Search results for ""Down to Earth""

Calling all mamarazzis! Every camera-toting mom will want this guide! Moms, if you can't seem to take enough great photos of the children in your life, this is the book for you. Now you can learn how to photograph children with the style, clarity, color, and beauty you see in professional photographs. This fun guide combines humor with solid know-how to show you how to compose shots, handle cameras from basic compacts to advanced dSLRs, take portraits or candids, create prints that impress, and even work with kids! Packed with beautiful examples and written in a down-to-earth style from one mom to another, this book will help mamarazzis everywhere take better photos. Moms are one of the fastest-growing segments of the camera-toting demographic, and the blogosphere has a term for them, mamarazzis Mixes information, inspiration, and fun for women who want to take better photographs of the children in their lives Explains how to set up a camera and use the controls on basic compacts up to advanced dSLR cameras Covers shot composition, determining settings, exposing images correctly, the essentials of printing images, how to process for clear and bright color, and more Includes stunning examples of portraits and candids of children Become a better mamarazzi with this fun and informative guide!

Read more less

Authoritarianism is on the march—and so is dystopian fiction. In the brave new twenty-first century, young-adult series like The Hunger Games and Divergent have become blockbusters; after Donald Trump’s election, two dystopian classics, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, skyrocketed to the New York Times best-seller list. This should come as no surprise: dystopian fiction has a lot to say about the perils of terrible government in real life.In Survive and Resist, Amy L. Atchison and Shauna L. Shames explore the ways in which dystopian narratives help explain how real-world politics work. They draw on classic and contemporary fiction, films, and TV shows—as well as their real-life counterparts—to offer funny and accessible explanations of key political concepts. Atchison and Shames demonstrate that dystopias both real and imagined help bring theories of governance, citizenship, and the state down to earth. They emphasize nonviolent resistance and change, exploring ways to challenge and overcome a dystopian-style government. Fictional examples, they argue, help give us the tools we need for individual survival and collective resistance. A clever look at the world through the lenses of pop culture, classic literature, and real-life events, Survive and Resist provides a timely and innovative approach to the fundamentals of politics for an era of creeping tyranny.

Read more less

Since bursting into the spotlight aged nine, Coleen Nolan has experienced more highs and lows than most people have had hot dinners. Now she's ready to share the lessons she's learned along the way. From the good, the bad and the ugly (otherwise known as love and marriage) to career tips, lifestyle hacks and motherhood, Coleen covers everything you need to know. With her trademark down-to-earth wisdom, Coleen shares her best advice for navigating divorce and embracing single life, including her top Tinder tips. She reflects on her career, offering insight into dealing with nerves, imposter syndrome and how to achieve that all-important work/life balance. She talks frankly about getting through the menopause and coming to terms with saggy boobs and stretch marks that resemble the London Underground map as well as dealing with loss and making mistakes. Most importantly, Coleen teaches us how to be a goddess in every area of life - in the kitchen, bedroom and more!Curl up with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and join Coleen for a cosy night in of love, life lessons and lots of laughter. Honest, practical and just a little bit naughty, this is Coleen as you've never seen her before. Live. Laugh. Love. is the ultimate guide for living your best life.

Read more less

Translation of eye-witness account of Third Crusade, with emphasis on Richard the Lionheart. The Estoire de la Guerre Sainte, an early example of vernacular chronicle, by the Norman poet Ambroise, presents an eye-witness account of the Third Crusade (1188-92) in a highly-polished rhetorical style. Central is the character of Richard the Lion Heart, Ambroise's hero, but the narrative is also enlivened by short anecdotes, sometimes heroic and sometimes more down-to-earth, about other participants. It depicts clearly the privations and sufferings of the ordinary crusaders, whether at the siege of Acre or on the march, and provides both a detailed record of events and a personal perspective on the Islamic warriors and their leaders, in particular Saladin and Saphadin. Ambroise also shows remarkable knowledge of contemporary weapons of war, such as siege engines and types of ship. This volume offers a prose translation into English. Detailed notes identify most of the participants and clarify literary, biblical and historical allusions, while the introduction looks at historical, literary and philological aspects of the poem and assesses its significance as literary artefact and historical record, setting it in context and bringing forward new evidence about the identity of the poet. Dr MARIANNE AILES teaches in the Department of French, University of Bristol; MALCOLM BARBER is Professor of History at Reading University.

Read more less

Ancient Rome’s original archconservative.M. Porcius Cato (234–149 BC), one of the best-known figures of the middle Roman Republic, remains legendary for his political and military career, especially his staunch opposition to Carthage; his modest way of life; his integrity of character and austere morality; his literary works, composed in a style at once sophisticated and down-to-earth; his pithy sayings; and his drive to define and to champion Roman national character and traditions in the face of challenges from Greek culture. Cato’s legend derived to no small degree from his own distinctive and compelling self-presentation, which established a model later developed and elaborated by Cicero and by subsequent literary and historical authors for centuries to come.This volume and its companion (LCL 552) join the Loeb edition of Cato’s only extant work, On Agriculture (LCL 283), by supplying all testimonia about, and all fragments by or attributed to Cato. Highlights are Origines, the first historical work attested in Latin, a history of Rome from its founding to the onset of the first Punic War, as well as the origins of major Italian cities; his orations, regarded as the beginning of Roman oratory; To His Son Marcus, which inaugurated a Roman tradition of didactic pieces addressed by fathers to their sons; Military Matters; the Poem on Morals; letters; commentaries on civil law; and memorable sayings.

Read more less

The New York Times bestselling author of SuperLife and cohost with Zac Efron of the hit Netflix series Down to Earth, Darin Olien offers invaluable advice for addressing the health of our bodies and the health of the planet by identifying common products and behaviors that are harmful and providing alternatives that are non-toxic and life-enhancing.Fatal conveniences are the toxic products we routinely use and the unhealthy things we do that our culture and corporations have made us believe are safe and necessary for living well and efficiently. These things—from deodorant, cosmetics, dental floss, and sunscreen to laundry detergent, air fresheners, carpets, and crayons to candles, tea bags, cell phones, and chewing gum—are ubiquitous in daily life . . . and they are wreaking havoc on our health and our planet. The environmental toxins found in these products create a cascade of problems, including chemical sensitivities, auto-immune issues, obesity, chronic health diseases, and more. Darin Olien has spent most of his adult life obsessively researching these “conveniences” and in this book, he raises our awareness of their dangers, demolishes the myth that “if it’s easy, it must also be good,” and gives us alternative choices to take control of our lives and our health. Fatal Conveniences offers a fresh perspective and achievable, small tweaks that will lead to big, life-enhancing changes.

