Cracking... full of running gems, realities and giggles. Nice work!' - Martin Yelling, Marathon Talk 'Lovely - very impressive' - TalkSPORT 'From now on, if anyone I know mentions that they want to start running, this will be my first recommendation' - Stuart Heritage Best Books of 2021: Sport - Waterstones selection The Runner's Code explores the unwritten rules of everyday running and is essential reading for anyone who marvels at marathons, tears round the track or simply plods round the park. Filled with smart advice and brilliantly knowing humour, this unique celebration of running takes the newbie and veteran alike through the secret, nuanced and blindingly obvious rules of running to answer all the important questions, such as: - What's the correct etiquette for acknowledging other runners? - What should you do if you get 'caught short' on a run? - And exactly how many times can you ask colleagues for marathon sponsorship? The book is packed with plenty of need-to-know information to help you deliver your best running performance, such as coping with different weather conditions, advice on kit and clothing (how many miles can a pair of trainers last, and is it ever appropriate to run in a mankini?) and pavement etiquette (overtaking dawdling pedestrians on a busy street). There are also sections on getting the best race-day nutrition, finding the perfect running headspace and gaining maximum joy from your running. The Runner's Code features exclusive contributions from BBC presenters Nicky Campbell and Louise Minchin, sports writer Henry Winter, and leading running authors Anna McNuff, Paul Tonkinson, Rachel Cullen, Martin Yelling, Liz Yelling, Helen Croydon and Michael Stocks. They each brilliantly reveal what they love and what they hate about running. Written by journalist, author and self-confessed running nut Chas Newkey-Burden, The Runner's Code will help us to all run better and more responsibly, while reminding us of the joy and, at times, the wonderful absurdity of running.

'Heart-swelling in its wholesomeness' - Gina Martin 'A reminder of the life-changing power of empathy' - Emma Gannon Why are you kind? Could you be kinder? The kindness we owe one another goes far beyond everyday gestures like taking out the neighbour's bins - although it's important not to downplay those small acts. Kindness can also mean much more. In this timely, insightful guide, Henry James Garrett lays out the case for developing a strong, courageous, moral kindness, one that will help you fight cruelty and make the world a more empathetic place. Building on his academic studies in metaethics and using his signature sweet animal cartoons, Henry explores the sources and the limitations of human empathy and the many ways, big and small, that we can work toward being our best and kindest selves. A world in which everyone was the fully-empathetic of version of themselves would be a very kind world indeed. And that's the world this book will move us toward.

What could be a more tempting Christmas gift than a compendium of David Sedaris's best stories, selected by the author himself? From a spectacular career spanning almost three decades, these stories have become modern classics and are now for the first time collected in one volume. For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to read without laughing. Now, for the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work. In these stories, Sedaris shops for rare taxidermy, hitchhikes with a lady quadriplegic, and spits a lozenge into a fellow traveler's lap. He drowns a mouse in a bucket, struggles to say 'give it to me' in five languages and hand-feeds a carnivorous bird. But if all you expect to find in Sedaris's work is the deft and sharply observed comedy for which he became renowned, you may be surprised to discover that his words bring more warmth than mockery, more fellow-feeling than derision. Nowhere is this clearer than in his writing about his loved ones. In these pages, Sedaris explores falling in love and staying together, recognizing his own aging not in the mirror but in the faces of his siblings, losing one parent and coming to terms - at long last - with the other. Taken together, the stories in The Best of Me reveal the wonder and delight Sedaris takes in the surprises life brings him. No experience, he sees, is quite as he expected - it's often harder, more fraught and certainly weirder - but sometimes it is also much richer and more wonderful. Full of joy, generosity, and the incisive humor that has led David Sedaris to be called 'the funniest man alive' (Time Out New York), The Best of Me spans a career spent watching and learning and laughing - quite often at himself - and invites readers deep into the world of one of the most brilliant and original writers of our time.

