A spellbinding new talent explores the dark side of creativity through the stories of thirteen tragic architects 'Bold Ventures resembles a pop version of Iain Sinclair's psychogeography or Out of Sheer Rage, Geoff Dyer's anti-biography of DH Lawrence' Olivia Laing, Guardian In thirteen chapters, Belgian poet Charlotte Van den Broeck goes in search of buildings that were fatal for their architects - architects who either killed themselves or are rumoured to have done so. They range across time and space from a church with a twisted spire built in seventeenth-century France to a theatre that collapsed mid-performance in 1920s Washington, DC., and an eerily sinking swimming pool in her hometown of Turnhout. Drawing on a vast range of material, from Hegel and Charles Darwin to art history, stories from her own life and popular culture, patterns gradually come into focus, as Van den Broeck asks: what is that strange life-or-death connection between a creation and its creator? Threaded through each story, and in prose of great essayistic subtlety, Van den Broeck meditates on the question of suicide - what Albert Camus called the 'one truly serious philosophical problem' - in relation to creativity and public disgrace. The result is a profoundly idiosyncratic book, breaking new ground in literary non-fiction, as well as providing solace and consolation - and a note of caution - to anyone who has ever risked their hand at a creative act. 'What a sensible, intelligent and beautiful book' Stefan Hertmans, author of War and Turpentine

This book commemorates the enduring legacy of the world's most famous ship - TITANIC. Her story is one of all those bound together on that fateful voyage. On board were: writers, artists, honeymooners, sportsmen, priests, reverends, fashion designers, aristocrats, millionaires, children, crew and emigrants looking for a better life. This book tells of their lives, and shines the spotlight on: Some of the great ship's surprising treasures Her feted voyage from Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard The fascinating museums devoted to her memory, including Titanic Belfast The iconic music and movies Her winged and four-legged passengers The sister ships of Olympic and Britannic Tales of heroism Theories surrounding Titanic's fatal collision The lifeboats and just how close the SS Californian was on that tragic night How Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton and the inquiries viewed events These stories and much more lie inside.

Falling madly in love, even when you know that by loving you risk all you have...it could happen to anyone. The Au Pair bravely goes where no other book has gone, and tells the story which so many women have experienced, with complete honesty. There is no other lesbian account that addresses the issues faced in the title as directly, and as openly. Furthermore, it is a tale that everyone who has encountered similar circumstances will be able to identify with, and benefit from. Whether it is a mother, whose daughter reveals herself to be gay, or a young woman, trying to come to terms with her sexuality. The Au Pair is a true story of a British wife and mother of three whose life is turned upside down when she meets and falls in love with her pretty and much younger Afrikaans au pair. In essence this is an unconventional love story, a candid memoir of how two women found each other at an inopportune time of their lives. How they overcame and faced reactions of their relationship from their families and friends; and ultimately dealing with their own guilt. Written as it happened, one can feel the urgency and passion woven intricately through the pages of this jaw-dropping and at times humorous memoir.

'I was twenty-six years old and an associate beauty editor at Lucky, one of the top fashion magazines in America. That's all that most people knew about me. But beneath the surface, I was full of secrets: I was a drug addict, for one. A pillhead. I was also an alcoholic-in-training who guzzled warm Veuve Clicquot after work alone in my boss's office with the door closed; a conniving and manipulative uptown doctor-shopper; a salami-and-provolone-puking bulimic who spent a hundred dollars a day on binge foods when things got bad (and they got bad often); a weepy, wobbly, wildly hallucination-prone insomniac; a tweaky self-mutilator; a slutty and self-loathing downtown party girl; and - perhaps most of all - a lonely weirdo. But, you know, I had access to some really fantastic self-tanner.' By the age of 15, Cat Marnell longed to work in the glamorous world of women's magazines - but was also addicted to the ADHD meds prescribed by her father. Within 10 years she was living it up in New York as a beauty editor at Conde Nast, with a talent for 'doctor-shopping' that secured her a never-ending supply of prescribed amphetamines. Her life had become a twisted merry-go-round of parties and pills at night, while she struggled to hold down her high-profile job during the day. Witty, magnetic and penetrating - prompting comparisons to Bret Easton Ellis and Charles Bukowski - Cat Marnell reveals essential truths about her generation, brilliantly uncovering the many aspects of being an addict with pin-sharp humour and beguiling style. 'New York's enfant terrible...Her talent has resided in her uncanny ability to write about addiction from the untidy, unsafe, unhappy epicentre of the disease, rather than from some writerly remove.' Telegraph 'I LOVE this book' Catriona Innes, Cosmopolitan Magazine UK 'An unputdownable, brilliantly written rollercoaster' Shappi Khorsandi 'Brilliantly written and harrowing and funny and honest' Louise France, The Times Magazine 'Easily one of the most anticipated memoirs of the year...[Marnell's] got an inimitable style (and oh my god, so many have tried) and a level of talent so high, it's impossible not to be rooting for her.' NYLON

