Relationships: friends / friendship and peer groups Books

Book Synopsis"There's a magic that's yours, and it's like nothing else. It's something you share just by being yourself. It's hard to define, but I know that it's real. It's something my head and my heart simply feel." This is a book for a friend you appreciate, one who matters more than a little. It's a celebration of someone who's so good, it's hard to find just the right words to share how much they mean. Featuring a whimsical cast of adorable animals and playful, endearing rhymes, this friendship book is a charming way to shine a light on someone who makes life brighter. Offer it as a thoughtful gift to celebrate a birthday or show appreciation for a friend who is one of a kind.

Read more less

Book SynopsisForeword by Ashley Judd“Rosenfeld’s tour-de-force takes the power of female alliances to a higher level, giving us a road map for a new vision of women’s equality through the relationships and bonds we form among one another. The gift of this book is that it gives us hope.”—Valerie Jarrett, New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice, and former senior advisor to President Barack ObamaThe Bonobo Sisterhood is a revolutionary call to action for women and their allies to protect one another from patriarchal violence. Internationally recognized legal expert Diane L. Rosenfeld introduces us to a groundbreaking new model of female solidarity; one that promises to thwart sexual coercion.Urgent, timely, and original, The Bonobo Sisterhood harnesses the power of the #MeToo movement into a road map for sex equality in humans. Our closest evolutionary cousins, the bonobos have a unique social order in which the females protect one another from male aggression. The takeaway? Evolutionarily, bonobos have eliminated sexual coercion and enjoy a more peaceful, cooperative, and playful existence. We have much to learn from them.Rosenfeld explores the implications of the bonobo model for human societies and systems of governance. How did law develop to elude women’s rights so consistently? What difference does it make that we live in a patriarchal democracy? And what do bonobos have to offer as living proof that patriarchy is not inevitable? Most important, how can women break down barriers among themselves to unleash their power as a unified force? Rosenfeld has answers.The Bonobo Sisterhood takes us through real-life stories from the courtroom to the classroom and beyond, charting a new vision of a collective self-defense among women and their allies. It offers an action plan accessible to everyone immediately. This is an open invitation to anyone who wants to challenge the status quo. It starts with the power inherent in each of us knowing that we have selves worth defending, and awakening that power for ourselves and for our sisters. We now have a new model for real change, Rosenfeld reminds us. It’s time to use it.The Bonobo Sisterhood forges a path to create and discover a new meaning of equality, liberty, and justice for all.Trade Review “Rosenfeld’s tour-de-force takes the power of female alliances to a higher level, giving us a road map for a new vision of women’s equality through the relationships and bonds we form among one another. The gift of this book is that it gives us hope.” — Valerie Jarrett, New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama “On the Harvard campus, Diane is known by many names: Harvard Law Lecturer, angel, bonobo. In the darkest hours after a rape, survivors learn from a whisper network about an angel of the law. That angel is Diane. I know because I was one of the Harvard rape survivors who found hope and help from Diane. This book describes that network, affectionately called by Diane, The Bonobo Sisterhood. It is a sisterhood to whom I owe my justice, success, and healing today.” — Amanda Nguyen, founder of Rise and 2022 TIME Woman of the Year “With The Bonobo Sisterhood, everyone—including the men she invites in as allies—can get a taste of Rosenfeld’s signature fusion of passionate advocacy for survivors along with an activist-scholar’s command of legal theory and practice. This book should be widely read by anyone who is rightly tired of the status quo and wants both revolutionary insight and practical suggestions for change.” — Jackson Katz, PhD, author of The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help “The Bonobo Sisterhood shows us that the way to disrupt patriarchy is by demonstrating that safety, security, and strength can exist among women—an idea that is both simple and radical all at once. When we strengthen our bonds with one another, rather than relying on the unstable promise of protection under patriarchy, a whole new direction is possible, and, indeed, better for all.” — Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center and cofounder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund “Rosenfeld’s gripping indictment of the inadequacy of society’s responses to sexual violence makes her call for a social and legal awakening urgent and persuasive. The Bonobo Sisterhood suggests how the world really can become less patriarchal.” — Richard Wrangham, author of The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution, and Ruth B. Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard University “An innovative analysis of the legal and social structures that enable gender-based violence and how to overcome them. Rosenfeld builds a persuasive case.” — Publishers Weekly “How to fight patriarchy . . . well-informed, insightful, and, sadly, timely.” — Kirkus Reviews

Read more less

Book SynopsisA surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.''Bastone delivers on this truly heartwarming, funny, and real story'' Abby Jimenez''The perfect slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Cara Bastone''s voice is wholly unique and sparkles with effervescence and joy'' KJ Dell''Antonia ''One of the most emotionally satisfying romances I''ve read in years'' Joanna Lowell ''A delightfully romantic story that celebrates modern love and the excitement of the unexpected'' Amy Poeppel..................Eve Hatch has always been content to coast through her life, with a steady, if uninspiring, job and a cozy apartment in Brooklyn, close to her childhood best friend Willa and far from the midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. But when she finds herself pregnant after an uncharacte