'This is a marvellous, endlessly illuminating book ... It doesn't go on the shelf alongside other critics; it goes on the shelf alongside Dickens' Howard Jacobson ___________________ Discover the tricks of a literary master in this essential guide to the fictional world of Charles Dickens. From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters? What was Dickens's favourite way of killing his characters? When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost? Why is Dickens's trickery only fully realised when his novels are read aloud? In thirteen entertaining and wonderfully insightful essays, John Mullan explores the literary machinations of Dickens's eccentric genius, from his delight in cliches to his rendering of smells and his outrageous use of coincidences. A treat for all lovers of Dickens, this essential companion puts his audacity, originality and brilliance on full display. 'Brilliantly sharp ... Mullan makes us see that Charles Dickens was one of the most artful, which is to say skilled, writers the world has ever seen' Mail on Sunday 'Put it on your Christmas list and spend the post-goose collapse reading the good bits aloud' Laura Freeman 'Even if you know a lot about Dickens you will find revelations in this book, and if you know nothing about him it will be the perfect appetiser' The Times, The best paperbacks of 2021

A stocking-fodder sensation of classic Christmas carols told through the brilliantly British medium of pun, by the internationally renowned Guardian cartoonist, Martin Rowson. Carol Carnage takes the first verse and chorus line of five world-famous carols and renders them into stunning pen-and-ink puns, brimming with English eccentricity, invention and Christmas-crackerly bawdiness. Whether it is the frosty beauty of In the Bleak Midwinter maliciously misheard as the vomit-spackled Ian the Greek, Mid-wine Tour or the trumpeting joy of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen spitefully styled as a husband and wife drunkenly heckling one another in Got Dressed Yet Mary? Gin Till Morn!, the internationally renowned cartoonist Martin Rowson unrepentantly takes aim at po-faced carol enthusiasts and dangerously earnest Christmassers the world over.

The popular and reliable New King James Version, now with the enhanced readability of Thomas Nelson's custom NKJV font, is the perfect gift. The NKJV Deluxe Gift Bible is a great way to celebrate graduations, baptisms, birthdays, or special achievements. This beautifully crafted Bible comes in a variety of Leathersoft (TM) covers and includes gilded page edges, a ribbon marker, a presentation page, the words of Christ in red, full-color maps, charts, and a dictionary-concordance. Features Include: Improved readability of the Thomas Nelson NKJV Font Words of Christ in red Easy-to-use dictionary-concordance Miracles and parables of Jesus Ribbon marker Gilded page edges Presentation page Full-color maps8.1-point print size

What makes a perfect husband? In this tongue-in-cheek guide, illustrated by Heath Robinson's inimitable cartoons and contraptions, there are many charmingly old-fashioned tips for how to succeed in almost all aspects of married life. First published in 1937, this delightful book gives an insight into how the roles of both wife and husband were viewed at the time and pokes gentle fun at them both. The perfect husband presses his own trousers; he can tend the lawn and entertain the baby simultaneously by means of two simple attachments to the garden roller; he can peel onions behind his back, with the help of a mirror, and thus avoid tears; he can make a vacuum cleaner and he even has a device to help him climb the stairs silently after a late night out with the boys. When offered the choice of a glass of milk or a Manhattan, he will choose the former. With chapters on courtship and proposal, the wedding, early married life, bringing up children, sports and hobbies, domestic difficulties and middle age, this book makes a highly amusing gift for those who are considering tying the knot or wish to celebrate wedded bliss.

Err, I think you mean Downward Cat How can you tell whether your cat is purrfecting its Sphinx pose or just being, well, a cat? You may think your cat is just a naturally bendy weirdo, but the truth is, they're probably one of the growing number of Zen Yogi Cats - and this book is here to expose what happens when yoga and cats collide. Whether they're paws-ing to enjoy their morning Sun Salutations, working on their flexibility, searching for the divine (laser) light or exhaling hairballs, these cats are getting their om-meow on in the world of Cat Yoga.

This book offers a fresh take on the Victorian notion of expressing oneself with the symbolic language of flowers. Happy Day features bright, cheery flowers with uplifting sentiments. Each spread features a flower that "flips up" from the page, a brief description of the flower's meaning, and its special message for the recipient. When all of the blossoms are popped up, the book can be displayed on a desk just like a vase of flowers.