Read more less

'Quirky, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable' Kate Ellis'A super start to the series' Frances Brody 'An entertaining murder mystery . . . witty' L C Tyler Buddhism, love, art and murder - welcome to the world of the Mindful DetectiveWhen a famously narcissistic performance artist is found floating in a tank of formaldehyde at her own private view, suspicion falls on those closest to her . . .Leading the murder investigation is DI Shanti Joyce, recently transferred from London to Yeovil following the collapse of her marriage and a case that went wrong. She soon concludes that the mystery requires left-field thinking, and when a colleague at the station suggests Vince Caine, aka the Mindful Detective, Shanti tracks him down to his remote cabin on the Undercliff at Lyme Regis.The pair delve into the artist's Bohemian circle and discover a hotbed of resentment and jealousy stretching all the way back to her scandalous art school days in Falmouth. But as they soon realise, the murderer is both canny and elusive - someone with a complex, warped motive who will do anything to point them elsewhere.Has Shanti made the wrong decision enlisting the unconventional and enigmatic Caine? Can the unlikely mix of her down-to-earth pragmatism and his otherworldly intuition really prove a winning combination?Or will a killer escape justice and leave Shanti's reputation in tatters?

Read more less

A “smart, honest, and down-to-earth” (Elizabeth Kolbert) citizen’s guide to the seven urgent changes that will really make a difference for our climate. If you think the only thing you can do to combat climate change is to install a smart thermostat or cook plant-based meat, you’re thinking too small. In The Big Fix, energy policy advisor Hal Harvey and longtime New York Times reporter Justin Gillis offer a new, hopeful way to engage with one of the greatest problems of our age. Writing in a lively, accessible style, the pair illuminate how the really big decisions that affect our climate get made—whether by the most obscure public utilities commissions or in the lofty halls of state capitols—and reveal how each of us can influence these decisions to deliver change. The pair focus on the seven areas of our political economy where ambitious but practical changes will have the greatest effect: from what kind of power plants to build to how much insulation new houses require to how efficient cars must be before they’re allowed on the road. Equal parts pragmatic and inspiring—and “full of illustrative stories and compelling evidence” (Al Gore)—The Big Fix provides an action plan for anyone serious about holding our governments accountable and saving our threatened planet.

Read more less

For a zitty face. Take urine eight days old and heat it over the fire; wash your face with it morning and night. In late medieval England, ordinary people, apothecaries and physicians gathered up practical medical tips for everyday use. While some were sensible herbal cures, many were weird and wonderful. This book selects some of the most revolting or remarkable remedies from medieval manuscripts in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. There are embarrassing ailments and painful procedures, icky ingredients and bizarre beliefs. The would-be doctors seem oblivious to pain, and any animal, vegetable or mineral, let alone bodily fluid, can be ground up, smeared on or inserted for medical benefit. Similar ingredients are used in ‘recipes’ for how to make yourself invisible, how to make a woman love you, how to stop dogs from barking at you and how to make freckles disappear. Written in the down-to-earth speech of the time, these remedies often blur the distinction between medicine and magic. They also give a humorous insight into the strange ideas, ingenuity and bravery of men and women in the Middle Ages, and a glimpse of the often gruesome history of medicine through time. The remedies have been collected and transcribed from fifteenth-century manuscripts by students at the University of Oxford. Modern English translations, for easier reading, are given alongside the original Middle English.

Read more less

The Ultimate Handbook for Success on the Spectrum – written from lived experience.I feel like everyone else got a handbook with all the answers, and I never got my copy. This is a common thought among autistic people, because society is built with neurotypical people in mind – but that handbook has finally arrived. Even better, it was written by an autism activist who is on the spectrum himself.Autistic influencer Daniel M Jones is an expert on living well on the spectrum. No matter what you're going through as someone with autism, Dan gets it – he's been there. He's here to explain everything he learned, and then some, in this instruction manual and memoir about life as an autistic person. Dan's book is packed with actionable advice that readers can immediately start putting into practice. You'll learn how to navigate common challenges, such as dating on the spectrum, holding down a job or performing well in in your studies. Best of all, you'll learn to improve your life while also empowering yourself. Dan's honesty, self-awareness and sheer knowledge of autism make for a down-to-earth and relatable read that anyone will enjoy. No matter where you are on the spectrum, you'll love this hilarious and comprehensive guide to living an excellent life as an autistic adult.

Read more less

'A friendly breastfeeding companion' Giovanna Fletcher*****A modern, up-to-date, friendly and non-judgemental breastfeeding guide for new parents, with personal stories and expert advice.In her down-to-earth style, Chantelle will act as your guide and support system as you prepare to Milk It, including:Preparing before birthWhat to expect in the early daysMilestones to reachBreastfeeding in public and going back to workProblems to look out for with tried and tested solutions...and much moreChantelle believes that every parent should feed their baby in whichever way they think is best, and it is her mission in life to make sure mums have as much information as possible when thinking about breastfeeding. Milk It is her way of doing just that, and is written with the support and know-how of a certified lactation consultant to make sure it is as useful and up-to-date as possible.In personal notes, Chantelle tells her own story of motherhood and breastfeeding, including the issues she experienced and how she ended up tandem feeding her twins after their premature births. Milk It shares other real mums' stories of breastfeeding, mental health and body image, so that you know whatever you choose and are going through, you are not alone.Milk It is everything you need to know about breastfeeding - from a mum who knows.

Read more less

Want to make twice as much money with half the work? It's time to shift your mindset, recognize your worth, and become a successful entrepreneur on your own terms!‘Denise is a much-needed voice of practical wisdom.’ Marie Forleo, founder of B-SchoolFeeling burned-out by your business? Sick of the ‘hustle and grind’ culture of your industry? There’s a better way. Get over your perfectionism, chill, and prosper!With her trademark humour and down-to-earth wisdom, money mindset coach Denise Duffield-Thomas shares the invaluable business and counterintuitive millionaire mindset lessons (no blood, sweat or tears necessary) that will set you on the path of abundance – without all the hard work.You’ll discover how to find the business model that works perfectly for your personality, and learn key concepts – such as the Golden Goose and the Keyless Life – to help you work less and earn more. Plus, Denise talks you through the small but important details of being an entrepreneur, including how to deal with awkward money situations and find the most effective ways to price offers. With real business case studies and practical advice, Chill and Prosper challenges the old, boring assumptions of what it takes to create success.This is a revised and updated edition of the book previously published as Chillpreneur.

