Popular culture Books
Union Square & Co. Sweet Hearts 500Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Book SynopsisThe popular heart designs of Chris Uphues, featuring charming and cute-as-can-be anthropomorphic winking and smiling hearts are here transformed into an endlessly entertaining scene perfect puzzlers of all ages. Packaged in a keepsake box and printed with mold-free materials, the fully solved puzzle measures 18 by 24 inches.
£16.19
Headline Publishing Group MCU The Reign of Marvel Studios
Book Synopsis''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.'' - Empire''The book every MCU fan needs to read '' - Alan Sepinwall, co-author of The Soprano SessionsMarvel 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
£12.74
Smithsonian Books Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures
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£24.65
Phaidon Press Ltd Rapper's Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World
Book Synopsis‘This incredible time capsule is full of insightful history, along with great imagery. A must-have for Hip Hop enthusiasts.’ – Jamel Shabazz, documentary photographer A visual and cultural history of hip hop, charting its meteoric rise from underground trailblazer to global tastemaker To tell the story of contemporary American culture is to tell the story of hip hop. From its humble, underground origins, hip hop transcended the confines of rap music and spread its influence across a broad spectrum of American life – fashion, film, art, sports, politics, language – to become a cultural movement of profound influence. Rapper’s Deluxe is a critical contribution to America’s cultural canon, shining a light on hip hop’s ability to redefine and influence culture, through: photographs; fine art; advertisements; book, magazine, and album covers; film stills; and more. Organized chronologically from the 1970s to the present, image-rich and dynamic layouts show the people, places, events, objects, outfits, and inspirations that redefined the world as we know it – from fur-coated fans lining up for a Muhammad Ali fight at Madison Square Garden to a legendary party in the “Boogie Down” Bronx, through the hoods of South Los Angeles and the trap houses of Atlanta to the extravagant red carpet looks of the Met Gala. Drawing on a broad range of curated examples, Dr. Todd Boyd re-examines hip hop’s legacy and how the genre remixes ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture, past and present, to come up with a style that is uniquely its own. Filled with original insights and clever wordplay, Rapper’s Deluxe is a tale of transformation, following hip hop’s arduous, but always triumphant, journey as it rose up to dominate the game.Trade Review‘Informative and worth a read.’ – Library Journal‘Deeply researched and formidably composed... a sumptuous object and a museum of a book. It’s everything you think it is, and then some.’ – Art Spiel‘50 years of hip-hop history in one Phaidon book.’ – Wallpaper*‘[A] visual exploration of the history of hip hop and its influence on culture.’ – SHOWstudio'The new cultural history of rap and hip hop culture.' – The Orange County Register'Captivating ... a significant addition to [Phaidon's] illustrious collection.' – 92.5 The Beat'The story of the genre’s lasting and pervasive impact on our culture, with striking visuals and bold fonts that illustrate and speak to hip-hop’s truest nature.' – Hollywood.com
£47.96
University Press of Mississippi The Hell of War Comes Home
Book SynopsisOwen W. Gilman Jr. stresses the US experience of war in the twenty-first century and argues that wherever and whenever there is war, there will be imaginative responses to it, especially the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since the trauma of September 11, the experience of Americans at war has been rendered honestly and fully in a wide range of texts--creative nonfiction and journalism, film, poetry, and fiction. These responses, Gilman contends, have packed a lot of power and measure up even to World War II's literature and film.Like few other books, Gilman's volume studies these new texts-- among them Kevin Powers's debut novel The Yellow Birds and Phil Klay's short stories Redeployment, along with the films The Hurt Locker, American Sniper, and Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. For perspective, Gilman also looks at some touchstones from the Vietnam War. Compared to a few of the big Vietnam books and films, this new material has mostly been read and
£29.21
Headpress Ghost of an Idea
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£24.93
PIE Books Grow: The Art of Koyamori
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£19.54
Feral House,U.S. Black Metal: A Coloring Book
Book SynopsisFrom underground sensation to Hollywood film and now a coloring book - The Black Metal Coloring book will paint it all black.
£19.82
Gill Disappearing Act
Book SynopsisRobert Sheehan is one of Ireland's brightest stars of the screen, both at home and abroad. Best known for his roles in Love/Hate and The Umbrella Academy, Sheehan has received widespread critical acclaim for his acting talent.In his debut collection of short stories, he disappears into characters, challenging the complacencies of everyday experience, often from entirely unexpected angles.Surreal, intelligent, dark and provocative, the collection presents a multitude of observations that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.Informed by the author's peripatetic life, Disappearing Act reflects on the absurdity of human behaviour. Sheehan delves deep into his characters' streams of self-talk and self-imposed delusions, and explores the dark impulses that lurk below the shiny surfaces of many outwardly normal lives.A whacked-out kaleidoscopic miasma of delightful abandon and fun Leaves the reader amuse
£17.09
Orion Publishing Co Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity
Book Synopsis'Fizzes with clever vignettes and juicy tidbits... [a] joyous romp of a book.' Guardian'A fascinating, rollicking book in search of why, where and how fame strikes. Sit back and enjoy the ride.' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads'[An] engaging and well-researched book... Jenner brings his material to vivid life' ObserverCelebrity, with its neon glow and selfie pout, strikes us as hypermodern. But the famous and infamous have been thrilling, titillating, and outraging us for much longer than we might realise. Whether it was the scandalous Lord Byron, whose poetry sent female fans into an erotic frenzy; or the cheetah-owning, coffin-sleeping, one-legged French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who launched a violent feud with her former best friend; or Edmund Kean, the dazzling Shakespearean actor whose monstrous ego and terrible alcoholism saw him nearly murdered by his own audience - the list of stars whose careers burned bright before the Age of Television is extensive and thrillingly varied. In this ambitious history, that spans the Bronze Age to the coming of Hollywood's Golden Age, Greg Jenner assembles a vibrant cast of over 125 actors, singers, dancers, sportspeople, freaks, demigods, ruffians, and more, in search of celebrity's historical roots. He reveals why celebrity burst into life in the early eighteenth century, how it differs to ancient ideas of fame, the techniques through which it was acquired, how it was maintained, the effect it had on public tastes, and the psychological burden stardom could place on those in the glaring limelight. DEAD FAMOUS is a surprising, funny, and fascinating exploration of both a bygone age and how we came to inhabit our modern, fame obsessed society.Trade ReviewFizzes with clever vignettes and juicy tidbits... [a] joyous romp of a book. * GUARDIAN *[An] engaging and well-researched book... Jenner brings his material to vivid life * OBSERVER *A fascinating, rollicking book in search of why, where and how fame strikes. Sit back and enjoy the ride. * Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads *With characteristic wit and curiosity, Jenner reveals the glamour and graft of celebrity lives in this rich, entertaining and original history. * Dr Hannah Greig, historical adviser to The Favourite and Poldark *A magical mystery tour through the history of celebrity - eye opening, provocative, triumphant. Greg Jenner is a suave and generous guide to the glittering, glamorous, often deadly world of celebrity. Dead Famous takes you deep into fabulous lives, tells all about price you pay for fame and explores why the world in which we live needs to make a few shining people into icons who thrill us, obsess us and then, finally, we want to tear apart. * Kate Williams, author and historian *Jenner is equal parts wide-eyed historical buff and sassy polemicist. Like some frisky, over-caffeinated lovechild of Dan Snow and Marina Hyde, he can't help but entertain you, even as he's pouring facts down your throat. * GUARDIAN - Book of the Day *This is a lively look at history's great and gawped at - and how they reshaped the world around them. * HISTORY REVEALED *There is an enjoyably wide range of cultural references... plenty of half-forgotten quirky treasures * SPECTATOR *Jenner is an engaging tour guide who smuggles some thought-provoking points about our culture into his zippy pen-portraits. * MAIL ON SUNDAY *As a tour guide through centuries of celebrity culture, Jenner acts as a kind of Oscar Wilde figure, dispensing wisdom and wit in equal measure, producing a fiendishly enjoyable and thoroughly engaging look at other people's lives. -- Becky Long * IRISH TIMES *Rollicking -- Roger Lewis * DAILY MAIL *Recommended read... entertaining and resonant stories of celebs from about 1700 to 1950. * READERS' DIGEST *Delivers a bounty of colourful anecdotes. * TLS *A fiendishly enjoyable and thoroughly engaging look at other people's lives. * Irish Times *Jenner pulls it off in a learned but entertaining book. * Who Do You Think You Are Magazine *
£10.44
MIT Press Zizeks Jokes MIT Press Did you hear the one about
Book SynopsisŽižek as comedian: jokes in the service of philosophy.“A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.”—Ludwig WittgensteinThe good news is that this book offers an entertaining but enlightening compilation of Žižekisms. Unlike any other book by Slavoj Žižek, this compact arrangement of jokes culled from his writings provides an index to certain philosophical, political, and sexual themes that preoccupy him. Žižek's Jokes contains the set-ups and punch lines—as well as the offenses and insults—that Žižek is famous for, all in less than 200 pages.So what's the bad news? There is no bad news. There's just the inimitable Slavoj Žižek, disguised as an impossibly erudite, politically incorrect uncle, beginning a sentence, “There is an old Jewish joke, loved by Derrida...“ For Žižek, jokes are amusing stories that
£13.49
Harvard Business Review Press Theres Nothing Like This
Book SynopsisA smart, page-turning exploration of the business and creative decisions that transformed Taylor Swift from a teen prodigy into an unprecedented modern cultural phenomenon. There is no shortage of ways to describe Taylor Swift. Singer-songwriter. Trailblazer. Mastermind. The Beatles of her generation. From her genre-busting rise in country music as a teen to the economic juggernaut that is the Eras Tour, she has blazed a path that is uniquely hers. But, how exactly, has she managed to scale her successmultiple timeswhile dominating an industry that cycles through artists and stars as if they were fashion trends? How has she managed to make and remake herself time and again while remaining true to her artistic vision? And how has she managed to master the constant disruption in the music business?In There's Nothing Like This, Harvard Business Review editor Kevin Evers answers those questions in riveting detail. Employing the same thoughtful analysis that is usually devoted to iconic startup founders, game-changing innovators, and pioneering brands, he chronicles the major business and creative decisions that have defined each era of Swift's career. Mixing business and art, and analysis and narrative, and pulling from research in a wide range of subjectsincluding innovation, creativity, psychology, and strategyThere's Nothing Like This analyzes Swift like the modern and multidimensional superstar that she isa songwriting savant and a strategic genius. Swift's fans will see their icon from a fresh perspective. Others will gain more than a measure of admiration for her ability to stay at the top of her game. And everyone will come away understanding why, even after two decades, Swift keeps winning.