Illuminating, enriching and wholly delightful, inside you'll find more than 500 stirring quotes to inspire you, enrich you and enchant you. Whether you're hoping to revisit some of cinema's greatest moments, rediscover a much-loved writer or simply to explore new music, this wonderful box set is the perfect treat for any lover of the arts. Sample Quotes: 'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.' - George R.R. Martin 'I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.' - Ludwig Van Beethoven 'If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.' - Louis Armstrong 'Cinema is a matter of what is in the frame and what's out.' - Martin Scorsese Contents: Book 1: Books - A celebration of writing, reading and the power of the written word to educate, enlighten and entertain us. Inside there are beautifully crafted lines from some of the world's finest authors, quotes that express the joy of reading and writing, as well as wonderful passages from some of the greatest books ever written. Book 2: Music - From the classical era to modern day, you'll discover a curation of lines from composers, musicians and writers. Find out what music means to those who love it most, the classical musicians, composers and the music devotees. Covering the sheer breadth of musical tastes, it inspires you to play, listen and explore new music from all around the world. Book 3: Movies - Explore the power of cinema to challenge, inspire and change our moods from movies made by the world's best filmmakers and actors. Unearth rousing quotes from skilful filmmakers, find fresh viewing inspiration and enjoy lines from some of the best movies ever made, covering all decades and genres and revisiting some of cinema's greatest moments.

All the drinking games you'll need for the perfect night out... or in! Drinking is great, right? But not on your own. That's sad. Thankfully, The Little Book of Drinking Games is here to help you - and your friends - find an excuse to get drunk and let your hair down. Jam-packed with more than 50 drinking games of all shapes and sizes, this pocket compendium will have you thinking, drinking and pint-sinking in no time. The Little Book of Drinking Games contains the best classic drinking games (that you're usually too drunk to remember the rules to), games inspired by your favourite movies and TV shows as well as a few games that are destined to become new traditions. Ice-Cube Raft Race: Just like the legendary pub relay, Boat Race, but on a much smaller scale. Essential Supplies: An ice-cube tray, shots of your favourite spirit and plenty of straws. Borrow an ice-cube tray from the bar/your kitchen, and fill the compartments with a spirit or strong beer. If it's a tray with two rows of sections, all the better as one player can take the left side, racing another player who takes the right. The idea is to drink each compartment dry through a straw, before moving on to the next one, and then the next, until all of the compartments have been emptied. Whoever finishes first wins and condemns the loser to a forfeit of their choice.

"We'll always have Paris," croons Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca "to a young Ingrid Bergman. F. Scott Fitzgerald commented that "the best of America drifts to Paris." But, should one never get the opportunity to visit Paris, one might take consolation in the words of critic William Hazlitt, who called it a "beast of a city." Be it praise or colorful invective, everyone, it seems, has something to say about the city and this slender volume--filled with wise, witty, and sometimes scandalous quotes--presents the full range of impressions it has made.
"Paris in Quotations" takes readers on a one-of-a-kind tour of the City of Lights, in which we hear from the likes of Moliere and Thomas Gold Appleton, who thought that, "When good Americans die, they go to Paris." For centuries, Paris has reigned over the popular imagination. For those planning a visit, this collection will be warmly welcomed.

Penned by the very first Crayon Activist, Bellen Woodard, this picture book will tug at readers' heartstrings and inspire them to make a difference! Some call it the skin-colour crayon. I've heard it many times before. But this time when I pass the peach-coloured crayon to him, something in me feels different. When Bellen Woodard's classmates referred to 'the skin-colour' crayon she knew just how important it was that everyone understood that 'skin can be any number of beautiful colours.' This stunning picture book spreads Bellen's message of inclusivity, empowerment, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of leaders. Bellen created the More Than Peach Project and crayons with every single kid in mind to transform the crayon industry and grow the way we see our world. And Bellen has done just that! Includes back matter about becoming a leader and improving your community just like Bellen did! The perfect picture book for little activists everywhere, reminding readers of how important their voices are! Wonderfully colourful and emotive illustrations from Fanny Leim that bring the story to life on every page!