Read more less

Book SynopsisMeeting up with our friends is one of life’s great pleasures. We look forward to a chance to connect, share news and reaffirm our affection and sense of fun. But having a great time together, even with people we know well, is not necessarily as simple as it sounds. We don’t always manage to hit the right sort of topics of conversation and get to say the truly important things. This is a pack of cards with questions on them that guarantee that our encounters will be properly joyful and interesting. The questions take us through how conversation should ideally flow, from the more everyday topics to what is sincere, deep and tender. The cards take us on a perfect journey across a meal or a drink, from catching up to reconfirming why we matter to one another.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLife constantly requires us to give other people some hugely awkward messages: that we don’t love them anymore; that we do love them (though we’re not meant to); that they smell a bit; that they’re fired; that we’re furious with them (though we adore them) or that their music is too loud... Often, out of embarrassment, we just stay quiet. Occasionally we explode. And typically, we stumble about, looking for the right words – dreading that we didn’t find them and thereby causing more hurt than we should. This is a book to help us locate the best possible words to get across a range of life’s most difficult messages. With twenty case studies drawn from relationships, friendships, work, our families and service situations, we are gently shown what we might – in an ideal world – find ourselves saying to make our intentions known while causing minimal harm. We are guided, among other topics, to how best to end a relationship, how to make it up with a child and how gently to let down a friend who wants more. We laugh, we recognise our troubles – and we’re introduced to a range of deeply empathetic ways to navigate some of our most acute social dilemmas.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are used to thinking of good conversation as the glue that holds friendships together, but we shouldn’t forget the immense value of playing games, with some of the same spirit of fun and adventure that we once deployed when we were children. Here is a pack of forty activities to draw us away from static conversation. Among other things, we will build a fort together, dance in surprising ways, deliver funeral orations, practise our acting skills, and play some entertaining (but kindly) pranks. The games are an invitation to cast aside reserve and get in touch with neglected imaginative aspects of ourselves. They are a reminder that friendship doesn’t only require talking; it thrives just as much on the lighthearted but significant business of playing together. Examples Inanimate Impressions Imitation, as Aristotle knew, is an activity humans find pleasurable and meaningful. This perhaps explains our delight in impressions. Ordinarily, we impersonate living creatures – friends, celebrities or animals. But this game takes a slightly different approach. Each guest should attempt to impersonate an inanimate object – a grandfather clock, or a dot-matrix printer, or a blender – using sounds and gestures. At the end, the group as a whole should elect a winner who has most uncannily captured the likeness of the object.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSatisfying and thoughtful * Daily Telegraph *Publisher's description. Dazzlingly energetic and deeply human, Swing Time is Zadie Smith's most ambitious novel yet: a story about friendship and music and true identity, how they shape us and how we can survive them. Moving from north-west London to West Africa, it is an exuberant dance to the music of time. * Penguin *Endlessly satisfying... [Zadie Smith] has never written better. Pitch-perfect, masterful and sophisticated * Telegraph *Zadie Smith is the best writer of our generation, and Swing Time is her best book to date. As the title promises, the novel swings and pulsates with life, filled with emotion, excited by intellect and haunted by sadness. What a miracle that literature can still do things other forms of art cannot. What a miracle that Zadie Smith is among us, writing. -- Gary ShteyngartClever, funny, confident and kind. Her gift for language is a pleasure and her character shines through * Evening Standard *[Smith] packs more intelligence, humour and sheer energy into any given scene than anyone else of her generation * Sunday Telegraph *Zadie Smith's finest novel. Extraordinary, virtuosic... [It] does what only literature can and what only great literature will: forces us to assess the very vocabulary with which we speak of human experience * Observer *Zadie Smith at her finest... [An] unflinching portrait of friendship... [A] triumph * Guardian *Ingenious, inspired... Zadie Smith's new novel is very good indeed * Sunday Times *Shrewd observation and sly satire, profundity and genuine purpose, as well as some of the most heart-stoppingly lyrical writing of her career * Scotland on Sunday *A powerful story of lives marred by secrets, unfulfilled potential, the unjustness of the world...and the dances people do to rise above it all * Economist *A sweeping meditation on race and identity... [Smith's] most ambitious work yet * Esquire *A nuanced, richly rewarding tale * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA moving tale of incredible friendship for fans of Jay Asher, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and David Levithan. It''s never been easy for Finley, particularly at home. But two things keep him going: his place on the basketball team and his girlfriend, Erin - the light in even the darkest of his days. Then Russ arrives. He answers only to Boy21, claims to be from outer space, and also has a past he wants to escape. He''s one of the best high school basketball players in the country and threatens to steal Finley''s starting position. Against all the odds, Russ and Finley become friends. Russ could change everything for Finley, both for better and for worse. But sometimes the person you least expect can give you the courage to face what''s gone before ...and work out where you''re going next.Trade ReviewBeautiful...more than a first-rate novel fueled by basketball; it's a first-rate work of art - New York Times Book Review

Read more less

Book Synopsis “The very act of reading it makes you feel happier.” - A.J. Jacobs A bad breakup. A serious illness. The loss of a job. Life has a habit of throwing people curveballs. To which Karen Salmansohn says: “When life throws you curveballs, hit them out of the park.”Bounce Back! mixes from-the-gut wisdom with humor, feistiness, and sophistication, in a hip, inspiring resource that will brighten the darkest mood. The book is grounded in happiness research, psychological studies, Greek philosophy. And it delivers: Here are 70 easily digestible, potentially life-changing tips on how to bounce back from adversity, each on a spread that's as punchy in look as it is powerful in message.Shrink negativity into nuggetivity. Think of yourself as the type of person the world says yes to. With its attitude, techniques, and advice on everything from exercise to staying connected, plus charming illustrat