Read more less

MEMS devices are finding increasingly widespread use in a variety of settings, from chemical and biological analysis to sensors and actuators in automotive applications. Along with this massive growth, the field is still experiencing growing pains as fabrication processes are refined and new applications are attempted. Anyone serious about entering the field must have a realistic knowledge of just what is possible with MEMS technologies as well as the myriad issues involved in fabrication and device integration.Microengineering, MEMS, and Interfacing: A Practical Guide provides a straightforward, down-to-earth overview of the current state of MEMS technology. The first section systematically reviews the various bulk and surface micromachining methods, photolithography masks, and nonsilicon processes, examining their capabilities, limitations, and suggested uses. Next, the author details the characteristics of individual devices and systems, their advantages and shortcomings, and how they can be combined to achieve desired functionality. He includes condensed introductions to relevant chemistry and biochemistry and then demonstrates applications of MEMS in these areas. Beginning with a short introduction to electronics, the final section explores the issues involved in interfacing MEMS components with other systems.With judicious use of illustrations to clarify the discussion, Microengineering, MEMS, and Interfacing: A Practical Guide offers hands-on tools for solving specific problems along with the insight necessary to use them most effectively.

Read more less

"Managing for Excellence is above all usable. Its helpful, down-to-earth advice can transform any leader from merely good to positively outstanding. These are the ideas managers can not only admire but act on as well-the highest compliment for a manager's guidebook." -Rosabeth Moss Kanter Author of The Change Masters The bestseller that revolutionized management's vision of itself In the mid-1980s, the notion that the most successful managers are no longer heroic, but share power and responsibility, was so revolutionary that it bordered on heresy. But the ideas championed by David Bradford and Allan Cohen in Managing for Excellence proved so effective that, virtually overnight, thousands of skeptical upper-level managers became true believers. Managing for Excellence isn't just for CEOs, presidents, and veeps-the battle-tested methods laid out in this book help middle managers turn the strategic designs of upper management into reality. Bradford and Cohen reveal how great managers succeed by bringing out the best in their employees. They show managers how to: * Develop a cohesive team that jointly owns critical management issues * Deal with difficult problems head-on and make core decisions through consensus * Encourage healthy competition against objective standards of excellence * Be decisive leaders while encouraging input from team members * Manage daily procedures, adapt to change, and maintain a vision of the future simultaneously

Read more less

Authoritarianism is on the march—and so is dystopian fiction. In the brave new twenty-first century, young-adult series like The Hunger Games and Divergent have become blockbusters; after Donald Trump’s election, two dystopian classics, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, skyrocketed to the New York Times best-seller list. This should come as no surprise: dystopian fiction has a lot to say about the perils of terrible government in real life.In Survive and Resist, Amy L. Atchison and Shauna L. Shames explore the ways in which dystopian narratives help explain how real-world politics work. They draw on classic and contemporary fiction, films, and TV shows—as well as their real-life counterparts—to offer funny and accessible explanations of key political concepts. Atchison and Shames demonstrate that dystopias both real and imagined help bring theories of governance, citizenship, and the state down to earth. They emphasize nonviolent resistance and change, exploring ways to challenge and overcome a dystopian-style government. Fictional examples, they argue, help give us the tools we need for individual survival and collective resistance. A clever look at the world through the lenses of pop culture, classic literature, and real-life events, Survive and Resist provides a timely and innovative approach to the fundamentals of politics for an era of creeping tyranny.

Read more less

Twitter allows us to build communities, track celebrities, raise our social profile, and promote a personal brand. Adam Hodgkin thinks Twitter is much more than a mere social media tool it is a terrain ripe for a conceptual and theoretical analysis of our use of digital language. In Following Searle on Twitter, Hodgkin takes John Searle's theory of speech acts as Status Function Declarations (SFDs) speech acts that fulfill their meaning by saying the right words in the right context as a probe for understanding Twitter's institutional structure and the still-developing toolset that it provides for its members. He argues that Twitter is an institution built, constituted and evolving through the use of SFDs. Searle's speech act theories provide a framework for illuminating how Twitter membership arises, how users of Twitter relate to each other by following, and how increasingly complex content is conveyed with tweets. Using this framework, Hodgkin places language, action, intention, and responsibility at the core of the digital culture and the digital institutions that we are constructing. Combining theoretical perspective with a down-to-earth exposition of present-day digital institutions, Following Searle on Twitter explores how all our interactions with these new, emerging, digital institutions are deeply rooted in language, and are the true foundation of social media and contemporary institutions.

Read more less

Admirably clear, concise, down-to-earth, and powerful - all too often, legal writing embodies none of these qualities. Its reputation for obscurity and needless legalese is widespread. Since 2001 Bryan A. Garner's "Legal Writing in Plain English" has helped address this problem by providing lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. Now the leading guide to clear writing in the field, this indispensable volume encourages legal writers to challenge conventions and offers valuable insights into the writing process that will appeal to other professionals: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. Accessible and witty, "Legal Writing in Plain English" draws on real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching experience. Trenchant advice covers all types of legal materials, from analytical and persuasive writing to legal drafting, and the book's principles are reinforced by sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section. In this new edition, Garner preserves the successful structure of the original while adjusting the content to make it even more class-room-friendly. He includes case examples from the past decade and addresses the widespread use of legal documents in electronic formats. His book remains the standard guide for producing the jargon-free language that clients demand and courts reward.

Read more less

"The dear old Cape! I love it! I love its hills of sand," From "The Surf Along the Shore", Cape Cod Ballads (1902). From 1902 to a year before his death in 1943, Joseph Crosby Lincoln wrote over forty novels, and many more poems and short stories. Every novel he wrote was a success and many were translated into other languages and adapted for screenplays or stage productions. These twenty-two poems, eight short stories, and a novel touch the heart of Lincoln's works and show "essentials" of his writing. Even though celebrated author Joseph C. Lincoln traveled far from his native Cape Cod, Massachusetts, it remained close to his heart and foremost in his novels, short stories, and poems. Though many authors wrote works of literature about Cape Cod, none were more successful or better known than his. His writing was so popular, so vivid, and so accurate in capturing the imagery and spirit of the cape, that he is often described more as a historian than a writer of fiction. In Lincoln's works, the Cape Cod of the past, with picturesque villages and rugged residents, comes vividly alive. Travel to a time when life was simpler, the people were down to earth, and the comforts of "The Old Home House" were just around the corner.

