A glorious essay by Winston Churchill about one of his favourite pastimes, painting. The prefect antidote to his 'black dog', a depression that blighted his working life, Churchill took to painting at the age of 40. It became a passion that was to remain his constant companion.

You know you're having a senior moment when you decide it's time to pull up your socks - and realize you forgot to put any on! Age is just a number and you're only as old as you feel, but if you're heading into your golden years and you're certifiably "no spring chicken", you might benefit from browsing through the pages of this tongue-in-cheek book to help you decide if your marbles just need a polish or you've well and truly lost them! Inside you'll find examples of classic "senior moments", such as: Ringing a friend to ask them for their phone number. Getting annoyed at the fact that your all-in-one remote won't open your garage door. Going to the store for milk and coming home with a new dog collar, rawl plugs, some plant pots that were on special offer... but no milk. Feeling frustrated by your computer's instructions to "press any key", when there's no "Any" key on your keyboard. With a sprinkling of reassuring quotes from fellow old-timers, this collection will help you see the funny side of getting older (but not necessarily wiser).

A hilarious illustrated young fiction series starring Martin Kennedy - the tidiest boy in the world's tidiest town - from witty duo Adam Wallace and James Hart.

Martin is so neat and clean that he has never ever farted ... UNTIL NOW! A freak accident dooms Martin to a dreadful destiny of: baked beans and bottom blowouts. With the help of his grand fart master, can Martin learn to harness the power of his new skill and use it to save the day?

Fantastically fun illustrations throughout for fans of Captain Underpants, The Bad Guys and WeirDo. Perfect for beginner readers (and those who love baked beans!)

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.

This is Britain rewritten in predictive text. One man and his mobile phone gremlin take on the people, institutions and events that have shaped this country, autocorrecting as they go and uncovering some shocking home truths. So let's honour our majestic Queer Vicar, the Right Honourable Primary Monster, the National Death Device, and give thanks for that Bikini Inversion*; this is an extensive love letter (or rather text message) to this land we call home. * Queen Victoria, Prime Minister, National Health Service, Viking Invasion

Strategy is the craft of a warrior – Miyamoto Musashi Written around 1645, Miyamoto Musashi’s Five Rings is a classic Japanese work on mastery in swordsmanship, leadership and conflict. Musashi was a swordsman, philosopher and strategist, and today his work remains of influence not only in the realm of martial arts but in the business world, too. Musashi’s no-nonsense approach to the martial arts and combat includes eliminating technical flourishes, understanding that technique should simply be understood as defeating your opponent, and appreciating that the same qualities apply in both small- scale and large-scale conflicts. Repeatedly, he stresses the importance of learning through practice, rather than merely reading about them. Produced in a handy pocket format, Five Rings is presented in an exquisite illustrated edition with a brand new modern translation.

Test your powers of deduction against more than 200 devilishly difficult Killer Sudoku puzzles. The revered intelligence organisation, Mensa, have worked with Gareth Moore to put together a supreme test of logic. These brand-new puzzles will provide hours of entertainment for anyone who enjoys a difficult mental challenge.

A history and appreciation of the fabulous world of drag Drag is the ultimate form of queer expression and art, and with the success of TV's Drag Race, it's now more widely known and popular than ever. Brandi Amara Skyy is the perfect guide to all kinds of drag under the rainbow umbrella. Brandi's inclusive appreciation of every form of drag enables them to explain the history, importance and life-affirming qualities of drag for everyone. Starting with the question "What is drag?" Brandi explores where the term really comes from, and debunks the myths about it. The history of drag is covered next, including drag as subversion, as an art form and in popular culture. Drag has evolved over the years and been adopted into the mainstream, including TV and films – but has it lost its edge, and where will it go next? Finally a resources section covers drag terminology, how to become a drag artist and what to read and watch to find out more about drag. Profiles of the different kinds of drag artist feature throughout.

