Search Results for: General Interest

Can you recall the year that the Dracula fish was discovered?


Do you know the height and location of the world’s tallest building?


Remember the company that discovered a way to convert water and CO2 into fuel?




This unique trivia compendium presents an illustrated snapshot of the world twenty years after the new millennium.


Taking stock of the most impressive achievements, terrific disasters and marvellous innovations that have changed our world, 2020 brings together top twenties of fascinating facts and figures on subjects ranging from life-saving technological advancements to freak weather phenomena, outstanding sporting achievements to unexpected political shake-ups.  


Whatever your interests, you’ll be amazed, amused, surprised and enlightened by this testament to the catastrophic lows and unbelievable highs of human endeavour.

If you want to know your Freud from your Jung and your Milgram from your Maslow, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the highlights of psychology. Including accessible primers on:

– The early thinkers who contributed to psychological ideas and the birth of modern psychology
– Famous (and often controversial) experiments and their repercussions
– What psychology can teach us about memory, language, conformity, reasoning and emotions
– The ethics of psychological studies
– Recent developments in the modern fields of evolutionary and cyber psychology.

This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes and theories you need to know to understand how the study of mind and behaviour has sculpted the world we live in and the way we think today.

Unlock the secrets of human behaviour and explore the thoughts, motivations and perspectives of the people around you in this beginner’s guide to personality psychology

If you have ever wondered what makes us who we are, then you are not alone. The reasons behind why we think the way we do have captured the minds of philosophers and scientists for hundreds of years, leading to the development of one of the largest branches of psychology: personality psychology.

Personality psychology examines our personalities and considers how they develop and vary from person to person. In this pocket-sized guide, you will discover the forces that influence our personalities, and in turn how our personality influences our actions.

In this accessible introduction, you will learn about:

· Theories and key thinkers who have pioneered the study of personality
· The different personality tests and what they tell us about people’s minds
· Personality disorders and how they can impact our daily lives

From Maslow to Jung, and Freud to Darwin, this fascinating little book is a perfect guide to personality psychology, for both novices and experts alike. Delve in and uncover the secrets of our minds and innermost selves.

Put your knowledge of real-life kidnappers, killers, con artists and thieves to the test with this gripping compendium of puzzles and trivia

Journey to the darkest corners of human nature and discover the events that have ensnared the interest of humankind across the globe and throughout time. Dive deep into this entertaining book, where the most notorious heists, cons and crimes are reimagined as puzzles.

From crosswords and counting conundrums to spot the differences and sudoku, whether you’re a true crime junkie or just morbidly curious, there’s plenty in these pages to sharpen your mind and shred your nerves.

Inside you will find a variety of puzzles, including:

– Spot the differences between the two detective boards
– Shuffle the letters to reveal three types of murderer
– Guide the stolen goods through the maze to the getaway vehicle
– Solve the trivia questions to uncover gruesome facts about notorious serial killers

Did you know…
William IV was wont to speak his mind and could sometimes lack tact, which is said to have inspired the nickname ‘Silly Billy’? Edward III banned all sports, including football, on Sundays, so that his subjects could be free to concentrate solely on their archery? Coronation chicken was invented for foreign guests to enjoy at Elizabeth II’s coronation? This rich miscellany celebrates the fascinating history of the British Royal Family, from the reign of Egbert, King of Wessex, to the monarchy of the present day. Full of titillating trivia, little-known facts, bite-size biographies and memorable quotations, it paints a colourful picture of how the kings and queens of this noble land have shaped the way we live today.

A life-saving illustrated guide to making student life easier, more productive and more fun. With shortcuts to academic success, tips for making the most of the student experience and – most importantly – hangover hacks to make things better the next day.

Welcome to the world of being a student! Where gaining knowledge is top priority and partying follows closely behind. The majority of your time in higher education will be spent moaning about lectures, then about exams and assignments, and then about how broke you are every month. Luckily this fully illustrated manual is here to solve your everyday dilemmas, with low-budget tips and tricks on all aspects of student living, including:

– Ways to make your student loan stretch further
– Tips to help you get out of bed in time for class
– Study, exam and revision hacks, including how to listen to your lectures in half the time
– How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew – and how to get wine stains out of the carpet
– A trick for changing those pesky duvet covers
– How to store your beer bottles in the fridge without them toppling over
– Drawer and wardrobe space maximizers
– Party hacks
– Food and drink hacks to use up leftovers and make the most of whatever’s hiding in your fridge
Whether you’re a fresh-faced fresher or a seasoned student searching for shortcuts, this trusty guide will be your go-to for all occasions, helping to make your student years gloriously hassle-free.