Read more less

Flying Tiger to Air Commando is an enlisted man's story of over twenty years of service to his country. From enlistment in the Army Air Corps at age nineteen as a Private to his retirement at age 44 as a Master Sgt., his unusual tale will interest all aviation, history, and gunnery buffs. At age twenty he volunteered for the American Volunteer Group, hardly aware of China and its problems with Japan, but was soon to find out as an armorer with Chennault's famed Flying Tigers. When that elite group was broken up, he returned to the States, soon to return to the CBI theater flying as a B-25 gunner with his good friend from the Tigers, R.T. Smith, in the First Air Commandos. The end of WWII was not the end of combat for Sgt. Baisden, who saw service in the Korean War, both as an armorer in the 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, and as a gunner on B-29s in the 93rd Heavy Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. His last days in the Air Force were flown as an in-flight refueling technician in KC-97s with the 308th, 2nd, and 19th Air Refueling Squadrons. His down-to-earth narrative is interesting and informative, and is presented along with his own period

Read more less

Award winning author and self-sufficiency practitioner Liz Zorab takes readers on a highly entertaining and joyful celebration through the seasons. Following on from her hugely popular debut book, Grounded, Liz returns with The Seasoned Gardener, inviting you on a personal and yet totally relatable journey of growing and learning through the gardening year. Illustrated with a delicious selection of Liz's own photos, The Seasoned Gardener provides an abundance of friendly advice and hundreds of top tips on what to and what not to do as she inspires gardeners of all levels to have a go at growing tastier and healthier food for themselves and to benefit the natural world. The Seasoned Gardener inspires you to connect with your garden and surroundings and explains how the veg garden sits within the wider context of the landscape, highlighting the importance the seasons, weather, microclimates, water cycles and light levels play on growing successful and healthy crops. Liz's down-to-earth writing style has been likened to having a helpful neighbour chatting over the garden fence. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and every chapter is filled with plenty of advice on what to grow, when to seed and plant out, what pitfalls to avoid - having learned from her own mistakes - and how to be creative with what you have around you.

Read more less

No one can make the mysteries of the universe more comprehensible and fun than Neil deGrasse Tyson. Drawing on mythology, history, and literature - alongside his trademark wit and charm - Tyson and StarTalk senior producer Lindsey Nyx Walker bring planetary science down to Earth and principles of astrophysics within reach. In this entertaining book, illustrated with vivid photographs and art, readers travel with him through space and time, starting with the Big Bang and voyaging to the far reaches of the universe and beyond. Along the way, science greets pop culture as Tyson explains the triumphs - and bloopers - in Hollywood’s blockbusters: all part of an entertaining ride through the cosmos. The book begins as we leave Earth, encountering new truths about our planet’s atmosphere, the nature of sunlight, and the many missions that have demystified our galactic neighbors. But the farther out we travel, the weirder things get. What’s a void and what’s a vacuum? How can light be a wave and a particle at the same time? When we finally arrive in the blackness of outer space, Tyson takes on the spookiest phenomena of the cosmos: parallel worlds, black holes, time travel, and more. For science junkies and fans of the conundrums that astrophysicists often ponder, To Infinity and Beyond is an enlightening adventure into the farthest reaches of the cosmos.

Read more less

With its winning mix of gripping narrative and easy-to-implement performance-raising tips, this book has become a best-selling classic. It’s garnered 5-star reviews and wide-ranging endorsements – from Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes to Lord Digby Jones. The book tells the inspiring story of how Ben Hunt-Davis - an ordinary guy in an ordinary team – achieved something pretty extraordinary: Olympic Gold. Co-author Harriet Beveridge, Executive Coach, then gives a simple, engaging account of how we can apply these strategies to raise our own game… in sport, in business and in life. Building on the huge success of the original, this second edition includes two completely new chapters – on high performance conversations and performance under pressure – as well as a general update, based on the successes readers and businesses have reaped from the first edition. In the book’s signature, down to earth and practical style, the new chapters unlock simple ways for readers to thrive in their own pressured environments, and to communicate in ways which consistently improve results. Whether you are a business leader looking to achieve a compelling vision, an individual with a dream, or a coach supporting others to unlock their potential…this book is jam-packed with tried and tested methods to help you achieve your own ‘gold medal’.

Read more less

No matter how you birth your baby, feel calm and safe with hypnobirthing"This woman is a great healer and birth expert. This book will be brilliant." Russell BrandYour Baby, Your Birth is a truly modern hypnobirthing book for ALL births. In-demand hypnobirthing coach Hollie de Cruz provides you with the skills and tools to make any birth feel safe, calm, connected and empowering. Drawing on her experience working with new mums, including Fearne Cotton and Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie de Cruz helps you prepare for a positive (not 'perfect') birth experience and approach motherhood with confidence in yourself and your instincts. Your Baby, Your Birth will teach you:- That birth is safe - listen to your body, embrace the changes, prepare your mind and relax during pregnancy- Exercises and breathing techniques for labour and birth for you and your birth partner, along with guided meditations to keep you calm and engaged- How to trust your instincts, understand your body and baby, and make informed decisions throughout your pregnancy and beyondHollie de Cruz, creator of the award-winning yesmum positive affirmation cards, is renowned for demystifying hypnobirthing and her down-to-earth, realistic approach is highly sought after. Whatever kind of birth you are planning, let Hollie de Cruz provide you with a set of deep relaxation, mindfulness and meditation tools for an empowering experience.

Read more less

The explosive finale to the Extraordinaries trilogy by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune.School's out for the summer and a raging heat wave has blanketed Nova City. Still, Nick's life is pretty much perfect, as he finally gets to team up with his superhero boyfriend to bring justice, protection, and disaster energy to the world.Meanwhile, Seth, Jazz, and Gibby are setting up headquarters for Lighthouse, their hero team, Nick's dad's private investigation agency is taking off, and Nick's mother, the superhero known as TK, is right there at Nick's side. Where she's always been. Hasn't she?But something's off. It's not just Simon Burke campaigning to 'cure' Extraordinaries. And it's not the rumours of Nick's ex-boyfriend and villain-in-the-making's escape. Something isn't right and Nick will need all his loved ones together to uncover the truth - a truth that will reveal a traitor in their midst and burn through their lives like a wild fire.Praise for The Extraordinaries'Half a love-letter to fandom, half self-aware satire, and wholly lovable' Sophie Gonzales'The most down-to-earth book about superheroes I've ever read' Mason Deaver'Klune plays with superhero genre tropes and fan-fiction clichés with the skill of a true fan' Kirkus Reviews'Is it possible to fall in love with someone's imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten' David Leviathan

