Search Results for: General Interest

Awesome puzzles? Check.

Epic life hacks? Check.

Legendary dad jokes? Double check!

This book is everything a dad could dream of and more! Packed even more tightly than his sock drawer, it’s bursting with games, quizzes, life hacks, jokes and useless-but-interesting facts, making it an essential companion for every dad, and the ultimate way to guarantee him hours of fun.

This charming and indispensable reference guide contains specific month-by-month ‘to do’ lists for ornamental gardens, edible crops and general maintenance, as well as tips on everything green-fingered, from protecting your plants from frost, pests and disease to making sure you get a bumper harvest to enjoy year-round. With diary pages for making your own notes each month, this pocket-sized yearbook is a must-have for every season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this book will become an old and trusted friend.

Book of the Month, Countryside magazine

‘[this] fascinating new book… provides a detailed insight into the snow-white species’ Waterways World


A wildlife writer and photographer’s celebration of the mute swan, Britain’s most iconic breed, exploring the bird’s significance across myth and history alongside vivid observations on its habits and habitats.

The swan is both a lover and a fighter. A graceful angel and a clumsy oaf. Immortalized by artists over the ages yet misunderstood and threatened in the present day. The mute swan – with its orange beak and aura of stately silence – is the breed we know best in Britain.

Dan Keel has been captivated by these birds since boyhood, studying their contrasting qualities over more than three decades. He’s spent countless hours documenting their power, beauty and vulnerability as a writer of nature journalism, as a wildlife photographer looking for the perfect shot, and as a pilot sharing the skies.

In this labour of love, Dan speaks up for the mute, answering the essential questions about its nature and its future. Along the way, weaving his first-hand observations into the narrative, he shows us how swans have been portrayed in myth, art and culture for millennia, and how they have been venerated and imitated as well as harmed by humans.

Does anybody still eat swan? Can a swan really break your arm? Does the Queen own them all? With an eye for the humour as well as the tragedy of the swan’s story, Dan lays out the facts, guides us to our lakes and riverbanks, and urges us to see these familiar creatures in a fresh light.

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with quirky facts, quotes, handy hints and surprising stories is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of gardening.

‘It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato.’
Lewis Grizzard

WISE WORDS FOR GARDENERS

The World War Two slogan is still pertinent in these thrifty times as more people than ever are turning to self-sufficiency and growing their own fruit and vegetables. This little compendium is packed with tips and hints on how to make the most of your garden along with witty quotations to help you dig for victory.

How can we challenge the judgements we don’t even know we’re making?

Unconscious bias affects us all. From the smallest assumption to the most sweeping generalization, the way we think about others can unknowingly influence our behaviour and shape our culture. Acting as your mentor and guide, this book will take you through the most common forms of prejudice, including gender, race, size, age and sexuality. It also explores the psychology behind our biases and provides actionable tips and simple exercises to help you combat implicit judgements.

You will learn:
– Why our biases matter
– How to identify your own biases
– Techniques to mitigate unconscious bias
– How to make objective decisions

This charming and practical handbook is bursting with tips, facts and folklore to guide you through the birdwatching year. Find out how to identify birds by sight or song, everything you need to know about their behaviour, habitats and breeding and migration habits, and tips for encouraging birds into your garden. Also includes handy diary pages for making your own notes each month. A must-have for any eager birdwatcher.

This beautifully illustrated guide contains specific month-by-month ‘to do’ lists for ornamental gardens, edible crops and general maintenance, as well as tips on things to look out for, such as pests and how to eliminate them. With diary pages for making your own notes each month, this pocket-sized calendar is a must-have whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out. Pippa Greenwood is a leading light in the world of horticulture. She was a presenter on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World for over 13 years and the gardening consultant for Rosemary and Thyme. She is a regular panellist and bug expert on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, has written a number of award-winning books and contributes to BBC Gardeners’ World magazine.

Sloths: cute, cuddly and so impossibly chilled! Get ready to hang out with nature’s laziest, craziest creatures with this photographic and illustrated collection of sloths. It’ll have you slowed down and feeling mellow in no time!

Have you ever wanted to know…




Which junction to take for Gibraltar?


How to save £35,040 a year on Dartford Crossing tolls?


How many assassins were buried within the concrete of the M25? (at least one)


Why it’s important that North Ockendon declares itself independent from Greater London at the earliest opportunity?




This indispensable biography of a road profiles the 117 miles of Britain’s most infamous motorway, from its controversial origins to its present-day status as backdrop to the lives and commutes of millions. Told with Ray Hamilton’s trademark powers of observation and off-the-wall humour, it is an eye-opening account of the stuff you didn’t know about the M25 – including the action, sightseeing or nature-loving fun you can have coming off at any junction – and a very different view of the stuff you did know.

It’s time to celebrate your inner geek with this treasure trove of lists and prime cuts of knowledge.

Time to brush up on what you’d forgotten or misremembered, and discover what you never had a clue was true. Ranging across history, science and the natural world, taking in sport, film, food and much more, Man Facts gives you a wealth of up-to-date stats and eye-opening trivia that will make you a general-knowledge genius, or at least help you nail your next pub quiz. Dig in.

Take a tour through the Big Smoke via road, rail and river, and discover…
What the official difference is between a ‘taxi’ and a ‘cab’. Why the iconic Routemaster was withdrawn from regular service in 2005. How much of the Underground is actually below ground. Why London’s first tramway was threatened with closure in the same year it opened. Which was the first ferry to operate passenger trips across the Thames. Every year London opens its doors to a staggering 16 million people, all wanting to get to their destination of choice in the shortest time possible. Yet for many of us, the beauty and clockwork of the transport we use, be it taxi, Tube, bus, bike or boat, is a part of the London experience we tend to forget. From the iconic red buses to the abandoned Tube stations and the engineering achievements to the cultural highlights, this book celebrates everything you’ve ever wanted to know about getting around in London, and much, much more.