If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win numerous battles without a single loss. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War Written in the 6th century BC, Sun Tzu's The Art of War is still used as a book of military strategy today. Napoleon, Mae Zedong and Douglas MacArthur all claimed to have drawn inspiration from it. And beyond the world of war, modern-era business and management gurus have also applied Sun Tzu's ideas to politics and corporate strategy. This illustrated dual-language edition not only presents the original Chinese characters with James Trapp's translation on the facing page, it also tests Sun Tzu's ideas against history. Each of the 13 chapters includes a new commentary giving examples of how Sun Tzu's wisdom has been borne out on the world's battlefields. When, for example, has information provided by spies changed the course of a battle? How has history shown Sun Tzu's ideas on the importance of terrain in conflict to be true? And where can we best find examples of strategic warfare being waged? From the ancient world to the 20th century, the battles featured will be illustrated with colour battle maps, paintings and artworks. Of immense influence to leaders across millennia, The Art of War Illustrated is a classic text richly deserving this illustrated and expanded dual-language edition.

Our Small Bullet Journal with marble printed pattern is a pretty example of the Italian art of marbleising paper. Our paper soft-covered paperback notebook has full-colour artwork on the front and back cover by the best illustrators and artists from around the world. 120 pages of lined paper is an excellent canvas for bullet journaling, list-making, all forms of writing and doodling. Bring it everywhere you go. Handsome exposed, section-sewn binding means the notebook lies flat when open on any page. Soft-covered paperback notebook. Full-colour artwork on front and back cover. 120, lined printed pages. Exposed, section-sewn binding. Colour coordinated dip-dyed edges. Lays flat. Measures: 114 x 178 x 9mm.

Celebrate Easter with Clifford the Big Red Dog in this board book edition of a storybook favourite! This sturdy board book edition of Clifford's Happy Easter brings readers along as Clifford and his best friend, Emily Elizabeth, celebrate their favourite springtime holiday! What color eggs will they decorate? And who will find the most eggs during the Easter egg hunt? This new board book edition has a fresh, updated cover and a big, chunky trim with durable pages, perfect for Clifford's youngest fans. After many years, Clifford the Big Red Dog has returned to the UK With beautiful, timeless illustrations by the late Norman Bridwell A perfect storybook for Clifford fans big and small A heartwarming story of family, friendship and celebrations

Strong. Smart. Fierce. Full of fire. This bold and brazen little book is a salute to strong women everywhere – the ones that raised us, the ones that support us, the ones that show the world just how tough women can be Strength comes in many shapes and sizes, from physical power and mental toughness to quiet and composed confidence. You can be gentle and powerful; you can be calm and resilient; you can be shy but rock-solid in your beliefs. The empowering quotes and rousing affirmations in this book honour assertive and brave women everywhere. They will light a fire that helps you supercharge your confidence, lift your vibe and celebrate your power. Packed with uplifting, inspirational mantras such as: Empowered women empower women Strong women don’t have “attitudes� – we have standards Behind every successful woman is her tribe of supportive sisters Nothing is mightier than a woman who knows her worth Never apologize for your power A strong woman supports herself. A stronger woman supports everyone around her.

A self-empowerment gift book for woman of every age, these quotes and slogans are guaranteed to bring out your inner badass. Celebrating female power and potential, the sayings will inspire and motivate you to fight your corner, speak your mind, stand up to those who stand in your way, reach your goals and bounce back with a spring upwards from every challenge or hurdle in your path. By women for women, You Got This is a great antidote to self-doubt, discouragement, imposter syndrome, and general societal bullshit in the twenty-first century. For every tough independent woman out there who sometimes feels the weight of the world, here are uplifting words to foster strength, success and self-reliance. SAMPLE QUOTES: 'Behind every successful woman is herself.' 'No risk, no magic.' 'People think that all the doors are opened in front of me but it was me who pushed them open.' Coco Chanel 'It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.' Madeleine Albright

No understanding of Chinese civilization is possible without a grasp of Taoism, the philosophy that has shaped not just Chinese spirituality but also art, science and politics. And it was in the Tao Te Ching, written around 300BC, that the fundamental beliefs of Taoism were first gathered. This short, wise but very humble book went on to influence on philosophy, religion and politics. In a compellingly simple rhetorical style the book addresses how to live a simple, peaceful and harmonious life, how to rid oneself of desires and free society of institutions that promote greed. This dual-language edition of Tao Te Ching presents the original Chinese characters with a new translation on the facing page. With a new introduction that discusses the questioned authorship of the text and editorial notes, all 81 brief chapters are included, ranging from advice for politicians to wise words for the everyday person. Of immense influence across millennia, Tao Te Ching is a classic text richly deserving this exquisite edition.