£21.60
Kuperard Kenya - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to
Book SynopsisCulture Smart! Kenya provides a cultural bridge that will carry you beyond the gloss of the hotels and deep into the warp and weft of everyday life; beyond the game parks and into the intricacies of community and wildlife coexistence; beyond the bounds of tourism and into the freedom of cultural understanding and exchange. A true "insider's take" gleaned over years of living and working in the country, it delivers key insights into the forces, ancient and modern, that have shaped Kenya and practical guidance on how best to enter into the modern Kenyan business and social environment. Due to its high-action pursuits, cultural treasures, wealth of wildlife, and glorious beach life, it is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and the unrivaled "safari capital of the world." As to its people, Kenya is a cultural microcosm comprising more than seventy ethnic groups. Each has its own distinctive cultural identity. All extend the warmth of welcome that has proved to be Kenya's most valuable asset to tourism.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
£9.99
Running Press Gudetama Magnet Set
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£8.97
HarperCollins Publishers Inc BLK ART
Book SynopsisThen, after hundreds of years of Black faces cast as only the subject of the white gaze, a small group of trailblazing Black American painters and sculptors reached national and international fame, setting the stage for the flourishing of Black art in the 1920s and beyond.Trade Review“This is a welcome new voice to the generally staid conventions of art history. A lively, engaging examination of a serious and under-addressed topic.” — Library Journal "BLK ART is a must have for every art history enthusiast! Through her gorgeous curation and spot on commentary, Ware has shined a light on black creators and previously left out art pieces that deserve to be in the grandest museums." — Rachel Ignotofsky, best-selling author, creator of Women In Art "This is the book we all needed growing up, a comprehensive and broad visual summary of people and events of the past. Zaria has woven together a story that has shown us that the past is still present with us, and people of every generation, color, and gender need to get behind this legacy piece." — Lavinya Stennett, writer, author, founder, and CEO of The Black Curriculum "BLK ART is a gorgeous tribute to the Black brilliance that redefined fine art in the western world. Each chapter pulls lesser known Black painters, sculptors, and models from the margins of the canon and places them front and center--where they belong. Smartly researched and entertaining, this is a book art experts and those with a budding interest will enjoy." — Tanisha C. Ford, professor of history, CUNY, author of Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl's Love Letter to the Power of Fashion "I love this book so much. From its impressive sweep of historical and religious paintings to its storytelling through art, it is a must have for anyone interested in how art intersects with human history. I'm never loaning this to anyone." — Paterson Joseph, award-winning actor, author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho "BLK ART is the kind of book one keeps picking up to read in bits and pieces and to share details with friends; the kind of book that becomes part of your daily life for a while, and by the time you have really finished it, unnoticed, you will have made the drive your own." — Elmer Kolfin, professor of art history, University of Amsterdam
£24.00
S Q Publications,US Knock Outs By Elias Chatzoudis
Book SynopsisA shimmering showcase of pin-up wonders from professional heavyweight (artist!) Elias Chatzoudis. In this collection, Elias focuses his exquisite talents on the female form - letting the background to fend for itself. Its all about his ladies, and the outstanding attention to detail he lavishes on each and every curvy creation. Every portrait is a winner, every knock out a tribute to this VERY sweet science.
£12.34
Soul Jazz Records Punk 45: The Singles Cover Art of Punk 1976-80
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£28.00
Dark Horse Comics,U.S. The Art Of The Android Universe
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£30.39
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Mermaid Handbook
Book SynopsisTrade Review“….this book is stunning and packed full of mermaid mythology, history and fun fashion and recipes! You will want this fun and stunning book on your shelf.” — Seeing Double in Neverland As the editor of Faerie magazine, Carolyn Turgeon is fluent in fairy tales and myths and suggests that even with the occasional kitsch, mermaids have become an empowering symbol for women. — The Globe and Mail A comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and intricately designed one-of-a-kind lifestyle compendium packed with lore, legends, facts and trivia, beautiful illustrations, and numerous step-by-step projects and recipes. — PopCulture Guy The Mermaid Handbook is filled with endless literature, full colored artwork and photographs, recipes and crafts will keep you occupied and enchanted for hours and hours. — Short and Sweet Reviews This collection was tremendously fun to read through, and I know I’ll be paging through it again for one reason or another for a while to come. — Fantasy Literature The festive, aqua blue hardcover with elegant copper edging is a collection of mermaid inspired fashions, beauty secrets, DIY, cocktails, and even tells you where to find a real life mermaid. — Plush Pink Allure
£21.25
Kuperard Netherlands - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide
Book SynopsisOffering invaluable information and illustrations to help travelers understand a country's people and avoid cultural faux pas Taking readers beyond the stereotypical images of windmills, clogs, and tulips, this pocket-sized guide helps visitors understand the complex layers of identity in this small, densely populated country on Europe's northwestern seaboard. With roots as a maritime nation that built a network for transportation, defense, and trade, the Netherlands of today is still a prime economic hub of Europe. The Netherlands is also famous for its liberal attitudes, recently challenged by high levels of immigration, and is home to an intelligent, cosmopolitan, enterprising, tolerant, and modest people. The visitor or business traveler will find that the predominant attitude continues to be one of "live and let live," and that many different communities live alongside each other in harmony.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
£9.99
John Blake Publishing Ltd Rolling with the 6.57 Crew: The True Story of
Book SynopsisPortsmouth's 6.57 crew were the most talked about casual football firm of the 1980s and 1990s. This notorious gang took their name from the time of the train they caught to games, following their team around the country with the kind of dedication - and violence - that only a true hoolifan knows. Now, for the first time ever, the amazing story of the firm is revealed.