Read more less

A practical, hands-on manual covering the entire Day Skipper syllabus in a step-by-step learning system designed to get you straight on the water. As one of Britain’s best-known instructors and writers on seamanship, Tom Cunliffe understands the concerns and anxieties of first-time skippers better than most. In this 7th edition of his highly successful manual, he provides the perfect blend of advice, instruction, inspiration and encouragement to support their growing experience at sea. Taking the RYA syllabus as a framework, The Complete Day Skipper begins with yacht handling under power, moves on to boat husbandry and sailing skills, then goes on to explore navigation, from steering clear of trouble near home to the practical use of modern electronic navigation systems. Key features include: - An at-sea, hands-on approach infused with helpful tips and common sense - A step-by-step learning system designed to get you straight on to the water - Essential, real-life navigation that wholeheartedly embraces GPS - Cunliffe’s unique emphasis on fuss-free cruising This 7th edition features updated and expanded sections on navigation, weather forecasting, sails and electronic chart plotters, along with new photographs. Easy to read and down to earth, The Complete Day Skipper is a friendly hand on the shoulder for both novice skippers and more experienced sailors who choose not to venture far afield.

Read more less

Learn French step-by-step and soon you'll be making leaps and bounds Your quickest route to learning French is through a solid grounding in grammar basics. Now don't be put off by the "G-word." What you won't find in this book is a lot of repetitive drills. Instead, you get an original, step-by-step approach to learning French based on the way people naturally acquire language.From the very beginning, you are introduced to the most essential structures--allowing you to communicate in French almost immediately. Gradually, through a series of interconnected "steps," you logically progress to more common concepts that govern how French is spoken and written. And along the way you are introduced to hundreds of carefully selected verbs and vocabulary words presented on the basis of how often they are used in everyday French.Guaranteed to get you quickly up and running with the knowledge and skills you need to communicate in French with confidence, Easy French Step-by-Step features: A unique "building-block" approach to mastering essential grammar, verbs, and vocabulary Down-to-earth explanations of important rules and concepts Hundreds of frequently used verbs and key terms a beginner should know Exercises to test what you've learned and measure progress Engaging readings that help you hone your skills in everyday contexts

Read more less

Learn Italian step-by-step and soon you'll be making leaps and boundsYour quickest route to learning Italian is through a solid grounding in grammar basics. Now don't be put off by the "G-word." What you won't find in this book is a lot of repetitive drills. Instead, you get an original, step-by-step approach to learning Italian based on the way people naturally acquire language.From the very beginning, you are introduced to the most essential structures--allowing you to communicate in Italian almost immediately. Gradually, through a series of interconnected "steps," you logically progress to more common concepts that govern how Italian is spoken and written. And along the way you are introduced to hundreds of carefully selected verbs and vocabulary words presented on the basis of how often they are used in everyday Italian.Guaranteed to get you quickly up and running with the knowledge and skills you need to communicate in Italian with confidence, Easy Italian Step-by-Step features: A unique "building-block" approach to mastering essential grammar, verbs, and vocabulary Down-to-earth explanations of important rules and concepts Hundreds of frequently used verbs and key terms a beginner should know Exercises to test what you've learned and measure progress Engaging readings that help you hone your skills in everyday contexts

Read more less

NEW EDITION A sports agent. In its simplest form, a sports agent is an individual or company who represents a sportsperson. They try to get them a better contract, a better endorsement, a better sponsorship, a better deal. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Or is there? The problem, inevitably, is money. So much money now sloshing around in professional sport today. And human greed - which can lead to conflicts of interest...So How to be a Sports Agent is a practical and down-to-earth book that reveals the secrets behind the art of being not just a good sports agent, but a good, honest sports agent. It includes: Analysis of what it is to be an agent and how to ensure a watertight legal contract between the agent and his client. The regulation of agents in various sports, and how to comply. The difference between a good agent and a bad agent. Creation of playing contracts, particularly in regard to soccer, cricket and rugby and covers the most common pitfalls. Marketing, merchandising, licensing and sponsorship deals. How to negotiate them and how to draft them. The art of negotiation, and the balance between on and off pitch activities. The role of the lawyer as agent and adviser. Keeping the clients happy, getting new clients and keeping the clients happy when you have new clients.

Read more less

In 2016, Doddie Weir's life - as much-loved sporting hero and Borders farmer - switched direction with the same speed and power this indefatigable No. 5 once displayed on the rugby pitch. Reeling from his own MND diagnosis, Doddie became a standard-bearer for all those valiantly seeking to halt Motor Neuron Disease in its tracks. It's a platform Doddie has unhesitatingly used to the max. 'I never set out to take the lead,' he says. 'It just happened - like MND itself. But we are making a fight of it.' And so he continues to live life at full tilt: as a tireless fundraiser for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and as a family man with a debilitating, unpredictable and incurable disease. During these unprecedented times, Doddie has received an OBE, celebrated his 50th birthday, helped pledge close to £10 million for MND research and his fellow sufferers - all amid a whirl of golfing challenges, charity cycle rides, book festivals and awards ceremonies . . . Now DODDIE'S DIARY lifts the lid on the highs, the lows, the laughter and the tears of the last few years. Each day shows an astonishing, inspirational man who simply refuses to give in as he brings his down-to-earth positivity and legendary sense of humour to the battle against MND. Just as on the pitch, it's a battle he's determined to win.

Read more less

Like a natural disaster, the diagnosis that your child has cancer can leave you and your family feeling helpless. How do you explain the disease to the child and to his or her siblings? How can you communicate your child's needs to the hospital staff? What are the best ways to reduce the physical side effects and the emotional distress of treatment?How will you, your child or teenager, and the rest of your family cope with cancer, and what can you do to help? When and where do you find good psychological help for your child or your family? How do you manage financial and school issues? How can you foster your child's development and self-esteem? More than 12,000 American children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and roughly 75% will survive. In addition to excellent medical care, their survival depends on a strong support network, which may include parents, siblings, extended family members, friends and neighbors, classmates and teachers. In this down-to-earth guidebook, the authors draw on their own family's experience with cancer as well as their professional expertise and stories from others to help families address the psychological impact of cancer. The result is a book filled with sound emotional guidance, useful information, and practical advice for families coping with cancer.

