Spectator, Books of the YearBritain''s empire has gone. We no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture. It is extraordinary to think that one British writer, J. K. Rowling, has sold more than 400 million books; that Doctor Who is watched in almost every developed country in the world; that James Bond has been the central character in the longesTrade ReviewDelightfully good ... an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture -- Nick Cohen * Observer *Not only thoroughly entertaining, but crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf-ful of academic studies. -- Alwyn W Turner * The Telegraph *Relentlessly entertaining -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *I read it in less than two days, my attention never flagging ... It is dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny -- John Preston * Spectator *I read it in less than two days, my attention never flagging ... Embracing everything from Black Sabbath's guitarist, Tony Iommi, losing his fingers in a sheet metal press to the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, it's dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny. * Books of the Year, Spectator *It was hard to find a more convincing read ... a highly entertaining look at everything from The Avengers to Harry Potter that proclaims Britain as the champion of culture, spreading words and songs internationally like no other * Books of the Year, Sunday Times *Sandbrook's hugely enjoyable analysis of why we continue to punch above our weight in this area ... covers everything from boarding school tales (Tom Brown to Harry Potter) to country house tales (Brideshead and Downton), the works of Tolkien to the 2012 Olympics. * Books of the Year, Mail on Sunday *Terrific fun ... Sandbrook isn't like other historians ... He heads off down strange, neglected byways, teasing out unexpected connections, with the results often proving far more illuminating - and enjoyable - than conventional narratives ... I defy you not to be swept up in a narrative that's as colourful as it is dramatic. -- John Preston * Mail on Sunday *Engrossing ... delightful ... a book that relishes an argument and likes to challenge received opinion ... not only thoroughly entertaining, but crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf-ful of academic studies. -- Alwyn Turner * Daily Telegraph *Witty ... enthusiastic ... a passionate and admirable defence of coach-party musical theatre, large-print historical fiction, wedding reception rock, Orc sagas, To the Manor Born, Arnold Bennett, Billy Bunter and Billy Elliot ... The hot core of his story, though, is made of the most thrillingly unlikely material. -- Matthew Sweet * Guardian *Splendid ... Sandbrook is always an engaging and perceptive writer and the subject lends itself to his eye for a story and his ability to connect with the reader. This is, after all, a book about the very things that, over the past century, we have most enjoyed, from Hercule Poirot to Sgt Pepper. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Sparkling ... fascinating ... always enlightening ... as usual with Sandbrook, there are some lovely vignettes and incongruous details ... Academic writers could certainly learn something from his lightness of touch and ability to build an argument. -- Joe Moran * Literary Review *Beautifully written ... wonderfully counter-intuitive ... with an excellent feel for the contemporary pulse and the surprising killer detail ... I, too, have left out loads that Sandbrook has cleverly and incisively included. -- Nick Curtis * London Evening Standard *A marvellous read ... juicy, irresistible, restoring the past with all its delight, defeats and energy to the ageing spectator ... He delights in the sheer, tumbling crowdedness of British popular culture over the past half century or so, crams in at a terrific pace the innumerable stories of its successes, and lends the status of heroism to his favourite figures. The author catches with infectious excitement the cracking pace and headlong productivity of this teeming crowd. -- Fred Inglis * Times Higher Education Supplement *Masterly ... lively and stimulating ... He loves to debunk received opinion. -- Robert Low * Standpoint *A vivid, endlessly fascinating account of the numerous achievements of this country's national imagination. This book is my personal dream factory ... so invigorating and exciting. -- Jessie Thompson * Huffington Post *Defiantly populist ... Dominic Sandbrook zestfully charts the route that has taken Britain from 'workshop of the world' to 'cultural superpower' ... as Sandbrook rightly insists, 'we still live in the shadow of the Victorians -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Brilliant. -- A N Wilson * The Tablet *An engaging and very accessible history book about our modern artistic achievements that, provocatively, also debunks some of the very icons it praises. -- Simon Copeland * The Sun *I loved this book about British culture, partly because there's so much in it, and partly because of the brilliant way the author joins the dots ... Sandbrook gets us thinking about cinema, art, country houses, Tolkein, Doctor Who, and, superbly, much more. -- William Leith * Evening Standard *An entertaining trawl through British culture ... [Sandbrook] has produced a book that is not only thoroughly enjoyable to read, but also crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf of academic studies * The Times *It's a great premise, and