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To understand and profit from Total Quality Management, companies must pay particular attention to the first word in the phrase-total. The spectacular rewards enjoyed by top companies like 3M, FedEx, and Ben & Jerry's were earned through a total commitment to achieving superior quality and customer satisfaction across all company functions and processes. Total Quality Management, Second Edition gives you a completely up-to-date look at how 51 of the world's most successful companies put the total into TQM. Each of these companies, including 13 new additions and 23 Baldrige Award winners, is cited as a benchmark performer in a particular business function. Their examples help you set your sights on specific goals and learn a variety of ways to go about achieving each goal. Each chapter features the best practices of one manufacturing company, one service company, and one small business. Following the examples set by these overachievers, you'll discover how to: * Lead the transition from traditional management to management by quality * Identify customer needs and use that knowledge to drive the organization * Integrate strategic quality and business planning into a single strategic process * Communicate customer and company requirements throughout your organization * Recognize and reward employee efforts and promote improved quality * Establish uniform measurement systems and manage by fact, not fiction * Borrow shamelessly from industry leaders to encourage breakthrough thinking * Build strengths and eliminate weaknesses through an annual assessment process. Fully updated-the book that puts the total into. Total Quality Management. In this book, the former chairman of the Baldrige Award panel of judges teams up once again with a leading quality consultant to bring you a Baldrige-based TQM model that covers every aspect of your business. Built from the best practices of 51 companies (including 23 Baldrige Award winners) whose star performances have made them benchmark corporations, this book brings you: * Best practices and TQM applications from small businesses, huge corporations, and everything in between * TQM practices from retail stores, service companies, manufacturers, and more * Hundreds of real-world examples, tested processes, and innovative techniques * Proven ways to boost profits, inspire workers, and delight customers. Praise for the First Edition "Alive . . . vivid, entertaining, successful. . . . Even the most inexperienced can understand and implement TQM using this book."-Charles A. Aubrey Vice President, Juran Institute. "If you read only one book about quality management, read this one . . . the definitive management handbook of the decade."-Lynn A. Moline Former Executive Director, Minnesota Council for Quality. "A great book about a better way to run a company."-Bob G. Gower President and CEO, Lyondell Petrochemical Co. "Packed with strategies that can be implemented in any organization . . . must reading for those interested in proven quality strategies."-Ellen Gaucher Senior Associate Director, University of Michigan Medical Center "Get it. This book is jammed full of practical case studies from a management and profitability perspective."-C. Jackson Grayson Jr. Chairman, American Productivity and Quality Center. Supplemented with an updated list of resources and a contact list for all profiled companies, Total Quality Management, Second Edition shows you how to lead your organization straight to the cutting edge of quality and keep it there.

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***'A beautifully curated sourcebook of garden styles, with stunning images of gardens around the world from an internationally acclaimed photographer ... Whether purchased as an indulgent coffee-table book or an inspirational sourcebook, Garden Style could be equally useful to designers, landscapers and architects as a mood board to illustrate styles and help clients visualise their thoughts. I recommend reading this book several times: once for the pure indulgence of the glorious photography, again to absorb the description of each style, and yet to enjoy the inspirational ideas.' Gardens Illustrated'This handsome tome covers dozens of garden styles with advice on how to achieve the look. Some are familiar; others, like 'New Country' or 'Finca Style', will be new to many. Magnificently photographed, it shows just how many ways there are to design a garden.' Constance Craig Smith, Daily Mail'With such a huge range of material, it far outweighs anything you'd get online. Plus, like all good books, it's wrapped up in a lovely package that's eminently dip-in-and-out-able. The curation of the content is on trend, consistent and inspiring ... Whether you're a lover of gardens, a style-hungry consumer or a professional designer, the book is full of inspiration. The numerous photos, great breadth of gardens and succinct writing all contribute to letting us work out what we like - and to finding our own garden style.' RHS The Garden'Total immersion in the dreamy look-book Garden Style will help anyone wanting to find, or re-invent their garden's design. Comprehensive, wide-ranging, nuanced and detailed: every one of the 640 sumptuous photos in this large and exquisite catalogue pitches a different design: from formal to loose, plant-filled to architectural, pint-sized to productive. A colourful distillation to drink in during the winter months.' Helen Griffin, The RHS, Top 10 Gardening Books of 2023Gardens have never been as important as they are today. The breadth of styles and types is hugely varied. Everything goes, whether inspired by the past or looking towards the future, from traditional vegetable plots to vertical gardens and from nature-filled designs to sleek, modernist creations. Choosing what suits your space can be a daunting prospect and everyone, even the professionals, needs help to realize opportunities and create outdoor spaces in tune with their personal needs and dreams. A garden is what we make it: there is no right or wrong way and each is unique.Richly illustrated by the photos of award-winning photographer Marianne Majerus and with illuminating text by landscape architect Heidi Howcroft, this book shows what is possible for every type of garden, from challenging small spaces to expansive plots. Design tools are explained, planting styles explored, and inspiration is drawn from a wide variety of locations and climates to appeal to garden owners and designers everywhere.The book is not only a companion to Garden Design: A Book of Ideas but is also a valuable style catalogue and sourcebook in its own right, encouraging and inspiring readers to discover their own garden style - be it contemporary or traditional, cottage-style or urban minimalist.

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To Light the Flame of Reason is all about the art of clear thinking, an art that is needed now more than ever in the world we now live in. Written for anyone who wants to navigate better in this world filled with populist dogmas, anti-science attitudes, and pseudo-philosophy, authors Christer Sturmark and Douglas Hofstadter provide a set of simple tools for clear thinking, as well as a deeper understanding of science, truth, naturalism, and morality. It also offers insights into the rampant problems of extremism and fundamentalism – and suggestions for how the world can move towards a new enlightenment. The book argues that we need to reawaken the basic values and ideals that defined the original age of enlightenment. We need to accept the idea that the world we inhabit is part of nature, and that it has no trace of supernatural or magical forces. Ethical questions should be detached from religion. This doesn’t mean that the questions become any easier— just that ideas are tested and judged without being profoundly tainted and constrained by religious dogmas.Such a form of secular humanism builds on the power of free thought — the power to investigate and understand the natural world. Although not everything can be investigated or understood, the sincere quest for knowledge and understanding establishes a flexible, nondogmatic attitude toward the world. Curiosity and openness lie at the core of such an attitude. The scientific method of careful and open- minded testing, as well as science’s creative and reflective ways of thinking, provides key tools. What clear, science-inspired thinking helps us to understand, among many other things, is that a person can be good and can be motivated to carry out morally good actions without ever bowing to, or being limited by, supposedly divine forces.To Light the Flame of Reason will appeal to adults who are trying to figure out how to deal with the ever-increasing daily bombardment of conflicting messages about what is right, true, sensible, or good, and it should appeal even more to teenagers and university students who are struggling to find a believable and reliable philosophy of life that can help guide them in their choices of what and whom to trust, and how to act, both on the personal and the social level.Today, more people have greater access to information and knowledge than ever was dreamt of before, and more people are concerned about the world situation. More people have the chance, through their own actions, to make a difference.Each one of us, as an individual, matters. It is thus vitally important that each of us should choose, in a conscious and reflective manner, our own views of reality, of the world, and of humanity. And this means that it is crucial for us all to train ourselves in the art of thinking clearly.Christer Sturmark along with Pulizer Prize winning author Douglas Hofstdter argue that we must refocus our efforts on cultivting a secular society, and in doing so, we will rediscover the values and ethics that are so foreign in today’s society.

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"This is an excellent book for anyone starting out on the Common Foundation year of their Nursing Degree, and as a reference to those further into their degree, on placement, or newly qualified. It covers everything from communication skills to pressure ulcers, and includes all four Nursing branches: Child, Adult, Mental Health and Learning Disability." Conor Hamilton, Student Nurse, Queens University Belfast, UK "An excellent foundation text for first year pre-registration nurses. The accompanying DVD encourages application of the theory and helps consolidate learning." Janine Lee, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK "This book provides an excellent alternative to other Clinical Skills books. The most obvious and most useful difference is the addition of a CD Rom. The book itself is clearly laid out from the beginning, with the table of contents detailing all the essential areas of nursing that are often forgotten. It is often assumed that nursing students already know the basics so the inclusion of how to bed bath a patient or how to feed a patient was welcomed. While primarily aimed at those following the common foundation program (1st year) it has also been of great use to myself during my 3rd year." Jackie Sheridan, Student Nurse, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK "I found this book useful for a backup from clinical skills sessions to refresh my mind. It uses simple easy understandable language with key ideas highlighted and uses pictures and diagrams where necessary. I found the cd-rom invaluable as it uses step to step guides of skills used and although we all learn them in skills sessions we sometimes forget the gold standard way as we learn to cut corners."Becky Gray, Student Nurse, University of Worcester, UK "I was very impressed by this textbook. It reads very well, is easy to follow and is suitable for students within the common foundation programme." Conleth Kelly, Lecturer in The Faculty of Health and Social Care, The University of Chester, UK"This is an impressively comprehensive guide to clinical skills drawing from the expertise and real life experiences of a variety of contributors with health and social care backgrounds ... The edge to the book that I feel raises it above other clinical skills guides, is the free interactive DVD. Designed to be used at certain points during the reading of the book, it provides the reader/viewer with extensive further reading and resources ... Additionally, and perhaps most usefully, it provides the student with video clips of the clinical skills being performed, which show how the bestevidence based methods can easily be applied in practice." Daniel Gill, Student Nurse, University of Salford, UKClinical Skills: The Essence of Caring is an innovative new textbook and integrated Media Tool package which makes teaching and learning nursing interactive! Based on the Essence of Care, this book covers the core clinical skills curriculum and takes a holistic approach to the importance of delivering excellent nursing care.This comprehensive package offers a unique way of relating theory to practice, making it an essential learning resource for all CFP and nursing students.Visit www.openup.co.uk/clinicalskills for a preview of the DVD and updated material.

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Marco Polo Pocket Guide Sicily: the Travel Guide with Insider Tips Explore Sicily with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the island's trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget. There are plenty of ideas for travel with kids, and a summary of all the festivals and events that take place. Let Marco Polo show you all this wonderful Italian island has to offer... People have been arriving on Sicily's shores for millennia, merging their cultures and lifestyles together - Greeks, Romans, Arabs, North Africans, Spaniards and others. The sea is never very far away, you can see it from almost every mountain. This practical pocket-sized guide provides a close-up look at lemon-scented gardens, rugged volcanic landscapes and lively piazzas, all of it set amidst the ancient and the modern against a backdrop of glorious scenery...This is Sicily! Your Marco Polo Sicily Pocket Guide includes: Insider Tips - we show you the hidden gems and little-known secrets that offer a real insight into this beautiful island. Discover where the Mafia had their hideouts and where you can watch flamingos up close. Best of - find the best things to do for free, the best 'only in' Sicily experiences, the best things to do if it rains and the best places to relax and spoil yourself. Sightseeing - all of the top sights are organised by areas of the island so you can easily plan your trip. Discovery Tours - specially tailored tours that will get you to the heart of Sicily. Here are inspirational itineraries that will help you enjoy authentic Sicily from the most beautiful stretches of coast, through the melancholic capital Palermo; into bastions of the Baroque and on the trail of the ancients. Sicily in full-colour - Marco Polo Pocket Guide Sicily includes full-colour photos throughout the guide bringing the island to life offering you a real taste of what you can see and enjoy on your trip. Touring App - you can download any of the Discovery Tours to your smartphone, complete with the detailed route description and map exactly as featured in the guide, free of charge. The maps can be used offline too, so no roaming charges. The perfect navigational tool with distance indicators and landmarks highlighting the correct direction to travel in as well as GPS coordinates along the way. Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and never get lost again! Road Atlas and pull-out map - we've included a detailed road atlas and a handy, pull-out map so you can pop the guide in your bag for a full-on sightseeing day or head out with just the map to enjoy your Discovery Tour. Useful Italian phrases - the essential words and phrases are included to help you get by. Trust Marco Polo Pocket Guide Sicily to show you around this fabulous Mediterranean island. The comprehensive coverage and unique insights will ensure you experience everything Sicily has to offer and more. The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy.

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Marco Polo Pocket Guide Lisbon: the Travel Guide with Insider Tips Explore Lisbon with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the city's trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget. There are plenty of ideas for travel with kids, and a summary of all the festivals and events that take place. Let Marco Polo show you all this wonderful Portuguese city has to offer… Lisbon offers visitors a warm, open and relaxed welcome. The Portuguese city enjoys a majestic setting on the mouth of the Tejo. Imbued with the charm of times gone by, Portugal's capital pulsates with life. Take a stroll through picturesque narrow streets and up and down steep steps and be enchanted by quaint nooks and crannies and magical squares. This practical guide book, small enough to slip into your pocket, takes you to magnificent palaces and monasteries bearing witness to the splendour of colonial times; but also to a nostalgic city on the south-western edge of Europe which is dynamic, modern and cosmopolitan…This is Lisbon! Your Marco Polo Lisbon Pocket Guide includes: Insider Tips – we show you the hidden gems and little-known secrets that offer a real insight into the city. Discover where you can bump into the seven dwarves in the Sintra forests and where fado lovers get together. Best of – find the best things to do for free, the best ‘only in’ Lisbon experiences, the best things to do if it rains and the best places to relax and spoil yourself. Sightseeing – all the top sights are organised by area of the city so you can easily plan your trip. Discovery Tours – specially tailored tours will get you to the heart of Lisbon. Experience all of Lisbon’s unique character with these personal tours. Lisbon in full-colour – Marco Polo Pocket Guide Lisbon includes full-colour photos throughout the guide bringing the region to life offering you a real taste of what you can see and enjoy on your trip. Touring App – download any of the Discovery Tours to your smartphone, complete with the detailed route description and map exactly as featured in the guide, free of charge. The maps can be used offline too, so no roaming charges. The perfect navigational tool with distance indicators and landmarks highlighting the correct direction to travel in as well as GPS coordinates along the way. Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and never get lost again! Street Atlas and pull-out map – we’ve included a detailed street atlas and a handy, pull-out map so you can pop the guide in your bag for a full-on sightseeing day or head out with just the map to enjoy your Discovery Tour. Useful Portuguese phrases – the essential words and phrases are included to help you get by. Trust Marco Polo Pocket Guide Lisbon to show you around this fabulous Portuguese city. The comprehensive coverage and unique insights will ensure you experience everything Lisbon has to offer and more. The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy.

