Search Results for: General Interest

When it comes to alcohol, less really is more. Drinking less means having more energy, more focus and more money. It’s a huge step to better health, better moods and a better life. Whether you’re keen to just cut down or wish to stop completely, this pocket-sized handbook has all the facts, advice and ideas you need to reshape your life in exactly the way you want.

Step into a world of gods, heroes and monsters

Throughout history, mythologies have been fundamental to societies and cultures across the world. They are the collected stories of a people – the fascinating folk tales and the epic legends that shape the history and the beliefs of whole civilizations.

This pocket guide offers readers an engaging and accessible introduction to the major world mythologies, exploring their origins, foundational stories and key mythological figures.

Learn how the Greeks won the ten-year Trojan war, how the Norse god Thor got his mighty hammer, and why the Aztecs made a daily human sacrifice to the sun god, Huitzilopochtli.

If you’re looking to enrich and expand on your understanding of world history, religion and culture, then this book is an ideal starting point to fill your mind with stories of wisdom and wonder.

Discover the captivating stories behind the following mythologies: Aboriginal, Aztec, Celtic, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hindu, Incan, Japanese, Maori, Mayan, Mesopotamian, Norse, Roman.

Meet the inspirational animals who went from being rescued to becoming rescuer in these incredible true stories

You’ll read all about…
– Constantine and Crystal, the guinea pigs who gave a bullied girl with autism a reason to smile
– Alex, the tiger who inspired a homeless drug addict to get her life back on track
– Angel, the horse who helped her owner to lose weight and regain her confidence
– Daniel, the duck who was rescued from a food market and succeeded in soothing his owner’s PTSD

… as well as many other animal heroes who came to their owner’s aid – whether it was helping them to recover from mental illness, relationship breakdown or bereavement.

These remarkable creatures all repaid the love and appreciation that their human companions displayed in caring for them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you that adopted animals can heal our pain and transform our lives.

Learn to forage in the hedgerows like the herbalists of the past with this best-selling beginner’s guide.

For centuries our ancestors looked to nature not just for food, but also for healing. To this day, our ancient hedgerows, woodlands and forests are still full of remedies – and they’re waiting to be discovered.

This is the essential guide to enjoying the bountiful delights of the natural world. Learn how to make delicious preserves, healing balms, soothing toddies and cures for colds with nature’s jewels such as rose hips, elderberries and mugwort.

You will also find:

– Photographs to help you safely identify edible plants
– Advice on what is available in each season
– Guidance on how best to prepare and preserve your finds
– The fascinating folklore and history of foraging
Every walk is an opportunity to learn, identify a new plant, gather something to eat and reconnect with nature – so dive in to begin your foraging adventure.

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!

We all know that baked treats can warm our hearts as well as our stomachs, and that everything tastes better when you’ve made it yourself. This collection of delicious recipes is peppered with thoughtful quotes and bursting with fail-safe pick-me-ups, from piping-hot pies to sinful double-chocolate muffins. Bake these recipes and be down in the dumplings no more!

Space is spectacular

This short, informative and engaging guide to the wonders of the universe will fascinate and inspire readers of all ages

There’s never been a more exciting time to learn about space. As new rockets are launched and fresh discoveries are made, humanity’s urge to explore and understand what’s going on out there keeps evolving and expanding.

But you don’t need to have Einstein-level training to grasp the science and ponder the big questions. This little book covers everything from the Big Bang and the formation of the planets in our solar system, and how to spot them in the night sky, to a timeline of firsts and major events, including the Apollo missions, Elon Musk’s SpaceX programme and Tim Peake’s Principia mission.

Packed with awe-inspiring facts and profiles of key figures, it will take you on an out-of-this-world adventure to the stars and back.

Among the many fascinating questions the book will answer are these:

– How big is the universe and how was it formed?
– How many meteorites crash into Earth every day?
– Could humans one day live on Mars?
– Are we alone in the universe?

Do you have a deep-rooted fear of flying, or would you simply like to be more relaxed when you get on a plane? In this informative and accessible guide, veteran airline pilot Captain Keith Godfrey and psychologist Dr Alison Smith welcome you aboard and take you through everything from take-off to touchdown, helping you to feel more confident and at ease when journeying by air. Many of the questions that trouble nervous flyers are addressed; for example:

• What is turbulence?
• Why are there so many unusual noises during a flight, and what are they?
• How does an aircraft stay in the air?
• What happens if an engine fails?
• How effective are air traffic controllers?