I dived into, and splashed around in, this book gleefully at first. Here were lucid and often amusing expositions on the work of Lennon and McCartney, Ian Fleming, JRR Tolkien, Christie ... in his books on Britain in the 1950s and 60s, Sandbrook has covered some of this ground before. But he doesn't repeat himself, and his scope is wider than heretofore - he notices, for instance, how ingrained Charles Dickens's influence is, still, in popular entertainment ... It would be impossible to please everyone. But when Sandbrook is pleasing, he is very pleasing indeed. -- Nick Lezard * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 ''An extraordinary achievement . . . gripping, grim and witty'' Robert MacFarlane ''Unputdown-able ... No book could be more timely'' Richard J Evans Today, the bunker has become the extreme expression of our greatest fears: from pandemics to climate change and nuclear war. And once you look, it doesn''t take long to start seeing bunkers everywhere. In Bunker, acclaimed urban explorer and cultural geographer Bradley Garrett explores the global and rapidly growing movement of ''prepping'' for social and environmental collapse, or ''Doomsday''. From the ''dread merchants'' hustling safe spaces in the American mid-West to eco-fortresses in Thailand, from geoscrapers to armoured mobile bunkers, Bunker is a brilliant, original and never less than deeply disturbing story from the frontlines of the way we live now: an illuminating reflection on our age of disquiet and Trade ReviewHow prescient and timely ... This is a tartly thoughtful work, by turns witty and philosophical, with an undercurrent of anger at the way we are governed and the commodification of existential fear. He writes pacily, bringing to vivid life a gallery of survivalist wingnuts, conmen and evangelists. -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard *A kind of apocalyptic Super Size Me, in which the author force feeds himself a steady diet of paranoia, conspiracy, eschatology and end-times architecture. -- Chris Hall * The Guardian *This baseball-cap wearing academic is the world's leading expert on survivalists ... But he never expected Bunker to be so topical. -- Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson * The Times *Brilliant ... Bunker, self-evidently a work for our times, shimmers with a Ballardian imagery of disaster and melt-down. -- Ian Thomson * The Spectator *Bunker is a thoughtful study into the nature of paranoia and the people who try to profit from it - and it makes for a page-turning read. -- Nathan Brooker * Financial Times *A scary, unputdown-able account ... No book could be more timely as we stay in our own little bunkers to avoid infection, strip the supermarket shelves of loo paper, and squirrel away supplies of food to see us through the shortages that many fear will follow a no-deal Brexit. -- Richard J Evans * New Statesman *This study of bunker sites and the people preparing for the worst couldn't be better timed. -- Andrew Anthony * The Observer *Garrett's research has involved hanging out with millenarian fruitcakes, disaster profiteers and the uber-rich, not to mention tooled-up, swivel-eyed anarcho-libertarians from America to Australia ... His sense is that disaster gives us an opportunity to rethink how we live. What will we learn? -- Stuart Jeffries * The Guardian *This is a gripping and timely book about both the 'architecture of dread' and its multi-billion dollar industry, and what the growing appetite for bunkers reveals about the social conditions in which we live. * New Statesman *Garrett is a bright and buoyant guide and Bunker rattles briskly along ... A necessary read. * Literary Review *Bradley Garrett spent three years meeting doomsday preppers for his book Bunker ... If we work together, he thinks, there is no reason that a future global catastrophe has to become an apocalypse. Well, that's something. -- Luke Mintz * Sunday Telegraph *Bunker is an extraordinary achievement; a big-thinking, deep-diving, page-turning study of fear, privilege and apocalypse told through the space of the bunker. Garrett has written a gripping, grim, witty work of geography and ethnography, which he completed - with eerie timeliness - in the first weeks of the COVID pandemic. A book about prepping and prognostication, then, which had already foretold its own future. -- Robert MacFarlaneGarrett's book forces readers to reassess other assumptions about bunkers and those who own them. -- Jack Grove * Times Higher Education *There are many strands in this book ... [Garrett] brings sharp insight to a subject that no longer seems so remote or speculative. -- Mika Ross-Southall * Times Literary Supplement *A highly addictive book ... What makes Garrett's book fascinating is his portrayal of the balance between fringe thinking and the real world. -- Nick Smith * E&T Magazine *Bunker benefits from the mere fact of taking its protagonists seriously as humans and as members of society, rather than as outlandish characters. -- Julian Sayarer * openDemocracy *Garrett spent several years travelling the world, going down into bunkers and talking to their owners and tenants. His book is an incredible record of that journey, and also functions as a philosophical or psychological disquisition about space, about freedom, about survival. Bunker is an incredible read and will surely sell in quite enormous numbers, assuming the human race remains intact and can still read. -- Steve Braunias * New Zealand Herald *