Read more less

I Am My Brand provides achievable techniques and tools for women to build their personal brand. This is an essential step-by-step guide to building your brand, knowing your worth, and being unapologetic about it. I Am My Brand is a toolkit for personal brand success. Featuring dynamic female brand builders from around the world, the book is a woven tapestry of personal brand advice with storytelling and support that offers a practical guide for female entrepreneurs, freelancers and executives. I Am My Brand explores the techniques used by different women across cultures to build their personal brand, as well as the challenges they faced and their paths to overcoming them. Focused on the skills needed to succeed, their stories – coupled with the author's expertise – will support readers on their own journey to brand success and self-empowerment in work and life. The book is written in a down-to-earth style, with light entertainment and real-life anecdotes, providing insights into how to create, package and grow your personal brand. Written by one of the most influential female brand builders in the UK, I Am My Brand is a testament to the power of being a woman and illustrates what it takes to build a powerful female brand in today’s male dominated business world.

Read more less

In A Midlands Odyssey ten writers take the stories of Homer's Odyssey and transplant them to the English Midlands. With a range of settings – from smart canal-side apartments to late-night launderettes – these stories are wonderfully inventive and offer a down-to-earth take on one of the world's greatest pieces of storytelling.'The Odyssey theme, so rich with its tales of wandering Odysseus, the lure of the Sirens, the loss felt by Penelope and those gruesome reports across time from the underworld, energizes the ten writers here, providing a pretext for a fine array of inventive and imaginative stories, attuned to the legend, aslant to the Ancient World, adventurous in their address. If the topology is contemporary and centrally oriented, and the themes entertainingly current, this anthology is certainly not Midlands miscellaneous; it's the opposite of drab urban realism: a mere seagull's cry, only the odd whisper and rumour away from Ancient Greece itself.' Alan Mahar'An inventive and intriguing project, distinguished not only by the power of its Homeric reimaginings but by the superb quality of the writing throughout.' Jo BalmerStories edited by Polly Stoker, Elisabeth Charis and Jonathan Davidson.Includes stories by: Yasmin Ali, Lindsey Davis, Elisabeth Charis, Kit De Waal, Charlie Hill, Paul McDonald, Richard House, Dragan Todorovic, Natalie Haynes, David Calcutt.This book is also available as a eBook. Buy it from Amazon here.

Read more less

Here Professor Frye analyses the way in which the structure and imagery of literature have been affected by the complex of ideas and images surrounding the word 'creation.' Traditionally, everything associated with nature, reality, settled order, the way things are, is supposed to go back to the creation, the original divine act of making the world. If the word 'creative' is applied to human activities, the humanly creative is whatever profoundly disturbs our sense of 'the' creation, a reversing or neutralizing of it. What seems to be one of the few admirable forms of human achievement, the creation of the arts, turns out to be a kind of 'decreation.' The imagery of creation lies at the heart of every mythology and every development of the arts, though Professor Frye distinguishes between the stories of creation that look up to heaven and those that look down to earth. To these he contrasts human creativity, which is projected on the future, and recorded in various forms of the arts ranging from pastoral poetry to architecture. It is this counter-movement of creation set up by man, as reflected particularly in literature, that he calls 'recreation.' Originally delivered as the 1980 Larkin-Stuart Lectures, this book provides an intriguing and provocative insight into the notion of creation and of the relationship in creativity between the human and the divine.

Read more less

From concept to finished draft-a nuts-and-bolts approach to adaptations Aspiring and established screenwriters everywhere, take note! This down-to-earth guide is the first to clearly articulate the craft of adaptation. Drawing on his own experience and on fourteen years of teaching, screenwriter Richard Krevolin presents his proven five-step process for adapting anything-from novels and short stories to newspaper articles and poems-into a screenplay. Used by thousands of novelists, playwrights, poets, and journalists around the country, this can't-miss process features practical advice on how to break down a story into its essential components, as well as utilizes case studies of successful adaptations. Krevolin also provides an insider's view of working and surviving within the Hollywood system-covering the legal issues, interviewing studio insiders on what they are looking for, and offering tips from established screenwriters who specialize in adaptations. * Outlines a series of stages that help you structure your story to fit the needs of a 120-page screenplay * Explains how to adapt anything for Hollywood, from a single sentence story idea all the way to a thousand-page novel * Advises on the tricky subject of just how faithful your adaptation should be * Features helpful hints from Hollywood bigwigs-award-winning television writer Larry Brody; screenwriter and script reader Henry Jones; screenwriter and author Robin Russin; screenwriter and author Simon Rose; and more

Read more less

For Sam Faiers life as part of the TOWIE cast, living it up Essex style, partying the night away is a distant memory but she wouldn't change it for the world. Since becoming a mum to Paul Jnr her life has taken a magical turn although at times it can be just as tiring and worrying too...Now Sam invites her fans, fellow mums or mums-to-be on an unforgettable journey through motherhood.Charting the highs and lows, she opens up about what being a mum is really like - from those treasured first cuddles and baby's first smile to dealing with leaking nappies and getting your body back in shape. Told in her no-nonsense, down-to-earth way Sam reveals that while having a baby is the best thing that has ever happened to her, caring for something so small is tough and the pressures put upon modern day mums can be even tougher.As funny as they are emotional, Sam's experiences in this intimate read will offer comfort and advice to others, including her own healthy diet and fitness tips, while also opening up fans to a whole new side of Sam Faiers that even she didn't know before.Pre-order Sam's book here and visit www.SamFaiersMyBabyAndMe to be in with the chance of winning a prize!

Read more less

Since bursting into the spotlight aged nine, Coleen Nolan has experienced more highs and lows than most people have had hot dinners. Now she's ready to share the lessons she's learned along the way. From the good, the bad and the ugly (otherwise known as love and marriage) to career tips, lifestyle hacks and motherhood, Coleen covers everything you need to know. With her trademark down-to-earth wisdom, Coleen shares her best advice for navigating divorce and embracing single life, including her top Tinder tips. She reflects on her career, offering insight into dealing with nerves, imposter syndrome and how to achieve that all-important work/life balance. She talks frankly about getting through the menopause and coming to terms with saggy boobs and stretch marks that resemble the London Underground map as well as dealing with loss and making mistakes. Most importantly, Coleen teaches us how to be a goddess in every area of life - in the kitchen, bedroom and more!Curl up with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and join Coleen for a cosy night in of love, life lessons and lots of laughter. Honest, practical and just a little bit naughty, this is Coleen as you've never seen her before. Live. Laugh. Love. is the ultimate guide for living your best life.