Whether you’re looking for a one-stop shop to track and improve your general well-being, or you want to focus on a specific area of your health, this journal is the perfect place to start.

Divided into monthly chapters to help you stay on track 365 days of the year, My Fitness Tracker includes tips and advice on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle, along with lots of inspiration to keep you motivated. You’ll also find a variety of interactive pages where you can record your fitness journey, including:
– Your exercise goals and achievements
– How well you hydrate
– What you’re eating and where you can improve your diet
– How exercise and healthy eating affect your mood and sleeping habits
– Your alcohol intake and how you can reduce it

Simply spend five minutes a day recording your eating and exercise habits and enjoy looking back on the progress you’re making. There’s no better time to get your life on track and form a healthier relationship with fitness and food. You’ve got this!

It’s time to meet your new superheroes

Discover the fascinating stories behind 38 iconic people of colour, all of them ground-breakers, risk-takers and game-changers. Whether they are activists, athletes, scientists or superstars, every one of them has been a trailblazer in their field and has paved the way for future change. It’s time these individuals took centre stage and had their achievements celebrated the world over.

This book will introduce you to some of the most influential people of colour from across the globe and throughout history, including several modern-day icons.

Among others, you will learn about the incredible lives and achievements of:
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
– Barack Obama
– Chadwick Boseman
– Florence Price
– Jimi Hendrix
– Kamala Harris
– Laverne Cox
– Malala Yousafzai
– Maria Tallchief
– RuPaul

Each inspiring profile also features a bespoke illustration.

Be empowered and inspired by their extraordinary stories, their awesome accomplishments and their words of wisdom in this pocketbook of remarkable people.

There’s a lot of sh*t you should know
For example:
Today, the people of earth take more photos in two minutes than they did in the whole of the nineteenth century. The Andromeda galaxy is 2.6 million light years from earth, but can be seen with the naked eye on a clear night. The first marathon was undertaken in 490 BCE by a Greek messenger running from Marathon to Athens – unfortunately, he died of exhaustion when he arrived. This outrageously informative book is bursting with enough mind-blowing trivia to make your head spin. Whether you want to know your shit about history, science, literature, technology, sport, geography or almost any other kind of miscellanea, this is the essential guide for you.

The knowledge you need to help you succeed
Nerves are normal and natural, but if you’re worried about an upcoming exam, help is at hand. Whatever the subject, and whether you’re 15 or 50, the bite-size tips in this easy-to-follow guide will help you study efficiently, stay focused, and safeguard your physical and mental health. From early planning to final preparation, these simple steps will shut down your stress and fire up your confidence.

This is just the beginning…

Retirement is a fresh chapter, another adventure and permission to try something new. It’s also a great time to take care of your health, your money and your everyday happiness. This is the essential guide to your new life of opportunity, relaxation and enjoyment, whether you’re in need of inspiration for holidays and hobbies or advice on staying active, mentally sharp and emotionally fulfilled. Practical, insightful and enlivening, these ideas are perfect for any newcomer to full-time freedom.

Could you make a fire?
Are you able to sew on a button?
Do you know how to negotiate a pay rise?
If the answer to any of the above is no, then don’t worry – you’re not alone. Luckily, this book is here to give you a helping hand. Full of useful advice and practical skills that everyone should know, it will provide you with the essential knowledge you need to tackle life’s everyday challenges. From the little things, like how to boil an egg or treat a blister, right up to the big things, like speaking in public, this handy guide will arm you with all the skills you need to navigate life in the real world like a pro.

An illustrated compendium of kickass women in sport, from around the world and throughout history, including legends like Billie Jean King and modern-day superstars like Simone Biles and Dina Asher-Smith. The perfect book to inspire any sports fan.

Meet your new superheroes

Discover the fascinating stories behind 38 iconic and internationally renowned women in sport, all of them record-breakers, trailblazers and game-changers. Whether from the world of soccer, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, boxing or skiing, every one of these women has been a ground-breaker in her field. It’s time these individuals took centre stage and had their achievements celebrated the world over.

Be empowered and inspired by their extraordinary stories, their awesome achievements and their wonder-words of wisdom with this pocketbook of remarkable women from across the globe and throughout history. Among others, you will learn about the incredible lives and achievements of:
– Simone Biles
– Serena Williams
– Dina Asher-Smith
– Rachael Heyhoe Flint
– Jessica Ennis-Hill
– Nicola Adams
– Danica Patrick
– Paula Radcliffe
– Michelle Kwan
– Megan Rapinoe
– Ellen MacArthur
– Ibtihaj Muhammad
– Ronda Rousey

Each inspiring profile also features a bespoke illustration.