It's December 1997, and a man-eating tiger is on the prowl outside a remote Russian village. The tiger isn't just killing people, it's annihilating them, and a team of men and their dogs must hunt it on foot through the forest in the brutal cold. As the trackers sift through the gruesome remains of the victims, they discover that these attacks aren't random: the tiger is apparently engaged in a vendetta. Injured, starving, and extremely dangerous, the tiger must be found before it strikes again. As he re-creates these extraordinary events, John Vaillant gives us an unforgettable portrait of this spectacularly beautiful and mysterious region. We meet the native tribes who for centuries have worshipped and lived alongside tigers, even sharing their kills with them. We witness the arrival of Russian settlers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, soldiers and hunters who greatly diminished the tiger populations. And we come to know their descendants, who, crushed by poverty, have turned to poaching and further upset the natural balance of the region. Beautifully written and deeply informative, The Tiger circles around three main characters: Vladimir Markov, a poacher killed by the tiger; Yuri Trush, the lead tracker; and the tiger himself. It is an absolutely gripping tale of man and nature that leads inexorably to a final showdown in a clearing deep in the taiga.

On Friday 13th September 2019 I embarked on an Elementary Pilot Training Course. 4 days later I would awake to be told most of the left hand side of my body & back were broken along with other serious injuries. I was told I'd sustained life changing injuries. Determined that I was not going to give my life up. I focused solely on what needed to be done to get me through. What had happened to me? 6 months into rehabilitation the COVID lockdown hit, physiotherapy, complimentary therapies & all types of training stopped. Completely isolated the only thing I could do now was to keep working on my walking until it became better & I grew stronger. With a body full of metalwork & the NHS completely at a standstill due to the pandemic would I be able to get the operations I need to release myself from the metal prison that is holding me captive? Would I be able to get myself out of the biggest challenge I was yet to face? Would I ever be able to get myself back to some semblance of a life I recognise?

In March 2020 Covid struck and the world changed - much of the world locked down - will it ever be the same again? The author woke up one morning at the end of June 2021 and decided that she wanted to put a book together of "lives during these times". She had been watching families and friends becoming increasingly divided by their opposing views on what was going on in the world. People were becoming angry and frustrated with each other for not sharing the same view on what was going on. Fear, blame, anxiety, were on the increase. People were suffering and if there was one thing we didn't need more of it was suffering. We all have our own unique circumstances, views, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears and her aim for this book is to create more understanding, respect and love. She has gathered individual heartfelt stories from friends, ordinary people, of where they were in their lives when Covid struck and how they have navigated the past 2 and a half years. The world is in crisis and we need unity, trust and love, not division, hopelessness and fear. This book tells the unique stories of people living in different circumstances, in different countries with some very different opinions. Each story is the truth of the person who wrote it even if it is not your truth. The author hopes you will enjoy reading the wonderful stories that have been shared with her.

As seen on Shane Dawson's YouTube channel! What if falling in love meant almost losing everything? Where does a moderately popular internet star who never leaves her house look for potential suitors? Online. Tinder, Bumble, Match.com, OkCupid-I tried them all. My thirty-one-year-old self clicked and swiped her little heart out, leading to more dates than I could count, and more disappointment than I was prepared for. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you know all too well the perils of modern dating. But let's say, eventually, you meet someone. You think to yourself, "Wow, they're perfect! Take me off the market, put a ring on it, knock me up, the whole enchilada, because they are 'the one.'" Let's also say that they "feel the same way" about you. Your life starts to make sense! All the pain, heartbreak, and frustration from past failed relationships was worth it. Slow clap. That's how I felt about Milos. He was from Europe, a doctor, wealthy, athletic. He had an accent and a dog. Milos was textbook marriage material. For him it was "love at first sight," but for me, it was "anxiety on every date." Something was telling me to run-but for two years, the only running I did was straight into his arms. If only I would have listened. This isn't a love story. It's my story of survival.

During the frenzied Klondike Gold Rush, many daring women ventured north to seek riches and adventure or to escape a troubled past. These unforgettable, strong-willed women defied the social conventions of the time and endured heartbreak and horrific conditions to build a life in the wild North. At the height of the gold rush, Martha Purdy, Nellie Cashman, Ethel Berry and a few hundred other women were conquering what came to be called the Trail of '98--a route that proved to be an impossible ordeal for many men. From renowned reporter Faith Fenton and successful entrepreneur Belinda Mulrooney to Mae Field, "The Doll of Dawson," and other "citizens of the demimonde," the Klondike's rebel women bring an intriguing new perspective to gold-rush history.