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd As Good as It Gets
Book SynopsisConfronted by the realities of adulthood, Romesh Ranganathan must face an uncomfortable truth: this is not quite how he imagined it.Watching his friends descend into middle age, his waist thicken with every meal and his finances dwindle to fund his family's middle class aspirations, Romesh reflects on the demands of daily life and the challenges of adulting in the modern world.As he reluctantly concludes that he is indeed a grown man, Rom wrestles with the greater questions that threaten his being: Could I save my family in a crisis? Do I possess the skills to assemble flatpack furniture? Am I too old for streetwear? Is it alright to parent my kids through the medium of Fortnite? Is celibacy the secret to a passionate marriage?From one of the countries most beloved comedians and author of the Sunday Times bestseller STRAIGHT OUTTA CRAWLEY comes the hilarious and painfully accurate dissection of what it really means to grow up.Trade Review'There's both side-splitting humour and a tenderness to comedian and writer Romesh Ranganathan's latest book' * Red Magazine *Hilariously told, this personal interrogation is both relatable and comforting, recognising that nobody really knows how to be a grown-up. * Radio Times *"One of the funniest people in the world. Annoyingly talented at everything he does which includes writing books. As Good As it Gets is hilarious. Is there anything this man can't do? Yes: most sports." * Rob Beckett *"Annoyingly I enjoyed this book as much as I do seeing Romesh live" * Seann Walsh *
£10.44
Soft Skull Press Bomb The Suburbs: Graffiti, Race, Freight-Hopping
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£12.59
HarperCollins Publishers So Fetch
Book SynopsisPeople Best New BookThe inside story of the making of Mean Girls and our enduring 20-year obsession with itReleased in 2004, iconic teen comedy Mean Girls remains as relevant now as ever. But what made an adaptation of a parenting guide by SNL writer Tina Fey so successful? And why, two decades later, can we all just not stop quoting it?Drawing on revealing interviews with the director, cast and crew, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong takes us behind the scenes of the film's genesis, production and release. From how it shaped the Millennial generation to how it has intertwined with tabloid, meme and LGBTQ+ culture, So Fetch is also the first deep dive into what makes Mean Girls such an influential phenomenon.Part love letter, part cultural commentary, this is an unmissable read for anyone who is still like, obsessed' with all things Mean Girls twenty years on.Trade Review‘The definitive story of one of the greatest teen comedies in Hollywood history. A brilliant, captivating deep dive.’ Andy Greene, author of The Office: An Oral History ‘Funny, clear-eyed, full of unexpected insights and superb reporting, and a must for any comedy fan.’ Saul Austerlitz, author of Generation Friends ‘Armstrong’s account of the shooting of Mean Girls emulates the breezy enjoyability of the film while offering thoughtful commentary on how “taking young women’s problems seriously while also being very funny” proved central to the film’s appeal. Fans will be riveted.’ Publishers Weekly
£15.29
St Martin's Press LowHanging Fruit
Book SynopsisTart, sassy, and hilariously funny from start to finish, Rainbow's book offers laughter as a tonic for troubled times. Kirkus ReviewsA new essay collection by adored comedian and New York Times bestseller Randy RainbowRandy Rainbow has a few things on his mind that he wants to talk about. As a savvy social commentator tuned into the public discourse, his unfailing intuition tells him that the perspective everyone in America is clamoring for is that of a privileged white male complaining about a bunch of shit. While writing his New York Times bestseller Playing With Myself, Randy saw an America in crisis. He knew that what the country needed to get back on its high heels was a hard-hitting gay agenda and here it is - Low Hanging Fruit - a book filled with sparkling whines, a few flutes of champagne problems and a Birkin bag of the most pressing issues facing the US, from dancing TikTok grandmas, to Elon Musk, the GOP, and Don
£20.39
Insight Editions House of the Dragon: Targaryen Fire & Blood
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£21.12
Little, Brown Book Group The Chess Revolution
Book SynopsisDespite being 1,500 years old, chess has never been more relevant than it is today. The Chess Revolution explores chess as a cultural phenomenon from its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AIChess, as it turns out, isn''t just one of the greatest games ever devised. It has inspired writers, painters and filmmakers, and was a secret mover behind technical revolutions like artificial intelligence that are transforming society. In The Chess Revolution the acclaimed Chess.com journalist Peter Doggers reveals how computers and the Internet have further strengthened the timeless magic of chess in the digital era, leading to a new peak in popularity and cultural relevance.
£16.14
Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd Cosmic Numerology: How to Harness Your Full
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£17.09
Soft Skull Press Death By Landscape
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£14.39
Tuttle Publishing How to Draw Bold Manga Characters: Create Truly
Book SynopsisElevate your manga drawings to the next level with help from a Japanese professional! Manga drawing expert and author Ebimo is an action film junkie who taught herself to draw by studying martial arts films. In this book, she brings those techniques, tips, and tricks to you! Learn how to draw every detail of exciting action characters—from the muscles used in fight scenes to the 3-D arc of a flying frontal kick.What sets Ebimo apart is her fusion of the basics of figure drawing and proper posing with cutting-edge digital-age illustration and coloration techniques. Artists working on paper or a screen will learn to bring greater depth and complexity to their characters with these expert tutorials.This all-in-one guide is unlike any other, offering: Dual-format step-by-step tutorials for those who draw on paper, on screen, or both Up-close "studio visits" where you can follow along as characters are drawn An essential reference guide to all the key poses in action scenes and sequences Dynamic full-color examples with single, dual and multiple characters Over 1,350 sample illustrations to study and learn from! How to Draw Bold Manga Characters presents the best of both worlds—hand-drawn detail with digital dynamics—in one essential volume.*Recommended for artists 14 and up*
£13.49
Penguin Publishing Group Does This Make Me Funny
£22.50
Orion Publishing Co The Future Starts Here