We live in turbulent times, and it often seems as if we've only just got used to the world as it is before it changes beyond all recognition yet again. In our hectic, fact-paced lives, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances is a must - and also much easier said than done. The Little Book of Resilience offers guidance for when the scales of life are tipped and resilience seems to be in short supply. Packed full of wise words from some of the world's best-known figures - from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day personalities - this book will show you how to cultivate physical, psychological and emotional resilience in order to cope during challenging times. Sample Quotes: 'Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected.' Jamais Cascio 'It's not the absence of fear. It's overcoming it. Sometimes you've got to blast through and have faith.' Emma Watson 'If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.' Shane Koyczan

A love letter between children and their mothers from poet Jessica Urlichs, with stunning illustrations by Sarah Reinhardt that make this a delightful gift for mothers of all ages and a beautiful book to share with children.

From infancy to childhood, through the teenage years and into adulthood, the love between a mother and child is a bond like no other. This heartwarming book of verse by bestselling author and poet Jessica Urlichs is a celebration of this inimitable bond.

As functional as it is beautiful, this substantial book presents some of the world's greatest art in an elegant package that will look good at home or in the office. Every day offers a different, exquisitely reproduced artwork from a variety of eras, genres, and media; quotations to ponder, surprise, and delight; and ample space to record birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates as well as personal notes and reflections. There's art for every taste and from every period: prehistory and ancient Egypt; Medieval and Renaissance; Impressionist, Abstract, and Modern. Featured artists include, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, Albrecht Durer, Caravaggio, Titian, Hiroshige, El Greco, Vermeer, Turner, Monet, van Gogh, Cassatt, Kandinsky, Klee, Picasso, and others. This book's global and historical collection of images makes it the perfect gift for lovers of art and will offer inspiration every day of the year.

If you have ever wanted to know more about the fascinating history of Britain's Royal Family, then look no further: The Book of Royal Useless Information is jam-packed with surprising, shocking and hilarious facts. DID YOU KNOW? King Richard the Lionheart was gay. Charles I liked to place his 18-inch court dwarf between half-loaves of bread and pretend to eat him. Elizabeth I said she bathed once every three months whether she needed it or not. Henry VII was the last English king to win his throne on the field of battle. The Queen uses black blotting paper so people can't see what she's written. Wallis Simpson admonished her lover, Edward VIII, with the joke: 'You can't abdicate and eat it.' Bestselling authors Noel Botham and Bruce Montague irreverently present everything you could ever possibly want to know about the Royals - and a little bit more! So raise the Union Flag, feed the corgis, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and enjoy this truly mind-boggling collection of totally useless information.

The Nutcracker ballet, danced by guinea pigs

As the curtain rises, Clara is opening her presents under the Christmas tree. She falls in love with a present from her godfather Drosselmeyer: a wooden Nutcracker. When Clara falls asleep that night, she is swept up in a battle between the Nutcracker (who has become a handsome prince) and the terrible Mouse King. This leads to a magical trip into the realms of fantasy, a sweet-filled wonderland where the beautiful Sugarplum Fairy dances...

This is the world famous ballet, as you've never seen it before.

Do you love playing wordle? Do you want to test your skills with a unique evolution of the game? If you do, then you will love this collection of wordle puzzle chains is ideal for you to do anytime, anywhere. In Wordle Tumble each answer to each puzzle forms the first line of the next one. The puzzles will get progressively harder. If you get stuck, you can use the solution to a later puzzle to work backwards. In the Extreme section, the puzzle chains will run over a double page spread to give wordle addicts a unique, fun, and interactive collection of brain-teasing puzzles, that can be played offline and will entertain for hours and hours. These mind-melting puzzles are graded from Easy to Extreme. Puzzlers must guess what the correct word is, deducing from previous words in the grid what letters go where. A clue means there is only one correct solution to each puzzle, and answers can be found at the back of the book. Whether you are looking for puzzle practiceto train your brain, or seeking a screen-free offline alternative to online puzzles, or a wordle challenge like no other this collection will have you enthralled. Perfect for commuters, keen puzzlers and all ardent wordle fans, and suitable for children and adults, this book is the perfect gift for anyone who can't get enough of the sensation puzzle game and wishes they could do more!  