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An insurance mathematician’s carefully ordered life is turned on its head when he unexpectedly loses his job and inherits an adventure park … with a whole host of problems. A quirky, tense and warmly funny thriller from award-winning Finnish author Antti Tuomainen. **Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios** 'Laconic, thrilling and warmly human. In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre ‘The antic novels of Antti Tuomainen prove that comedy is not lost in translation … Tuomainen, like Carl Hiaasen before him, has the knack of combining slapstick with genuine emotion’ The Times 'The funniest writer in Europe, and one of the very finest. There is a beautiful rhythm and poetry to the prose … original and brilliant story-telling' Helen FitzGerald_______________ Just one spreadsheet away from chaos… What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal. And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back. But what Henri really can’t compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri's relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets… Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life. _______________ ‘British readers might think they know what to expect from Nordic noir: a tortured detective, a bleak setting, a brutal crime that shakes a small community. Finnish crime novelist Tuomainen turns all of this on its head … The ear of a giant plastic rabbit becomes a key weapon. It only gets darker and funnier’ Guardian 'Antti Tuomainen turns the clichéd idea of dour, humourless Scandi noir upside down with The Rabbit Factor. Dark, gripping and hilarious … Tuomainen is the Carl Hiaasen of the fjords' Martyn Waites 'The Rabbit Factor is a triumph, a joyous, feel-good antidote to troubled times' Kevin Wignall ‘Finland's greatest export’ M.J. Arlidge ‘The Rabbit Factor is an astounding read. It has the suspenseful twists of a thriller, the laugh-out-loud moments of a comedy and a tragic dimension that brings a tear to the eye’ Crime Fiction Lover 'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times ‘Tuomainen is the funniest writer in Europe’ The Times ‘Right up there with the best’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Tuomainen continues to carve out his own niche in the chilly tundras of northern’ Daily Express

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"An extremely informative and useable book covering many aspects of communication ... highly recommended for students and practitioners in the mental health field, whether nurses or not."Mental Health Practice"Learning to communicate effectively is vital for all nurses ... This exciting new book, with an accessible and engaging style, provides nurses working in mental health, with a valuable and comprehensive introduction to successful communication."Martina Mc Guinness, Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator, HSE Dublin, Ireland"The book is thought provoking and provides examples not only of what we should be doing but also examples of what we should not to be doing. It is a text that I would have loved to have had access to in my student days and early practice and would therefore strongly recommend this book to students and indeed beginner mental health practitioners of any discipline."Sinead Frain, Clinical Nurse Specialist - Home CareBallyfermot/Lucan Mental Health Service"This accessible book takes you through the core communications skills required as a novice through to a more advanced level... The inclusion of clinical scenarios and practice exercises demonstrate clearly how to apply theoretical elements whilst working in a clinical situation ... It is a very good read and a valuable tool for anyone stepping out into the world of mental health nursing!"Antony Johnson, Mental Health Nursing Student, University of Salford, UK"The combination of knowledgeable discussion and richly illustrated case examples makes this an innovative text and an essential resource for those who are challenged with delivering mental health care. A must read for all students." Allison Tennant, Nurse Consultant and Psychotherapist, Rampton Hospital, UK"This useful book focuses on the skills that are absolutely central and essential to all mental health nursing, from basic communication skills to specific interventions and approaches."Dr Neil Brimblecombe, Director of Nursing/Chief Operating Officer, South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust"This is a fantastic book, absolutely packed with just about everything a mental health nurse needs to know about communication skills ... The succinctly written chapters cover a wide range of key communications skills and each provides clear explanations, examples from 'everyday' life and clinical practice, with opportunities to reflect on your own experiences. Highly recommended."Alan Simpson, Professor of Collaborative Mental Health Nursing, City University London, UKThis practical book provides a comprehensive guide to communication in mental health nursing, with an emphasis on demonstrating the use of different skills in various clinical settings. Written by experienced mental health professionals, the book is richly illustrated with a range of clinical case examples that will be recognisable to all nurses.Centred on the communication process as a whole, the topics are carefully presented through the use of patient-nurse dialogues and exchanges which bring the subject to life. This will help you to: Develop essential communication skills Communicate confidently Use phatic communication effectively Use self-reflection in your practice Develop the ability to deal with conflict Develop empathic helping relationships Draw upon various therapeutic models of communication Communication Skills for Mental Health Nurses is ideal for all nurses and healthcare professionals seeking to improve the skills required to communicate confidently and effectively with patients, their carers and other key people involved within the care environment.

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It’s going to be a summer she’ll never forget.Claire’s little sister Holly has been working on the millionaire’s playground of Martha’s Vineyard, going to barefoot beach parties and flirting with the local rich kids. But now she’s missing and none of the locals seem to care, including the police. They think a message Claire received is proof she’s safe.But Claire knows for a fact that her sister didn’t send it.What will she have to risk to find out the truth? Who are the locals protecting? And what does it have to do with another girl who went missing five years ago?An unputdownable psychological thriller summer read from the #1 bestselling author, for fans of Heidi Perks, Claire Douglas and Lucy Clarke.Praise for Jenny Blackhurst‘Fast-moving and laced with suspense, it buzzes from first page to last’ Daily Mail‘Electrifying’ Woman’s Own‘Fabulously tense’ Prima‘Addictive stuff’ Woman & Home‘An addictive thriller’ Good Housekeeping‘A thoroughly twisty treat’ Heat‘The duel timeline and clever narratives really hook you into this tense and atmospheric thriller’ My Weekly‘Utterly gripping’ Clare Mackintosh‘Jenny is an evil genius’ Lisa Hall‘Hooked from the first page’ Claire Douglas‘This talented writer knows a thing or two about her craft’ Amanda Jennings‘Compelling, disturbing and thoroughly enjoyable’ Sharon Bolton‘An outstanding and original thriller’ B. A. Paris‘Gripping and hugely enjoyable’ Jane Casey‘Had me hooked from the very first line. Tense, dark and highly compelling’ B. P Walter‘A dark, clever, and twisty read... I devoured it’ A. A. Chaudhuri‘A twisting tale... I was gripped until the final page’ Sophie FlynnWhat readers are saying about The Summer Girl ‘From start to finish I was completely immersed in this storyline.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Woah, has it been a long time since I’ve read a thriller and been so genuinely shocked by the twist! Overall, a great and easy summer suspense to add to your TBR!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Easily one of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. A must read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘What a wild ride Blackhurst took me on! She wove everything together at the end so well, it left my heart pounding.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘A great summer read. The sense of place is amazing. I could taste the sea air and feel the sun on my back.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘A gripping and unpredictable thriller. With its well-drawn characters, richly evocative atmosphere, and complex exploration of themes of identity and trauma, it’s a must-read for fans of the genre.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Unforgettable twists. Jenny Blackhurst’s gripping tale entices readers into a web of secrets, deceit, and the lengths one sister is willing to go to find her missing sibling.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review‘Great characters. Witty. A hugely satisfying conclusion. The Summer Girl, for me, is Jenny Blackhurst at her absolute best.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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Buddhism: A Complete Introduction is a comprehensive and easy-to-use introduction, designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. Written by a leading expert, this book will help you if you are studying for an important exam or essay, or if you simply want to improve your knowledge. It is structured to mirror the way in which Buddhism is usually taught, starting with the life of the Buddha through to the prospects of Buddhism for the next generation.The book covers all the key areas that are considered central to Buddhism, including the Buddha's teachings, the scriptures and schools, the role of meditation and the moral and ethical context. It uses jargon-free English and includes features such as guided further reading and end of chapter questions to ensure that you understand all the concepts covered.Buddhism: A Complete Introduction includes: Chapter 1: Buddhists and BuddhismWho are Buddhists?The Three JewelsThe Three RefugesBuddhist PracticeIn conclusionChapter 2: The life of the BuddhaThe Buddha's significanceThe Four SightsGoing forthSelf-mortificationThe enlightenmentTurning the wheel of the dharmaThe missionThe growth of the SanghaParanirvanaIn conclusionChapter 3: The Buddha's teachingThe first Nobel Truth: all is suffering (dukkha)The second Noble Truth: the origins of suffering (samudaya)The third Noble Truth: the cessation of suffering (nirodha)The fourth Noble Truth: the path to the cessation of suffering (magga)Chapter 4: Buddhist scriptures and schoolsThe Theravada ScripturesThe Mahayana ScripturesPure Land BuddhismThe Ch'an and Zen SchoolsThe Tibetan ScripturesIn conclusionChapter 5: Meditation and devotion1 Mind and heart2 Heart and mind3 Devotion as homage4 Salvific devotionIn conclusionChapter 6: Ethical conductSila skilfulnessThe practicality of buddhist ethicsWorking on yourself and othersThe precepts and the dharmaRenunciationIn conclusionChapter 7: Moral IssuesThe natural worldHuman societyIn conclusionChapter 8: The social orderOrdinationCelibacyWeddings and marriagesFamily lifeDeath and dyingIn conclusionChapter 9: Festivals and ceremoniesTheravada festivalsTibetan festivalsJapanese and Chinese festivalsWestern Buddhist festivalsIn conclusionChapter 10: Budhist today: East and WestThe spread of BuddhismBuddhism in IndiaThe revival of BuddhismBuddhism in South-East AsiaMissionary activityTibetan BuddhismBuddhism in the WestIn conclusionChapter 11: Transition, adaptation and influence: prospects for Buddhism in the twenty-first centuryInto the twenty-first centuryViews from the WestTransmitting Buddhism to a new generationIn conclusionLearn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and added features:Not got much time?One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.Author insightsLots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.Test yourselfTests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.Extend your knowledgeExtra online articles to give you a richer understanding of psychology.Five things to rememberQuick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.Try thisInnovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

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Both Flesh and Not combines David Foster Wallace's best-loved essays with work never before published in the UK.Beloved for his brilliantly discerning eye, his verbal elasticity and his uniquely generous imagination, David Foster Wallace was heralded by critics and fans as the voice of a generation. Collected in Both Flesh and Not are fifteen essays published for the first time in book form, including writing never published before in the UK.From 'Federer Both Flesh and Not', considered by many to be his nonfiction masterpiece; to 'The (As it Were) Seminal Importance of Terminator 2,' which deftly dissects James Cameron's blockbuster; to 'Fictional Futures and the Conspicuously Young', an examination of television's effect on a new generation of writers, David Foster Wallace's writing swoops from erudite literary discussion to open-hearted engagement with the most familiar of our twentieth-century cultural references.A celebration of Wallace's great loves - for language, for precision, for meaning - and a feast of enjoyment for his fans, Both Flesh and Not is a fitting tribute to this writer who was never concerned with anything less important than what it means to be alive.Praise for Both Flesh and Not: 'Whether dwelling on the real-world implications of metaphysics [or the] pop constructions of pure maths . . . Both Flesh and Not brims with jewels of insight and expression' Independent'At their best these essays remind us of Wallace's arsenal of talents: his restless, heat-seeking reportorial eye; his ability to convey the physical or emotional truth of things with a couple of flicks of the wrist; his capacity to make leaps, from the mundane to the metaphysical, with breathtaking velocity and ardor' Michiko Kakutani, New York Times'Excellent in its entirety and just as quietly, unflinchingly soul-stirring' The Atlantic'There are times, reading his work, when you get halfway through a sentence and gasp involuntarily, and for a second you feel lucky that there was, at least for a time, someone who could make sense like no other of what it is to be a human in our era of "Total Noise"' Telegraph'One of the best writers of our time . . . If you've never read David Foster Wallace before, his masterful study of Roger Federer, included in this anthology, is an ideal place to start' US Marie Claire'A fine collection . . . you could more or less open it at random and find something to demonstrate the man's prodigious' Guardian 'The best passages are those that celebrate words and the author's relationship with them . . . It is a treasure trove for those who love the complexities of language' US TimeoutDavid Foster Wallace, who died in 2008, was the author of the acclaimed novels Infinite Jest and The Broom of the System. His final novel, The Pale King, was published posthumously in 2011. He is also the author of the short-story collections Oblivion, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men and Girl with Curious Hair, and his non-fiction includes several essay collections and the full-length work Everything and More.

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Marco Polo Pocket Guide Cuba: the Travel Guide with Insider Tips Explore Cuba with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the country's trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget. There are plenty of ideas for travel with kids, and a summary of all the festivals and events that take place in Cuba. Let Marco Polo show you all this wonderful country has to offer… Dive into a colourful dream of rhythm, revolution and retreat. This practical, pocket-sized guide will lead you to glorious white beaches, ports and colonial towns redolent with history. Be enchanted by the slightly morbid, but irresistibly charming Havana, track down the afro-cuban heritage in lively Santiago de Cuba, encounter Cubans who might be a bit 'Che Guavara', and wonder at their lust for life, visit tobacco factories and rum distilleries...This is Cuba! Your Marco Polo Cuba Pocket Guide includes: Insider Tips – we show you the hidden gems and little known secrets that offer a real insight into Cuba. Discover where you can buy the hottest Latin music, find out where to feed the sharks or enjoy the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. Best of – find the best things to do for free, the best `only in’ Cuba experiences, the best things to do if it rains and the best places to relax and spoil yourself. Sightseeing – all of the top sights are organised by region so you can easily plan your trip. Discovery Tours – specially tailored tours that will get you to the heart of Cuba. Here are the best tours that will help you enjoy all of Cuba’s breath-taking scenery from the island’s capital, Havana, to the idyllic beaches on the northern coast. Cuba in full-colour – Marco Polo Pocket Guide Cuba includes full-colour photos throughout the guide bringing the country to life offering you a real taste of what you can see and enjoy on your trip. Touring App – new for 2018, you can download any of the Discovery Tours to your smartphone, complete with the detailed route description and map exactly as featured in the guide, free of charge. The maps can be used offline too, so no roaming charges. The perfect navigational tool with distance indicators and landmarks highlighting the correct direction to travel in as well as GPS coordinates along the way. Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and never get lost again! Road Atlas and pull-out map – we’ve included a detailed road atlas and a handy, pull-out map so you can pop the guide in your bag for a full-on sightseeing day or head out with just the map to enjoy your Discovery Tour. Useful Spanish phrases – the essential words and phrases are included to help you get by. Trust Marco Polo Pocket Guide Cuba to show you around this wonderful Caribbean island. The comprehensive coverage and unique insights will ensure you experience everything Cuba has to offer and more. The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy.

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From the foreword by world-leading Lyme expert Joseph J. Burrascano, Jr., MD:A detailed and thoughtful road map is sorely needed. And it is in this context that I am so pleased that we have this book by Dr. Kinderlehrer. I wish I’d had a book like this back in the day to guide me! It covers just about everything—the infections, diagnostic tests, treatments, and yes, the all-important terrain. It gives the reader an in-depth, but easily understandable, guide through the many subtleties of tick-borne illnesses. I am impressed with the knowledge presented and grateful for this information, which has helped so many people recover from chronic illness.To anyone touched by tick-borne diseases, be they a patient, a caregiver, loved one, or health practitioner, this book is a must-read. It will serve as a continuing reference as it gets read and reread to assimilate all it has to offer. I congratulate Dr. Kinderlehrer and thank him for this most impressive work.The ultimate guide to recognizing, coping with, and overcoming chronic infection.Lyme Disease is a substantial problem. While the CDC reported 427,000 new cases in 2017 based on surveillance criteria, actual numbers based on clinical diagnosis put that number at over one million. It is now well accepted that 10 to 20 percent of these cases go on to become a chronic illness, and these numbers don't even include those people who became chronically ill without ever witnessing a tick attachment or a bulls-eye rash. In other words, hundreds of thousands of people develop a chronic illness every year.This is why Dr. Dan Kinderlehrer’s book is so important and timely and has the potential to help millions who are victims of this epidemic. His integrative approach offers the most up-to-date and comprehensive plan available for treating and beating this disease. It will discuss brand new treatments such as disulfiram, which is being hailed as a major breakthrough, as well as the use of cannabis to treat pain and anxiety, among other developments in the field. With the staggering growth we are seeing in numbers of people afflicted, this book becomes more important every day.Kinderhlehrer is in a unique position to write this book. After completing a residency in Internal Medicine in 1979, he opened one of the first practices in the US in what was then called Holistic Medicine. After becoming an expert in nutrition and environmental illness, he became ill himself with Lyme disease complex. His long road to recovery has given him insights into what patients are going through; his background in internal medicine trained him to understand the complexities of his multi-systemic illness; his knowledge of environmental illness has enabled him to evaluate immune dysregulation; and his study of energetic medicine, spiritual alignment, and healing from trauma has yielded insights into how to help patients shift their belief systems to being well.Recovery from Lyme Disease is by far the most thorough book available on Lyme Disease Complex. It will provide patients with information that will guide them on their healing journeys, as well as supplying doctors with instruction on appropriate diagnosis and treatment approaches.