Book SynopsisWhen we look into the future, we imagine economic collapse, environmental disaster and the zombie apocalypse. But what if we are wrong? John Higgs takes us on a journey past the technological hype and headlines to discover why we shouldn''t trust the predictions of science fiction, why nature is not as helpless as we assume and why purpose can never be automated. In the process, we will come to a better understanding of what lies ahead and how, despite everything we can build a better future.Trade ReviewA magnificent book - you should read all of it -- Rufus HoundBrilliant, incisive and superbly written with humour, humanity and an intellectual honesty rarely found these days, The Future Starts Here is the best book I've read this year. An antidote to the disease and cynicism we are surrounded by, and a hymn to the future. A must read
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Raven Smiths Trivial Pursuits
Book Synopsis'Instagram's answer to David Sedaris.' ST STYLE MAGAZINE'Irresistibly readable' DOLLY ALDERTON 'You'll laugh. You'll cry.' LENA DUNHAMA hilarious, smart and incredibly singular debut from Raven Smith, whose exploration of the minutiae of everyday modern life and culture is totally unique and painfully relatable.Is being tall a social currency? Am I the contents of my fridge? Does yoga matter if you're not filthy rich? Is a bagel four slices of bread? Are three cigarettes a meal?From IKEA meatballs to minibreaks, join Raven Smith as he reflects on the importance we place in the least important things and our frivolous attempts to accomplish and attain.He also tackles his single-parent upbringing, his struggles as a lonely teenager and his personal experience of coming out.Packed with brilliant humour, great tenderness and lingering pathos, Raven Smith's Trivial Pursuits is a book for anyone who has ever asked when I get to the pearly gates of heaven, will a viral tweet count for or agaiTrade Review‘The unofficial spokesperson of the modern millennial'SUNDAY TIMES ‘STYLE’ MAGAZINE ‘Funny, interrogating, refreshingly self-aware and irresistibly readable: Raven Smith has written a hilarious, relatable guide to the contradictions and complications of modern life’DOLLY ALDERTON ‘It’s rare a writer is as funny in their prose as they are in their social media. But Raven is that rare author who is somehow even better, as he tartly explores pop culture and its influence on his inner life. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll wonder if you’re really just another millennial a**hole on this guided tour of Raven’s beautiful, singular and deeply hilarious mind.’LENA DUNHAM ‘Raven Smith’s writing is as current as it is biting!’Candice Carty-Williams Fresh, funny and fabulous!’JONATHAN ROSS ‘Raven Smith is rollickingly good fun and Britain's sassiest social commentator. Trivial Pursuits is a linguistic acid trip and a showcase of his ability to shape even the most useless piece of information into something riveting.’PANDORA SYKES ‘It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read…in a good way! I’m laughing out loud, wincing in recognition and shaking my head in wonderment about some of the batshit metaphors that shouldn’t work but do!’ ELIZABETH DAY ‘It’s hilarious. The funny stuff made me do small wheezes and the honest stuff made me wish I could write so boldly. The chapter on long term partnerships made me feel strangely like I wanted to go and hug my sleeping husband and I reached the end furious that there wasn’t more to come…I feel like he wrote it from inside my brain but only if my brain was cleverer and more articulate.’BELLA MACKIE Smith is a scandalous, Wildean libertine with an Instagram account to match and his book, a guide to life, is a naughty little firecracker. DEBORAH FRANCES WHITE
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Wake Up
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Number One BestsellerIt's time we get back to common sense.It's time to cancel the cancel culture.It's time to Wake Up.If, like me, you're sick and tired of being told how to think, speak, eat and behave, then this book is for you.If, like me, you think the world's going absolutely nuts, then this book is for you.If, like me, you think NHS heroes and Captain Tom are the real stars of our society, not self-obsessed tone-deaf celebrities (and royal renegades!), then this book is for you. If, like me, you're sickened by the cancel culture bullies destroying people's careers and lives, then this book is for you. From feminism to masculinity, racism to gender, body image to veganism, mental health to competitiveness at school, the right to free speech and expressing an honestly held opinion is being crushed at the altar of woke' political correctness. In 2020, the world faced its biggest crisis in a generation: a global pandemic. In the UK, it exposed deep divisions within society and laid bare a toxic culture war that had been raging beneath the surface. From the outset, Piers Morgan urged the nation to come to its senses, once and for all, and held the Government to often ferocious account over its handling of the crisis.COVID-19 shed shocking light on the problems that plague our country. Stockpilers and lockdown-cheats revealed our grotesque levels of self-interest and the virtue-signalling woke brigade continued their furious assault on free speech, shutting down debate on important issues like gender, racism and feminism. Yet just as coronavirus exposed our flaws, it also showcased our strengths. We saw selfless bravery in the heroic efforts of our healthcare staff. A greater appreciation of migrant workers. A return of local community spirit. And inspiring, noble acts from members of the public such as Captain Sir Tom Moore.Wake Up is Piers' rallying cry for a united future in which we reconsider what really matters in life. It is a plea for the return of true liberalism, where freedom of speech is king. Most of all, it is a powerful account of how the world finally started to wake up, and why it mustn't go back to sleep again.Trade Review‘A fast, entertaining read’ The Guardian ‘A very timely trumpet blast’ Saga
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Black Women Always
Book SynopsisA defining manual on using creativity as a tool for empowerment and allowing your personal identity to live in and guide all parts of your life, Kevin Morosky shares stories and inspiration from the women who have most influenced his creative path and explores the ways we can pursue success by implementing their wisdom in all aspects of our lives.Find joy in your work and life with this creative manual where every part of you is welcome. Culture isn't a science; it is literal magic. You have to live in it. You have to breathe itFilm Auteur and Chief Creative Officer, Kevin Morosky, invites the women he considers his most trusted advisors, closest friends, and biggest inspirations to explore how their impact shapes culture and nourishes society. Through a series of conversations which consider the themes of resilience, patience, autonomy, focus, identity, communication, Kevin shares how their collective teachings and support has helped shape his own life and creative path.Drawing upon h
£18.70
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Wizard of Oz The Official 75th Anniversary