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERBravely revealing' BERNARDINE EVARISTOFunny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience' SATHNAM SANGHERAThis book is brilliant' JO ELVINEssential reading admirably candid and well-crafted' GUARDIANAs a society, there is a tendency to elevate romantic love. But what about friendships? Aren''t they just as if not more important? So why is it hard to find the right words to express what these uniquely complex bonds mean to us? In Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, Elizabeth Day embarks on a journey to answer these questions.Growing up, Elizabeth wanted to make everyone like her. Lacking friends at school, she grew up to believe that quantity equalled quality. Having lots of friends meant you were loved, popular and safe. She was determined to become a Good Friend. And, in many ways, she did. But in adulthood she slowly realised that it was often to the detriment of her own boundaries and mental health.Then, when a gTrade Review Praise for Friendaholic: ‘A joyful read’ THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘Essential reading… admirably candid and well-crafted’ THE GUARDIAN ‘(An)eloquent, disarmingly honest book’ DAILY MIRROR ‘A generous, companionable guide to a part of life every bit as crucial – and as fraught – as romance or family.’ THE OBSERVER ‘Perceptive, compassionate and filled with relatable insights into all that is beautiful about friendship, with its most valuable point being that it should be about quality, rather than quantity.’ THE DAILY MAIL ‘This book is brilliant.’ Jo Elvin ‘I’ve never read a book about friendships before. This one really digs deep, is bravely revealing and makes me reflect on my own friendship habits, issues, and culture.’ Bernardine Evaristo ‘I really want to say that reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend, but it's complicated by the fact that I’m an actual friend who makes an appearance in this book on friendship. But fuck it, it's true: reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend. And reading her on this strangely neglected theme is a revelation. Friendships can mean as much, sometimes even more than family, and finally we have a book that treats the subject with the seriousness it deserves. And Day is the best possible guide: funny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience.’ Sathnam Sanghera

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times BestsellerIn Platonic, psychologist and friendship expert Dr Marisa G. Franco unpacks why undervaluing friendship in our culture has led to an epidemic of isolation, and what we can do about it.'Wise, concrete and effective - my friendships are better for it' – Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedWhen was the last time you put yourself out there to make a new friend?How do we keep friends in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos, especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships?This book offers a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong and lasting connections with others – and becoming our happiest selves in the process.Using the groundbreaking framework behind attachment theory, this book teaches us to identify and understand our individual style – secure, anxious or avoidant – and recognize that how we behave in relationships is the key to unlocking what we’re doing right (and what we could do better) in our friendships.Weaving together cutting-edge research in psychology with interviews, personal stories and practical advice, this book gives us the tools we need to be better friends, and better humans.'A timely, unique guide to approaching friendship with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves' – Francesca Specter, author of AlonementTrade Review''Dr. Marisa G. Franco and Platonic have been invaluable guides on my journey to nurture and deepen my friendships. Her advice is wise, concrete, and effective—and my friendships are better for it.' -- Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedThis is a timely, unique guide to approaching friendship, with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves. -- Francesca Specter, author of AlonementReminds us of the importance of platonic love in today’s society - bucking the notion that romantic love trumps everything else in our lives. * The Wall Street Journal *Franco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological (and other) blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships. * University of California *Franco collects and shares the most pertinent insights about the psychology of friendship... game-changing secrets. * MindBodyGreen *Provides a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong, lasting connections with others?and for becoming our happiest, most fulfilled selves in the process. * Next Big Idea Club *A gentle, yet affirming, call-in for us to investigate how we’ve regarded the platonic relationships in our life and opportunities for deep fulfillment that we may be missing out on. -- Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Therapy for Black GirlsFranco offers suggestions for making connections, with step-by-step guidelines on how to be a better pal. * Essence Magazine *A fantastic guide not just for making and keeping friends?it's also a manifesto for how to more effectively invest in the stuff that really matters in life -- Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcastA handbook for us all on how to get out of our own way to make new friends. * The Globe and Mail *It's hard to make friends as an adult – here's great advice on how to do it * News24 *If you want to feel genuinely connected, read this book. -- Shasta Nelson, author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen!The evidence is clear?having strong connections is the lowest-hanging fruit on the tree of a healthy life. What’s less straightforward is how you go about doing that, so see this doctor and she’ll help keep you away from the other ones. -- Billy Baker, author of We Need to Hang OutI closed this book determined to prioritize my friendships as one of the most important aspects of my life -- Laura Tremaine, author of Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go FirstA fascinating meditation on how we develop and build meaningful relationships. An insightful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Everyone needs this book -- Lauren Martin, author of The Book of Moods

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAs seen on The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more. — “’The Office BFFs: Tales of the Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There’ is an enjoyable complement to the series, filled with behind the scenes anecdotes that help explain what made NBC’s hit click. … If there’s any lesson to be learned from the show’s nine-season run and this book, it’s that a lot of teamwork goes into making an office look this dysfunctional.” — Associated Press “Bound to have you giggling… Heart = warmed.” — The Skimm "Reading the book makes you feel like you're out to lunch (at The Ivy, if we can get a patio table!) listening to your two close friends gab. And it's clear those two friends have such warm regards for their show, their cast and crew, and each other." — Mashable “Can you think of a better gift for The Office lover in your life (even if it’s you?)” — AV Club A smart, sweet look from inside The Office about how the show spawned enduring friendships and unexpected careers. — Kirkus Reviews