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"There is a romantic, nostalgic, pleasantly melancholy feeling to old cemeteries that is hard to define but easy to experience. Perhaps it is because we can feel the direct link to our past that no history book, no movie, no historical fantasy can ever convey. These stones and these unkempt grounds are the hard evidence of lives that came before us. Once, these people lived and breathed, loved, worked, fought, hoped and despaired, and experienced their triumphs and failures just as we do today. And, although we seldom care to acknowledge it, we will inevitably go where they have gone."-from the Preface For the many people who enjoy walking through old cemeteries, exploring forgotten and overgrown graveyards, and reading the names, dates, and epitaphs of the dead, the Chesapeake Bay region offers a rich assortment of final resting places, many dating back to the early 1600s. From Williamsburg to Havre de Grace, it is not uncommon to see a number of the living wandering among the markers of the dead. Some are genealogists and historians, others come in search of quietude and a tangible connection to the past. In The Chesapeake Book of the Dead, Helen Chappell and photographer Starke Jett survey this rich legacy, from the vast and imposing Arlington National Cemetery to lone graves so modest as to have been lost almost as soon as they were dug. Chappell and Jett visit graveyards of the famous and the obscure, wander through cemeteries dotted with both elaborate funerary and simple, weather-beaten headstones, and discover epitaphs that range from the literary to the amusing to the poignant. As old grave sites disappear under developers' bulldozers, through neglect, and at the hands of unscrupulous headstone collectors, this remarkable book offers a unique and elegiac look at our past and its tales of love and tragedy. Among the cemeteries explored are Southeast Washington's Congressional Cemetery (posthumous home to composer John Philip Sousa, FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, pioneering feminist and muckraking journalist Anne Royall, and Choctaw chief and notable military tactician Pushmataha); Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery (built in the 1830s as Baltimore's first sylvan graveyard); and Westminster Burying Ground in downtown Baltimore. At Westminster lies the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, which a mysterious figure visits each year on Poe's birthday to leave roses and a bottle of brandy. The book also describes the final resting places for such celebrities as Dorothy Parker (Chappell located her ashes at the NAACP headquarters in Baltimore), F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (buried in Rockville at Scott's wish, because, he insisted, "I belong here," in Maryland, "where everything is civilized and gay and rotted and polite"), and cosmopolitan actress Tallulah Bankhead (interred in a plot her sister provided near Chestertown). Included throughout this fascinating book are essays on mourning fashion and deathbed performances, graveyard ghost stories, discussions of efforts to save historic cemeteries, and notes from the diary of a nineteenth-century doctor who today is buried in Rising Sun Cemetery alongside many of his patients. Chappell's lively prose, accompanied by Jett's haunting black-and-white photographs, will delight all those drawn to the seclusion, peacefulness, and melancholy of old graveyards. Jacket illustration: Lower Hooper's Island, Maryland

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A young man discovers a family secret that turns his world upside down in this dark, emotive, shocking psychological thriller by number-one bestselling author Michael J. Malone.‘A tense, immersive thriller that kept me guessing’ Ian Rankin, author of A Song for the Dark Times‘Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected, with the skill to keep things grounded. So much so, that the reader can picture themselves in the very circumstances described. Superb storytelling from a master of his craft’ Herald Scotland‘Beautiful, lyrical prose takes the reader through a perfectly constructed, often harrowing tale’ Denzil Meyrick, author of For Any Other Truth_________________John Docherty’s mother has just been taken into a nursing home following a massive stroke and she’s unlikely to be able to live independently again.With no other option than to sell the family home, John sets about packing up everything in the house. In sifting through the detritus of his family’s past he’s forced to revisit, and revise his childhood.For in a box, in the attic, he finds undeniable truth that he had a brother who disappeared when he himself was only a toddler. A brother no one ever mentioned. A brother he knew absolutely nothing about. A discovery that sets John on a journey from which he may never recover.For sometimes in that space where memory should reside there is nothing but silence, smoke and ash. And in the absence of truth, in the absence of a miracle, we turn to prayer. And to violence.Shocking, chilling and heartbreakingly emotive, In the Absence of Miracles is domestic noir at its most powerful, and a sensitively wrought portrait of a family whose shameful lies hide the very darkest of secrets._________________‘With each turn of the page, a more shocking detail is revealed and some of the people John thought might help him are not who they seem … The domestic noir tale is one that many families will be able to relate to … There is barely enough time to catch your’ Scotsman‘Challenging and emotional, In the Absence of Miracles enthrals as it corkscrews to a shocking, yet ultimately rewarding end’ LoveReading‘Malone’s latest is an unsettling, multi-layered and expertly paced domestic noir drama that delves into one family’s dark secrets, shame and lies’ CultureFly‘Malone is a poet, there are wonderful lyrical passages here and very skilful storytelling. Some issues are not spoken about enough, Malone raises a couple of those issues and sensitively but realistically addresses them…’ New Books Magazine‘Engrossing, hard-hitting – even shocking – with a light poetic frosting. Another superb read!’ Douglas Skelton, author of A Rattle of Bones‘A chilling tale of secrets, lies and the ultimate betrayal’ Theresa Talbot, author of The Quiet Ones‘Emotional. Brave. Dark. Raw. Utterly beautiful’ Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human’A breathtakingly good book; powerful yet tender and an emotional master class in how to write about harrowing and difficult issues. An absolute must-read’ Hair Past a Freckle‘A very emotional and devastating read … I felt richer for having read it’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews

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Vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker returns to South Africa to testify to Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recounting the horrifying events that led to his exile, years earlier … The addictive, thought-provoking, searingly emotive next instalment in the critically acclaimed Claymore Straker series… ‘A gripping, page-turning thriller that is overflowing with substance to go along with Hardisty’s atmospheric prose and strong narrative style’ Craig Sisterson, Mystery Magazine ‘A solid, meaty thriller – Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child ‘The author’s deep knowledge of the settings never slows down the non-stop action, with distant echoes of a more moral-minded Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne’ Maxim Jakubowski ____________________ Fresh from events in Yemen and Cyprus, vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker returns to South Africa, seeking absolution for the sins of his past. Over four days, he testifies to Desmond Tutu’s newly established Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recounting the shattering events that led to his dishonourable discharge and exile, fifteen years earlier. It was 1980. The height of the Cold War. Clay is a young paratrooper in the South African Army, fighting in Angola against the Communist insurgency that threatens to topple the White Apartheid regime. On a patrol deep inside Angola, Clay, and his best friend, Eben Barstow, find themselves enmeshed in a tangled conspiracy that threatens everything they have been taught to believe about war, and the sacrifices that they, and their brothers in arms, are expected to make. Witness and unwitting accomplice to an act of shocking brutality, Clay changes allegiance and finds himself labelled a deserter and accused of high treason, setting him on a journey into the dark, twisted heart of institutionalised hatred, from which no one will emerge unscathed… Exploring true events from one of the most hateful chapters in South African history, Reconciliation for the Dead is a shocking, explosive and gripping thriller from one finest writers in contemporary crime fiction. ____________________ Praise for Paul E. Hardisty 'This is a remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places, as well as frequent scenes of violent action, all come alive on the page...’ Jessica Mann, Literary Review ‘A trenchant and engaging thriller that unravels this mysterious land in cool, precise sentences’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald ‘Laces the thrills and spills with enough moral indignation to give the book heft … excellent’ Jake Kerridge, Telegraph ‘A thriller of the highest quality, with the potential to one day stand in the company of such luminaries as Bond and Bourne’ Live Many Lives ‘A big, powerful, sophisticated and page-turning thriller – thought-provoking and prescient' Eve Seymour 'The writing at times is poetic, at other times filled with tension in a narrative complete with well delineated characters and several shocks. Highly Recommended’ Shots Mag ‘Gripping and exciting … the quality of Hardisty’s writing and the underlying truth of his plots sets this above many other thrillers’ West Australian ‘A stormer of a thriller, vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’ Peter James ‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly STARRED review ‘A page-turning adventure that grabs you from the first page and won’t let go’ Edward Wilson

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Is it possible to think like a scientist and yet have the faith of a Christian? Although many Westerners might say no, there are also many critically minded individuals who entertain what John Polkinghorne calls a "wistful wariness" toward religion--they feel unable to accept religion on rational grounds yet cannot dismiss it completely. Polkinghorne, both a particle physicist and Anglican priest, here explores just what rational grounds there could be for Christian beliefs, maintaining that the quest for motivated understanding is a concern shared by scientists and religious thinkers alike. Anyone who assumes that religion is based on unquestioning certainties, or that it need not take into account empirical knowledge, will be challenged by Polkinghorne's bottom-up examination of Christian beliefs about events ranging from creation to the resurrection. The author organizes his inquiry around the Nicene Creed, an early statement that continues to summarize Christian beliefs. He applies to each of its tenets the question, "What is the evidence that makes you think this might be true?" The evidence Polkinghorne weighs includes the Hebrew and Christian scriptures--their historical contexts and the possible motivations for their having been written--scientific theories, and human self-consciousness as revealed in literary, philosophical, and psychological works. He begins with the words, "We believe," and presents understandings of the nature of humanity, showing, for example, that Cartesian theory, evolution, and natural selection do not tell the entire story of what humans are about, especially in light of many sources that attest to our spirituality. Moving through the Creed, Polkinghorne considers the concept of divinity and God as creator in discussions that cover the Theory of Everything, the Big Bang Theory, and the possibility of divine presence within reality so that God is not simply an outside observer. Chapters on Jesus analyze the different ways events are described in the Gospels and the way motivation for belief is conveyed--for example, how do these writings explain why a young man killed in public disgrace could inspire a following, when other major world religious leaders lived to become highly revered elders in their communities? "Faith seeking understanding" is, according to Polkinghorne, like the scientific quest. Both are journeys of intellectual discovery in which those who survey experience from an initially chosen point of view must be open to correction in the light of further experience. "Religion," he writes, "has long known that ultimately every human image of God proves to be an inadequate idol." The Faith of a Physicist, based on the prestigious 1993 Gifford Lectures, delivers a powerful message to scientists and theologians, theists and atheists alike. Originally published in 1994. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

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"Strong debut . . . this nuanced portrait of the state of American Judaism proffers a cogent vision of how to revitalize the faith." --Publisher's Weekly Why are religious organizations on the decline? What changes have caused many of them to lose touch with modern spiritual needs? What does it take to remain relevant in today's world? Rabbis Joshua Stanton and Benjamin Spratt take on these and other critical questions facing religion today. And they have answers that are frank and yet surprisingly upbeat.Nearly every facet of American Jewish life--and of American religious life in general--faces both disruption and great prospects for renewal. In every corner of our community, Jewish identity, wisdom, ritual, and power are being remixed and reimagined. As centralized authority declines, American Judaism moves and grows in a multitude of directions. As technology reduces the importance of geographic boundaries, new opportunities for connection and new modes of exercising power emerge. New mixtures of ancient Jewish practice and modern needs are beginning to shape the renewal of American Judaism, widening access to Jewish wisdom and ritual, transforming Jewish consumers into Jewish co-creators, and building new networks of Jewish belonging.The initial purposes that inspired much of the American Jewish infrastructure are now falling victim to their own success. An emphasis on nostalgia and authenticity encourages us to mythologize the past and narrow our awareness of the present. A focus on buildings and centralized power by much of American Judaism reflects the realities of a century ago.In understanding what keeps these organizations mired in the past, we can unearth a new purpose to unify the American Diaspora and guide it toward a new golden age. The Foreword by Rev. Kaji Dousa, Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church, asks what a Black pastor can add to the work of two white rabbis, and the answer is that "cherished thinking needs a hard look everywhere. Particularly as we rightly orient our resources to protecting the good, to eliminating poverty that need not exist, to eradicating the hatred that threatens the very existence of our people--we need to look, together. Blacks and Jews and those living in the intersections therein will only survive and thrive with the survival and thriving of each other. So, of course, it makes sense that we will awaken, together."The Afterword by Dr. Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core cites the story of Rabbi Akiva, who "did not mourn when he saw the ruins of the Temple but rather was delighted. 'We always knew these stones must come down. In order to move forward, this had to fall apart first. Now we can begin.' All of our religions have history and theology like this. I think about the emergence of everything from Catholic orders to Sufi tariqas--renewal movements that changed the map of entire religions. We are at that same point again. Rabbis Stanton and Spratt propose we meet the moment with the generosity and power that are at the heart of all our religions. Their work gives me confidence that we can."