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Essential to any Ozophile's collection...Scarfone and Stillman have brought as many new finds and hitherto unseen treats as possible to the pages of this retrospective." -- Book Reviews by David Marshall James "The coffee table book offers a treasure trove of images, including startling photos of Judy Garland testing multiple wigs in various styles and colors-including cascading blonde locks." -- Variety "The rare photos and new information in the book are worth the price of the book alone. Well done to Stillman and Scarfone!" -- The Royal Blog of OZ "Dedicated millions will find much to tickle them in The Official 75th Anniversary Companion, which compliments Scarfone and Stillman's storytelling with artifacts from Turner Entertainment's Oz archives." -- Psychobabble "It's a gorgeous tome that celebrates a gorgeous film." -- The Examiner "Take a trip down Memory Lane as Dorothy...and the entire cast and crew of the film join you on your journey complete with interesting insights, little known facts and fascinating text." -- Collector's Corner "The wealth of knowledge and historical significance this volume contains is unprecedented." -- Lez Get Real "Wonderful. Fantastic. Brilliant. Gorgeous... this is by far the book to get this year or any year. It's the perfect holiday gift, birthday gift, or gift for any occasion. Oz fans, Garland fans, MGM fans, musicals fans, and so on, will enjoy this book for years to come." -- Judy Garland News "Filled with behind-the-scenes facts and photos (Judy Garland in a soon-to-be-nixed blonde wig!), the film's 75th-anniversary compendium is a must-have for fans." -- People magazine "Jump over the rainbow with inside stories from the classic film." -- Entertainment Weekly "Sure to satisfy diehard fans as well as newbies...as it stands today, this book is the best tangible access to Oz goodies on print." -- PopMatters "Honoring the film's 75th anniversary, William Stillman and Jay Scarfone pull out all the stops for this expansive and well-made official tome." -- Parade.com "Beautifully designed with an array of film stills, Technicolor test frames, rare artwork and photography...this collectible edition provides an unrivaled glimpse at the land where dreams come true." -- Turner Classic Movies "The most exciting discoveries in this anniversary companion are the visual elements...Their Anniversary Companion is reverent yet fun, and the determination to scrounge up some new material for die-hard Oz fans is admirable." -- The Baum Bugle
£24.00
Vintage Publishing Celebrity
Book SynopsisThese days, entertainers no longer just entertain: they advocate dubious 'religions', work for the United Nations, get face-time with heads of state and monopolise problems they are infinitely qualified to solve - problems like Africa, the Middle East, and AIDS.Trade ReviewAn excoriating, needle-sharp and superbly funny attack on the 'stars' who abuse their fame * Metro *This hilarious romp through modern culture by the Guardian columnist highlights the bizarre reach of hollow fame these days... Shudder-inducingly funny * The Big Issue *If you like sharp, funny and super-smart, Marina Hyde is your woman -- Jonathan FreedlandShe is one of those rare writers who are the same in person as they are on the page, damn good fun... It's a brilliant read, a surreal whistle-stop tour through the rogues' gallery of 21st century celebrities -- Chitra Ramaswamy * Scotland on Sunday *Much of Hyde's material will be familiar...made me laugh out loud...outrageous and opening * Guardian *
£14.39
Penguin Books Ltd The Age of Earthquakes
Book SynopsisPlanet Earth needs a self-help book, and this is itThe future is happening to us far faster than we thought it would and this book explains whyFifty years after Marshall McLuhan''s ground breaking book on the influence of technology on culture The Medium is the Massage, Shumon Basar, Douglas Coupland and Hans Ulrich Obrist extend the analysis to today, touring the world that''s redefined by the Internet, decoding and explaining what they call the ''extreme present''.The Age of Earthquakes is a quick-fire paperback, harnessing the images, language and perceptions of our unfurling digital lives. The authors invent a glossary of new words to describe how we are truly feeling today; and ''mindsource'' images and illustrations from over 30 contemporary artists. Wayne Daly''s striking graphic design imports the surreal, juxtaposed, mashed mannerisms of screen to page. It''s like a culturally prescient, all-knoTrade ReviewBrainy book that will rock your world * Evening Standard *Absolutely amazing -- Jon Snow * Channel 4 News *An email-like, culturally-perceptive exploration of our digital realities... a mix between a dystopian modern glossary, Internet memes, multiple-choice dropdowns, mindsourced images and a fair bit of wisdom, it is a self-help book for the "last generation that will die" * AnOther Magazine *A philosophical Anarchist Cookbook for the online era, when we are in touch with everyone at once all the time, or like to feel that we are... Like Marshall McLuhan's iconic dictum "the medium is the message" or the staccato bursts of meaning of George W.S. Trow's essay-book In the Context of No Context, The Age of Earthquakes is an abstract representation of how we feel now about how we are now. It's a book insistently engaged with the present tense... Perhaps it is the 21st century's first book-meme * Pacific Standard *Many of us feel like technologies of the future are arriving too slowly, but a new philosophy-cum-modern-self-help book suggests that, in fact, it's dawning on us faster than we ever thought possible * Vice *A pocket-sized primer on our blossoming obsolescence -- Kate Sutton * Art Forum *Age of Earthquakes = panic-inducingly addictive -- Penny Martin, editor of The GentlewomanIt's a fun, visual and easy read. Verdict: In the future all books will be written this way -- Sultan Saood Al QassimiAn abstract representation of how we feel about our digital world * Hello! *I don't know about you but I would very much like a guide to this brave new world * Huck *Addictive... A fun read. But one that makes you question how you read, why you read and just how much the internet has restructured our brains... It is a book not only inspired by the internet, but seemingly written by the internet. It is as if the internet gained not only artificial self-consciousness but wisdom - and then became your pal -- Tod Wodicka * National *I think everyone should read it -- Mike Pinnington * Double Negative *The Age of Earthquakes seeks to induce paradoxical visions of the contemporary, both ambivalent and critical * V Magazine *
£13.49
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Killers Caught
Book SynopsisEmily G. Thompson is a true crime author and freelance writer from Northern Ireland. She has her own website and award-winning podcast, Morbidology, which boasts of over 300k downloads each month. The weekly true crime show takes a look at cases from all across the globe and highlights systemic failures in various systems. It recently won "Best International Podcast" at the iHeartRadio awards. She is the author of Unsolved Child Murders: Eighteen American Cases, 1956-1998, the co-author of DK's Unsolved Murders:True Crime Cases Uncovered, and DK's Cults Uncovered: True Stories of Mind Control and Murder, Mysteries Uncovered: True Stories of the Paranormal and Unexplained.