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou can't move past the breakup. You feel stuck in cycles of rumination and pain.This helpful guide provides brand-new therapeutic tools to revolutionise the way we overcome loss, and seek and welcome love, within and outside of ourselves.We know heartbreaks are inevitable. We also know that somehow it is within our power to break free of the suffering and transform pain into meaning. Yet, somewhere between the sad songs, the late-night fixations, and the social media stalking, we get lost.Alice Haddon, psychologist of over twenty-five years, and Ruth Field, bestselling self-help author, show us how we can dissect heartbreaks, mine them for strength and live our most empowered life. They also examine how society sets up women to fall into love traps and engage bad habits of self-sacrificing and enabling. With Alice and Ruth's help, those patterns end forever.Bursting with compassion, humour and courage, this book will take you into the actual exercises conducted at the retreat that they run. It will teach you how to:face your deepest hurt without shame or judgmentask for help and lean on the collectivebe kind and forgiving to yourselfturn your heartbreak into love and prideProviding you with a clear pathway to recovery, Alice and Ruth draw on their wealth of professional and personal experience to help you.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe beautifully illustrated second adventure from cherished friends and Sunday Times bestsellers BIG PANDA AND TINY DRAGON''James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming'' VEX KING''While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIAN''A beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite'' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE__________''We shall go on a journey, across the river . . .''Join Big Panda and Tiny Dragon as they set off on an extraordinary adventure in this companion to the global bestselling phenomenon Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.Although content in their temple high up in the mountains, Tiny Dragon realises that something feels incomplete. So it is that they decide to make a journey together, to new and distant lands.As they encounter dangers and challenges, they learn that everything they need is already inside them and that change, though sometimes scary, is possible and, with patience, can lead to better things.Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, the story of these whimsical characters makes the perfect gift for anyone looking for a little hope and comfort.__________''If we have to be lost,'' said Big Panda, ''I am glad it is with you . . .''Trade ReviewJames has a way of speaking to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming * Vex King *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat would Darcy do? How can you be more Bridgerton? Take the Regency approach and be prepared for anything life throws at you - from dates to duels, manners to matters of the heart. You''ll soon find yourself the catch of the season.Sick of indecent proposals from untrustworthy rakes? Be more discerning with your dance card and swipe right on only the most eligible and dashing suitors. Whether you want to avoid scandal, or embrace it, keep your name out of the gossip sheets and group chats with this modern take on the rules of polite society. Putting a fresh spin on real Regency etiquette advice, A Regency Guide to Modern Life is a tongue-in-cheek handbook to navigating friendship, dating, work, summer holidays, social events, self-confidence and more - the perfect gift for fans of period dramas and Jane Austen.Trade ReviewGentle reader, it's beautifully illustrated in cartoon fashion and packed with all kinds of modern dilemmas.Lady A's advice is such fun - think Bridgerton's Lady Whistledown. -- Janet Gordon * Bishop Storford Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling author of The End of Your Life Book Club comes a warm, funny, irresistible book that follows an improbable and life-changing friendship over the course of forty years''Moving'' NEW YORK TIMES''Schwalbe''s memoir shines . . . Written like a true friend'' DAILY MAIL___________In his last year of university, Will thought he knew everyone he cared to know. A perm-haired, out gay young man, working at an AIDS helpline in the early days of the crisis, Will found community amongst the theatre students, artists and writers.He also knew who he wanted to avoid: the jocks. Wearing sporty clothes and moving in boisterous packs, the jocks seemed to be a different species entirely, one Will might encounter only at his own peril.All this changed dramatically when Will was brought into a secret society at Yale, aimed to bring together a group of opposites. On his first day, he was faced with Chris Maxey - a physically imposing, loud, star wrestler who seemed to be uncomfortable around Will and embodied everything he disliked and feared.But through months of mandated dinners, and many beers, the two swapped life-stories and forged an unexpected bond that became a ballast in each other''s lives for forty years. A real-life The Breakfast Club story, We Should Not Be Friends is a testament to the miracle of human connection, if only we see past our differences.Trade ReviewOne of the most important - and noble - human qualities is our ability to bond with people with whom we have absolutely nothing in common. It's pure fraternal love, entirely for its own sake. Will Schwalbe has written a gorgeous book on exactly this topic . . . what a pleasure to read about a human trait that might one day save, rather than destroy, the human race -- Sebastian JungerSchwalbe's memoir shines . . . Written like a true friend * Daily Mail *Moving * New York Times *We Should Not Be Friends focuses on the improbable, lifelong, life-changing-dare I say life-saving-bond between two men who met by chance in college with nothing in common and everything to teach one another. Here is a deeply compelling story that is uniquely their own-yet grows throughout the book to contain all the trials of finding one's way in an America that is, like these two men and their unlikely but important connection, constantly changing. This marvelous, warm, life-affirming book gave me a fuller understanding of the friendships that have sustained my life, and will make readers fiercely appreciative of their own chosen family. So many pages throughout human history have been devoted to romantic love, how wonderful to read a book about that other massively important emotion, the love of friendship. * Isaac Fitzgerald *We Should Not Be Friends is a funny, warm, brutally honest and entertaining as it is profound. It's unlike any memoir I've ever read * Louise Penny *Reading this beautifully written and generous book, you will find yourself thinking of your own friendships and the greatest gifts we can give one another: listening deeply and taking the risk of becoming - and offering - our true selves * Dani Shapiro *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS 2017''Smith''s finest. Extraordinary, truly marvellous'' Observer A dazzlingly exuberant novel moving from north west London to West Africa, from the critically acclaimed author of White Teeth, On Beauty and Grand Union Two brown girls dream of being dancers - but only one, Tracey, has talent. The other has ideas: about rhythm and time, black bodies and black music, what it means to belong, what it means to be free. It''s a close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early twenties, never to be revisited, but never quite forgotten either.Bursting with energy, rhythm and movement, Swing Time is Zadie Smith''s most ambitious novel yet. It is a story about music and identity, race and class, those who follow the dance and those who lead it . . .''Superb'' Financial Times ''Breathtaking'' TLS ''Pitch-perfect'' Daily Telegraph''There is still no better chronicler of the modern British family than Zadie Smith'' TelegraphTrade ReviewSatisfying and thoughtful * Daily Telegraph *Publisher's description. Dazzlingly energetic and deeply human, Swing Time is Zadie Smith's most ambitious novel yet: a story about friendship and music and true identity, how they shape us and how we can survive them. Moving from north-west London to West Africa, it is an exuberant dance to the music of time. * Penguin *Endlessly satisfying... [Zadie Smith] has never written better. Pitch-perfect, masterful and sophisticated * Telegraph *Zadie Smith is the best writer of our generation, and Swing Time is her best book to date. As the title promises, the novel swings and pulsates with life, filled with emotion, excited by intellect and haunted by sadness. What a miracle that literature can still do things other forms of art cannot. What a miracle that Zadie Smith is among us, writing. -- Gary ShteyngartClever, funny, confident and kind. Her gift for language is a pleasure and her character shines through * Evening Standard *[Smith] packs more intelligence, humour and sheer energy into any given scene than anyone else of her generation * Sunday Telegraph *Zadie Smith's finest novel. Extraordinary, virtuosic... [It] does what only literature can and what only great literature will: forces us to assess the very vocabulary with which we speak of human experience * Observer *Zadie Smith at her finest... [An] unflinching portrait of friendship... [A] triumph * Guardian *Ingenious, inspired... Zadie Smith's new novel is very good indeed * Sunday Times *Shrewd observation and sly satire, profundity and genuine purpose, as well as some of the most heart-stoppingly lyrical writing of her career * Scotland on Sunday *A powerful story of lives marred by secrets, unfulfilled potential, the unjustness of the world...and the dances people do to rise above it all * Economist *A sweeping meditation on race and identity... [Smith's] most ambitious work yet * Esquire *A nuanced, richly rewarding tale * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA compendium of good advice from her Sunday Times columns, Dear Dolly is Dolly Alderton at her wise, warm and witty best. All of human life is contained in these pages: from dating apps to eating disorders, too much sex, not enough sex and the ebb and flow of friendships, relationships and situationships. I felt like a better, kinder person for having read these letters and Dolly's thoughtful replies * Red *With a thoughtful essay about what answering others' questions has taught her, this collection of Alderton's agony aunt advice offers bundles of empathy (and zero judgement) about life's problems, from totally relatable dilemmas to the entertainingly voyeuristic * Grazia *Her refreshing take makes for compulsive reading. The result is an oddly soothing book, as the problems of others leave you not with a sense of schadenfreude but with the comforting realisation that something you have felt, or are feeling, has been felt by countless others - and it will always be that way * Daily Mail *Alderton has struck a chord with a generation ... Invaluable ... A must for die-hard Dolly fans * Heat *Capturing the hearts and minds of young romantics and dreamers, she offers sage and sisterly advice to those in need * Magic Radio Book Club *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe perfect sister to the long-awaited book, I''ll Be There (But I''ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) from Sister, I Am With You founders, Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston—this official workbook addresses the value of authentic friendships and helps you develop them.Many women today feel trapped in an epidemic of loneliness. But it shouldn''t feel like this...and it doesn''t have to! You can stand beside those who encourage you, lift you up, see you, and remind you that you aren''t alone in this crazy, messy, rollercoaster life (and you can do the same for others).This workbook provides the practical steps on how to get there. Inside these pages, you''ll apply the thirteen most common obstacles to true connection and discover actionable steps to solve each one.With hilariously relatable vulnerability, Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston offer an-easy-to-follow road map to reach the kind of lasting friendships we all desperately need.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear and Craft in the Real World comes a 'a smart, very meta take' (Kirkus Reviews) on the ways Asian Americans navigate the thorny worlds of sports and entertainment when everything is stacked against them. An Asian American basketball star walks into a gym. No one recognizes him, but everyone stares anyway. It is the start of a joke but what is the punchline? When Won Lee, the first Asian American in the NBA, stuns the world in a seven-game winning streak, the global media audience dubs it “The Wonder”—much to Won’s chagrin. Meanwhile, Won struggles to get attention from his coach, his peers, his fans, and most importantly, his hero, Powerball!, who also happens to be Won’s teammate and the captain. Covering it all is sportswriter Robert Sung, who writes about Won's stardom while grappling with his own missed hoops opportunities as well as his place as an Asian American in media. And to witness it all is Carrie Kang, a big studio producer, who juggles a newfound relationship with Won while attempting to bring K-drama to an industry not known to embrace anything new or different.The Sense of Wonder follows Won and Carrie as they chronicle the human and professional tensions exacerbated by injustices and fight to be seen and heard on some of the world’s largest stages. An incredibly funny and heart-rending dive into race and our “collective imagination that lays bare our limitations before blasting joyfully past them” (Catherine Chung). This is the work of a gifted storyteller at the top of his game.USA Today's 20 Most Anticipated Books of WinterSalon's 22 Books We're Looking Forward to in 2023Philadelphia Inquirer's Best New Books to Kick Off 2023Los Angeles Times's Best Books of JanuaryEsquire's January 2023 Book Club Pick Vulture's 30 Books We Can't Wait to Read This WinterChicago Review of Books's 12 Must-Read Books of January 2023The Orange County Register's Most Anticipated of 2023 Powell's Picks of the Month Book Culture's Most Anticipated Books of January Apple Books's Staff Picks of JanuaryVanity Fair's 8 Books We Can't Stop Talking About This MonthLiterary Hub's Best Book Covers of January