It’s more than just a radio station – Radio 4 is a celebration of curiosity, knowledge and entertainment, and it’s a beloved soundtrack to life for millions of Britons. But for the moments when you’re not tuning in, how about a puzzle or two to pass the time? From quizzes and riddles to crosswords and sudoku, whether you’re an expert on all things Radio 4 or merely a casual listener, there’s plenty in these pages to tickle your fancy and tease your brain.

INNOVATIVE. ICONIC. BRITISH.

This fascinating, full-colour, photographic compendium invites you to discover Britain in a new way: through the objects that are part of the fabric of contemporary life in the UK, showcasing a wealth of classic British design, as well as treasured everyday items.

Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2018

If you had told Helen two years ago that she would be getting up at 6 a.m. on Sundays to swim in a freezing reservoir and spending her Saturday nights unshowered and covered in mud in a pub, she would have spat out her champagne. But when everyone around you starts settling down, what else is a glamorous party girl to do but to launch herself into the world of endurance sport?

For someone who didn’t even own a pair of flat shoes (and definitely no waterproofs), Helen would soon find she had a lot to learn.

Join Helen on her hilarious and soul-searching journey as she swaps a life of cocktail bars and dating for the challenges and exhilaration of triathlons, trail runs, obstacle races, long-distance cycles and ocean swims… and sets herself the seemingly impossible goal of qualifying as a Team GB triathlete.

Tips and ideas for travelling the world
So you’re off to explore the big, wide world: head filled with possibilities and hiking boots laced.
But a big trip raises big questions, like ‘How do I go about choosing and packing a bag?’, ‘How should I handle money abroad?’ and ‘What the hell do I do when my hostel dorm is filled with snorers?’ Luckily this handy guide is filled with essential tips, advice and hacks to make your adventures on the road truly unforgettable. 

Dive into this deck of 52 cards containing delicious cocktail recipes, both classic and modern. The box also includes a pocket-sized booklet and stand for displaying the recipe cards.

Bottoms up! Whether you’re a mixologist in the making or looking for new ideas to refresh your repertoire, let The Cocktail Deck help to make any occasion one to remember.

From the crowd-pleasing classics such as the Margarita and Piña Colada to modern must-know recipes like the Paper Plane and White Negroni, this beautifully illustrated deck includes over 50 recipes to spark your imagination, as well as a handy booklet full of expert tips and techniques on blending the perfect drink.

This is an ideal gift for all those who appreciate the unique alchemy of cocktail making.

– Box includes 52 individual cards and a 16-page booklet with extra cocktail tips, tricks and presentation ideas
– Display your cocktail recipe in the high-quality wooden stand as you create the perfect sip
– Each card features a bespoke illustration

Discover the fascinating stories behind 38 queer icons, all of them ground-breakers, risk-takers and game-changers. Whether they are activists, sportspeople, scientists or superstars, every one of these people has been a trailblazer in their field, and deserves to have their achievements celebrated the world over. Be empowered and inspired by their extraordinary life stories, their awesome achievements and their wonder-words of wisdom with this pocketbook of remarkable people, and prepare to be introduced to your new superheroes.

Do you have frequent feelings of worry, nervousness or unease?

Do you wish you could be more confident and self-assured?

In this book you will learn tips and techniques for positive thinking, the benefits of mindfulness and how to build your confidence, from the way you speak and breathe to the way you stand. With advice on healthy lifestyle habits and behaviour patterns, and how to manage your anxiety, How to Feel Less Anxious is your starting point for a happier, healthier you.

Learn to forage in the hedgerows like the herbalists of the past

As many of us look for ways to live a more planet-friendly lifestyle, the sustainable and ethical art of foraging offers us a way to connect with the world around us. It is a practice rich in tradition and steeped in history, and one that links us to our past and our future.

This foraging companion is designed to be taken with you on your adventures into the hedgerows, forests and woodland all year round. Helpfully arranged by season, this book includes clear photographs to aid plant identification, ideas on how best to prepare and preserve your finds, fascinating foraging and plant folklore, and handy pages to make your own notes and drawings.