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***Unmissable, hilarious and kind, this is the first novel from Kathryn Wallace, who blogs as I Know, I Need to Stop Talking***"SAM! AVA! Get downstairs, NOW. Have you done your TEETH? HAIR? SHOES? Come on, come on, come on, we're going to be bastarding late again. No, I haven't seen Lego Optimus Prime, and nor do I give a shit about his whereabouts. Sam, will you stop winding your sister up and take this model of the Shard that I painstakingly sat up and created for you last night so that I wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. I mean, so that you wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. No, it doesn't smell of 'dirty wine'. Well, maybe it does a little bit. Look, Sam, I haven't got time to argue. Just hold your nose and get in the car, okay? AVA! TEETH! HAIR! SHOES!" Gemma is only just holding it together - she's a single parent, she's turning 40 and her seven-year-old daughter has drawn a cruelly accurate picture which locates Gemma's boobs somewhere around her knees. So when her new next-door neighbour, Becky, suggests that Gemma should start dating again, it takes a lot of self-control not to laugh in her face. But Becky is very persuasive and before long Gemma finds herself juggling a full-time job, the increasingly insane demands of the school mums' Facebook group and the tricky etiquette of a new dating world. Not only that, but Gemma has to manage her attraction to her daughter's teacher, Tom, who has swapped his life in the City for teaching thirty six to seven year olds spelling, grammar, basic fractions - and why it's not ok to call your classmate a stinky poo-bum...It's going to be a long year - and one in which Gemma and Becky will learn a really crucial lesson: that in the end, being a good parent is just about being good enough.Readers love this hilarious, fast paced slice of family life:***** Utterly hysterical - NetGalley Reader***** Brilliant... Funny, touching and modern... just amazing - NetGalley Reader***** I have been a mum at the school gates and the observations in this book are spot on. I shall be recommending it to all the school mums I know - NetGalley Reader**** A perfect read to snort with laughter over whilst lying in a bath with a glass of bubbles (if you can get the kids to stay out of the bathroom for long enough)! - NetGalley Reader**** Kathryn Wallace has Absolutely Smashed It with this novel. I loved it and couldn't put it down... had me properly laughing out loud several times - NetGalley Reader**** This will make you giggle about life as a parent where we are all spinning plates of different sizes and at different speeds. I would recommend wholeheartedly to fellow friends who are also spinning their own plates! - NetGalley Reader***** A hilariously, honest, open, recognisable and highly relatable story - NetGalley Reader***** A light hearted but honest look at mummies, yummy mummies and can't quite manage everything mummies - NetGalley Reader

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Marco Polo Pocket Guide Hong Kong: the Travel Guide with Insider Tips. Explore Hong Kong with this handy, pocket-sized, authoritative guide, packed with Insider Tips. Discover boutique hotels, authentic restaurants, the city's trendiest places, and get tips on shopping and what to do on a limited budget. There are plenty of ideas for travel with kids, and a summary of all the festivals and events that take place. Let Marco Polo show you all this incredible city has to offer... In Hong Kong explore the urban canyons, giant shopping centres and lively markets. Eating dim sum in a teahouse and taking the tram up the Peak are just as much part of the programme as an evening laser show in the harbour, an excursion to the New Territories or lazing on the beach. Enjoy an excursion to Macau where you can immerse yourself in a world of colonial buildings and casino hotels and the Macanese cuisine full of unique delicacies. This is Hong Kong! Your Marco Polo Hong Kong Pocket Guide includes: Insider Tips - we show you the hidden gems and little known secrets that offer a real insight into the city where dragons breathe fire, where you can enjoy a lively lunch on Sundays and where you might like to head for a good night out. Best of - find the best things to do for free, the best `only in' Hong Kong experiences, the best things to do if it rains and the best places to relax and spoil yourself. Sightseeing - all of the top sights are organised by areas of the city so you can easily plan your stay. Discovery Tours - specially tailored tours will get you to the heart of Hong Kong. Experience Hong Kong and Macau's unique charm, hand-picked restaurants and the best local activities with these personal tours. Hong Kong in full-colour - Marco Polo Pocket Guide Hong Kong includes full-colour photos throughout the guide bringing the city to life offering you a real taste of what you can see and enjoy on your trip. Touring App - new for 2018, you can download any of the Discovery Tours to your smartphone, complete with the detailed route description and map exactly as featured in the guide, free of charge. The maps can be used offline too, so no roaming charges. The perfect navigational tool with distance indicators and landmarks highlighting the correct direction to travel in as well as GPS coordinates along the way. Enjoy stress-free sightseeing and never get lost again! Street Atlas and pull-out map - we've included a detailed street atlas and a handy, pull-out map so you can pop the guide in your bag for a full-on sightseeing day or head out with just the map to enjoy your Discovery Tour. Useful Cantonese phrases - the essential words and phrases are included to help you get by. Trust Marco Polo Pocket Guide Hong Kong to show you around this fabulous city. The comprehensive coverage and unique insights will ensure you experience everything Hong Kong has to offer and more. The special tips, personal insights and unusual experiences will help you make the most of your trip - just arrive and enjoy.

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When a police investigator is killed execution-style and Blix’s own daughter is targeted by the killer, he makes a dangerous decision, which could cost him everything. Blix & Ramm are back in a breathless, emotive thriller by two of Norway’s finest crime writers…‘Superb Nordic noir. Dark, intricate and extremely compelling. Contemporary Scandinavian fiction at its best’ Will Dean‘The most exciting yet’ The Times‘Blends a gripping storytelling structure with thrilling tension and heartfelt moments … if you’re a fan of writers like Lars Kepler, Stefan Ahnhem or Søren Sveistrup, you won’t want to miss this’ Crime by the Book––––––––––––––––––––When police investigator Sofia Kovic uncovers a startling connection between several Oslo murder cases, she attempts to contact her closest superior, Alexander Blix before involving anyone else in the department. But before Blix has time to return her call, Kovic is shot and killed in her own home – execution style. And in the apartment below, Blix’s daughter Iselin narrowly escapes becoming the killer’s next victim.Four days later, Blix and online crime journalist Emma Ramm are locked inside an interrogation room, facing the National Criminal Investigation Service. Blix has shot and killed a man, and Ramm saw it all happen. As Iselin’s life hangs in the balance, under-fire Blix no longer knows who he can trust … and he’s not even certain that he’s killed the right man…Two of Nordic Noir’s most brilliant writers return with the explosive, staggeringly accomplished, emotive third instalment in the international, bestselling Blix & Ramm series … and it will take your breath away.––––––––––––––––––––––––‘Short chapters, shifts in focus, and rapid changes in time frames kept me on my toes and high alert … The storytelling is just superb’ LoveReading‘Devilishly complex’ Publishers Weekly'An exercise in literary tag-teaming from two of Norway's biggest crime writers with a bold new take...’ Sunday Times ‘Hands down, the best book in the series so far and it will satisfy even the most demanding readers’ Tap the Line‘One of those jaw-dropping “what did you just do” kind of conclusions that will leave fans of the series reeling’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews‘Intense, dark, emotional and utterly outstanding!’ Karen ColePraise for the Blix & Ramm series'Grim, gory and filled with plenty of dark twists ... There's definitely a Scandinavian chill in the air with this fascinating read' Sun'Alongside Jo Nesbo's Knife, Smoke Screen is this summer's most anticipated read, and it doesn't disappoint' Tvedestrandsposten, Norway‘Masterly … surprises or shifts in subtle ways that are pleasing and avoid cliché’ New Books Magazine'A fast-moving, punchy, serial killer investigative novel with a whammy of an ending. If this is the first in the Blix and Ramm series, then here's to many more!' LoveReading'Now what happens when you put two of the most distinguished writers of Nordic noir in tandem? Death Deserved by Thomas Enger and Jørn Lier Horst suggests it was a propitious publishing move; a ruthless killer is pursued by a tenacious celebrity blogger and a damaged detective' Financial Times For fans of Will Dean, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Ragnar Jónasson, Harlan Coben, Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir and Katrine Engber

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The 25-year-old case of a missing girl sees Varg Veum dig deep into the past to find her kidnapper, as the secrets and lies of a tiny community threaten everything … Gunnar Staalesen’s award-winning, international bestselling Varg Veum series continues in this chilling Nordic Noir thriller. ***WINNER of the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year*** 'Mature and captivating’ Herald Scotland ‘One of the finest Nordic novelists – in the tradition of Henning Mankell’ Barry Forshaw, Independent ‘Masterful pacing’ Publishers Weekly _________________ September 1977. Mette Misvær, a three-year-old girl disappears without trace from the sandpit outside her home. Her tiny, close middle-class community in the tranquil suburb of Nordas is devastated, but their enquiries and the police produce nothing. Curtains twitch, suspicions are raised, but Mette is never found. Almost 25 years later, as the expiry date for the statute of limitations draws near, Mette’s mother approaches PI Varg Veum, in a last, desperate attempt to find out what happened to her daughter. As Veum starts to dig, he uncovers an intricate web of secrets, lies and shocking events that have been methodically concealed. When another brutal incident takes place, a pattern begins to emerge… Shocking, unsettling and full of extraordinary twists and turns, Where Roses Never Die reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers. _________________ Praise for Gunnar Staalesen 'There is a world-weary existential sadness that hangs over his central detective. The prose is stripped back and simple … deep emotion bubbling under the surface – the real turmoil of the characters’ lives just under the surface for the reader to intuit, rather than have it spelled out for them’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue ‘Gunnar Staalesen is one of my very favourite Scandinavian authors. Operating out of Bergen in Norway, his private eye, Varg Veum, is a complex but engaging anti-hero. Varg means “wolf ” in Norwegian, and this is a series with very sharp teeth’ Ian Rankin ‘Staalesen continually reminds us he is one of the finest of Nordic novelists’ Financial Times ‘Staalesen does a masterful job of exposing the worst of Norwegian society in this highly disturbing entry’ Publishers Weekly 'The Varg Veum series is more concerned with character and motivation than spectacle, and it’s in the quieter scenes that the real drama lies’ Herald Scotland 'Every inch the equal of his Nordic confreres Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbo' Independent ‘With an expositional style that is all but invisible, Staalesen masterfully compels us from the first pages … If you’re a fan of Varg Veum, this is not to be missed, and if you’re new to the series, this is one of the best ones. You’re encouraged to jump right in, even if the Norwegian names can be a bit confusing to follow’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘With short, smart, darkly punchy chapters Wolves at the Door is a provocative and gripping read’ LoveReading ‘Haunting, dark and totally noir, a great read’ New Books Magazine ‘An upmarket Philip Marlowe’ Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller ‘Razor-edged Scandinavian crime fiction at its finest’ Quentin Bates

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T.M. LOGAN'S LATEST GRIPPING THRILLER, THE DREAM HOME, IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER IN HARDBACK, EBOOK, AND AUDIO.THE GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM T.M. LOGAN, MASTER OF THE UP-ALL-NIGHT THRILLERFramed for murder. Now she's free . . . A woman attends a funeral, standing in the shadows and watching in agony as her sons grieve. But she is unable to comfort them - or reveal her secret.A decade earlier, Heather gets her children ready for bed and awaits the return of her husband Liam, little realising that this is the last night they will spend together as a family. Because tomorrow she will be accused of Liam's murder.Ten years ago Heather lost everything. Now she will stop at nothing to clear her name - and to get her children back . . .Praise for THE MOTHER:'The Mother is a tense and compelling thriller that demands to be read in one sitting, with a final twist that will make you gasp . . . Logan belongs in the top echelons of British thriller writers' Sunday Express'I ripped through The Mother in a day, my heart in my mouth the entire time. Superbly plotted and packed full of danger, this is T.M. Logan's best, most adrenaline-fuelled thriller yet' Louise Candlish'A heart-pounding read that kept me gripped from start to finish' Sarah Pearse'An irresistible new thriller . . . Logan has devised an intricate plot of shifting loyalties and duelling timelines, but the real triumph in The Mother is that fierce, flawed title character. She's a mother like no other' A.J. Finn, International bestselling author of The Woman in the Window'A heart-stopping, twisting, unmissable thrill-ride. The Mother kept me glued to my seat and guessing until the very end. No one does it better than T.M. Logan' Chris Whitaker 'Sharply written and deeply emotive, The Mother is a gripping thriller that kept me turning the pages late into the night. This is T.M.Logan at his finest' Lucy Clarke'T.M. Logan is at the top of his game - The Mother is a propulsive novel of secrets, heartbreaking betrayal, and what lengths an individual goes to put 'family first'' L.V. Matthews'Unbearably tense from the very first chapter, and constantly shocking; T.M. Logan is a master of misdirection' Sharon Bolton'A true single-sitting read, The Mother is the best yet from the master of the heartbreaking, heart-pounding, head-spinning thriller' Ellery Lloyd, author of PEOPLE LIKE HER'A propulsive, unrelentingly compelling thriller' B. P Walter, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE DINNER GUEST'T.M. Logan takes you an emotional rollercoaster with his latest unputdownable thriller. He just gets better and better' Heidi Perks'Nobody does it better than T. M. Logan - he's the master of the addictive thriller!' My Weekly'Part mystery, part revenge story, 100% enthralling' Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time'A superbly crafted thriller about a woman reclaiming her life and past after a murder conviction. She will stop at nothing to clear her name and nothing will stop you turning the pages of this gripping read until the satisfying finale. Engrossing' Olivia Kiernan*Sunday Times bestseller - Sunday 12th March 2023*

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Sam Bitka, a naval reserve officer, is recalled to wartime service and soon earns a reputation for aggressive tactics and insufficient deference to his academy-graduated superiors. His latest run-in with authority earns him a transfer to command of an armed transport, USS Cam Ranh Bay. When a mysterious alien probe materializes from Jump Space and remotely reprograms The Bay's star drive, Sam and his crew begin an involuntary voyage that takes them three thousand light years out of known space, across the galactic rift to the Sagittarius Spiral Arm, and into the heart of an ancient, previously unknown civilization—the first encountered by Humans and the other five races of the Cottohazz—Stellar Commonwealth—in over a century. The genetically altered immortals known as The Guardians, a race so old they do not remember their own origins, soon turn murderously violent. Now Sam and his crew must elude capture by the Guardians, find some means of reprograming their own star drive, and then return to the Cottohazz with the news of a powerful new civilization bent on their destruction. But they may also be carrying the secrets of the origin of their own star drive and of the path to immortality. Praise for Chain of Command: “Chadwick’s heavy hitter succeeds at teeth-gritting action scenes, deep psychological portraits of diverse characters and societies, and abundant puzzles and mysteries. All . . . mixed in seamlessly with the vivid tragedies of war and balanced with dark humor.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review ". . . strong characterization and the briskness of the plot should please. Fans of military sf and of Chadwick, in particular, should give it a look."—Booklist "Chain of Command is very smartly put together . . . Chadwick gets the details right, whether he's talking about the effects of prolonged weightlessness or the intricacies of geo and interstellar politics and economics . . . a solid piece of Mil-SF writing that pulls from many historical sources and manages to convey a lot of what the Surface Navy is like. . . . It isn't the steel hulls that make the navy tough, it's the sailors that crew them."—SFRevue About Come the Revolution: “[A]dventure, family secrets and humor. . . . The plot is as hard as the science Chadwick uses. . . . [E]ngages readers. First-rate science fiction; it moves at a fast pace throughout.”—The Galveston County Daily News "Chadwick offers an exciting military SF story set on the Varoki home planet of Hazz’Akato in his follow up to How Dark the World Becomes . . . Chadwick, a leading designer of military and science-fiction board- and role-playing games, knows his way around a battlefield . . . eccentric cohorts are entertaining, and a few surprises guarantee that readers will be seeing more of this series."—Booklist "This sequel to How Dark the World Becomes is a fast-paced, action-packed sf adventure. Readers new to Chadwick’s series will be able to start here without too much trouble; essential background information is given, and the author leaps straight into an original story set two years after the previous entry.”—Library Journal About How Dark the World Becomes: “How Dark the World Becomes is a crackling debut novel that speaks of great things to come! It's whip-smart, lightning-fast and character-driven—in short it has everything required to be totally satisfying. Highly recommended." —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Assassin’s Code “. . . [a] far off, hard scrabble intergalactic underworld . . . fast-paced intergalactic adventure full of far-flung alien intrigue.”—Astroguyz " . . . thrilling space adventure . . . I was reminded of Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict novels and Mark L. Van Name's Jon & Lobo adventures."—SFCrowsnest

