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.

Though his life was relatively short, Christian Ernest Dior's seismic influence on the fashion world ensures his name lives on as one of the most successful and celebrated designers of all time. Using the rationing restrictions of wartime, he created designs that extenuated the female figure and released the women of the world from the restrictive, dull clothing that restricted rather than enhanced femininity. It was Dior's sudden prominence on the world stage that restored Paris' reputation as the epicentre of the fashion world. To wear a Dior item of clothing, was to wear the best of the best. His post-War collection was described as a completely 'new look' by the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, one of the world's most powerful style magazines. The description was adopted and quickly became a fashion movement, with Dior's 'New Look' leading the way and even stealing the limelight from compatriot Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. The Little Guide to Christian Dior shows how despite coming from a wealthy background with powerful allies, Christian Dior may not have had to scrap his way to the top as Coco Chanel did, but his talent is no less worthy and his legacy as one of the world's greatest designers is no less deserving. 'My dream? To make women happier and more beatiiful.' As seen on Living in Fifties Fashion, 'Salute Mr Dior'

From New York Times bestselling author, legendary Jeopardy! champion, and host Ken Jennings comes a hilarious travel guide to the afterlife, exploring destinations to die for from literature, mythology, and pop culture ranging from Dante’s Inferno to Hadestown to NBC’s The Good Place. Ever wonder which circles of Dante’s Inferno have the nicest accommodations? Where’s the best place to grab a bite to eat in the ancient Egyptian underworld? How does one dress like a local in the heavenly palace of Hinduism’s Lord Vishnu, or avoid the flesh-eating river serpents in the Klingon afterlife? What hidden treasures can be found off the beaten path in Hades, Valhalla, or NBC’s The Good Place? Find answers to all those questions and more about the world(s) to come in this eternally entertaining book from Ken Jennings. 100 Places to See After You Die is written in the style of iconic bestselling travel guides—but instead of recommending must-see destinations in Mexico, Thailand, or Rome, Jennings outlines journeys through the afterlife, as dreamed up over 5,000 years of human history by our greatest prophets, poets, mystics, artists, and TV showrunners. This comprehensive index of 100 different afterlife destinations was meticulously researched from sources ranging from the Epic of Gilgamesh to modern-day pop songs, video games, and Simpsons episodes. Get ready for whatever post-mortal destiny awaits you, whether it’s an astral plane, a Hieronymus Bosch hellscape, or the baseball diamond from Field of Dreams. Fascinating, funny, and irreverent, this light-hearted memento mori will help you create your very own bucket list—for after you’ve kicked the bucket.

Delve into the magickal world of spells and white witchcraft with this informative and friendly guide for baby witches Calling all baby witches! Have you ever wanted to develop your intuitive powers to look into the future and manifest your dreams? Are you interested in learning how to harness the moon's power to cast the most potent spells for love and happiness? Or maybe you're just curious about all this witchy stuff and want to know more? If so, this journal is for you! Find out what kind of witch you could be! Are you a celestial witch, who looks to the moon and stars for guidance? Are you a weather witch, who uses the power of the elements for the most potent spell-casting? Maybe you're a divination witch, who can see the future in a black mirror? Or perhaps an earth witch, who enjoys a bubbling cauldron of herbal delights? With easy-to-follow spells and rituals for every occasion, and grimoire pages to record the spells you have cast and any that you've devised yourself, this beautifully designed journal will set you on the path to discovering your true witchy self.

'See if you can tell your Tantalus from your Tacitus!' - The Daily Telegraph 'This book aims to fill you in on the stuff you wish you'd been taught at school' - The Times ______________________ A Classical Education is a must-have for anyone feeling let down by modern schooling. How many times have you wished that your history stretched all the way back to Greek and Roman myths and legends? Or that you'd been taught Latin at school? Or perhaps you wish you knew all about the great inventions and medical developments that have made our world what it is today? A Classical Education provides all of these classical facts that modern schooling leaves out, and many more. Perfect for parents who wish to broaden their children's education, as well as for those who would simply like to learn or relearn the facts themselves, A Classical Education is informative and educational, but above all accessible. Subjects include: Latin and Greek; Logic and philosophy; Natural sciences; Art and architecture; Poetry and drama; History and Classical literature.