Additional features:

– Paperback and lightweight (approx. 330g) design, to allow you to take the book with you while foraging
– A month-by-month foraging calendar
– Advice on foraging etiquette and tips for creating a forager’s toolkit
This is the essential guide to enjoying the bountiful delights of the hedgerows.

Embrace the power of the divine in this beginner’s guide to some of mythology’s fiercest females and most legendary ladies

Across thousands of years and countless civilizations, goddesses have been a powerful presence. Whether as leaders, mothers, warriors or lovers, these indomitable divinities have always been able to fascinate and seduce us.

This pocket guide offers readers an engaging and accessible introduction to a selection of the most powerful and influential goddesses throughout ancient and modern history, retelling their stories and celebrating their awesome abilities. Each profile includes a concise history of the goddess and her origins, a summary of her main powers, a look at the goddess in myth and popular culture and an exploration of her best attributes.
Learn about the Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war; Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of pleasure and protection; the beautiful Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, and many others.

Let yourself be inspired and empowered by tales of feminine power, strength and wisdom in this pocketbook of dazzling deities.

Namaste: a respectful greeting frequently used at the end of a yoga session; “I bow to the divine in you”

Nom-aste: a respectful prayer of thanks for delicious, nutritious and just plain yummy food

Looking after our well-being and eating tasty, nourishing food go hand in hand. This beautifully illustrated book celebrates mindful cooking and eating, teaching you how to bring the principles of yoga and mindfulness into your kitchen. From ahimsa (non-violence) and Ayurveda (food as medicine) to the art of making your own bread, you’ll learn how to give your body what it really needs in order to flourish, and how to nurture a healthy, positive attitude toward food. The 60 wholesome, plant-based recipes inside will add vitality to your daily life and leave you filled with good food and gratitude.

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.

Sport can bring out the best in us… and the worst.
The high-pressure world of competitive sport has been shaken over the years by a series of major scandals. Involving drugs, sex, violence, money or pure and simple cheating, these incidents have ruined reputations, fuelled suspicions and shocked loyal supporters. Highlighting some of the most memorable cases from around the world, Norman Ferguson explores both recent and historic instances of dishonesty, betrayal and outrageous unsporting behaviour.
Over 35 scandals, including:
How cancer-survivor Lance Armstrong deceived his fans and cheated his way to seven Tour de France victories The World Cup bidding processes that brought the FBI to FIFA’s door Figure skater Tonya Harding’s sinister plot to break the leg of her rival, Nancy Kerrigan

Don’t let anxiety define who you are

In a world where we are constantly comparing our looks, our lifestyles, our jobs and our relationships with others, it can be easy to let worries get the better of us. The truth is, whether you’re sociable or solitary, extroverted or introverted, anxiety will affect us all at some point in our lives.

This pocket-sized guide will help you recognize and understand the way you feel, and offers practical advice for looking after your mental and physical well-being. From challenging the way you think to making positive lifestyle changes, this book is your starting point for a more carefree, content and confident you.

Tips and ideas for wild nights in the woods


Whether you’re a seasoned camper or it’s your first time sleeping under the stars, this pocket-sized book, packed with tips and advice on what gear you need, where to pitch up, how to perform basic first aid and much, much more, will be your essential guide to surviving and having fun in the great outdoors.

Meet the inspirational dogs who went from being rescued to becoming rescuer, in these incredible true stories.

You’ll read all about…
– Toby, the golden retriever who performed the Heimlich manoeuvre to save his owner’s life
– Liam, the Lhaso Apso-Poodle mix who helped his owner battle an eating disorder
– Hercules, the St Bernard who saved his owners from burglars on the first day he moved in
– Alfie, the terrier who gave a bullied girl a new lease of life

… as well as many other canine heroes who came to their owner’s aid – whether it was saving them from physical threats, or helping them to recover from mental illness, PTSD and bereavement.

These remarkable dogs all repaid the love and appreciation that their owners displayed in rescuing them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you that adopted dogs truly are man’s best friend.

How do you want to change your life?

Every day is a fresh start, just bursting with opportunities. This book will show you how to fire up each day with positivity and passion, and reinvent your downtime to make it work for you. Inject some magic into your mornings, make your days more fulfilling and more productive, and set yourself on course to achieve your dreams – and all in just five minutes! It’s everything you need to make your day – and your life – spectacular.