‘I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.’
Joseph Addison
This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, handy hints and captivating stories and quotes from the world of birds, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of birdwatching.

Ever accidentally used your thumb as a hammer cushion while putting up a picture hook?

Do you become enraged at the uncontrollable bobbing of the straw in your drinks can?

Are you yearning to find a way to make your toilet roll tube enhance your music listening experience?

These and dozens of other everyday dilemmas are solved with Life Hacks, your handy guide to solving little annoyances before they turn into big problems. This fully illustrated manual covers everything from nifty electric cable management to ingenious cooking methods and much, much more.

Remember: if life throws you a curveball – HACK IT!

Everyone has the power to make a difference in the world, as long as they know where to start.

Drawing inspiration from celebrated activists and their groundbreaking work, this empowering little book will introduce you to the key forms of contemporary activism, showing you how you can engage in political and social movements. You’ll have everything you need to stand up and be a force for change.

Whether you are in need of some blossoming inspiration or your fingers are the colour of freshly mown grass, this compendium is overflowing with snippets of fascinating folklore and tips for making your garden grow.

Follow the garden path to horticultural heaven and learn about:
– Growing your own herbs to make therapeutic delights
– Banning bugs and slugs and attracting beneficial creatures
– Recycling old household items for gardening solutions
– Keeping bees and chickens
– Cooking up your produce, even the weeds
– Why you should always keep a leek in your attic and never kill a ladybird

‘Dance is the hidden language of the soul.’
Martha Graham
This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, captivating stories and inspiring quotes from the world of dance, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy and freedom of slipping on your dance shoes and expressing yourself through movement to music.

The dogs in this book won’t be donning red cloaks and tight, blue costumes. But they do have extraordinary abilities and out-of-this-world stories that make them super in their own right.

From fictional dogs to war-time dogs, faithful dogs to working dogs, life-saving dogs to dogs in space and science, the stories in this book tell the adventures of courageous, trustworthy and dutiful dogs, reminding us of the true worth of having a canine as a companion.

If you’ve always wanted to know how societies function – and why sometimes they don’t – this beginner’s guide to sociology has got the essential theories and thinkers covered

Sociology has almost limitless scope. From the smallest everyday interaction to the impact of vast systemic change, societies are brimming with fascinating phenomena we all want to understand more clearly.

There’s never been a more important moment to grasp what’s going on around us, and this pocket-sized guide offers an engaging introduction to the key sociological concepts and debates. It includes easy-to-follow coverage of:

The origins and development of modern sociology and the influence of foundational figures such as Durkheim, Marx and Weber

The major sociological schools or perspectives, from functionalism to feminism

How sociologists strive to test their theories ethically and carefully by using scientific research methods

The key topics in sociology, including inequality, class, crime, gender and race

How sociology can help us tackle new challenges and change our societies – and the wider world – for the better

Perfect for newcomers, or anyone seeking a concise breakdown of the subject, The Little Book of Sociology takes all the big ideas and makes them crystal clear.

Does the thought of a rainy weekend indoors fill you with dread? Are you tired of your living room wall being one crayon scribble away from a mural? Have you ever contemplated moving to a bigger house simply to accommodate for your child’s ever expanding collection of baby grows? Whether you’re a first-time parent, or a seasoned pro, you’ll know that parenting is a job full of challenges, and with no time off for good behaviour. But take heart and dive into Life Hacks for Parents, your handy guide to making it all that little bit easier.
Covering everything from nifty storage hacks to clever cleaning solutions, ideas to make your home safer and suggestions for fun stuff too, this book of hacks will provide you with all the time-saving tips you need, so you’ve got more time to enjoy with your family.
Once you hack, you won’t look back!

‘For as long as I stay here, I know I will have to also get to the wild places.’
                                                                                                                  Robert Macfarlane
This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with tips on equipment, food, surviving bad weather and finding the right campsite, and with facts and stories from the world of camping, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy and adventure of pitching their tent under an open sky.
 

Do you spend hours on garden maintenance, leaving no time for the fun stuff? Would you like the chance to eat your produce before the pests get to them? Do you dream of an abundant garden that’s beautiful all year round? These and dozens of other gardening dilemmas are solved with this trusty guide filled with ingenious gardening hacks. Whether you’re a regular Best In Show looking for some time-saving tips or you’ve just planted your first seedlings and you want to learn more, Gardening Hacks is your fully illustrated manual to blossoming as a gardener.

Don’t let preparing for your driving test drive you up the wall! With tips from instructors and new drivers for both before and during the test, this little book is jam-packed with helpful advice to make sure that you are in fine form for the open road… and that you lose your L-plates rather than your cool.