Featuring comedic captions revealing what dogs are really thinking while they do their number twos, this eye-watering collection of photos is guaranteed to gross you out while cracking you up Dogs gotta defecate, just like people. But unlike us, they do it out in public. And we watch them in the act like the absolute weirdos we are. Sometimes we even take pictures. What must our canine companions think of all this? Well, Pooping Pets: The Dog Edition is here to capture and share these priceless moments in all their disgusting glory. Within its pages, you'll find the private thoughts of dogs as they empty their bow-wow-wow-els, including: Hehehe, you'll be picking this up in a minute! Err, could you not watch me while I birth this butt-log? Bears aren't the only creatures that lay one out in the woods! Not for the faint-hearted, but the perfect gift for lovers of toilet humour, this poo-blication is a steaming tribute to the bodily functions of our four-legged friends.

Do you often feel you're not good enough? Your teens are full of new challenges - exams, peer pressure, planning your future and anything and everything in between. This can turn every day into a minefield of emotions and lead to one big headache. How you feel about yourself in all this chaos can make life even tougher. When you think you don't measure up, it can be hard to pick yourself up again, but when you feel good about yourself, you can approach every situation with confidence and say "I've got this!" This book contains top tips and activities to help your self-esteem flourish and make you proud to be awesomely you.

'A fascinating journey into our relationship with the physical book...I lost count of the times I exclaimed with delight when I read a nugget of information I hadn't encountered before' Val McDermid, The Times Most of what we say about books is really about the words inside them: the rosy nostalgic glow for childhood reading, the lifetime companionship of a much-loved novel. But books are things as well as words, objects in our lives as well as worlds in our heads. And just as we crack their spines, loosen their leaves and write in their margins, so they disrupt and disorder us in turn. All books are, as Stephen King put it, 'a uniquely portable magic'. Here, Emma Smith shows us why. Portable Magic unfurls an exciting and iconoclastic new story of the book in human hands, exploring when, why and how it acquired its particular hold over us. Gathering together a millennium's worth of pivotal encounters with volumes big and small, Smith reveals that, as much as their contents, it is books' physical form - their 'bookhood' - that lends them their distinctive and sometimes dangerous magic. From the Diamond Sutra to Jilly Cooper's Riders, to a book made of wrapped slices of cheese, this composite artisanal object has, for centuries, embodied and extended relationships between readers, nations, ideologies and cultures, in significant and unpredictable ways. Exploring the unexpected and unseen consequences of our love affair with books, Portable Magic hails the rise of the mass-market paperback, and dismantles the myth that print began with Gutenberg; it reveals how our reading habits have been shaped by American soldiers, and proposes new definitions of a 'classic'-and even of the book itself. Ultimately, it illuminates the ways in which our relationship with the written word is more reciprocal - and more turbulent - than we tend to imagine.

The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA champions the country's most spectacular places in a brand-new coffee-table book. From the USA's compact Northeast region to the scorched open canyons of its Southwest, crossing the Great Lakes, the Plains and the mighty Rocky Mountains, Rough Guides have combed every corner of the country to bring you its most awesome spots. Iconic favourites like New Orleans and Yosemite are joined by up-and-coming hotspots like Detroit and Northern Utah. This staggering photography collection - with more than 150 fabulous images - features spell-binding landscapes, sparkling urban cityscapes and fascinating historic highlights. Text and images combine to give a strong flavour of each destination, including what makes each spot unique and - ultimately - unmissable. Every place has been carefully selected by Rough Guides' dedicated team of expert authors and editors, with the contents helpfully organized geographically by region. With pulsating cities, dramatic mountains, epic roadtrips and quirky culture, the USA might just be as good as it gets. Features of the Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places in the USA - Uncovers the top places to visit in the USA - Stylish coffee-table book with more than 150 inspiring photographs - Employs Rough Guides' "tell it like it is" ethos - Organised geographically by region - Carefully curated by Rough Guides' team of expert authors and editors About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy "tell it like it is" ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.