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Frog princes, VW buses, and big bad wolves—these are the sorts of subjects that Heather Ross depicts on the fabrics she designs, which the sewing and quilting communities feverishly collect (with many fabrics going for huge sums on eBay once they sell out at traditional retail outlets). In Heather Ross Prints, a book-and-DVD package, Ross shares reproducible artwork for more than 50 of her most popular prints. She provides step-by-step instructions for 20 craft projects using the prints on the DVD—everything from sea turtle stationery to a shower curtain covered with swirling mermaids. Crafters can use the artwork on the DVD as they wish, printing on fabric, paper, or whatever surface they choose. Plus, Ross teaches her process for designing fabric using Photoshop—a boon to anyone who has ever dreamed of following in her footsteps. Praise for Heather Ross Prints: “Wow. I get so excited flipping through page after page of amazing craft projects.” —Babble.com “Crafters who like Ross’s aesthetic will appreciate her generous approach to sharing her art, as well as the creative ideas for incorporating unique, custom-made designs into their home’s décor.” —Library Journal “Ross’s ‘Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Digital Designs in Photoshop’ is terrific, and will have you feeling creative and confident in no time. Not only will you know how to use the digital art on the DVD, you'll learn how to create your own!” —Scrapbooking & Beyond magazine “The resources and ideas in this book will make any fabric-holic’s head just explode. So refreshing for an artist to offer up her designs and allow you to PLAY!” —Generation Q Magazine “Heather Ross brings you to a magical place. Her illustrations immediately transport you to a dream world filled with unicorns, flowers and gnomes.” —Babble.com “Nothing is more fulfilling than making things by hand for your baby’s nursery. But what to make? The answer to that question lies inside Heather Ross Prints, the latest craft book by celebrated designer Heather Ross. It’s filled with highly original projects that will bring the handmade stamp of approval to your home.” —DisneyBaby.com “The most interesting section of the book reveals Heather’s step-by-step process of creating designs in Photoshop. With screenshots of the entire process, it is quite informative to snoop over her shoulder and see a scanned pencil sketch turn into a wonderful illustration and pattern design. For me, this section is the reason to purchase the book.” —Uppercase magazine “The last section of the book, titled “Resources,” would more aptly be called “Free Awesomeness.” . . . Craft books are so plentiful these days that it can be hard to stand out from the pack, but Heather Ross Prints is, quite simply, a game changer.” —Apartment Therapy “Heather Ross Prints includes cheerful and enchanting projects for interior decoration, small gifts and garments that are an inexpensive, easy and exciting way to introduce yourself to crafts or delve into new projects if you’re a DIY veteran.” —Eco Salon “Flipping through gave me ideas I want to try….” —DesignMom.com “Most crafters will admit to elbowing someone out of the way at the fabric store to score the last yard of Heather Ross fabric. Guilty? Then you know why sewers and printmakers alike are going crazy for Heather’s new book, Heather Ross Prints —MarthaStewartLiving.com “What really makes the book worth buying is her willingness to walk you step by step through the process of designing and having your own fabric printed.” —Santa Cruz Sentinel

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Swinging from South Africa to England: one woman’s hunt for her birth mother in an all-too-believable near future in which an antibiotic crisis has decimated the population. A prescient, thrilling debut. ‘Combines the excitement of a medical thriller à la Michael Crichton with sensitive characterisation and social insight in a timely debut novel all the more remarkable for being conceived and written before the current pandemic’ Guardian ‘STUNNING and terrifying … The Waiting Rooms wrenches your heart in every way possible, but written with such humanity and emotion’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Chillingly close to reality, this gripping thriller brims with authenticity … a captivating, accomplished and timely debut from an author to watch’ Adam Hamdy ________________ Decades of spiralling drug resistance have unleashed a global antibiotic crisis. Ordinary infections are untreatable, and a scratch from a pet can kill. A sacrifice is required to keep the majority safe: no one over seventy is allowed new antibiotics. The elderly are sent to hospitals nicknamed ‘The Waiting Rooms’ … hospitals where no one ever gets well. Twenty years after the crisis takes hold, Kate begins a search for her birth mother, armed only with her name and her age. As Kate unearths disturbing facts about her mother’s past, she puts her family in danger and risks losing everything. Because Kate is not the only secret that her mother is hiding. Someone else is looking for her, too. Sweeping from an all-too-real modern Britain to a pre-crisis South Africa, The Waiting Rooms is epic in scope, richly populated with unforgettable characters, and a tense, haunting vision of a future that is only a few mutations away. ________________ ‘Engrossing and eye-opening, with heart-stopping plot twists … a stunning medical thriller set in a terrifying possible future’ Foreword Reviews ‘A touching, gut-wrenching story of family mystery and tragedy … a thriller that punches on two fronts – heart AND mind’ The Sun ‘Gripping and disturbing … the medical research is convincing, the scenarios plausible, and the story is emotionally engaging. This is an incredible debut!’ Gill Paul ‘If the themes are dark and topical, the writing is exquisite. Breath held, I got to the finale with my heart in my mouth. Eve Smith weaves a complex and clever tale, merging countries and timelines; the result is a superb and satisfying novel’ Louise Beech ‘Margaret Atwood is one of my all-time writing heroes and The Handmaid's Tale is probably the best book I’ve ever read. Eve Smith and The Waiting Rooms really do challenge that long-held crown…’ Random Things through My Letterbox ‘Thoroughly engaging … an eye-opening read’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘A novel of our times’ Trip Fiction ‘Haunting, honest and horrifying in its reality … An epic and thrilling read’ Book Literati ‘Stunning dystopian debut. A prescient and alarming tale that seems just a whisper from reality’ Suzy Apsley ‘The Waiting Rooms will certainly distract us from the real world for a few hours and this is the immeasurable value of fiction. It gives hope that, as in Eve Smith’s fictitious world, the possibility of a happy ending still exists’ Die Burger ‘The Waiting Rooms is a seriously impressive debut, a novel that is intuitive and chilling, one that will resonate with all in this current climate’ Swirl & Thread

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A heartbreaking, breathtakingly beautiful love story with an unforgettable tragedy at its heart, from the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of Maria in the Moon and How To Be Brave. ***Shortlisted for the Sapere Books ‘Most Popular Romantic Fiction’ Award at the 2019 RNA Awards*** ***Longlisted for the Polari Prize*** ‘Beech eloquently conveys their feelings and longings and sets atmospheric, vividly drawn scenes that transport the reader from grey and damp England to the searing heat of the lion reserve …The Lion Tamer Who Lost will touch the most hardhearted of readers with its persuasive, well-drawn and memorable characters’ Daily Express 'A devastating, tender and powerful love story, beautifully and bravely told. You will lose your heart to this book. I adored it’ Miranda Dickinson ’Vivid, passionate and exquisitely told, this love story will live on in my heart for a very long time to come. A poignant, surprising and all-consuming read’ Katie Marsh _______________ Be careful what you wish for… Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he wishes he hadn’t… Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined… Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems to be guided by fate. Or is it? What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything? A dark, consuming drama that shifts from Zimbabwe to England, and then back into the past, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a devastatingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart… ‘A stirring novel, beautifully written, reminiscent of the early work of Maggie O’Farrell’ Irish Times ‘Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will love it’ Red Magazine ‘An excruciatingly passionate love story, in its surprising turns and lovely particulars … A beautiful text’ Foreword Reviews ‘This book really got under my skin as a beautiful portrait of love, loss and longing’ Irish Independent 'An incredible, poignant piece of work. Louise Beech had cemented her place as one of Britain’s finest modern storytellers’ John Marrs 'A beautiful, honest and tender love story that I won’t forget for a long time …Their love had me trapped in its spell, their tragic moments had me sobbing like a baby … A triumph’ Fionnuala Kearney ‘A beautifully crafted book’ Carol Lovekin ‘Louise Beech has totally blown me away with her storytelling’ Madeleine Black ‘I adored this beautiful and inspiring book’ Kate Furnivall ‘Already one of my favourites of 2018’ LoveReading ‘Storytelling at its finest. Louise Beech is a beguiling wordsmith. Prepare to be hooked’ Amanda Prowse ‘Digs deep emotionally, but is funny and feel-good, too’ Fiona Mitchell ‘A stunning and very brave book’ Gill Paul ‘The setting alone makes this book worth a read’ S. E. Lynes ‘Louise Beech is a natural-born storyteller with an elegance about her writing that never fails to move me’ Michael J. Malone ‘There are times when you finish reading a book and know that part of it will stay with you always. This will be one of those books’ Claire Allan ‘It put me in mind of John Irving. It’s that feeling of being in the hands of a master storyteller and just trusting him or her so completely’ Laura Pearson

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'I laughed. I cried. I laughed again' Sinéad Moriarty'An enthralling read with . . . so many laughs along the way' Liz Nugent'A funny, poignant and moving read' My WeeklyFrom bestselling Irish writer Anna McPartlin, Waiting for the Miracle is an uplifting novel about how good friends can help you see the funny side of life, even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan and Marian Keyes.2010Caroline can't get pregnant, Janet can't hold a pregnancy, Natalie's sperm donor is a stoner with a bad attitude and Ronnie is, well, no one knows Ronnie's story. When the women meet in an infertility group, they quicklyform a firm - if slightly odd - friendship and their lives begin to change.1976When 16-year-old Catherine's pregnancy is revealed, she's sent to a convent to give birth. Her baby is taken from her, and she re-emerges into the world, down but not out, determined to fight back. She finds work, a home and acceptance with gay hairdresser and fellow outsider and her life begins again.Waiting for the Miracle is story about finding your tribe, at any age. It's about love, loss, friendship andlaughing at yourself. It's about life.'Takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions...you'll be laughing through your tears at the sharp and funny dialogue' NFOP magazinePraise for Anna McPartlin: 'Anna McPartlin's novel is brilliant, funny and immensely moving' Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything'It's such a gorgeous examination of grief while also being honest, hilarious and totally relatable. I LOVED this book!' Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love'When I wasn't reaching for the Kleenex to wipe away a little tear, I was guffawing with laughter - Anna has the gift of being able to make you laugh and sob, and all on a single page.' Claudia Carroll, author of The Women of Primrose Square Readers love Waiting for the Miracle:'Who will have the happy ever after dream and who will settle for the dream never happening? I raced though it in 2 days to find out. I particularly loved the flitting between current day and the character Catherine's story from the past and was eager to see how the 2 would come together. Wrap yourself up in a duvet and start reading. You won't be disappointed.''You will be gripped by both stories and wonder where the book is going ... but it gets better and better.''Loved loved loved it! As always an amazing story with real life issues, read it in 3 days couldn't put it down going to work was a bit of inconvenience lol can't wait for the next one, thanks Anna''Another emotional rollercoaster read about loss, hope, courage & friendship, I was hooked right from the very start, I loved how the story changed between current day and the past with Catherine's story, have your tissues ready.''Didn't want it to end.''McPartlin excels in the one-liner, and finding something to laugh about in the darkest of times.''I do not hesitate to recommend this magnificent book to everyone. Sure to be in my top books of this year.''A story of hope over heartbreak told with Irish humour and charm.''Anna McPartlin has done it again! Another stunning read that ends with me in tears yet also smiling.'

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'In the Research Handbook of Expatriates, Yvonne McNulty and Jan Selmer have created a seminal work that should be on the bookshelf of all social scientists who work in the field of expatriation. More senior scholars will appreciate the ''deep dive'' each chapter takes into the literature, each one acting as a reservoir they can draw from to powerfully inform their future research efforts. Doctoral students and newly minted PhDs will find this book to be especially valuable - the final chapter of the book alone provides inestimable career and ''how-to-publish'' guidance for them in the field of expatriation. The coverage of the history, construct, milieu, research methodologies, and issues is the best I have come across in a single volume in over 30 years of working in the field. In short, this is a monumental contribution to the study of expatriates and global mobility.'- Mark E. Mendenhall, University of Tennessee'McNulty and Selmer's edited volume does a wonderful job of consolidating and integrating everything we know about expatriates and their different types. This long-overdue Handbook, featuring chapters by top researchers, lays a trail for scholars to further advance the study of expatriates.'- Joyce Osland, San Jose State University'McNulty and Selmer's edited book of readings on virtually all aspects of expatriates deserves a prominent place in the library of researchers and practitioners interested in this subject. The Handbook provides a historical overview as well as the latest trends in expatriate studies and concludes with useful guidelines on how to conduct as well as improve the quality of research in this field.'- Rosalie L. Tung, Simon Fraser University, CanadaConstituting a comprehensive and carefully designed collection of contributions, the Research Handbook of Expatriates provides a nuanced and up-to-date discussion of expatriates. Theoretically broad and groundbreaking, it offers important and contemporary insights into emerging areas of research warranting future consideration.Drawing upon a range of perspectives from the field’s most distinguished academics, contributions review the history of the literature in relation to expatriates, from the development of the expatriate construct through to the current state of research on business expatriates. Subsequent chapters progress into detailed examinations of the various types of business expatriates including LGBT, self-initiated expatriates, female assignees, inpatriates, international business travellers and commuters, and millennials. Other themes include expatriate performance, adjustment, expatriates to and from developing countries, global talent management, and expatriates’ safety and security. The Research Handbook also covers expatriates in diverse communities such as education, military, missionary, sports and ‘Aidland’, and provides additional commentaries relating to methodological issues, research with practitioners, case studies, biculturals and ATCKs, and global families. The Research Handbook concludes with publishing advice for PhD and early career researchers.Stimulating insightful new areas of study, this collection is a must read for academics and scholars in the field of expatriate research, international management, global human resource management and business administration. It also offers a wealth of guidance for executives and recruiters along with expatriates and professionals who may expatriate.Contributors: M. Andresen, C. Brewster, L. Care, J.-L. Cerdin, L. Clarke, D.G. Collings, M. Collins, A. Corbin, M. Crowley-Henry, M. Dickmann, H. Dolles, R. Donohue, C. Doss, B. Egilsson, A. Fee, K.L. Fisher, K.J. Hanek, A. Haslberger, T. Hippler, K. Hutchings, M. Isichei, J. Lauring, L. Mäkelä, R. McPhail, S. Michailova, M. Moeller, B. Oberholster

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A clear and concise A-to-Z of keywords that echo our current human rights crisis As millions are forced to leave their nations of origin as a result of political, economic, and environmental peril, rising racism and xenophobia have led to increasingly harsh policies. A mass-mediated political circus obscures both histories of migration and longstanding definitions of words for people on the move, fomenting widespread linguistic confusion. Under this circus tent, there is no regard for history, legal advocacy, or jurisprudence. Yet in a world where the differences between “undocumented migrant” and “asylum seeker” can mean life or death, words have weighty consequences. A timely antidote to this circus, A is for Asylum Seeker reframes key words that describe people on the move. Written to correct the de-meaning of terms by rhetoric and policies based on dehumanization and profitable incarceration, this glossary provides an intersectional and historically grounded consideration of the words deployed in enflamed debate. Skipping some letters of the alphabet while repeating others, thirty terms cover everything from Asylum-seeker to Zero Tolerance Policy. Each entry begins with a contemporary or historical story for illustration and then proceeds to discuss the language politics of the word. The book balances terms affected by current political debates—such as “migrant,” “refugee,” and “illegal alien”—and terms that offer historical context to these controversies, such as “fugitive,” “unhoused,” and “vagrant.” Rendered in both English and Spanish, this book offers a unique perspective on the journeys, histories, challenges, and aspirations of people on the move. Enhancing the book’s utility as an educational and organizing resource, the author provides a list of works for further reading as well as a directory of immigration-advocacy organizations throughout the United States. ***** Un claro y breve abecedario de palabras clave que hacen eco en nuestra crisis humanitaria presente. Mientras millones son forzados de huir de sus naciones de origen debido a peligro político, económico, y ecológico, racismo y xenofobia han llevado a políticas más y más severas. Un circo político en los medios oculta a ambas las historias de inmigración y las definiciones antiguas de palabras para personas en movimiento, creando confusión lingüística amplia. Bajo esta carpa de circo, no hay consideración para historia, defensa legal, o jurisprudencia. Pero en un mundo donde las diferencias entre “migrante indocumentade” y “solicitante de asilo” pueden ser la diferencia entre vida y muerte, palabras tienen consecuencias graves. Un antídoto oportuno a este circo, A de Asilo re-enmarca palabras claves que describen a personas en movimiento. Escrito para corregir la de-significación de términos por retórica y políticas basadas en deshumanización y encarcelación lucrosa, este glosario provee una consideración interseccional e histórica de las palabras usadas en debate inflamado. Brincando a unas letras del alfabeto mientras repite a otras, treinta términos cubren todo desde Asilo a Tolerancia Cero. Cada artículo empieza con una historia contemporánea u histórica para ilustrar, y después discute la política alrededor de la palabra. El libro balancea términos impactados por debates políticos contemporáneos—como “migrante,” “refugiado” y “extranjero ilegal”—y términos que ofrecen contexto histórico a estas controversias, como “fugitivo” “sin casa” y “vagante.” Escrito en inglés y español, este libro ofrece una perspectiva única en las jornadas, historias, retos, y aspiraciones de personas en movimiento. Aumentando la utilidad del libro como un recurso educacional y organizacional, la autora provee una lista de obras para más lectura, igual que un directorio de organizaciones de defensa de inmigrantes a través de los Estados Unidos.