Read more less

Ancient Rome’s original archconservative.M. Porcius Cato (234–149 BC), one of the best-known figures of the middle Roman Republic, remains legendary for his political and military career, especially his staunch opposition to Carthage; his modest way of life; his integrity of character and austere morality; his literary works, composed in a style at once sophisticated and down-to-earth; his pithy sayings; and his drive to define and to champion Roman national character and traditions in the face of challenges from Greek culture. Cato’s legend derived to no small degree from his own distinctive and compelling self-presentation, which established a model later developed and elaborated by Cicero and by subsequent literary and historical authors for centuries to come.This volume and its companion (LCL 551) join the Loeb edition of Cato’s only extant work, On Agriculture (LCL 283), by supplying all testimonia about, and all fragments by or attributed to Cato. Highlights are Origines, the first historical work attested in Latin, a history of Rome from its founding to the onset of the first Punic War, as well as the origins of major Italian cities; his orations, regarded as the beginning of Roman oratory; To His Son Marcus, which inaugurated a Roman tradition of didactic pieces addressed by fathers to their sons; Military Matters; the Poem on Morals; letters; commentaries on civil law; and memorable sayings.

Read more less

Uncomplicating the Complicated Ways We Talk about Faith.You're not alone. Many people think of theology—the study of the nature of God and His truth—as a subject for scholars and people with seminary degrees. It seems irrelevant to those of us with jobs and lives that aren't wrapped up in highbrow academia.But the fact is that theology has everything to do with us. It's essential to how we wrestle with our inner doubts and how we talk to others about what we believe. Its current runs through every political debate, moral judgement, and new idea.This companion workbook to Phylicia Masonheimer's book Every Woman a Theologian brings the fundamentals of Christian theology down to earth in a straightforward, relatable way so that you can: Identify your existing beliefs about God, salvation, and the Christian life. Understand the vocabulary of theology without feeling overwhelmed. Develop a stronger faith and a better sense of what it means and why it matters. Feel more confident about sharing your faith with others. Grow into a woman able to discern truth and bring God’s wisdom and love to difficult moments. It’s time to become comfortable with the word "theology."Lessons: Bibliology (Scripture) Theology (God) Cosmology (Creation, Humanity, Sin) Christology (Jesus) Soteriology (Salvation) Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) Ecclesiology (Church) Eschatology (Last Things) Includes access to videos from Phylicia summarizing each lesson.

Read more less

The explosive finale to the Extraordinaries trilogy by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune.School's out for the summer and a raging heat wave has blanketed Nova City. Still, Nick's life is pretty much perfect, as he finally gets to team up with his superhero boyfriend to bring justice, protection, and disaster energy to the world.Meanwhile, Seth, Jazz, and Gibby are setting up headquarters for Lighthouse, their hero team, Nick's dad's private investigation agency is taking off, and Nick's mother, the superhero known as TK, is right there at Nick's side. Where she's always been. Hasn't she?But something's off. It's not just Simon Burke campaigning to 'cure' Extraordinaries. And it's not the rumours of Nick's ex-boyfriend and villain-in-the-making's escape. Something isn't right and Nick will need all his loved ones together to uncover the truth - a truth that will reveal a traitor in their midst and burn through their lives like a wild fire.Praise for The Extraordinaries'Half a love-letter to fandom, half self-aware satire, and wholly lovable' Sophie Gonzales'The most down-to-earth book about superheroes I've ever read' Mason Deaver'Klune plays with superhero genre tropes and fan-fiction clichés with the skill of a true fan' Kirkus Reviews'Is it possible to fall in love with someone's imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten' David Leviathan

Read more less

Eleanor Thom is living with endometriosis and she thinks that it's time to talk a bit more about our private parts.Part memoir, part guide book and part survival guide, Private Parts retraces Eleanor's journey with endometriosis, offering readers practical, down-to-earth and friendly advice covering everything from what actually happens in an internal exam to the perfect post-op wardrobe. Eleanor writes as fearlessly as she has fought this disease; with heart, honesty and a humour that is rarely afforded to subjects as serious as this. - Phoebe Waller-BridgePrivate Parts is just like its author: funny, brave, charming, honest, reassuring and ultimately brilliant - Joe LycettWritten for the newly diagnosed as well as those who have had more operations than they can count on one hand, Private Parts is a friend and companion to everyone whose life has been impacted by this little understood condition. It will arm you for your doctors appointments and bring light and laughter in darker times. Features exclusive inspirational interviews with Hilary Mantel, Paulette Edwards, Lena Dunham and Emma Barnett, as well as insights from experts in the field.*A Stylist and Dazed best of 2019 book***As featured in How Do You Cope with Elis + John on BBC Radio 5, available to listen to on BBC Sounds**

Read more less

More delicious calorie counted recipes for your fast and non-fast days from bestselling author Kate Harrison.Bestselling 5:2 author Kate Harrison shares more of her favourite easy, healthy recipes with inspiring tips, life-changing stories from 5:2 dieters, and down-to-earth advice on achieving a healthy, balanced lifestyle.THE 5:2 GOOD FOOD KITCHEN includes 75 new recipes with a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan and demi-veg friendly meals, plus dishes free from dairy, gluten and sugar. Like Kate's previous books, every ingredient is calorie counted and the focus is on fresh, full-flavoured meals that can be easily adapted to suit anyone - with variations for fast and no-fast days. It also includes:* A complete, easy-to-follow guide to the 5:2 lifestyle, for new starters and maintainers, plus seasonal meal plans;* 5:2 Food Heroes: forget over-priced supplements, Kate profiles the natural, inexpensive star ingredients that make you invincible on fast days;* Inspiring case studies from people who are transforming their lives through intermittent fasting, with amazing changes to their weight, health and confidence;* Practical advice on making sense of food scares and myths, from the truth about breakfast to the fat vs. carb debate.THE 5:2 GOOD FOOD KITCHEN offers fresh, balanced meals that put healthy food at the heart of your life.

Read more less

'One for the hurling fan, and for all those who appreciate the sacrifices involved in a 100% commitment to team and tribe' RTÉ GuidePádraic Maher is one of the greatest hurlers of his generation and an icon in his beloved Tipperary. Winner of three All-Ireland senior hurling medals and six All-Star awards, Maher was one of Tipperary's key men for over a decade while with his club, Thurles Sarsfields, he ignited a revival that led to seven county titles.Born into a passionate GAA family, hurling was Maher's life. Until, in spring 2022, he was forced into a shock early retirement.Here, he looks at the events leading up to the injury that ended his career and takes us back through his life with hurling to give an honest and down-to-earth account of the sport, the club and the county that means so much to him.From being a central figure in the great Tipperary-Kilkenny rivalry, to the unforgettable trilogy of Tipperary-Galway All-Ireland semi-finals, to his side of one of hurling's most famous tackles, All on the Line gives an unforgettable insight into the commitment it takes to be a GAA player in modern Ireland, and the passion this great hurler holds for his club and county.