Read more less

Book SynopsisGrey’s Anatomy meets One L in this psychiatrist’s charming and poignant memoir about his residency at Harvard. Adam Stern was a student at a state medical school before being selected to train as a psychiatry resident at one of the most prestigious programs in the country.Trade Review"By turns funny and tragic, Committed pulls back the curtain on what it takes to become a psychiatrist–and how the practitioners, or the good ones, anyway, can put their own sanity on the line in the service of healing others." —People, Book of the Week pick "A mesmerizing memoir...[Stern] paints sensitive and often touching portraits of his patients, who dealt with everything from paranoia to anorexia to severe depression...Compassionate and candid, this is as human as it gets."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED "[A] dynamic debut memoir...As the author vividly captures the urgency, chaos, and eerie fascination involved with the treatment of mental illness, he also candidly shares numerous patient portraits, which provide some of the most moving and disturbing moments in the book...The combination of patient case studies and medical trainee journal creates an intense reading experience and an eye-opening appreciation for medical professionals charged with psychiatric care. Residents and those contemplating a career in mental health will find much to glean from this spirited memoir of dedication and dogged determination...Engrossing, indelible, and brimming with genuine humanity."—Kirkus, STARRED "With high-stakes drama, interesting characters, and a predictably appealing protagonist, it's no wonder that medical memoirs are often compelling reading. Stern's is no exception as he recalls his four years of psychiatric residency training at Harvard...A sensitive chronicle about becoming a doctor and the value of human connection and empathic listening."—Booklist "This book is a fascinating look at the inside of a medical residency, and it offers a glimpse of many of the often-understated personal costs involved...Readers who have also experienced the vigor of professional academic training will find Stern’s account familiar and satisfying, while those who haven’t will get a rare and insightful glimpse into the many potential struggles involved...This well-written, engaging book will have a special appeal to those already in academia and will be of interest to those who are considering it." —Library Journal —