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With more than 60,000 copies sold, this amazing manual has become aclassic in its field--and rightfully so. Nowhere else will youfind--in one book--so much valuable information on achievingsuccess in the mail order business. Dr. Bill Cohen has drawn on hisdecades of experience testing, researching, and constantly refiningthe mail order techniques described in this invaluable guide.Building a Mail Order Business offers a virtual treasury oftechniques and methods guaranteed to work in the real world ofselling through the mail. You'll get practical advice and learntricks of the trade that will get you started quickly, with thefewest missteps and greatest chances for success. Thorough and completely up-to-date, this authoritative guide coversevery aspect of the mail order business, from the basics of gettingstarted to the details of product selection, preparing a marketingplan, copywriting, designing graphics, printing, protectingyourself from competition, telemarketing, and advertising throughmagazines, radio, and television. In addition, a handy appendixlists hundreds of valuable contacts with complete addresses. In this new Fourth Edition, you'll learn the latest trends in mailorder--what works and what doesn't, the most effective look in adsand mailing pieces, how to put together the most attractive offers,and much more. For entrepreneurs, direct marketers, business owners, and otherseager to get into the mail order business, Building a Mail Order Business has proven itself to be anindispensable resource for the ideas, techniques, and expert advicethat will lead to success. All the success secrets of one of America's best-known and mostrespected experts on mail order and direct marketing--Now in a newedition! BUILDING A MAIL ORDER BUSINESS Fourth Edition Complete, authoritative, and now in a new edition, thisbest-selling guide to mail order success covers everything fromgetting your business started to handling legal issues, preparingcopy and graphics, selecting mailing lists, telemarketing, andadvertising in all types of media--an unbeatable source of directmarketing ideas that really work. Here's what the pros have said about previous editions of BillCohen's Building a Mail Order Business: "Dr. Bill Cohen's book thoroughly explores the many facets, andpitfalls, facing the budding mail order entrepreneur."-- Henry R."Pete" Hoke, Jr., Publisher, Direct Marketing "It took a mail order businessman who is also an educator to putdirect mail and mail order guidelines all in one place--and inlanguage we can all understand."--Freeman F. Gosden, Jr.,President, Smith-Hemmings-Gosden, one of the nation's largestdirect marketing advertising agencies "An outstanding primer for our industry. It gives you the nuts andbolts necessary to carry you through almost every aspect of mailorder from the very rudimentary basics to the same techniques usedby the pros."-- Joe Sugarman, JS&A "One of the best books I've ever read on the subject. Ienthusiastically recommend Building a Mail Order Business to anyman or woman who is serious about getting involved in thisfascinating activity."-- E. Joseph Cossman, President, CossmanInternational, Inc., author of How I Made a Million Dollars in MailOrder "An excellent, informative, comprehensive, illustrative workbookthat will help anyone get started making money in the fascinatingfield of mail order. I highly recommend this professional book."--Melvin Powers, mail order entrepreneur "...must reading for the entrepreneur whose mind is on mailorder."-- Paul Muchnick, Chairman, National Mail OrderAssociation "Its good sense and nuts-and-bolts, bottom-line approach make it adelightful guide through the mail order world."-- DM News

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**HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR THE 2021 CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD** She’s a murderer. Everyone knows she killed Stuart Rees – why else would his dead body be found in her shed? So now Tabitha is in prison, awaiting trial. Coming back to the remote coastal village where she grew up was a mistake. She didn’t fit in then, and she doesn’t fit in now. That day is such a blur, she can’t remember clearly what happened. There is something she is missing, something important… She only knows one thing. She is not capable of murder. And the only one she can trust to help her out of this situation is herself. So she must fight. Against the odds. For her life. Beautifully written about prejudice, loneliness and fighting spirit, this new book by Nicci French is shocking, twisty and utterly compelling. Praise for House of Correction: ‘A novel that blissfully plays with two genres: on the one hand an against-the-odds legal thriller à la John Grisham… and on the other a Miss Marple whodunnit set in a Devon village, where the amateur sleuth is herself the prime suspect and has to conduct her investigation from jail’ Sunday Times ‘Nicci French husband-and-wife writing team responsible for some of the UK’s best psychological thrillers have created a gem of a protagonist in Tabitha, who sets out to investigate what happened to herself, from prison… House of Correction allows the readers to puzzle out what happened alongside Tabitha, while cheering her effort’ Observer ‘First-class’ Independent ‘The husband-and-wife team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French… have taken the ingredients of the classic village mystery and transformed them into something up to date and gripping’ Literary Review ‘Gritty and moving – the husband-and-wife team have scored another hit’ Best ‘A twisty and shocking read’ Bella ‘Engrossing… In this clever courtroom drama, Tabitha is on trial for the murder of a neighbour. The evidence against her is strong and due to the medication she takes, she has virtually no memory of what happened, but she’s sure she’s innocent and has to build a case to clear her name’ Good Housekeeping ‘I wanted everything to stop so I could read this book, there was something that grabbed me from the opening… This is a clever, well-crafted novel with twists and turns right until the end… Definitely a favourite read of mine for 2020’ Woman’s Way (Ireland)‘Describing it as a suspenseful prison thriller, or riveting courtroom drama doesn’t do this meticulously written detective novel justice… As well as its finely drawn characters and clever storyline, this is a novel that provokes you into pondering the workings of the wider justice system, police methods and prison life’ Bookanista ‘Great writing, razor-sharp plotting, and powerful characterisation. I was 100 pages in before I even drew breath, and I defy anyone to see the ending coming’ Cara Hunter ‘Part ingenious locked-room mystery. Part you’ve-got-thewrong-person nightmare drama. Part intricate memory game. Yet all seamlessly woven together. French’s best book yet’ A J Finn ‘Clever, compelling, original and twisty. This unputdownable David-and-Goliath story has the flawed, funny, totally unforgettable Tabitha at its heart and I read until the early hours, desperate to know her fate’ Erin Kelly

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An atmospheric dark academia fantasy for fans of The Atlas Six, The Binding, The Hazel Wood and Fourth Wing, set in a world of lunar magic, secret societies and dangerous friendships. Emory is returning to the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magic for one reason: to uncover the secrets behind the night that left her best friend, Romie, and seven other students dead. But Emory has plenty of secrets herself, not least that her healing abilities have been corrupted by a strange, impossible magic, granting her power no one should possess. Turning to the only person she believes she can trust, Emory enlists the help of Romie’s brother Baz – someone already well-versed in the dangers of his own dark Eclipse magic. But when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore – alive – only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths, Emory and Baz are no longer the only ones seeking answers. There's a hidden society at the heart of the school, and they’re attracted to nothing more than they are to power...Praise for Curious Tides:'A world that pulses and breathes. With intricate magic and a mystery that spirals as deep and dark as it can go, Curious Tides is a marvel in atmosphere.' – Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights'Rich, immersive and astonishingly layered—I want to sink into this darkly magical world and never leave.' – Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls'Vividly imagined, beautifully written, and as dark as it is dazzling ­­– Curious Tides will drag you under from the very first page.' – Sarah Underwood, New York Times bestselling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea'A darkly enchanting story that had me turning pages like mad. Gorgeous writing, fascinating characters, and the kind of rich magical lore that dreams are made of. Curious Tides swept me away. I'm obsessed with this world.' – Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn'Curious Tides sucks you in from page one with a fully realized universe that feels lived-in and otherworldly all at once. The story is alive with lore, and it’s impossible not to be transported.' – Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of Strike the Zither'With chewy, intricate worldbuilding; sparkling characters; and thrilling twists, Curious Tides pulled me under, and I never wanted to resurface from its richly imagined depths. An alluring, immersive debut.' – Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic'A beautifully ethereal fantasy that reads like a dream. Filled with beguiling magic and whimsical storytelling, Curious Tides is a reverie I was sad to wake from.' – Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief‘With innovative worldbuilding, multifaceted plotting, and an intersectionally diverse cast boasting nuanced character arcs, Lacelle crafts a lavishly imagined dual-narrative tale that will capture readers like a rip current.’ – Kirkus starred review ‘By combining elements common to fantastical dark academia novels with innovative worldbuilding, multifaceted plotting, and an intersectionally diverse cast boasting nuanced character arcs, Lacelle crafts a lavishly imagined dual-narrative tale that will capture readers like a rip current’ – Publishing Weekly starred review ‘Lacelle's writing is absorbing; the plot is detailed and complicated but everything fits together as neatly and tightly as a puzzle box. Not a word is wasted in this hefty, suspenseful novel as the story, rich with its own mythology, draws the reader in as inexorably as the tide’ – Booklist starred review

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The epic adventure continues . . . Don’t miss this sequel to Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar and the Phantom Rider is the second book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, an unmissable adventure for readers age 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.The Island shall have its revenge . . . Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all? Get ready for more action, unforgettable characters, and mesmerizing world building. And be one of the first to read the third thrilling adventure: Skandar 3 coming in April 2024 – pre-order NOW!ONE OF THE THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF WAS THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023'Epic, unforgettable and endlessly exciting, Steadman’s masterful sequel soars even higher than her debut.' – Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series:'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'SKANDAR soars with magic, adventure, and pulse-pounding fun – the book equivalent of riding a rollercoaster while eating cake with fireworks exploding overhead!' – Andy Sagar, author of the Yesterday Crumb series'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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This is today's most comprehensive, up-to-date business presentation guidebook. It provides easy-to-follow tools and strategies for creating powerful, interactive business presentations. As a professional, your career relies on reaching audiences, convincing them that your message is valuable, then making them remember that message. "Say It With Charts, 4th Edition", walks you through the entire visual presentation process and shows you - step-by-step - how to create compelling, memorable presentations. Business presentation tools have changed tremendously. A chart that once took ten hours - and ten co-workers - to prepare can now be produced by anyone with ten minutes and a computer keyboard. What hasn't changed, however, are the basics behind creating a powerful visual - what to say, why to say it, and how to say it for the most impact."Say It With Charts, 4th Edition", reveals time-tested tips for preparing effective presentations, then shows you how to combine those tips with today's technologies for sharper, stronger visuals. Look to this comprehensive presentation encyclopedia for information on: how to prepare different types of charts - pie, bar, column, line, or dot - and when to use each; hands-on recommendations on lettering size, color choice, appropriate chart types, and more; and, techniques for producing dramatic e-Visuals using animation, scanned images, sound, video, and links to pertinent websites. 'When well-conceived and designed, charts help us communicate more quickly and more clearly than we would if we left the data in tabular form' - From Chapter 1.Business is about communication. Every day, scores of questions must be answered, and each answer must be communicated quickly, completely, and with a minimum of confusion. Time has become our most valuable, irreplaceable commodity, and - in today's rapid fire, ultra-competitive business environment - delays or errors in communicating information are uncalled for, unaffordable...and unacceptable. "Say It With Charts, 4th Edition", shows you how to put your message in visual form and translate information and ideas into persuasive, powerful charts, visuals, and multimedia presentations - holding your audience's attention as you communicate exactly what you want, with no confusion.The newest edition of this bestselling classic covers every important point from previous editions and, in addition, shows you how to use today's digital technologies to create professional-quality, attention-grabbing visuals on your computer screen. Everything you need to know to make your charts and visuals eye-catching and memorable is in these pages, including: commandments for designing successful onscreen visuals; techniques for conveying your messages using visuals and visual metaphors; how to decide when to use a chart - and know when a chart could work against you; graphic representations of ineffective, counter-productive charts - with examples of how they could be improved; time- and money-saving methods to make one presentation template serve multiple audiences; and, hands-on practice projects and exercises to help you grasp each important concept.Over the years, "Say It With Charts" has become the standard guidebook for executives, sales managers, management consultants - all those who want to make their points clearly and concisely, whether speaking directly to a packed conference room or communicating on computer screens across the globe. Now updated for today's technological communications revolution, it will show you how to translate your most compelling data and messages into even more compelling visuals, and hammer home your message every time.