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Book SynopsisDrawing on the unique resources of the Oxford English Dictionary and offering coverage of over 6,000 slang words and expressions from the Cockney ''abaht'' to the American term ''zowie'', this is the most authoritative dictionary of slang from the 20th and 21st centuries. The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang is a fascinating and entertaining collection, packed with illustrative quotations and providing full details of origins and dates of first printed use. The text contains expressions from around the English-speaking world such as ''dork'' and ''cockamamie'' (North America) and ''giggle-house'' and ''Jimmy Woodser'' (Australia). As well as the A-Z listing of terms, the book contains a comprehensive thematic index, enabling users to home in on particular areas of interest, such as the body, food and drink, and human behaviour. Full of surprises, this is an essential read for word lovers and anyone with an interest in language.Trade ReviewThis book is a gab-fest. * Christopher Hirst, The Independent *Table of ContentsPREFACE TO SECOND EDITION; INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION; PRONUNCIATION SYMBOLS; PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS; DICTIONARY; THEMATIC INDEX

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Book SynopsisMURDERS THAT DEFY DETECTION.Discover the stories behind some of the most infamous unsolved murders of the last century, including the Black Dahlia, the Zodiac Killer and the JonBenét Ramsey case.Detailing essential evidence.Profiling key suspects.Tracking police investigations.Sorting facts from speculation.

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Book SynopsisVanity Fair Royals correspondent and bestselling author of William and Harry and Kate explores the remarkable life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the legacy she has handed down after her death to the next generation.

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Book SynopsisStill Notorious, Radical, and Revolutionary 50 Years Later.A survival guide from one of the greatest creative organizers of the 20th century—now with a new foreword by co-conspirator, Lisa Fithian. Throughout the 1960's and 70's, Abbie Hoffman criss-crossed the country, ferreting out alternative ways of getting by in America—some illegal and all radical. Causing scandals with its advice on how to Survive!, Fight!, and Liberate! in the “prison that is Amerika,” Steal This Book is a revolutionary's manual to running a guerilla movement, as well as getting free food, housing, transportation, medical care, and more. This anniversary edition gives a new generation an insider's view into the movements of the sixties and seventies. While many of the holes in the system that Abbie exposed have since been plugged, the spirit of revolution, the dedication to opposing injustice, and the passion of creative activism continue to inspire today.