From the private papers of Jane Austen and Mozart to those of Anne Boleyn and Nelson, "Love Letters of Great Men and Women" collects together some of the most romantic letters in history. For some of these great men, love is a 'delicious poison' (William Congreve); for others, 'a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music' (Charles Darwin). Love can scorch like the heat of the sun (Henry VIII), or penetrate the depths of one's heart like a cooling rain (Flaubert). But what about the other side of the story? What of the secret hopes and lives of some of the greatest women in history? Taken together, these love letters show that perhaps little has changed over the last 2,000 years. Passion, jealousy, hope and longing are all represented here - as is the simple pleasure of sending a letter to, and receiving one from, the person you love most. Includes letters by: Anne Boleyn * Beethoven * Edith Wharton * Mark Twain * Mary Wordsworth * Nell Gwyn (mistress of Charles II) * Elizabeth Barrett Browning * GK Chesterton * Queen Victoria * Napoleon Bonaparte * The Empress Josephine * Mary Wollstonecraft * Amadeus Mozart * Katherine Mansfield Praise for "Love Letters of Great Men": 'The most romantic book ever' "Daily Mail" 'Inspired by the "Sex and the City" movie... Famous men caught with pen in hand and heart in mouth' "The Times"

Inhale calm, exhale your cares… Find inspiration for your yoga practice every day with this book of uplifting quotations, mindfulness techniques and step-by-step guidance on the best-loved yoga poses to engage and energize both mind and body all year round.

Test your wits against 210 brand-new killer sudokus with this formidable collection of the world's favourite puzzle. This compilation draws on all the knowledge of the expert puzzle writers at the Guardian, whose killer sudokus are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every day. All of your logical reasoning will be required to solve these previously unpublished puzzles, specially designed to increase in difficulty as the book progresses.

From the bestselling author of Darwin's Dragons comes a high-stakes aquatic adventure, perfect for fans of The Murderer's Ape! England, 1893, and aquarium fever is at its height. Twelve-year-old Vinnie Fyfe works in the tea-shop at Brighton aquarium, and waits for her milliner mother to return from Paris. The arrival of a giant octopus changes her life for ever. Discovering a talent for art, Vinnie begins to draw the extraordinary beast. She soon realises she can communicate with the octopus through colour and - as a gripping mystery begins to unfold - discovers what true courage really means ... The second middle-grade historical adventure by critically acclaimed Lindsay Galvin, author of Darwin's Dragons A gripping Victorian mystery with a touching connection between a young girl and an octopus at its heart Strong STEM and natural history themes with an underwater twist Effortlessly blends exciting adventure with a rip-roaring historical mystery and non-fiction elements PRAISE FOR DARWIN'S DRAGONS: 'A striking and original adventure ... just the sort of story I love.' EMMA CARROLL 'WHAT a voyage! [Darwin's Dragons] is everything you hope it will be ...' LUCY STRANGE '[A] beautifully fictionalised story' THE TELEGRAPH

Seaweed is so familiar and yet its names - pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack - are largely unknown to us. In this short, exquisitely illustrated portrait, the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of its history, culture and use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney Islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. Seaweed troubled Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic, intrigued von Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea and inspired artists from Hokusai to Matisse. Covering seaweed's collection by Victorians, its adoption into fashion and dance and its potential for combating climate change, and with a fabulous series of recipes based around the 'truffles of the sea', this is a wonderful gift for every nature lover's home.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - A SUNDAY TIMES FILM & TV BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Razor-sharp and as funny as I May Destroy You ... A gifted writer' Sunday Times | 'A remarkable talent' Guardian | 'A perfect truth-teller of our time' ELLE | 'Leaps off the page' Observer | 'Comic and devastating' New York Times | 'A magnificent thinker' gal-dem | 'A must-read' Metro | 'Your self-help bible' Sunday Times ***A BEST AUTUMN READ in Vogue, Vulture, Time Magazine, Observer, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle and LitHub *** ______________________________________________ From the brilliant mind of the creator and star of I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum comes a passionate declaration against fitting in. Michaela Coel's MacTaggart Lecture touched a lot of people with her striking revelations about race, class and gender. But in the end, the person most impacted was Coel herself. Building on this speech, Misfits immerses readers in her deeply personal vision through powerful allegory and anecdotes - from her East London upbringing to her discovery of theatre and love for storytelling. With inspiring insight and wit, she tells of her reckoning with trauma and metamorphosis into a champion for herself, inclusivity and radical honesty, and in telling her journey invites us to reflect on our own. By embracing our differences, she says, we can transform our lives. An artist to her core, Coel holds up the path of the creative as an emblem of our need to regard one another with care and respect - and transparency. Misfits is a triumphant call for honesty, empathy and inclusion. This timely, necessary book is a rousing coming-to-power manifesto dedicated to anyone who has ever worried about fitting in.