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn intimate and original memoir of love, grief and male friendship by one of Scotland's brightest young talents.''As perfect a portrait of friendship as I''ve ever read.''STEPHEN FRY''Lucid, lyrical, loaded . . . A love letter to friendship.''JACKIE KAY''A lovely book: bright and heartfelt, funny and refreshing.''ANDREW O''HAGAN''A beautiful, moving, life-affirming book.''IAN RANKINFriendships might just be the greatest love affairs of our lives . . .In 2018 poet and author Michael Pedersen lost a cherished friend, Scott Hutchison, soon after their collective voyage into the landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Just weeks later, Michael began to write to him. As he confronts the bewildering process of grief, what starts as a love letter to one magical, coruscating human soon becomes a paean to all the gorgeous male friendships that have transformed his life.''Boy Friends sees Pedersen illuminate these companions with a poet's eye, a comedian's timing and a lover's care.''OBSERVER''Written with enough electricity that it seems to jolt off the page . . . Boy Friends opens up conversations about . . . the brunt of suicide, the circumstances of certain types of Scottish masculinity and where friendships fit into that.''SUNDAY TIMES

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn intimate and original memoir of love, grief and male friendship by one of Scotland's brightest young talents.''As perfect a portrait of friendship as I''ve ever read.''STEPHEN FRY''Lucid, lyrical, loaded . . . A love letter to friendship.''JACKIE KAY''A lovely book: bright and heartfelt, funny and refreshing.''ANDREW O''HAGAN''A beautiful, moving, life-affirming book.''IAN RANKINFriendships might just be the greatest love affairs of our lives . . .In 2018 poet and author Michael Pedersen lost a cherished friend, Scott Hutchison, soon after their collective voyage into the landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Just weeks later, Michael began to write to him. As he confronts the bewildering process of grief, what starts as a love letter to one magical, coruscating human soon becomes a paean to all the gorgeous male friendships that have transformed his life.''Boy Friends sees Pedersen illuminate these companions with a poet's eye, a comedian's timing and a lover's care.''OBSERVER''Written with enough electricity that it seems to jolt off the page . . . Boy Friends opens up conversations about . . . the brunt of suicide, the circumstances of certain types of Scottish masculinity and where friendships fit into that.''SUNDAY TIMES

Read more less

Book SynopsisSixteen innovators, creatives, and thought leaders—Austin Channing Brown, Sue Monk Kidd, and Luvvie Ajayi Jones, among others—share intimate stories of uncovering beauty and potential through moments of fear, loss, heartbreak, and uncertainty.“You’ll find kindred spirits in these tales of resilience, transformation, and joy.”—TimeOver the course of four years, the traveling love rally called Together Live brought together diverse storytellers for epic evenings of laughter, music, and hard-won wisdom to huge audiences across the country. Well-known womxn (and the occasional man) from all walks of life shared their most vulnerable truths in a radical act of love, paving the way for healing in the face of adversity. Now, off the stage and on the pages of Hungry Hearts, sixteen of these beloved speakers offer moving, inspiring, deeply personal essays as a reminder that we can heal from grief and

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fully updated 40th anniversary edition of the pioneering handbook for female assertiveness an indispensable guide to getting what you wantTrade Review'The classic assertiveness bible... You might be better off with A Woman in Your Own Right than any of the modern girlboss manuals that claim to be able to transform you wholesale into a kickass corporate woman' Rhiannon Lucy Cosslet, Guardian'We’ve made giant strides towards equality over the decades, but... this advice is even more pertinent today' Linda Kelsey, Daily Mail'As important as it ever was’ Angela Neustatter'The bible for anyone who wants to get their voice heard… invaluable' Lesley Garner

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs World War Two enters its final year, Ruth Bentley feels life has dealt her more than her fair share of blows. She''s lost her home in a bomb attack, and with her husband in the army, her daughters evacuated to Wales, and her mother killed and father injured in the attack, Ruth is left to face the devastation alone. But she finds comfort in the camaraderie of the Civil Defence office where she works and in her friendship with Lucy, a clippie on the buses. Lucy''s husband is at sea, and the two women dream of the day when they''ll be reunited with their loved ones. But as victory approaches, Ruth finds that the legacy of war is more powerful than even she had imagined...Trade Review'Dee Williams knows her London setting thoroughly and recreates it convinvingly with a few deft words. [The novel is] written with flair and assurance' Historical Novels Review (Issue 18) * Historical Novels Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA witty, high-concept and spellbindingly charming romance by Lorelei Mathias. Fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk will love this unmissable book. Sweet-natured Daisy, assistant at a large publishing house, has two wishes in life. One, to discover the ''next big thing'' in books and two, for her gorgeous, philandering boyfriend Miles to finally commit. But soon work starts looking up. When the thoughtful and witty Elliot Thornton comes in for a temporary placement, Daisy quickly forms a close friendship with him. But she''d never want to leave Miles for him, would she? Then, one day, while glancing through her rejection pile, she comes across the intriguing first pages of a novel. With spine-tingling excitement she emails the mysterious author straightaway and as chapter by chapter slowly filter through to her, she becomes completely spellbound. But somehow, there''s something very familiar about the heroine and her story . . .Trade ReviewMathias is that rare breed of writer with a gift for making slyly humourous comments that seem to roll off her keyboard. Funny, warm and heartfelt. Loved it! * Brighton and Hove Independent *Gives a good look into the publishing world, and has a lovely romantic twist to it ... A fun, quick summer read * Beauty and Lace *'Unputdownable' chick lit, so classic but so romantic! It made me smile * The Book On The Hill *Another enjoyable gem... perfect summer read * Love Reading *There is some great publishing detail in this title * Fictional Publishers *Witty, knowing and heartfelt * The Book Doctor *Sparky dialogue and a lovely depiction of friendship. I loved this! -- Katie FfordeYou'd be DAFT to miss out on this fab book - it's blimmin' marvellous! I LOVED IT -- Miranda DickinsonRequired reading for anyone who's ever had their heartbroken -- Lucy RobinsonA wonderful, original concept, hilariously well-told and with characters that practically leap off the page at you -- Claudia CarrollSassy and contemporary. Highly recommended -- Phillipa AshleyFearlessly funny, this book was such a pleasure to read I have to give a rare 5 stars. A perfect balance between exaggeration for humour and "I've been there" real-life believability -- Erin LawlessA fun-filled read, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with flashes of real empathy. Love and friendship shone through the laugh-out-loud moments. Loved the twists and turns and that it kept me guessing all the way to the end -- Jules Wake