It's time to make your home a wellness zone! Your home environment should lift you up and bring you joy. But the you live and work in one place, you're all the more aware of how surroundings can affect your well-being. No Place Like Home offers simple and effective ways to transform your home environment to be more mindfully aligned with who you are. It's packed with ideas for upcycling and decluttering, as well as comforting recipes, soothing relaxation rituals and innovative ways to bring the outside in. This restorative book will help you rediscover the delights of your four walls as a space for calm, productivity, happiness and personal growth.

Amazing and Extraordinary Facts: Wales takes you on an absorbing journey around Wales to unearth the adventures, inventions, legends, firsts and birthplaces that have shaped the unique history of Wales. From the ancient mines of the Great Orme to the Severn crossing, the tsunami of the 1600s to the Turlough Lake, from bog snorkelling to Tom Jones' phone box, this intriguing compendium of facts and stories will give you a captivating insight into the Land of Song and the ideas and events that have shaped the individual identity of this remarkable country. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

Invite positivity and appreciation into your life with this guided journal for practising gratitude Gratitude plays an important role in boosting self-esteem, reducing stress and improving your overall well-being, but it's not always easy to find time for. Happily, this journal is here to be your daily reminder to focus on the good things in life. My Daily Gratitude Journal is the perfect space for you to record everything that brings you joy. With beautiful journal pages and thoughtful prompts, it contains everything you need to help you look at your life through a more positive lens. There's also a helpful introduction to gratitude with information on why it's an important practice and how it can positively impact your life. Give yourself a gratitude break each day to remind yourself of everything you're grateful for, whether it's your family and friends, your health, your favourite TV show or even the weather. Once you get started, you'll be amazed by just how much there is to appreciate.

Dogs communicate with so much more than barks and tail wags. Misreading doggie body language makes life challenging for dogs and their humans. This small but mighty book is your perfect illustrated guide to seeing and understanding the subtle visual cues and interpreting the behaviours used by your beloved pup to express how they’re feeling. The more we notice and listen to what our dogs are trying to tell us, the more we can improve our relationship with our best friends, helping them to feel safe and happy. Original illustrations help you compare similar facial expressions, body language and gestures Interpret your dog's cues and learn how your dog uses his ears, eyes, mouth, tail and posture to communicate with you Spot the signals your dog is trying to give you to tell you they're stressed or conflicted

Wood Identification & Use is a gift book for wood lovers - an indispensable and informative guide to over a hundred different kinds of wood. This compact directory explores the world's most valuable natural resource in detail. This new gift edition gives helpful details about the most popular and useful woods with illustrations and photographs to help with identification. There is also valuable information on the typical uses, durability, wood defects and potential health hazards for each species. Based on a best-selling reference work, this revised and updated abridged version includes drawings and descriptions of the living trees to enhance appreciation of the raw material of woodwork. In-depth yet accessible this handy pocket guide will be the perfect gift for all woodworkers and wood lovers.

Would you say thank you for a bad haircut? How do you feel about surprise parties? Have you ever cheated in an exam?

Based in the fascinating science of personality, these 100 multiple-choice cards provide playful insights into how (and why) our day-to-day decisions define who we are. Play alone or with your partner, friends or colleagues to discover the unique make-up of your personality and how it can help you thrive.

BASED IN THE FASCINATING SCIENCE OF PERSONALITY, so you can unlock a unique reading

PLAY ALONE OR WITH FRIENDS as you get to know yourself and others in a whole new light

WRITTEN BY AN EXPERT in behavioural science, Dr Sanna Balsari-Palsule PhD