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On the eve of a world war, a forbidden love will blossom in the garden of a stately home, where one young woman will make a choice that will change her life forever… ‘An emotional story of love and strength’ – LIZ FENWICK ‘Beautiful … Had me utterly captivated’ – JENNY ASHCROFT As the storm clouds of war gather, Cordelia seeks refuge in the grounds of her family estate. Handsome landscaper Isaac has recently arrived to tend to the gardens, and the connection between him and Cordelia is as immediate as it is forbidden. Isaac begins to secretly teach her how to cultivate the gardens, so when he and all the young men are called away to war, Cordelia takes over. From the battlefields of Europe, Isaac sends her letters, that give her hope for their future in peacetime. But when these messages abruptly cease, Cordelia must face up to the worst and take her future – and the fate of the garden they both loved – into her own hands… An epic, sweeping tale of love, war and the strength of the human spirit. Fans of Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton will be absolutely gripped by this historical page-turner. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Authors love The Hidden Letters : ‘A beautiful emotional story of love and strength’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ‘Lorna Cook has had me utterly captivated with her latest. The Hidden Letters has it all – heartbreak and redemption, intense love and desperate loss. It's the type of book that first made me fall in love with reading, I adored every sumptuous, atmospheric page, and can't recommend it highly enough.’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Under the Golden Sun ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ Rachel Burton, author of The Secrets of Summer House ‘Magnificent. Broke my heart and put it back together again’ Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House ‘Kept me guessing right up to the last poignant page, I found it difficult to put down and impossible to stop thinking about when I did’ Iona Grey, author of The Glittering Hour ‘Lorna Cook’s lyrical novel transports us back to the last golden summer of innocence. Against the backdrop of a garden so beautifully depicted that I could smell the roses, she leads us through loss, heartbreak and heroism – and shows us that love can triumph over even the greatest adversity.’ Judy Summers, author of The Forgotten Sister ‘A story of heartache and deliverance, love and loss, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written – I could not put it down.’ Louisa Treger, author of Madwoman Readers love The Hidden Letters : ‘Upon leaving those final pages and closing the book … it's like coming home. A feeling of completeness. Of having lived, loved and survived. Everything about Lorna’s tales are just all encompassing, sweeping you away and back to another time far away.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A pleasure to read – I felt quite bereft when I had finished the final page.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A sweeping historical saga about war, duty, family, social change, sacrifice, loss, and unexpected love. The Hidden Letters made me cry, I found it really moving. ‘I really liked the way parts of the story were told through letters. The characters were both like able and believable. Definitely recommended.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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The simple fabric face mask is a key agent in the fight against the global spread of COVID-19. However, beyond its role as a protective covering against coronavirus infection, the face mask is the bearer of powerful symbolic and political power and arouses intense emotions. Adopting an international perspective informed by social theory, The Face Mask in COVID Times: A Sociomaterial Analysis offers an intriguing and original investigation of the social, cultural and historical dimensions of face-masking as a practice in the age of COVID. Rather than Beck’s ‘risk society’, we are now living in a ‘COVID society’, the long-term effects of which have yet to be experienced or imagined. Everything has changed. The COVID crisis has generated novel forms of sociality and new ways of living and moving through space and time. In this new world, the face mask has become a significant object, positioned as one of the key ways people can protect themselves and others from infection with the coronavirus. The face mask is rich with symbolic meaning as well as practical value. In the words of theorist Jane Bennett, the face mask has acquired a new ‘thing-power’ as it is coming together with human bodies in these times of uncertainty, illness and death. The role of the face mask in COVID times has been the subject of debate and dissension, arousing strong feelings. The historical and cultural contexts in which face masks against COVID contagion are worn (or not worn) are important to consider. In some countries, such as Japan and other East Asian nations, face mask wearing has a long tradition. Full or partial facial coverings, such as veiling, is common practice in regions such as the Middle East. In many other countries, including most countries in the Global North, most people, beyond health care workers, have little or no experience of face masks. They have had to learn how to make sense of face masking as a protective practice and how to incorporate face masks into their everyday practices and routines. Face masking practices have become highly political. The USA has witnessed protests against face mask wearing that rest on ‘sovereign individualism’, a notion which is highly specific to the contemporary political climate in that country. Face masks have also been worn to make political statements: bearing anti-racist statements, for example, but also Trump campaign support. Meanwhile, celebrities and influencers have sought to advocate for face mask wearing as part of their branding, while art makers, museums, designers and novelty fashion manufacturers have identified the opportunity to profit from this sudden new market. Face masks have become a fashion item as well as a medical device: both a way of signifying the wearer’s individuality and beliefs and their ethical stance in relation to the need to protect their own and others’ health. The Face Mask in COVID Times: A Sociomaterial Analysis provides a short and accessible analysis of the sociomaterial dimensions of the face mask in the age of COVID-19. The book presents seven short chapters and an epilogue. We bring together sociomaterial theoretical perspectives with compelling examples from public health advice and campaigns, anti-mask activism as well as popular culture (news reports, blog posts, videos, online shopping sites, art works) to illustrate our theoretical points, and use Images to support our analysis.

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‘I'm still very much in shock...I don't even know how to put into words how truly amazing this book was.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader ReviewShe has your back.And may stab you in it.Wealthy, pampered Susan is living the perfect life in leafy Kingston. She’ll never let anyone see the darkness she’s concealing behind the diamonds and rosé.Grace is new to the group, seemingly the perfect wife and mum. Yet no one knows the truth of what’s happening behind closed doors.Loner Natalie hides the pain of her childhood behind a carefully ordered life. But how long can the past stay hidden?Three unlikely friends, brought together for a weekly class run by beautiful, friendly, instructor, Jade.But when Jade goes missing in mysterious circumstances, the group starts to unravel. And as their darkest secrets come to light, it seems that no one can be trusted. Even their closest friends…A heart-in-your-mouth thriller that builds twist after twist, culminating in an unforgettable ending. This shocking, tense and gripping read will delight fans of T.M. Logan, B.A. Paris and Big Little Lies.‘An intriguing and intricately plotted crime story, with so many twists and turns. I defy you to work out the ending.’ Howard Linskey‘Revelations and twists abound, and the characters evoke, by turns, empathy and disgust… with friends like these, who needs enemies?’ Vaseem KhanReaders are loving The Loyal Friend:‘This is now one of my best reads of 2022 so far– I was hooked from the beginning!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'Every time I thought I had everything worked out, the plot took another twist, and the ending blew me away.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘One of the best psychological thrillers ever written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I sailed through this suspense-packed thriller...And the ending? Wow!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘WOW. The plot twists were amazing and the ending was superb.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Secrets, secrets, and more secrets! My mouth hung open at several reveals' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘This is an absolute blockbuster thriller! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'Definitely a book to keep you up reading late, so many twists and turns.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'A novel full of twists, pace, and betrayal, The Loyal Friend asks just how well can you leave your past behind before it catches up with you.' L.V. Matthews, author of The Twins'A dark, twisty tale of toxic friendship where no one can be trusted – a great read.' Catherine Cooper, author of The Chateau'Gripping, bold and incisive...will stay with you long after you've turned the final page' Awais Khan, author of No Honour'An absolutely thrilling ride...and the twist! I thought I had it all figured out, but I was so wrong…' Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods'Suburban jealousies, rivalries and dysfunctional relationships keeping you turning the pages long into the night... the perfect summer read.' Derek Farrell, author of The Danny Bird Mysteries'A tense, riveting read, packed to the rafters with twists and turns that kept me guessing to the final page!' Jane Isaac, author of One Fatal Secret

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‘this was a delight to read…I just can’t recommend it enough. The best romance book I’ve read this year.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Books and BookendsNell’s going back to school… but now she’s learning lessons of the heartReception class teacher Nell Shackleton has a plan. At least, she had until she arrived at her new home of Humblebee Farm, a dilapidated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors. But so what if the roof’s full of holes, the back door’s hanging off and there’s a sheep in the front room? Because sometimes a new beginning means starting at the bottom… right?Xander Scott is one of the youngest headteachers Leyholme Primary School has ever had. But managing over-zealous parents and their semi-feral kids proves a tricky task for shy Xander – as does keeping his mind on the job when his feelings for the new Reception teacher become more than strictly professional…At 43, Nell’s new friend Stevie Madeleine has given up on love. After losing her wife, Stevie’s decided that her four-year-old daughter Milly and cocker spaniel Red are the only girls she needs in her life. That is, until larger-than-life dog-walker Deb arrives on the scene. But will the secrets of Stevie’s past stop her new romance dead in its tracks?Meeting Xander and Stevie brings joy back into Nell’s life – but when old secrets start to surface, there may be some hard lessons to learn for them all…A gorgeously uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy that will delight fans of Milly Johnson, Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.Readers are loving The School of Starting Over!:‘touched my heart on so many levels…should be rated a lot higher than five stars. It is truly heartwarming and perfect.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Little Miss Book Lover 87‘a superb read with a delightful community, fabulous characters and a surprising twist that I definitely didn’t see coming. It is a heartwarming story, a real page turner and a book I highly recommend you read.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Splashes into Books‘This novel made me laugh, cry and warmed my insides. It really has everything. I loved this heartwarming novel and I highly recommend it.’ Herding Cats ‘It absolutely left me with a smile on my face… Just perfect to lose yourself in for a while and make you feel uplifted. Highly recommended.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Sibzz Reads‘will have readers roaring with laughter and wiping away a tear or two… A feel-good romantic read… will lift the spirit and warm the heart.’ Bookish Jottings‘I’ve just discovered my new favourite author in Lisa Swift… There were plenty of feel good moments and plenty of laughter involved, I adored the characters… a wonderful summer romance read’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Baby Dolls and Razor Blades‘I adored every perfectly chosen word of this cleverly amusing and well-crafted tale… Reading this tale was pure delight’☆☆☆☆☆ Books and Bindings‘I found myself flying through the pages to see how it would all end – I loved it from cover to cover – it was a heart-warming story and the perfect pick me up and it had me giggling at times too!’ ☆☆☆ ☆☆ Donna’s Book Blog‘a poignant, compelling, heart-warming and cosy romcom that I didn't want to end!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Dash Fan Book Reviews‘Heartwarming, humorous, immersive and poignant… Vivid characters, heartrending conflict and an authentic Yorkshire village ethos and setting make this addictive reading.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Jane Hunt Writer

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'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ I HAD THE BEST TIME READING THIS BOOK AND IF IT DOESN'T END UP BEING A NETFLIX SERIES I AM GOING TO BE VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IT'S PERFECT!!!!!!' 'Immersive, cinematic, and exquisitely fun! The perfect debut' Ali Hazelwood'Escapism at its finest. This book will swallow you right up and keep you awake until you turn the last page' Elena ArmasCRAZY RICH ASIANS meets THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, with a dash of GOSSIP GIRL, in this dazzling debut novel._________Samantha Song has always dreamed of having her own by-line in a high-society magazine. But the death of her father and the constant struggle to help her mum make ends meet make it feel like a distant fantasy. Instead, she works at a drab PR firm and lives vicariously through her socialite co-worker Anya Chen. Then she meets Timothy Kingston: the disillusioned son of one of Singapore's elite families, and Sam's one chance at infiltrating the world to which she so desperately wants to belong. To Sam's surprise, Tim and Anya both agree to help her make a name for herself, but the borrowed designer clothes and plus-ones to every party and major event can only get her so far; the rest is on Sam. The deeper she goes though, the more she fears being exposed. And with an anonymous reporter on the prowl for high-society gossip, Sam must scramble to reconcile her pretence with who she really is before she loses it all.Packed full of glitz and glamour, food and fashion and heaps of heart, THE FRAUD SQUAD is perfect for fans of Kevin Kwan and Lauren Ho.'As glamorous and page-turning as a glossy magazine, infused with sharp class critique, a vibrant cast of characters, and a poignant emotional core' Ava Wilder'Rich with clever charm and scandalous sparkle, The Fraud Squad introduces a delightful and daring new voice in Kyla Zhao' Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka 'Lush, swoony, and delightfully exquisite, The Fraud Squad is an unputdownable debut that will transport you into the lavish world of Singaporean high society' Amy Lea 'Delightful and unpredictable' Cosmopolitan 'Zhao's debut is a sparkly page-turner . . . A delightful blend of emotion and aspiration' Booklist_________REAL READERS ARE LOSING THEIR HEARTS TO THE FRAUD SQUAD:'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ One of my fav reads of the year!!!''⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ This book was EVERYTHING!''⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ I absolutely LOVED this book! The characters were phenomenal, especially Sam, and the story was just *chef's kiss*''⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Such a poignant, hilarious, and wildly fun read!!!! YOU WON'T REGRET READING IT!' '⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Wow! I read it in a single day . . . The vivid descriptions of Singapore and the food there made me want to visit immediately. I couldn't put it down!' '⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ OMG, I LOVED this book . . . The romance at the heart of this had so much sizzling chemistry it kept me turning the pages hoping for more' '⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ If you want to read something that combines beautiful scenery, complex characters, romance, and drama, I highly recommend The Fraud Squad!' '⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Five luxurious, hilarious, heartwarming stars!'

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!! NOW WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS CHAPTER !!One of Book Riot's 'Best and Swooniest Romantasy Books''Amber's series breaks the rules in the best way. Her main character is strong, capable, and unapologetically powerful. There is no damsel here. This story is filled with fast-paced action, an in-depth world, and a romance that goes from simmer to boil. If you like romantasy, read this!' RAVEN KENNEDY'A wicked ride from beginning to heart shattering end. Leaving me literally screaming for more. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to get more our morally corrupt heroine who you can't help but root for, along with the giggle inducing banter between her and the heroic god Samkiel' HANNAH NICOLE MAEHER'Once in a while I read a series that reminds me of just why I love enemies to lovers, slow burn, and morally grey characters so much. Gods and Monsters is that series. This is perfection. Amber Nicole's Dianna is the FMC of my soul' NISHA J. TULIDon't miss this addictive BookTok sensation - a perfectly steamy, high-stakes, TRUE enemies-to-lovers, dark epic romantasy!_________________________WHERE THERE ARE GODS, THERE ARE ALSO MONSTERS . . .For a thousand years, the Etherworld has known peace.Until now.Many centuries ago, desperate to save her dying sister, Dianna made a deal with Kaden, a monster far worse than any nightmare. Locked in servitude to him, she is forced to hunt down an ancient relic held by her most dangerous enemies: an army led by Samkiel, the World Ender.After the Gods War, Samkiel hid from everything, denying his crown and deserting his people. Now, an attack on those he loves sends him back to the realm he never wished to return to, and into the sights of an enemy he had hoped to forget.With every world at stake, Dianna and Samkiel are forced to set aside their animosity and work together, before all is lost . . .Don't miss the next book in this series, THE THRONE OF BROKEN GODS and look out for Book 3 coming soon . . ._________________________⭐ Readers can't get enough of Samkiel and Dianna! ⭐'I loved reading this book so much! The world building is amazing, Dianna is super badass and I love how she grew in the book . . . Can't wait to read the next in the series!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'So so so so good! Such a well written and addictive read! Brings all the emotions and a great amount of twists and turns. Highly recommend!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I am so glad BookTok showed me this book, I jumped in based off of one single line and I regret NOTHING! I especially love the fact that the characters are all very unique and feel very original . . . Loved it so much, cannot wait for book 2. And did I see that this will be a 5 book series? HELL YES PLEASE!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'An easy 5 ⭐ read. This is my favourite book of the year so far. You need to read this - I couldn't put it down. I need to go now and download the second book!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Well, what a read. I am so glad that I picked this bad boy up. My first 5 ⭐ read for a really long time. I think book 2 will blow it out of the park! Absolutely amazing characters and that ending!!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Packed with research and exercises that support you to build your strongest body - at home or in the gym.Is it time to lose weight, tone and sculpt, gain muscle and speed up your metabolism? This book gives you practical advice on how to do just that. It also gives you valuable insight into how nutrition and exercise can improve your health.Inside the pages of this strength training book, you'll discover:- The physiology and benefits of strength training - Workout plans for beginners, enthusiasts, and personal trainers- The hard dietary science that debunks common myths and important information to properly fuel your body- Depictions of 33 exercises: how to perfect them, common mistakes, and the benefits of eachIn this book, author Austin Current takes readers through the science of strength training, weight loss, nutrition and overall health. The book looks at why many people fear strength training, why they shouldn't, and how they can incorporate it into their daily lives. Filled with CGI artworks and science-backed information, this exercise book will help you transform your body and improve your wellbeing. This book also includes full workout plans and over 100 individual exercises. You'll learn how your muscles engage at each stage, how to do movements with correct form and how to prevent injury, and shows you different variations for home and gym. This book is also packed with nutritional information and includes dietary advice for vegans and vegetarians. DK's Science of series dives into the science of various types of exercises such as weight training, running, and yoga. Each book discusses the benefits of the specific type of workout and how you can transform your outlook about health and fitness.How The Book WorksThe first section - human physiology - introduces you to the wonder that is skeletal muscle and the mechanisms that underpin strength training's demands on the body. It will help you understand how muscles work and grow, and how the resistance work stimulates muscles to develop strength and size, alongside its positive impacts on bones and connective tissue. It also explains how the body powers muscular work and shows you how to calculate your own daily macronutrient requirements. Lastly, you're given an overview of the benefits to the brain, and the crucial role it plays in attitude and mental health.The second section - strength exercises - is devoted to a comprehensive collection of strength training exercises to perform, along with many variations offered to compliment your available training equipment, personal preferences, and level of challenge - at home or in the gym. Each exercise displays the muscles being used throughout the movement with detailed instruction on how to achieve proper form and technique; common mistakes are covered, too.The third section - preventing injury - explores common injuries related to resistance training, with explanations on how to avoid them and how to return to training if you do suffer an injury. A consistent and structured routine, including a proper warm-up, prepares the body for work, and the various mobility exercises and stretches given will help you tune in to how your body is responding to the training.The final section - how to train - outlines everything you need to know about the variables of effective strength training, such as training volume and fatigue management. Whether you want to build muscle, strength, or endurance, you'll find an easy-to-follow program to suit, as well as alternatives for those wanting to workout more often. Then programs form the base of your training and can be adjusted in the months and years to come.