£9.49
Dorling Kindersley Ltd On Trial For Murder
Book SynopsisUncover the dramatic events surrounding some of the world''s most controversial murder trials.Explore the riveting twists and turns of some of the most notorious and controversial murder trials in history, such as the O. J. Simpson, Phil Spector and Oscar Pistorius cases. From arrests to vital evidence, trials to final verdicts no stone is left unturned in these chilling and complete accounts of the cases that shocked the world.The latest in a series of True Crime volumes that includes: MORE THAN 10 FAMOUS CASES: Trials include those of Lizzie Borden, O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector, Ruth Ellis, Oscar Pistorius and Derek Chauvin FULL-COLOUR IMAGES: 16 pages packed with photos that give additional context to each trial ALL THE KEY EVIDENCE: Pore over the clues and facts as presented in court as you retread each case, step by step The stakes are never higher when the charge is murder Each of the trials detailed in this book dominated the world''s news media and gripped public attention. After examining the evidence, if you had been a member of the jury, what would have been your verdict? Guilty? Or Not Guilty?Perfect for adult fans of true crime books, podcasts, TV documentaries and films, On Trial for Murder follows in the footsteps of these previous true crime titles:Killers Caught: True Stories of Extraordinary Murder HuntsUnsolved Murders: True Crime Cases UncoveredCults Uncovered: True Stories of Mind Control and MurderMysteries Uncovered: True Stories of the Paranormal and UnexplainedBehind the Horror: True Stories That Inspired Horror MoviesConspiracies Uncovered: Cover-ups, Hoaxes, and Secret Societies
£9.49
Yale University Press Its Complicated
Book SynopsisAn essential read, written by a leading expert, for anyone who wants to understand young people's use of social mediaTrade Review"danah boyd . . . is one of my favorite people to talk with about teenagers and technology. That’s not because I agree with her all the time. . . . But danah is the best kind of sparring partner because she always tells me something I didn’t know along the way. That holds true with her new book, which offers interviews with teenagers in communities across the country. By filtering them through her distinct danah lens, she gleans valuable insights."—Emily Bazelon, Slate"Based on a decade of research and interviews with adolescents from the suburbs to the inner city, It’s Complicated is a persuasive anti-alarmist polemic that should help ease parents’ concerns about all sorts of Internet bogeymen."—Randye Hoder, TIME Health & Family"The key point is that social behaviour is adaptive, and people in power (i.e. parents) rarely understand the coping strategies being used by others. When adults start worrying about our children’s use of the internet, we should also ask what we can learn from our children—and then look in the mirror at our own behaviour too. And have the courage to give kids more freedom physically to roam in the 'real' world— alongside their travels in cyberspace."—Gillian Tett, Financial Times"The book took a decade to complete, and cites sociologists including Michel Foucault and Erving Goffman, but it’s the voices of the 166 teenagers Boyd interviewed across America that make it a truly enlightening read."—Jane Mulkerrins, The Sunday Telegraph"It’s Complicated, a new book about teenagers and digital technology by the media scholar danah boyd, places today’s smartphones, iPads and laptops in the context of this perennial power struggle between adolescents and parents. In doing so, it adds much to our understanding of a young generation of hyper-connected, hybrid consumer-producers–a cohort whose behaviour often unites parents, educators and investors in collective bewilderment."—Gautam Malkani, Financial Times"[T]here is something marvellously sensible about Boyd’s resolutely academic style. . . . Boyd’s anatomy of teenage life is penetrating."—Jane Shilling, The Sunday Telegraph"boyd’s new book is layered and smart . . . It’s Complicated will update your mind."—Alissa Quart, New York Times Book Review"Students, parents, and educators will find this a comprehensive study of how technology impacts teens’ lives and how adults can help balance rather than vilify its inevitable use."—Publishers Weekly"[T]here are. . .a lot of interesting observations here: that most teenagers aren’t “digital natives” as we like to believe."—Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer"It's Complicated champion[s] a rich, complex idea of what youth is about, and view[s] with horror the way adult discussions so often reduce the young to mute metrics."—Simon Ings, New Scientist"Boyd’s slim academic study makes a compelling case that today’s teenagers are more adept at navigating [the] dilemmas of the social media age than we old crusties aged 20 and over."—Helen Lewis, New Statesman"In It’s Complicated, [boyd's] detailed new anthropological inquiry into the internet habits of American teenagers, she does much to dispel many of the alarmist myths that surround young people and social media. Boyd has spent over a decade interviewing teens about their use of social media, and in the process has developed a nuanced feel for how they live their online lives."—Jacob Mikanowski, Prospect MagazineWinner of the 2015 Educators Book Award given by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International"In explaining the networked realm of teens, boyd has the insights of a sociologist, the eye of a reporter, and the savvy of a technologist. For parents puzzled about what their kids are doing online, this is an indispensable book."—Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute, author of Steve Jobs"If you want to understand the digital worlds inhabited by today's young people, this is the book to read."—Howard Gardner, coauthor of The App Generation"Boyd has done her homework and listened well. She is a high-tech medium translating the language and meaning of teenagers and social networking."—Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues and In the Body of the World"I want to get this publication into the hands of every teacher, parent, policy maker, and journalist. Thoughtful in her analysis and adept at skewering the most common misunderstandings and anxieties about teens' online lives, boyd is the best possible person to write a book like this, and this book does not disappoint in any way."—Henry Jenkins, coauthor of Spreadable Media: Creating Meaning and Value in a Networked Culture"Astute, nuanced, provocative and hopeful, boyd does it all in this must-read treatise on teens and their digital lives."—Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO, Family Online Safety Institute‘My favourite work book this year is danah boyd’s It’s Complicated. Myth-busting, assumption-challenging and eye-opening, it brings real evidence to a crucial field. Well written, academically rigorous and enjoyable, it makes important points for adults as well as teens.’—Paul Bernal, THES. -- Paul Bernal * THE *