'Chris Beetles' book is a joy, an inspiration and as thorough a document into understanding the life and times of Louis Wain as one could hope to read' - Benedict Cumberbatch 'Louis Wain invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world'. Broadcast in 1925 by H.G. Wells, these words characteristically foretold the future of the Wain cat which has, once more, become the century's most recognisable image in cat art. During their heyday, in the time before the First World War, Louis Wain's cats, dressed as humans, portrayed that stylish Edwardian world having fun: at restaurants and tea parties, going to the Race and the Seaside, celebrating at Christmas and Birthdays, and disporting themselves with exuberant games of tennis, bowls, cricket and football. This is a titillating world of cats at play, uninhibited and slightly dangerous, with most group activities likely to turn into mishap, mayhem and catastrophe. This is Wain's world, funny, edgy and animated: a whole cat world. The first comprehensive exhibition of Wain's work was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1972 and, since then, Louis Wain has steadily become more fashionable, and collected worldwide. This biography contains 300 plates of richness and variety, all of which are reproduced faithfully from the original artwork.

A mile deep. 277-miles long. 18 miles wide. The Grand Canyon isn't just spectacular in terms of its size, scale and iconic stature – though it is MASSIVE – its also huge in terms of its popularity, remaining in the U.S.'s Top Five all-natural tourist hotspots. Located in Arizona, the Canyon was carved by the Colorado River 70 million years ago. Today, it's the whole world's most famous hole, where the view up is as impressive, and frightening, as the view looking down. The Little Book of the Grand Canyon condenses the beauty of this behemoth into the palm of your hand, squeezing it down to its essential facts, stats, quotes, notes, icons and origins, a compact compendium of canyon-based grandiosity. Put simply, it's everything you need to know before you go. 'The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself.' John Wesley Powell 'You can't say you're going to jump the Grand Canyon and then jump some other canyon.' Evel Knievel

Would you like to be able to interpret the signs the universe is sending you? Do you want to know what's in store for you and your loved ones? Are you interested in the deeper meaning behind everyday events? Discover the methods for divining your future with this beginner's guide to fortune telling. Exploring the fascinating history behind divination techniques, and providing practical advice for trying them yourself, this book will teach you how to decipher the signs in the world around you. As you learn about the hidden meanings in your life, you will unlock the secrets of your destiny.

Discover the perfect work companion from viral tik tok and Netflix star Sarah Cooper The book that's missing from offices and Zoom calls around the world: the idiot's guide to conquering the corporate meeting. In it you will learn the essential subtle tricks that pay big dividends by making you look really clever in meetings: * constant nodding * pretend concentration * useless rhetorical questions * how to nail the big presentation by pacing and getting someone else to control your slides Complete with illustrated tips, examples, and scenarios, Sarah Cooper's 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings gives you actionable ways to use words like 'actionable', in order to sound smart.

How many times have you seen a woman artist solely referred to as the wife, girlfriend, muse, or 'mistress' of a man in the public eye? Throughout history, the achievements of women working across artistic disciplines - from visual artists to writers to filmmakers - have been largely undervalued, with the title of 'genius' reserved mainly for men. More than a Muse unpacks the complex romantic relationships that left women overshadowed, anonymous or underestimated in their work. Katie McCabe shines a light on the stories of talents like photographer Dora Maar, pioneering film editor and Hitchcock-collaborator Alma Reville, jazz pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong and many more. Exploring a broad scope of art movements and moments from Surrealism to early British silent film, Katie reexamines the contributions of women that have too often been ignored. More than a Muse views our history through the lens of artistic partnership, and positions women solidly in the foreground.

A gift or self-purchase for anyone interested in spirituality and wellness. An introduction to aural healing, this little book offers explanations of the seven subtle bodies (or layers) of auras and how to identify the ones that are stagnant. You will learn to read and interpret the health of your auras as well as cleanse, protect, balance and heal them. And because your mood, health, the food you eat, your environment and the positive or negative energy around you can all affect your auras, these are also addressed, as is associated energy work with crystals, meditation, visualization and rites and rituals. Learning more about your personal energy fields will help you understand yourself better and improve areas that are weakened, whether that's health, fear, grief, home life, career or romance. SAMPLE QUOTE: 'The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh.' Lucien Freud SAMPLE FACT: A simple way to cleanse your aura is to close your eyes, picture a white light radiating from within your body outwards, and flowing through all the subtle bodies. Think of it as a bright light clearing away and dissipating the dark clouds.