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Book SynopsisFranz Boas (1858â1942) is widely regarded as the founder of American anthropology. He influenced an astonishing variety of scholars and researchers, from the anthropologists Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict, to the philosopher W. E. B. DuBois, and novelist Zora Neale Hurston. Towards the end of his life he also lectured widely in an attempt to educate the public on the dangers of Nazi ideology.Anthropology and Modern Life demonstrates the incredibly rich and fertile range of Boasâs thought, engaging with controversies that resonate loudly today: the problem of race and racial types; heredity versus environment; the significance of intelligence tests; open versus closed societies; the ânature versus nurture debateâ; and nationality and nationalism. Believing passionately that science should be used to break down racial and cultural barriers, from the book's very opening Boas shatters the myth that anthropology is simply a collection of âcurious facts about exotic peoplesâ. Thanks to Boas's influence, anthropologists and other social scientists began to see that differences among the races resulted not from physiological factors, but from historical events and circumstances, and that race itself was a cultural construct.This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Foreword by Regna Darnell and an Introduction and Afterword by Herbert S. Lewis, who details Franz Boas's life, influence, and ideals.In writing the present book I desired to show that some of the most firmly rooted opinions of our times appear from a wider point of view as prejudices, and that a knowledge of anthropology enables us to look with greater freedom at the problems confronting our civilization. - Franz Boas, Anthropology and Modern LifeTrade Review"…for a college student to read the Bhagavad Gita in a Great Books class, for racism to be rejected as both morally bankrupt and self-evidently stupid, and for anyone, regardless of their gender expression, to claim workplaces and boardrooms as fully theirs—if all of these things are not innovations or aspirations but the regular, taken-for-granted way of organizing society, then we have the ideas championed by the Boas circle to thank for it." - Charles King, author of Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century"…the father of American cultural anthropology and the scholar who taught generations how to think about human diversity without hierarchy." - Kwame Anthony Appiah, The New York Review of BooksTable of ContentsForeword to the Routledge Classics Edition Regna Darnell Introduction Herbert S. Lewis 1. What Is Anthropology? 2. The Problem of Race 3. The Interrelation of Races 4. Nationalism 5. Eugenics 6. Criminology 7. Stability of Culture 8. Education 9. Modern Civilisation and Primitive Culture Afterword Herbert S Lewis References Index

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Book SynopsisSituating the study of race and ethnicity within its historical and intellectual context, this much needed guide exposes students to the broad diversity of scholarship within the field. It provides a clear and succinct explanation of more than 70 key terms, their conceptual evolution over time, and the differing ways in which the concepts are deployed or remain pertinent in current debates. Concepts covered include: apartheid colonialism constructivism critical race theory eugenics hybridity Islamophobia new/modern racism reparations transnationalism. Fully cross-referenced and with suggestions for further reading, Race and Ethnicity: The Key Concepts is an ideal resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students of race, ethnicity, and nationalism. It will also be of great interest for those studying sociology, anthropology, politics, and cultural studies.Table of ContentsList of Key Concepts. Introduction. Key Concepts. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisTraces Mortal Kombat’s history as an American product inspired by both Japanese video games and Chinese martial-arts cinema, its successes and struggles in adapting to new market trends, and the ongoing influence of its secret-strewn narrative world.Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: ABACABBChapter 1: Ludic Precursors and Generic InnovationsChapter 2: Cinematic Influences and Cultural PoliticsChapter 3: Mortal Kontroversy; or, Dispatches from the Console WarsChapter 4: Imitation, Derivation, and ReinventionNotesGlossaryMortal Kombat LudographyBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA thrilling photographic adventure around an offbeat selection of the world's abandoned buildings, captured by one of the videogame industry's most beloved creatives. Urban exploration is a way of life for those who choose it as their passion. The secrets and mysteries that disused places incite can be intoxicating and inspiring. As Nakamura has said herself, I love breaking boundaries and making people say WOW. As artists, we use our imagination to see the INVISIBLE. Project UrbEx documents a multitude of abandoned spaces, placing them into thematic sections from lost hotels and ex-military sites to factories, laboratories and hospitals. A bright Pantone orange ink is used throughout for the text and chapter openers popping on the page to reflect Nakamura's sense of fun, vibrance and imagination. With a foreword by videogame-designer-turned-photographer Liam Wong, the book also features sections of Nakamura's personal travel diary, printed on pages with a narrower width,

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Book SynopsisThe definitive history of the iconic independent label Mute Records.Trade Review'Visually stunning' - Buzz magazine'Packed with artwork and photography – much of it previously unseen' - M magazine'A beautifully crafted celebration of “the accidental label”' - Uncut'The Book of the Year has arrived. Quite the treat … If there’s one book you need on the old Christmas list this year, make it this one' - Electronic Sound'Beautifully bound, this book is as iconic and dynamic as Mute’s musical past' - Rough Trade'Highlights the unsung heroes – the artists, designers and photographers whose talent is often overlooked – and places them firmly in the spotlight' - Classic Pop'Packed full of great imagery' - Sonicstate.comTable of Contents1. 1978–1979: Warm Leatherette and Letraset: Founding a New New Wave • 2. 1980–1982: Mute in the Charts: Depeche Mode and Yazoo • 3. 1983–1989: Beyond Electropop: The Experimental Side of Mute • 4. 1990–1999: Mute into the Nineties • 5. 2000– Into the Future