If you want to know your Socrates from your Sartre and your Confucius from your Kant, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the highlights of philosophy.

Philosophy is a quest for wisdom and knowledge; philosophia in Ancient Greek literally means “love of wisdom”. The aim of philosophy is to ask and explore life’s big questions to help us work out what we can know and how we can live a good life. Today, in a world of fake news, embarking on a quest for truth couldn’t be more important.

This pocket-sized introduction to important philosophers and key philosophical ideas includes accessible primers on:
– The early Greek philosophers and the “big three”: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle
– Key schools of philosophy from around the world – from ancient philosophy right up to the present day – and their impact on modern life
– Insights into the main questions philosophers have explored over the years: Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Do I have free will?
– Practical applications for the theories of Descartes, Kant, Wollstonecraft, Marx, Nietzsche and many more.
This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes and theories you need to know to understand how human ideas have sculpted the world we live in and the way we think today. A perfect gift for anyone taking their first steps into the world of philosophy, as well as for those who want to brush up their knowledge.

The lizards are alarmed. 
The snakes are scared. 
The antelopes are apoplectic. 
Why? The meerkats have turned mean. 
Sure, they look cute with their little noses in the air. And some of them are. But have you ever paused to wonder what’s really going on in those cosy communities? There’s a darker side to the cuddly meerkat, and the shocking truth is revealed here for the first time in When Meerkats Turn Bad.

Have you always thought that a goldfish has a 3-second memory span?
Do you think your morning coffee comes from a bean?
Do you believe that those accused at the Salem Witch Trials were burned at the stake?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you’ve been lied to. But don’t worry, this book will set the record straight on all the common myths that most people take for fact, making you the most well-informed smart alec in town. So next time someone proclaims that Napoleon Bonaparte was short, or that shaving causes hair to grow back thicker, you can correct them, and tell them smugly that everything they think they know is wrong.

In this updated and expanded edition, Stewart Ferris uses his industry know-how to give you all the tips, tricks and inside knowledge you will need to become a successful writer, covering all types of writing from books to scripts and beyond. This accessible and informative guide is packed with advice to equip you with the skills you need to launch a writing career:

• Using your ‘voice’ as your USP

• Learning to love criticism

• Surprising solutions to writer’s block

• Avoiding submission blunders

• Using e–publishing to sell your work

So what are you waiting for? Pick up your pen, open your laptop and fire up your imagination. Whichever tools you choose, the time to start is now.

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!

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!

Step into the unknown

Tales of the paranormal have seduced us and spooked us for centuries, passed around from person to person and frequently retold and reimagined in books, films and TV. Whether they’re based on real events or they’re simply urban legends which have taken on a life of their own, the strange happenings, unexplained events and unsolved mysteries in this book will take you on a frightening journey to the outer limits of plausibility, and dare you to believe the unbelievable.

Ranging from the mysterious to the macabre, the stories in this book span a broad range of supernatural subjects including ghosts, spirits and the undead, witchcraft and occultism, extraterrestrial life, mythical creatures, and much more.

Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, a paranormal junkie or an interested observer, let these stories spark your imagination, capture your curiosity and perhaps even send a shiver down your spine.

This book is designed to help you in many ways. While its main objective is to save you money, precisely how much you wish to save depends on you. There are ways to save a little and other ways to make greater savings. Some require very little in the way of effort, others are not possible without a certain degree of sacrifice or compromise in your life. Most of us do not earn as much as we think we need, and are constantly left wishing for that little bit extra. This book will not necessarily make you money, which is a different area altogether, but it will help you to utilise what money you do have more efficiently. The book contains valuable advice such as how to make more efficient use of your central heating system, and useful tips such as the secrets of getting a bargain, plus general hints on other areas of life that can save you money. You may be familiar with many of the ideas mentioned in this book, but do you practice them? Saving money is a little like a régime or diet, it has to be followed strictly for any effect to be noticed. It will take a little while of following this book’s advice before you reap the rewards, but it will be worth it in the end when you find you have more money (or fewer debts) than usual.

Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.
Hal Borland
Brimming with curious garden lore as well as practical, year-round advice on everything from planting and pruning to growing your own veg and composting, this handy book is the perfect companion for any gardener. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or information, The Pocket Gardener will keep you busy in all seasons.

‘In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.’    John Muir
Packed with absorbing countryside facts and tips on everything from birdwatching to identifying flora and fauna, this miscellany is the perfect companion for any nature lover. Whether you’re seeking knowledge or encouragement, The Pocket Naturalist will deepen your delight in the natural world all the year round.

Worried about the world and want to make a difference? Inspired by a new political voice or enraged by an old one? Finding out how to play your part in the political process has never mattered more.


Politics finds its way into almost every corner of our lives. While the plotting, scheming and petty point-scoring might put some off, others thrive on it, and passions rise when the issues affect people’s lives. Politics is too important to leave to the politicians, so this little book would like to warmly welcome you into the political world. It will be your handy guide as you take your first tentative steps towards becoming politically active. With a bit of the history, the things you need to know today and a few tricks of the trade, it will help you to change the world for the better and stand up for what you believe.


Whether you’re taking your first tentative steps into the world of politics or thinking about getting out and knocking on some doors, this clear and concise guide is for you. Providing a whistle-stop tour through the corridors of power and explaining the basics of our parliamentary democracy, it will inspire you to take action.

All bikes are beautiful, but some are downright sexy.



Bike Porn brings together some of the most seductive and tantalizing bikes ever to be photographed , from the slickest single-speeds to the most teched-out racing machines and beyond, captured in all their finely crafted glory.