£14.64
Yale University Press New Money
Book Synopsis
£21.38
Little, Brown Book Group Too Famous
Book SynopsisCollected journalism from the number-one bestselling author of FIRE AND FURYTrade ReviewJust as startling - and dismaying about Anglo-American politics and power [as Fire and Fury]... Wolff is brilliant at getting up close and personal with our New Elite, and it can be pretty ugly * Irish Daily Mail *Michael Wolff's devilish examination of modern celebrity, from Jeffrey Epstein to Steve Bannon, delights in the amoral audacity of its protagonists -- Peter Conrad * Observer *
£10.99
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Selfie Temporality and Contemporary
Book SynopsisThis book is a theoretical examination of the relationship between the face, identity, photography, and temporality, focusing on the temporal episteme of selfie practice.Claire Raymond investigates how the selfie's involvement with time and self emerges from capitalist ideologies of identity and time. The book leverages theories from Katharina Pistor, Jacques Lacan, Rögnvaldur Ingthorsson, and Hans Belting to explore the ways in which the selfie imposes a dominant ideology on subjectivity by manipulating the affect of time. The selfie is understood in contrast to the self-portrait. Artists discussed include James Tylor, Shelley Niro, Ellen Carey, Graham MacIndoe, and LaToya Ruby Frazier.The book will be of interest to scholars working in visual culture, history of photography, and critical theory. It will also appeal to scholars of philosophy and, in particular, of the intersection of aesthetic theory and theories of ontology, epistemology, and temporality.Table of Contents1. Dreaming the Self: Selfie Practice, Temporality, and Artificial Intelligence 2. The Capitalist Affect 3. Embodied Self: Temporality, Ontology, Mortality 4. Numbering Identity: The Algorithmic Self 5. Archive, Memory, Identity 6. Selfie-as-Mask 7. Celebrity Self-Fashioning 8. Self-Portrait Performance
£37.99
Taylor & Francis Screening Big Data
Book SynopsisThis book examines the influence of key films on public understanding of big data and the algorithmic systems that structure our digitally mediated lives.From star-powered blockbusters to civic-minded documentaries positioned to facilitate weighty debates about artificial intelligence, these texts frame our discourse and mediate our relationship to technology. Above all, they impact society's abilities to regulate AI and navigate big tech's political and economic maneuvers to achieve market dominance and regulatory capture. Foregrounding data politics with close readings of key films like Moneyball, Minority Report, The Social Dilemma, and Coded Bias, Gerald Sim reveals compelling ways in which films and tech industryadjacent media define apprehension of AI. With the mid-2010s techlash in danger of fizzling out, Screening Big Data explores the relationship between this resistance and cultural infrastructure while highlighting the urgent need
£34.19
Thames & Hudson Ltd Hello Human
Book SynopsisA kaleidoscopic journey tracing the methods and means of visual communication from the cave paintings of the earliest humans to the photograph' of a black hole in deep space. Since the beginning of our time as humans, we have never stopped making images and inventing channels for visual communication. From the cave dweller creating paintings on a wall at the dawn of civilized time to Instagram influencers today, technology may keep changing, but our need to reach one another, to move one another, to persuade, inform and entertain, has never been so vital. Hello Human traverses the entire landscape of our diverse, expansive and yet familiar means of visual communication. From the use of the human hand as a symbol, the power and use of gestures and the genesis of the printed book, to the movement between dimensions of reality and the digital realm, pixilation, optics and the understanding of light, Horsham takes his readers on a journey full of unexpected twists and turns, layiTable of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Gesture A big hand for gesture This is a big subject! Where technology and gesture meet Letters as symbols of power Ink, pen and parchment Lime x geometry = the rose window Geometry and beauty Workmanship, risk and character Character-building activities Playing with the page Metal machines and movement Shorthand for emotion Gesture, the hand and contemporary communication Thumbs up: a gesture for now Part Two: Mechanisation, Machines and Messages Scribal, tribal, Bible Libraries gave us power Towards the modern, via the old Back to lime, back to lithography The shape of water Words and images, continued News and technology Terminology and technology: a deeper dive The mechanized mastery of light (and chemicals) Harvesting the crop Colour and tech Size matters Propaganda Part Three: The Third and Fourth Dimensions Towards the representation of the real How to make things look real Optics and the processes of reproduction Orthographics, modernity and representation From reality to abstraction Saul and Elaine Bass and modern movement The other kind of modern movement We need to talk about Charles (-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris) Reorienting the purpose of visual communication The contemporary reliance on the surreal Technology in the service of the surreal Artwork, not works of art More 3-D than 3-D Time-based media Mastery of the pixel Part Four: The Digital World Amazing tales of information storage and retrieval Secret channels that everyone knows Break the Internet® I am an individual; we are a community Finding and making the tools for individual expression Meme, me me, MAGA, gaga Education, education, education Part Five: Nothing is Real Nothing is real – or is it? Feelings, nothing more than feelings Living with Brautigan’s prediction Keeping it real Quality Epilogue Notes
£21.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd Key Moments in Art Art Essentials 0
Book SynopsisSmall, smart, essential an easy-to-read, straightforward and entertaining introduction to art history via fifty pivotal moments from antiquity to the 21st century.Trade Review'A wonderful addition to the excellent Art Essentials series' - Choice
£10.40
Thames & Hudson Ltd 123 Seriously Smart Things You Need To Know About
Book SynopsisA fun, well-structured collection of facts and trivia about the climate.Trade Review'A really impressive book that concisely presents the issues at hand in a clear and robust way, giving the reader the tools to help debunk myths' - @mssburnsTable of Contents1. Everything is connected • 2. The climate is always changing… and so is the Earth • 3. The Earth is getting warmer • 4. The Earth is becoming more polluted • 5. The Impact of a warmer and more polluted planet • 6. What should we do?
£11.66