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PENDERYN MUSIC PRIZEA GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR, 2015FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY DAVID MITCHELLAward-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author Jon Savage's monument to the year that shaped the future of global pop cultural history.''One of Britain''s most trusted cultural historians.''THE FACEIn America, in London, in Amsterdam, in Paris, revolutionary ideas fomenting since the late 1950s reached boiling point, culminating in a year in which the transient pop moment burst forth. Exploring the canonical figures, from The Beatles and Boty to Warhol and Reagan, 1966 delves deep into the social and cultural heart of the decade through masterfully compiled archival primary sources.''A marvel of hisotrical reconstruction and pop insight.''OBSERVER''Absorbing . . . this is not only fine pop writing, but social history of a high order.''GUARDIAN

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Book SynopsisTuck traces the black freedom struggle in all its diversity, from the first years of freedom during the Civil War to President Obama's inauguration. We Ain't What We Ought explores the dynamic relationships between those seeking new freedoms and those looking to preserve racial hierarchies, and between grassroots activists and national leaders.Trade ReviewTuck is one of the very best historians of the civil rights movement. His remarkable account of the long civil rights movement across the nation is brilliantly written and impeccably researched. No other account brings to light grass-roots struggles in so many parts of the country. -- Tony Badger, Professor of American History, Cambridge UniversityRichly detailed, brimming with insight, and marvelously accessible, Stephen Tuck's fast-paced account of African Americans' obdurate fight for equality and justice is the most exciting account of the modern black freedom struggle I have ever read. Consistently attentive to the experiences of ordinary colored folk as well as the actions of race leaders like Marcus Garvey and Martin Luther King and rightly insistent on the need to connect the northern and southern struggles, it sets new standards for scholars of the civil rights movement and the wider—much wider—history of black protest in the United States. -- Robert Cook, author of Sweet Land of Liberty?: African-American Struggle for Civil Rights in the 20th CenturyFrom Frederick Douglass and Henry M. Turner to Barack Obama and Chuck D, from Redemption to Katrina, it's all here—the incredible resiliency and resourcefulness of women and men determined to endure and to overcome. An extraordinary odyssey, captured vividly and imaginatively by Tuck, in which the black voice is heard loudly and clearly. -- Leon F. Litwack, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Trouble in Mind: Black ,Southerners in the Age of Jim CrowTuck delivers a riveting, challenging, and beautifully rendered interpretation of the black freedom movement that tells a powerful and compelling story—one that refuses to reduce black folk to mythic heroes or tragic victims. An essential introduction for anyone who wants to understand the last century and a half, the era of America's greatest revolutions. -- Robin D.G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American OriginalFresh in conception and assured in execution, this wonderfully rich history of the African American experience weaves graphic human stories of ordinary black people into the larger sweep of political and social change. Written with flair, colour, and sensitivity, it confirms Tuck as a leading historian of American race. -- Richard Carwardine, Lincoln Prize–winning author of Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and PowerWe Ain't What We Ought To Be is a provocative and important book that deftly probes both the certainties and the ambiguities of the unending struggles of everyday people for social justice and an end to racism. -- Darlene Clark Hine, Former President, the Organization of American Historians, and the Southern Historical AssociationTuck's is the best single volume history of the long civil rights movement—at once remarkably thorough and admirably concise, richly detailed and strongly argued. Drawing on a rich vein of scholarship in numerous fields, he has produced a new synthesis for a new generation. -- Bruce J. Schulman, author of The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society, and PoliticsIn this sweeping and absorbing history of black activism, Tuck highlights the achievements of community organizing from the mid-19th century to Barack Obama's dexterous grassroots campaign for the presidency. Tuck argues that there is no one black protest movement or agenda and casts his net over 150 years of black political engagement to reel in untold stories and unsung heroes. He is particularly attentive to the first 20 years of the 20th century, which saw protest, empowerment, and the rise of galvanizing figures from Marcus Garvey to boxer Jack Johnson. While the civil rights movement of the 1960s has become emblematic