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs far as her family and friends are concerned, Frieda Schast has been the grieving widow long enough. At thirty-five she''s still young and attractive, and her son could certainly do with a father figure in his life. But when Frieda starts falling for Sam Hill, he''s not their idea of the ultimate catch. Sam is young, talented and incredibly sexy - although broke, sporadically employed and clueless about kids. Does Frieda really need the ''perfect man'' or the far-from-ideal man who''s perfect for her?

Read more less

Book SynopsisFeuding families, star-crossed lovers... let the fireworks begin!Debonair and dynamic, millionaire Judd Harrington is back at Brockett Hall. With his socialite wife and family in tow, he''s returned from LA a glittering success. But as he stares across the valley at Lochlin Maguire''s beautiful country house, all he can think of is revenge. Meanwhile Judd''s arch-rival has troubles of his own. Lochlin''s record label is losing major talent to an unknown competitor, his wife Tavvy is distracted and he can''t seem to see eye to eye with his son Shay. And, unbeknownst to Lochlin, his talented singer daughter Iris has fallen for irresistible racing driver Ace Harrington out in LA. Ace is under orders from Judd to break Iris''s heart. What he hadn''t bargained for was losing his own in the process. Can he go against his father''s wishes? Or will Judd''s wicked games ruin love''s young dream?