Read more less

*** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR 2022***Relish the wit and wisdom of Marian Keyes in this story of four women caught up in what seems like love, but may be something much darker . . . from the No. 1 bestselling author of Grown Ups'So funny, so perceptive, so real . . . I changed my life for this book' MAIL ON SUNDAY'An emotional tour de force with genuine human warmth' INDEPENDENT___________'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married'Slick, handsome politician Paddy de Courcy is on the up. His party is set to do well in the elections and he's just announced his engagement to the beautiful Alicia.Which is news to his girlfriend, Lola, who, within hours, finds herself dumped and warned not to talk to the press.Yet journalist Grace is on the prowl. She has been after Paddy ever since he ruined her sister Marnie's life way back in college.Grace is looking for the inside story and thinks Lola holds the key . . .But do any of them know the real Paddy?___________'The laughs come fast and furious . . . a gripping, compelling tale' Sunday Independent'The queen of page-turners . . . brimming with her trademark down-to-earth wit' Cosmopolitan'Gripping from the start . . . the master at her best' Daily Telegraph

Read more less

At the intersection of physics, mathematics, and computer science, an exciting new field of study has formed, known as “Topological Quantum.” This research field examines the deep connections between the theory of knots, special types of subatomic particles known as anyons, certain phases of matter, and quantum computation. This book elucidates this nexus, drawing in topics ranging from quantum gravity to topology to experimental condensed matter physics. Topological quantum has increasingly been a focus point in the fields of condensed matter physics and quantum information over the last few decades, and the forefront of research now builds on the basic ideas presented in this book. The material is presented in a down-to-earth and entertaining way that is far less abstract than most of what is in the literature. While introducing the crucial concepts and placing them in context, the subject is presented without resort to the highly mathematical category theory that underlies the field. Requiring only an elementary background in quantum mechanics, this book is appropriate for all readers, from advanced undergraduates to the professional practitioner. This book will be of interest to mathematicians and computer scientists as well as physicists working on a wide range of topics. Those interested in working in these field will find this book to be an invaluable introduction as well as a crucial reference.

Read more less

From acclaimed Southern designer Janie Molster comes this lively collection of vibrant interiors and insightful advice for colorful living. How do you make a home that fits to a T? That's tailored to your lifestyle, perfectly expresses your personality, is as comfortable as a second skin, and lets you live life to the fullest? Over more than two decades, Janie Molster has become known for creating family homes that are as bold and sophisticated as they are inviting and practical. In House Dressing, Janie reveals the secrets behind her unique ability to craft dreamy interiors and shares down-to-earth advice for creating your own beautiful and personal spaces. Showcasing a range of projects, Janie invites readers into country cottages, a riverside retreat, and her own urban farmhouse - Janie's personal design lab - exploring different styles, from glamorous and soulful to contemporary and eclectic. Janie tells the story and describes her thinking behind the design of each one: her recipe for the perfect mix of antique and new, easy but impactful paint treatments you can try, and - based on her own experience - how to create a fabulous home for a family of seven. Through House Dressing, Janie gives a master class in working with color, pattern, and texture to make spaces that are in turn bold, serene, glamorous, and comfortable, but always personal.

Read more less

In a down-to-earth review of the often-contentious subject of ethics, Public Sector Ethics: Theory and Applications presents personal accounts of individuals who faced moral dilemmas and how they resolved them. It moves the study of ethics away from a box checking exercise of what to do/not to do to a discussion that creates understanding of existential choices that people make. The book supplements discussion of the literature with practical examples of ethical dilemmas that public servants face.Through detailed case studies the book argues that the concept of ethics is not black and white, but is a fluid concept that can be described in shades of gray through various lenses. It identifies how factors such as religion and philosophy can shape individuals’ values and possible friction that can arise between individuals’ values and missions of their organizations. It also stresses the importance of an organization’s strength of mission in creating environments for ethical action.Taking a candid look at some of the unsavory stereotypes relating to government employee work ethic, the book explains the relationship between ethics and organizational structure. It emphasizes the role of mission fulfillment as a means to respond to the wishes of the populace, linking ethics to democratic accountability. It then gives you a framework for making ethical decisions that line up with your organization’s mission.

Read more less

We've all side-eyed the chipper runners jogging by at 6 a.m. in their short-shorts and sports bras and felt a little envious, despite our simmering resentment. How do they get out there and do it every morning? How did they become Runners-with-a-capital-R? Though running is theoretically one of the most natural sports for humans, the general response to running tends to be, "It's hard. It sucks. I wish I could do it."For those who wish they liked to run, Lisa Jhung'sRunning That Doesn't Suck has arrived. In this pithy, humorous, and down-to-earth guide, Jhung gets back to basics, breaking down the barriers for aspiring runners. She encourages readers to "embrace the suckiness" and gives advice on how to get started -- and how to keep going. (Hint: You don't have to run at 6 a.m. and you definitely don't have to wear short-shorts.) Jhung also offers body maintenance tips, nutritional advice, and running etiquette pointers. Smartly organized with chapters that don't necessarily need to be read in order, full of sage advice garnered from Jhung's two decades of writing about running, and including insights from professional runners, sports psychologists, coaches, physical therapists and more, this book has all the meat an aspiring runner needs to get hooked on the sport.

Read more less

Ask almost anyone to describe their ideal home, and the chances are that it'll be spacious and glamorously decorated, as though it has leapt straight from the pages of a glossy magazine. But enviable decor alone does not result in happiness. The days of simply 'getting the look' are over; we are now more interested in achieving a contented home life than in considering purely the aesthetics of our interiors. After all, home is not simply a pretty backdrop to life, but a practical and integral part of it. In this timely new book, interiors expert Rebecca Winward first considers what makes our homes so vital to our happiness, then outlines the basic principles that create a happy home. The main part of the book follows a clear room-by-room arrangement, with sections on such elements as layout, colour, coverings for walls and floors, storage and accessories for each main space in the house. Useful, down-to-earth advice is accompanied by inspirational photographs from stylish homes of all kinds, and every chapter concludes with a list of dos and don'ts for achieving the perfect happy room. Happy Home is not so much about a certain style as about a certain style philosophy. Follow these principles, and your home will be functional, beautiful - and ultimately happier.

Read more less