in the chronology of black history, according to Tuck, it does not define the ongoing fight for social justice and freedom among blacks in America. With rich detail and a strong narrative, Tuck fills in gaps in the story, from the lesser known backroom dealings of Booker T. Washington to the noble efforts on behalf of black women by Anna Julia Cooper. * Publishers Weekly *A multitude of black experiences have contributed to the complexity and diversity of the civil rights struggle beyond the iconic portrayals of the movement. Historian Tuck juxtaposes local versus national, southern versus northern, violent versus nonviolent, wartime versus peacetime, secular versus religious, separatist versus integrationist, and other polarities. Tuck profiles famous and obscure African Americans who have struggled for human and civil rights since slavery. Along with Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. DuBois, and others, he profiles Robert Smalls, an enslaved assistant to a captain in the Confederate navy, who sailed the ship to freedom while the white crew and captain slept, and Fanny Peck, a black Detroit housewife who launched a boycott in 1930 of businesses that didn't hire blacks. He chronicles struggles of black feminists, gays and lesbians, environmentalists, and others who don't often make the pages of the history books. In this well-researched volume, Tuck details protests large and small, individual and organized, from Emancipation to the election of Barack Obama. -- Vanessa Bush * Booklist *Oxford University lecturer Stephen Tuck's We Ain't What We Ought To Be is a collection of voices that document our struggle for equality in America from the Reconstruction era until now. It's all here--the great speeches and moments--but it's the nod to the common woman and man that lifts this narrative a notch above similar titles. -- Patrik Henry Bass * Essence *We Ain't What We Ought To Be is an astounding exercise in synthesis, bringing together the past decade of research on the African-American experience. To scholars of southern and black history, what Tuck calls "revelations" will be anything but. However, most Americans are still under the spell of the genre's first generation, with its neat divisions between North and South, violent and nonviolent, and civil rights and Black Power. Tuck's book could change that. -- Clay Risen * Bookforum *Besides its success a riveting piece of narrative writing, Stephen Tuck's account of "the long civil rights movement" is an excellent reminder about the complexities of history...Tuck, a British scholar who lectures on American history at Oxford, has carried out wide-ranging research and written with a fresh approach that enlivens the many sub-themes woven into the whole. From his angle across the waters, his story is as sobering as it is captivating. -- Mark Knoll * Books & Culture *Stephen Tuck has written what must be the most comprehensive history of the civil rights movement that you'll find in a single volume...Stephen Tuck has successfully tackled and tamed a beast of a topic. The writing is crisp and clear yet poetic in its way. There is so much documented information that filler is unnecessary, which makes this history of a complex, multi-century process as readable as any page-turner. We Ain't What We Ought To Be belongs in the classroom and on students' reading lists, but it also fits into the personal library as a reference and a reminder of how the conviction and determination of individuals can lead to world-changing unity. -- Deborah Adams * Curled Up with a Good Book *Masterly...From Reconstruction through the election of President Barack Obama, from the blues through hip-hop, from strikes by black longshoremen in New Orleans in 1867 to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Tuck recounts the efforts of blacks to obtain full American citizenship without discarding their cultural heritage. Pluralism, more than integration, characterizes this monumental and tragic history...This book is comprehensive, balanced, and readable. It stands as the best interpretive volume of the black freedom struggle since 1865. -- Steven F. Lawson * Journal of American History *

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Book SynopsisTHE HILARIOUS, FEEL-GOOD BOOK FROM BBC RADIO 2 PRESENTER LIZA TARBUCKI am genuinely distracted by everything, and I don''t think I''m alone in this.I consider my love of distraction a thing to be cherished. Like the annuals of my youth, this book is filled with puzzles, activities and mental musings. I hope that every page tickles your fancy.This book might be a perfect conversation starter at a dinner table, or the last thing you''re flipping through before bed.I promise that you''ll laugh at least once. So here we go. I am passing my distractions on to you.Praise for Liza Tarbuck''Liza Tarbuck is in my top five women in the world'' Dawn French''If anyone can get the nation to squeal along with delight, it''s Liza Tarbuck'' Radio Times ''Liza Tarbuck is the kind of best friend every girl wishes she had'' Observer ''A national treasure'

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