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of STILL LIFE''Thronging with incident and wonder'' Guardian''Beautifully true . . . superb'' The Times''Captivating'' Observer''Beguiling . . . You can''t get the voice out of your head'' Daily MailThis is a book about a brother and sister.It''s a book about childhood and growing up, friendships and families, triumph and tragedy and everything in between.More than anything, it''s a book about love in all its forms.Trade Review'Gloriously offbeat... Winman's narrative voice is beautifully true, with a child's unsentimental clarity. A superb debut' * The Times *'Beguiling... you can't quite get the voice out of your head' * Daily Mail *'Captivating... rendered with an appealing frankness, precision and emotional acuity' * Observer *'Thronging with incident, wonder and outré language... sharply funny, whimsical and innovative' * The Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe unforgettable and achingly tender new novel from Sarah Winman, author of the international bestseller WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT and the Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller A YEAR OF MARVELLOUS WAYSTrade ReviewThe writing is powerful and yet understated, whether in Winman's observations about relationships or her evocations of landscapes. With her skilful command of language and deep emotional insight, Winman has produced in the exquisitely crafted Tin Man her best novel to date. * Observer *The writing is powerful and yet understated, whether in Winman's observations about relationships or her evocations of landscapes. With her skilful command of language and deep emotional insight, Winman has produced in the exquisitely crafted Tin Man her best novel to date. * Observer *This is an astoundingly beautiful book. It drips with tenderness. It breaks your heart and warms it all at onceThis is an astoundingly beautiful book. It drips with tenderness. It breaks your heart and warms it all at once[Tin Man] is a marvel, full of love, longing and loss, huge emotions described in such a beautifully understated way that their impact is all the more powerful * Sunday Express (S Magazine) *[Tin Man] is a marvel, full of love, longing and loss, huge emotions described in such a beautifully understated way that their impact is all the more powerful * Sunday Express (S Magazine) *An exquisitely crafted tale of love and loss * Guardian *An exquisitely crafted tale of love and loss * Guardian *It's exquisite. There are stories you just feel privileged to read. Sarah's writing breaks you and heals you, all in the same moment, and I haven't been so moved, and so in love with a book and its characters in a very long timeIt's exquisite. There are stories you just feel privileged to read. Sarah's writing breaks you and heals you, all in the same moment, and I haven't been so moved, and so in love with a book and its characters in a very long timeTin Man may be a short novel, at just 195 pages, but it packs an enormous punch * Independent *Tin Man may be a short novel, at just 195 pages, but it packs an enormous punch * Independent *[Tin Man has] themes of childhood bonds and traumas, and gay love, which she evokes with tender sympathy * The Times *[Tin Man has] themes of childhood bonds and traumas, and gay love, which she evokes with tender sympathy * The Times *A beautifully written novel * Daily Mail *A beautifully written novel * Daily Mail *Heart-wrenching... a short but powerful novel about love and friendship * Woman & Home *Heart-wrenching... a short but powerful novel about love and friendship * Woman & Home *This book is why I read * Prima *This book is why I read * Prima *I didn't think a perfect book could exist, I was wrongI didn't think a perfect book could exist, I was wrongWinman writes with a poetry that makes the impact of Tin Man so much greater than its 200 pages... ephemeral yet powerful... Every fleeting moment is worth repeating, again and again * Stylist *Winman writes with a poetry that makes the impact of Tin Man so much greater than its 200 pages... ephemeral yet powerful... Every fleeting moment is worth repeating, again and again * Stylist *[A] beautiful story about love, loss and longing * Red Magazine *[A] beautiful story about love, loss and longing * Red Magazine *Tin Man sparkles with a timeless beauty that few other authors can invoke... disarmingly lovely and unequivocally heart breaking...Forget every other novel released this month and just read Tin Man, it's the perfect tale of love, loss and life * Culturefly *Tin Man sparkles with a timeless beauty that few other authors can invoke... disarmingly lovely and unequivocally heart breaking...Forget every other novel released this month and just read Tin Man, it's the perfect tale of love, loss and life * Culturefly *Heart-breaking and heart-makingHeart-breaking and heart-makingTin Man is Winman's best novel yet. The playful subversiveness still bubbles away but there's a new candour there, an acceptance of needs and flaws that proves deeply touching. This is storytelling as cruelly kind as fate itselfTin Man is Winman's best novel yet. The playful subversiveness still bubbles away but there's a new candour there, an acceptance of needs and flaws that proves deeply touching. This is storytelling as cruelly kind as fate itselfA beautiful, life-giving book that will constantly surprise you * Attitude *A beautiful, life-giving book that will constantly surprise you * Attitude *'It was beautiful, and occasionally, it hurt,' says Michael - and this exactly describes the wonder of this bruisingly tender book * Psychologies magazine *'It was beautiful, and occasionally, it hurt,' says Michael - and this exactly describes the wonder of this bruisingly tender book * Psychologies magazine *Emotionally charged * Express.co.uk *Emotionally charged * Express.co.uk *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gloriously rich coming-of-age novel set in southern high society, 1930s America. My parents sent me away because I wanted too much, wanted badly. And all that want was a dangerous thing...High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a refuge of privilege in a land devastated by the Depression.Thea Atwell''s arrival late in the summer season causes a ripple of intrigue and speculation. But even the most scandalous rumour cannot come close to the truth that destroyed her family, and brought her here.Fearless and unbroken, Thea soon finds that there is no banishment from secrets and temptations. Poised on the brink of adulthood, the events of that year will change the girls of Yonahlossee in ways they will never forget.Trade ReviewDiSclafani's name is being bandied around in the same breath as The Secret History's Donna Tartt... A clever and compelling coming-of-age novel * Glamour *Beautiful...steamy...it's a spectacular debut * Adriana Trigiani *Sultry * Independent *Darkly addictive * Express *Sumptuous * Stylist *Exciting, passionate and beautifully vivid * Red *Brilliantly atmospheric * Heat *I fell completely under the spell of Anton DiSclafani's amazing first novel and was gripped by its lush and dreamy evocations of Southern decorum, family secrets, and boarding school rituals. DiSclafani is wildly talented, and this is a sexy, suspenseful, gorgeously written book * Curtis Sittenfeld *'DiSclafani's pitch-perfect details of time and place effortlessly drew me into this fantastic novel's authentic and alluring world' * Laura Moriarty, author of THE CHAPERONE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhether your recipient is a Lorelai or a Rory, this book is the perfect way to let your mom, sister, or friend know how much her friendship means to you. Once you fill in the 47 prompts, this book becomes a personalized gift full of funny, memorable, and endearing expressions of appreciation that your loved one will cherish for years to come. This officially licensed book features full-color photography from the show throughout.Copyright 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. GILMORE GIRLS and all related characters and elements are & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. TM & WBEI. (s22)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe hugely popular global phenomenon and star of Sanrio makes her way to the RP Studio list with this DIY fill-in-the-blank book celebrating Hello Kitty and Friends and focusing on friendship-perfect for the passionate fanbase, both old and new.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCelebrate the bonds of friendship and love by saying you'll be there through the good days and the trash days with this unique and playful fill-in book filled with adorable trash animals. When your recipient feels like a trash panda or maybe a pizza rat, this is the perfect book to remind them that even when they might feel like trash, they are still your treasure. Once you fill in the 46 prompts, this illustrated book full of adorable trash animals like raccoons, pigeons, possums, skunks, mice, and more becomes a personalized gift full of funny, memorable, and endearing expressions of appreciation and support that your loved one will cherish for years to come. 

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow more than ever, the world is hungry to gather and thirsty for connection.Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we’re overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food? Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way.In Gather & Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation. Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life. You will feel encouraged and equipped to view your home as:a holy wellspring of welcome to offer hope to a weary wo

Read more less

Book Synopsis''This is the book I wish I''d had to guide me through my twenties'' - Anjelica Huston''A fierce-but-tender guide to conquering our self doubt'' - Glennon DoyleBy the time she was in her late twenties, Tara Schuster was a rising TV executive who had worked for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and helped launch Key & Peele to viral superstardom. By all appearances, she had mastered being a grown-up. But beneath that veneer of success, she was a chronically anxious, self-medicating mess. No one knew that her road to adulthood had been paved with depression, anxiety, and shame, owing in large part to her minimally parented upbringing. She realized she''d hit rock bottom when she drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies is the story of Tara''s path to re-parenting herself and becoming a ''ninja of self-love''. Through simple, daily rituals, Tara transformed her mind, body and relationships, and shows how to: * fake gratitude until you actually feel gratitude * excavate your emotional wounds and heal them with kindness * identify your self-limiting beliefs, kick them to the curb, and start living a life you choose * silence your inner frenemy and shield yourself from self-criticism * carve out time each morning to start your day empowered, inspired, and ready to rule * create a life you truly, totally f*cking LOVE This is the book Tara wished someone had given her and it is the book many of us desperately need: a candid, hysterical, addictively readable, practical guide to growing up (no matter where you are in life) and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it''s-so-cheesy way.

Read more less