When can you spot the Hunter's Moon, a Smiling Moon or a Pink Moon? How can the phases of the moon help your garden grow? What influence does the moon have on hamsters, coral and skylarks? Navigate the rhythms of the night sky with this evocative collection of poetry, prose and precious wisdom. Illuminating the moon's influence on the natural world and its depiction in folklore and the arts, this guide will open your eyes to the wonders of our brightest celestial neighbour.

A 2021 ‘BOOK TO LOOK OUT FOR’ – THE INDEPENDENT ‘A mouthpiece for our anxieties and a tonic for our hearts.’ Charly Cox ‘Funny and honest.’ Pandora Sykes ‘Offers readers of all stripes and ages a great overview of relationships in the digital era’. Matt Haig In Millennial Love journalist Olivia Petter explores the questions, quirks and anxieties that consume the contemporary dating landscape. Olivia scrutinises the myths surrounding modern romance and asks why, despite having endless technology designed to aid communication, it’s harder to meet someone now than ever before. The book is based on the Independent’s chart-topping podcast of the same name and expands on some of the issues discussed on the show, including why contraception is a feminist issue, how dating apps have altered our understanding of attraction, and how 'Love Island' became the unlikely lens through which the consequences of so many of these things were exposed. Other topics covered include read receipt anxiety, why we need to rethink our relationship with porn, and the significance of ‘sliding into someone’s DMs’. By combining memoir with social commentary and insights from former podcast guests, including Munroe Bergdorf, Elizabeth Day and Lisa Taddeo, Millennial Love is an essential handbook on what it means to love today.

Now you can finally discover what your four-legged friend is trying to tell you, with help from this hilarious fully illustrated book When you look into those big, gorgeous puppy-dog eyes, it sometimes seems all too obvious what your dog is thinking - namely, I love you. But there's more to dogs than meets the eye, and after delving deep into pup psychology we can now reveal the real thoughts behind those adorable faces. You'll find out: what's going on behind those big brown eyes when your pooch is desperately begging for food why they insist on digging holes in your pristine lawn what they really think about trips to the V.E.T. their insightful opinions on the cone of shame why they love to chase moving vehicles what they make of your cutesy nicknames This charming and fully illustrated book is the perfect gift for any dog lover, or anyone who has ever said the words, "I wish I knew what you were thinking!"

Walk a llama. Fly a kite. Go star gazing. Ride a steam train. Row a boat. Watch a waterfall. Wonder at life and all its beautiful moments because you only get one chance at it. Discover new ways to broaden your horizons and reach for life-affirming experiences, then record them in these pages. Collect Moments, Not Things will help you break away from a digital existence and create a fulfilled, exciting and happy life.

One person being awesome is all it takes to change the world. People Are Awesome brings you an array of inspiring stories of good deeds, from everyday acts of gentle compassion to heroic deeds of altruism that will restore your faith in humanity. In a world that can all too often feel entrenched in doom and gloom, these heart-warming stories will teach, inspire, restore hope, and, most importantly, serve as a simple reminder to be awesome to each other.

Discover the wonders of the paranormal with this collection of spellbinding puzzles and brain-training activities, here to focus your mind and inspire creativity Immerse yourself in all things mystical with this assortment of pleasing puzzles and calming conundrums, guaranteed to bewitch and enchant you. From white witchcraft and secret symbols to rituals and runes, the enigmas in these pages will take you on an expedition through the mystical world. Featuring a huge range of puzzles, games and activities for you to enjoy, this treasury of brain-training teasers will help you engage your mind and find peace in your day. Inside you will find: A varied selection of puzzles, including crosswords, word searches, word ladders, anagrams, sudokus, spot-the-differences, acrostics and more Mindful activities to help you relax, such as colouring pages and mazes A selection of enchanting affirmations to awaken your imagination and inspire creativity Stimulate your mind and unlock the secrets of the magic world as you embark on this spellbinding journey.

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