Paul Baker has experienced many ups and downs in his life, but it's how he dealt with these moments and learned from them that really sets his story apart. He is accustomed to failure, having learned how to turn negative experiences into positive outcomes, and he continues to remain focused on his ambitions by continually setting himself new goals. Covering themes such as ambition, determination, and the importance of mindset and exercise when it comes to personal growth, Finding Fame illustrates Paul's drive to constantly improve both himself and his life. Paul has enjoyed many major milestones over the years, from being awarded the Kyokushinkai Karate black belt at just age 16 to serving with the British Army, a career that led him all over the world to places like Belize and the Falkland Islands. This book showcases how important it is to fail in life - to get knocked down but then to rise up again, stronger and wiser and ready for the next obstacle. His martial arts background and army training taught Paul the importance of discipline and resilience, traits he took with him and used in all other areas of his life. Underlining everything he does is his knowledge of how your mindset can set you up for success, and the understanding that bad experiences aren't ultimately bad, as they can teach you the tools and techniques you need to navigate through the challenges of life. Paul also understands the power of setting goals in life, and in being ambitious with those goals. Without a clear, set plan, you won't know which direction to go in - which path to take - and, even if you end up going down a path you hadn't previously considered, you simply have to take that first step. What you learn along the way is often far more important than the destination you initially had in mind. Paul acknowledges the impact his environment had on him when he was younger, from his home life to his schooldays and his extracurricular activities. He attributes his positive growth mindset to several people from his youth: his parents, his middle school teacher, and his martial arts instructors. These individuals moulded who he was as a person and encouraged him to view circumstances and obstacles from a different perspective; by shifting his mindset, he opened himself up to all the wonderful opportunities this world has to offer. Exercise is another key theme in the book; Paul looks at how it's helped him physically and mentally. As he says, the earlier you start physical activity, the faster the payback - in all areas of your life. Not only does exercise improve your health and help with weight loss, but it also encourages a happier, more positive mindset, increases your energy levels, and gives you the confidence required to go after what you really want. Without exercise, Paul simply would not have accomplished everything he's achieved in his life so far. Finding Fame also looks at the music and world events that shaped Paul's adolescence as he grew up in the '80s, as well as his fitness victories - including the time he climbed Mont Blanc, a personal challenge he set himself to celebrate his 40th birthday. This book is an excellent example of how mindset is everything, how failure is a learning experience, and that - in order to keep growing as a person - you simply must carry on, no matter what. Finding Fame will give you the knowledge, motivation, and inspiration you need to identify your goals and go after what you really want in life.

Kintsugi is die Japanese kunstegniek om ’n gebroke keramiekvoorwerp met goud te herstel. Die tegniek maak ’n voorwerp mooier en meer kosbaar as wat dit in ’n ongebroke toestand was. Met die regte ingrype kan gebrokenheid waarde en skoonheid ontsluit. Hierdie idee is die draad wat deur dié boek loop.

In hierdie boek maak tientalle mense van verskillende agtergronde hul harte oop ter bemoediging en om insigte te deel.

In Suid-Afrika ly een uit ses mense aan depressie, angs en middelafhanklikheid en tot ses miljoen aan post-traumatiese stres. Agt duisend mense per jaar staan hul lewens aan selfdood af. Die Covid-epidemie dryf dit verder op die spits. Lees hier vir advies. Daar is hoop.

Over the last 20 years, New York City has been convulsed by enormous challenges: terrorist attack, blackout, hurricane, recession, pandemic. New Yorkers is a grand portrait of the irrepressible city and a hymn to the vitality and resilience of its people. Craig Taylor spent years meeting New Yorkers - rich and poor, old and young, native and immigrant - and getting them to share indelible true tales. Here are the voices of those who propel the city each day - subway conductor, nurse, bodega cashier, electrician who keeps the lights on at the top of the Empire State Building - as well as unforgettable glimpses of the city, from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade by a balloon handler to the Statue of Liberty by one of its security guards. New Yorkers captures the strength of the city that - no matter what it goes through - dares call itself the greatest in the world.

Deryn Blackwell is a walking, talking miracle. At the age of 10, he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Then, 18 months later, he developed another rare form of cancer called Langerhan's cell sarcoma. Only five other people in the world have it. He is the youngest of them all, and the only person in the world known to be fighting it alongside another cancer... ...making him one in seven billion. He and his parents were told that there was no hope of survival. And so, at the age of 14, after four years of intensive treatment, exhausted by the fight and with just days to live, Deryn planned his own funeral. But on the point of death, Deryn's condition suddenly and dramatically changed. His medical team had deemed this an impossibility. His recovery was nothing short of a miracle. Unexplainable. However, Deryn's desperate mother, Callie was hiding a secret... An inspirational story that will grip you from the very first pages.

Murders, riots and rescues are only part of the unique memoirs shared by retired Station Officer Colin Kirkham. Destined to be an arsonist or firefighter he took the legal route to fulfil his passion to 'Dance with the Angels', collecting a lifetime of memories along the way. For the Love of Fire follows his journey from probation to retirement, where he 'battles the beast' in two entirely different fire services, whilst attending some exceptional incidents not normally encountered by firefighters. Adding an extra dimension to his career, he also spent time as a Police Constable on the idyllic Isle of Man, where his physical size came in handy in the fight to maintain law and order. Recollecting notable fire and police incidents, including a serial killer loose in the community and a devastating motorcycle crash during the world-famous Isle of Man TT races, the stories are told with honesty, emotion and a good dose of humour, giving the reader a true reflection of what life is like serving in both the Police and Fire Services.