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The epic adventure continues . . . Don’t miss this sequel to Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar and the Phantom Rider is the second book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, an unmissable adventure for listeners age 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.The Island shall have its revenge . . . Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all? Get ready for more action, unforgettable characters, and mesmerizing world building. And be one of the first to listen to the third thrilling adventure: Skandar 3 coming in April 2024 – pre-order NOW!ONE OF THE THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF WAS THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023'Epic, unforgettable and endlessly exciting, Steadman’s masterful sequel soars even higher than her debut.' – Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series:'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'SKANDAR soars with magic, adventure, and pulse-pounding fun – the book equivalent of riding a rollercoaster while eating cake with fireworks exploding overhead!' – Andy Sagar, author of the Yesterday Crumb series'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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Insurance mathematician Henri has his life under control, when a man from the past appears and a shady trio take over the adventure park’s equipment supply company. Things are messier than ever in the absurdly funny, heart-stoppingly tense second instalment in Antti Tuomainen’s bestselling series. ‘In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre ‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour … a delight’ Vaseem Khan ‘What a book! Antti has managed to put the fun into funerals and take it out of fun fairs in a gripping nail-biter … a thrilling and hilarious read’ Liz Nugent**Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell** _______________________________ Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction? Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late… Absurdly funny, heart-stoppingly poignant and full of nail-biting suspense, The Moose Paradox is the second instalment in the critically acclaimed, pitch-perfect Rabbit Factor Trilogy and things are messier than ever… ________________________________ ‘Finnish crime maestro Antti Tuomainen is unique in the Scandi-crime genre, infusing his crime narratives with the darkest humour … [his] often hilarious, chaotic narrative never vitiates the novel’s nicely tuned tension’ Financial Times ‘Enter hitmen, serendipity, offbeat comedy and the reappearance of literally the last person Henri expects to see … unlike anything else out there’ The Times ‘A thriller with black comedy worthy of Nabokov’ Telegraph Book of the YearPraise for The Rabbit Factor Trilogy**Shortlisted for the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger** **Shortlisted for the Last Laugh Award** ‘The antic novels of Antti Tuomainen prove that comedy is not lost in translation … Tuomainen, like Carl Hiaasen before him, has the knack of combining slapstick with genuine emotion’ The Times 'The funniest writer in Europe, and one of the very finest … original and brilliant story-telling' Helen FitzGerald ‘British readers might think they know what to expect from Nordic noir: a tortured detective, a bleak setting, a brutal crime that shakes a small community. Finnish crime novelist Tuomainen turns all of this on its head … The ear of a giant plastic rabbit becomes a key weapon. It only gets darker and funnier’ Guardian ‘Dark, gripping and hilarious … Tuomainen is the Carl Hiaasen of the fjords' Martyn Waites ‘A triumph, a joyous, feel-good antidote to troubled times' Kevin Wignall ‘Finland's greatest export’ M.J. Arlidge 'You don’t expect to laugh when you’re reading about terrible crimes, but that’s what you’ll do when you pick up one of Tuomainen’s decidedly quirky thrillers' New York Times ‘Tuomainen is the funniest writer in Europe’ The Times ‘Right up there with the best’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Tuomainen continues to carve out his own niche in the chilly tundras of northern’ Daily Express

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What if you were dropped in the woods with little more than a knife, your wits, and the (hopefully warm) shirt on your back? Could you survive? If you’d read this book, the answer is yes! Survival! It’s one of our most primal fears, most basic needs. What do you do when everything is stripped away except your will to prevail? In this book, survival expert Tim MacWelch examines how native peoples around the world and throughout history have made their own shelter, weapons, tools, and more, and well as clever MacGuyver-esque ideas for using anything you might find in your pockets or pack. Whether your goal is to test yourself against nature, be prepared for any catastrophe, or learn more about traditional ways of survival, this is the one book you need. Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out. CHAPTER ONE: Bare Necessities - The stuff you need to survive short term wilderness emergencies (72 hours to one week) The Survival Priorities (& why you need them) Shelter, water, fire, food, first aid and signaling distress Tools of the Minimalist Knife, Axe and Saw - use and care; Clothing selection Shelters Pick a safe shelter location; How to build Leaf huts, lean-tos, jungle platforms, thatched roof, log huts, wicki-ups, pit houses, and more (different homes for varied climates) Water Gathering and Disinfection Finding springs, boiling w/ hot rocks, rain and precipitation collection, water storage, primitive filters, water from plants Fire Tinder, Kindling, Fire Lays, Flint & Steel, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, Bamboo Fire Saw, Fire Plow, Pump Drill, and other friction methods Signaling for Help and Self-Rescue How to signal and communicate w/ old school techniques; How and when to fight your way out CHAPTER TWO: Finer Things - Skills and techniques to collect food, and live more comfortably in the wild (weeks to months) Foraging for Wild Edible Plants How to identify and use wild plant foods; Recipes like our ancestors would have eaten Trapping Ways to catch game with new and old school, low-tech traps Primitive Fishing How to catch fish with thorns and other improvised tackle Ancient Weapons Bow and arrow, spear, Spear thrower, Bola and sling, primitive forging of metal Hunting Skills and game processing; 10 things to never do on a hunt Primitive Tools How to make stone blades, knives, axes, stone drill bits, mallets and wedges for wood splitting, digging sticks Hygiene Keeping clean; Natural toilet paper; Soap from plants; DIY latrine CHAPTER THREE: Long Term Living - The skills of our ancestors and the things you'd need for long term primitive living (years) Food Storage Drying, smoking, Food Caches, Freezing Containers How to make several different basket styles; Bark containers; Wooden bowls; Soapstone bowls and pots; Primitive ceramics Hides and Furs DIY buckskin, fur, rawhide and leather; Making clothes and outerwear (moccasins, mittens, hats, etc.) Primitive Cooking Cook in the coals; Spits and skewers; Green stick grill; Rock for frying pan; Stone Ovens, Steam pit, Earth over (in-ground hearth system) Tracking Man tracking and animal tracking Natural Navigation How to find your way by using the stars, the landscape, the weather and many other methods Wild Medicine Teas, compresses and poultices to help you heal

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Why did a long time reluctant US President Wilson finally enter World War I on the side of the Allies in April 1917? In retaliation of the British naval blockade of Germany since August 1914, the German Admirals determined at the beginning of 1915 to create a counter-blockade of the British Isles with their submarines. The U-boat commanders got – without knowledge of the government - a secret order to sink Allied passenger liners. The British Admiralty discovered the hunt for passenger liners by deciphering W/T messages to the U-boats. The sinking of the Lusitania on May, 6th, 1915, was no coincidence – the Royal Navy knew about the intentions of the U-boats and, after doing everything to protect the passenger liners in the beginning, they simply left the Lusitania alone in in the first week of May, to create frictions between America and the German Empire. A diplomatic quarrel between US President Wilson and Germany about U-boat warfare commenced. In spring of 1916 the German Navy acted again against the instructions of the Kaiser and ordered secretly the sinking of allied and neutral vessels in the British Channel, thereby opening an unrestricted U-boat war. When the channel ferry Sussex was attacked, Wilson threatened to break off of diplomatic relations with Germany. Under massive diplomatic pressure the German government had to give in. Further on, their U-boats only conducted a “soft”, restricted warfare, following the internationally agreed maritime rules and tolerated by Wilson. In Germany a heated debate set in after the Sussex case. The Navy promised the quick defeat of England by unrestricted U-boat war, and the Army joined this campaign end of 1916. The intention of the “war party” was to rule out any possibility of a negotiated peace and to set the German Empire on a – risky - course for definitive victory. But the government doubted the Navy’s capability for all-out U-boat warfare and argued that the only definitive result would be an America siding the Allies, leading to ultimate defeat. In the last months of 1916 it sent out peace feelers to Wilson, warning him, that in the case of a failure of his peace mediation they would get under unbearable pressure of the “military opposition” to begin unrestricted U-boat war again. At this time Britain was – like Germany – economically with its back against the wall: it suffered terribly by the sinking of its merchant ships, the moral of its Admiralty in Anti-Submarine-Warfare had completely broken down. Collapse was threatening. But the British government got wind of the conflicts inside Germany by the deciphering of the diplomatic cables between Wilson and the Germans. The new Prime Minster, David Lloyd George, chose a risky strategy – by rebuffing all American peace efforts he wanted to encourage the radical party in Germany to enforce total U-boat war. Finally this British strategy payed out: German Navy and Army pressed the Kaiser to declare unrestricted U-boat war from 1st of February 1917 on, and Wilson broke off diplomatic relations. But he still bristled to enter the war on Allied side – as long as American ships would be treated correctly by the Germans, he wouldn’t come in, not even after the publication of the Zimmermann-telegram. The tipping point came in the middle of March, when U-boats torpedoed American vessels without warning. This forced the American Declaration of War against the German Empire on April 6, 1917.

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'I laughed. I cried. I laughed again' Sinéad Moriarty'An enthralling read with . . . so many laughs along the way' Liz Nugent'A funny, poignant and moving read' My Weekly2010Caroline can't get pregnant, Janet can't hold a pregnancy, Natalie's sperm donor is a stoner with a bad attitude and Ronnie is, well, no one knows Ronnie's story. When the women meet in an infertility group the bonds of an odd but firm friendship are quickly formed and their lives begin to change.1976When 16-year-old Catherine's pregnancy is revealed she's sent to a convent to give birth. Her baby is taken from her, and she emerges into the world, down but not out and determined to fight back. She finds work, a home and acceptance with gay hairdresser and fellow outsider and life begins again.Waiting for the Miracle is story about finding your tribe, at any age. It's about love, loss, friendship and laughing at yourself. It's about life.'An enthralling read with brilliant characterisation, heartbreaking plotting, and so many laughs along the way' Liz Nugent .From bestselling Irish writer Anna McPartlin, Waiting for the Miracle is an uplifting novel about how good friends can help you see the funny side of life, even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan and Marian Keyes.'Takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions...you'll be laughing through your tears at the sharp and funny dialogue' NFOP magazinePraise for Anna McPartlin:'Anna McPartlin's novel is brilliant, funny and immensely moving' Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything'It's such a gorgeous examination of grief while also being honest, hilarious and totally relatable. I LOVED this book!' Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love'When I wasn't reaching for the Kleenex to wipe away a little tear, I was guffawing with laughter - Anna has the gift of being able to make you laugh and sob, and all on a single page.' Claudia Carroll, author of The Women of Primrose SquareReaders love Waiting for the Miracle:'Who will have the happy ever after dream and who will settle for the dream never happening? I raced though it in 2 days to find out. I particularly loved the flitting between current day and the character Catherine's story from the past and was eager to see how the 2 would come together. Wrap yourself up in a duvet and start reading. You won't be disappointed.''You will be gripped by both stories and wonder where the book is going ... but it gets better and better.''Loved loved loved it! As always an amazing story with real life issues, read it in 3 days couldn't put it down going to work was a bit of inconvenience lol can't wait for the next one, thanks Anna''Another emotional rollercoaster read about loss, hope, courage & friendship, I was hooked right from the very start, I loved how the story changed between current day and the past with Catherine's story, have your tissues ready.''Didn't want it to end.''McPartlin excels in the one-liner, and finding something to laugh about in the darkest of times.''I do not hesitate to recommend this magnificent book to everyone. Sure to be in my top books of this year.''A story of hope over heartbreak told with Irish humour and charm.''Anna McPartlin has done it again! Another stunning read that ends with me in tears yet also smiling.'

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2020 Choice​ Outstanding Academic Title The moving body—pervasively occupied by fitness activities, intense training and dieting regimes, recreational practices, and high-profile sporting mega-events—holds a vital function in contemporary society. As the body moves—as it performs, sweats, runs, and jumps—it sets in motion an intricate web of scientific rationalities, spatial arrangements, corporate imperatives, and identity politics (i.e. politics of gender, race, social class, etc.). It represents vitality in its productive and physiological capacities, it drives a complex economy of experiences and products, and it is a meaningful site of cultural identities and politics. Contributors to Sport, Physical Culture, and the Moving Body work from a simple premise: as it moves, the material body matters. Adding to the burgeoning fields of sport studies and body studies, the works featured here draw upon the traditions of feminist theory, posthumanism, actor network theory, and new materialism to reposition the physical, moving body as crucial to the cultural, political, environmental, and economic systems that it constitutes and within which is constituted. Once assembled, the book presents a study of bodies in motion—made to move in contexts where technique, performance, speed, strength, and vitality not only define the conduct therein, but provide the very reason for the body’s being within those economies and environments. In so doing, the contributors look to how the body moving for and about rational systems of science, medicine, markets, and geopolity shapes the social and material world in important and unexpected ways. In Sport, Physical Culture, and the Moving Body, contributors explore the extent to which the body, when moving about both ostensibly active body spaces (i.e., the gymnasium, the ball field, exercise laboratory, the track or running trail, the beach, or the sport stadium) and those places less often connected to physical activity (i.e. the home, the street, the classroom, the automobile), is bounded to technologies of life and living; and to the political arrangements that seek to capitalize upon such frames of biological vitality. To do so, the authors problematize the rise of active body science (i.e. kinesiology, sport and exercise sciences, performance biotechnology) and the effects these scientific interventions have on embodied, lived experience. Contributors to Sport, Physical Culture, and the Moving Body will be engaging a range of new and emerging theoretical perspectives, including new materialist, political ecology, developmental systems theory, and new material feminist approaches, to examine the actors and assemblages of movement-based material, political, and economic production. In so doing, contributors will vividly and powerfully illustrate the extent to which a focus on the fleshed body and its material conditions can bring forth new insights or ontological and epistemological innovation to the sociology of sport and physical activity. They will also explore the agency of the body as and amongst things. Such a performative materialist approach explicates how complex assemblages of sport and physical activity—bringing into association everything from muscle fibers and dietary proteins to stadium concrete or regional aquifers—are not only meaningful, but ecological. By focusing on the confluence of agentive materialities, disciplinary technologies, vibrant assemblages, speculative realities, and vital performativities, Sport, Physical Culture, and the Moving Body promises to offer a groundbreaking departure from representationalist tendencies and orthodoxies brought about by the cultural turn in sport and physical cultural studies. It brings the moving body and its physics back into focus: recentering moving flesh and bones as locus of social order, environmental change, and the global political economy.

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