Why do boys instinctively bullsh*t more than girls? How do economic recessions shape a generation's confidence? Can we have too much confidence and, if so, what are the consequences?

Imagine we could discover something that could make us richer, healthier, longer-living, smarter, kinder, happier, more motivated and more innovative. Ridiculous, you might say... What is this elixir? Confidence. If you have it, it can empower you to reach heights you never thought possible. But if you don't, it can have a devastating effect on your future.

Confidence lies at the core of what makes things happen. Exploring the science and neuroscience behind confidence that has emerged over the last decade, clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Professor Ian Robertson tells us how confidence plays out in our minds, our brains and indeed our bodies. He explains where it comes from and how it spreads - with extraordinary economic and political consequences. And why it's not necessarily something you are born with, but something that can be learned.

A familiar foe. A battle for the heart of a country at war with itself.

South Africa, 1899 - the smouldering hostility between the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal is about to burst into flame. War is coming and no one can prevent it. Colonel Penrod Ballantyne, hero of Abu Klea and Omdurman, is sent to Mafeking, 'the place of stones', to recruit and train men for the fighting ahead. Amber, his wife, the successful novelist, accompanies him - eager to see more of the country her husband is about to risk his life for. But when war is declared, Amber must flee with their baby son and pray for her husband's survival against impossible odds.

Eight hundred miles to the south, in Cape Town, Ryder Courtney - adventurer, maverick, industrialist - is using his wealth and connections to bankroll the British war effort. His artist wife Saffron, frustrated by stuffy Cairo society, has joined him with their three children. There is peace in the Courtney household, or so Saffron believes, until their eldest son, Leon, stows away on a train to the front line, determined to join his distinguished uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, in changing the course of history. Saffron and Ryder have no choice but to leave the safety of the Cape Colony and follow. Leon is convinced that his parents are without honour and courage. Little does he realise that he has no chance of escaping the people they used to be.

Two families torn apart, caught up in a battle for the heart of a country at war with itself.

The Courtneys and the Ballantynes come together once again in the sequel to the worldwide bestsellers The Triumph of the Sun and King of Kings.

Eating well should be one of life’s pleasures but, for many people, this is not the case. Struggles with weight, nutrition-related health issues and low self-esteem can result in food being condemned as an ‘enemy’, to be conquered at all cost. Nicci Robertson understands, and she uses her personal experience to guide readers towards improved health and wellbeing by taking a different approach to nutrition.

In Thrive, she explains how to exchange bad habits for better ones, recognise and eliminate stress factors that can contribute to lifestyle diseases, and understand the role that proteins, carbs, fats, fibre and water play in keeping us healthy. She also unpacks some common nutrition facts and myths. Her message is clear throughout: when you eat the right foods in the right quantities, your body will respond positively and you will thrive both physically and mentally. The book includes over 80 mouthwatering family-friendly recipes that are packed with flavour and nutritionally balanced.

Whether your goal is weight-loss or improved health, Nicci’s recipes will have you rethinking the concept of ‘diet food’ and heading for the kitchen with enthusiasm!

Some pets are cute and cuddly, some are cold and slimy, others might be a bit pinchy or bitey. From a lobster that was walked through the public gardens of Paris, to 800 dogs that had their own room in a palace and their very own butler, our pets can be pampered and spoilt, but they can also be life-saving and hard-working. Matt Robertson brings incredible facts, hilarious illustrations and insightful stories about pets of all shapes and sizes to the next title in his hugely successful Do You Love? series. Allowing the pampered pooches and sneaky lizards of the world to step into the spotlight, children will love learning about the animals they know and love.

By the time you read this book, the art world may have witnessed the sale of its first $500 million painting. Whilst for some people money is anathema to art this is clearly a wealthy international industry, and a market with its own conventions and pressures. Drawing on the vast experience of Sotheby's Institute of Art, The Art Business exposes the realities of the commercial trade in fine art and antiques. Attention is devoted to the role of auction houses, commercial galleries and art museums as key institutions, with the text divided into four thematic sections covering: technical and structural elements of the art market cultural policy and management in art business regulatory legal and ethical issues in the art world the views, through interviews, of leading art market experts. This book provides a thorough examination of contemporary issues in the art business, and the mechanisms and influences which underpin its evolution. It is essential reading for students of art history or international business, or anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in this area.

What makes a winner? Why do some succeed both in life and in business, and others fail? The 'winner effect' is a term used in biology to describe how an animal that has won a few fights against weak opponents is much more likely to win later bouts against stronger contenders. As Ian Robertson reveals, it applies to humans, too. Success changes the chemistry of the brain, making you more focused, smarter, more confident and more aggressive. And the more you win, the more you will go on to win. But the downside is that winning can become physically addictive. By understanding what the mental and physical changes are that take place in the brain of a 'winner', how they happen, and why they affect some people more than others, Robertson explains what makes a winner or a loser - and how we can use the answers to these questions to understand better the behaviour of our business colleagues, employees, family and friends.

Pack your bags and have a sleepover in Ancient Egypt! Join two friends and their mischievous cat who happen to be able to time travel! Travel with these bold adventurers, via a striking gatefold spread, into Ancient Egypt and meet siblings Tuya and Senbi who invite them into their home. Tuya and Senbi show them around their house and their city, transporting the visitors and the readers into the everyday life of an Egyptian kid.  We explore their house, play their favourite games, dress up in jewels, learn who are their favourite gods, favourite snacks and what they dream of being when they grow up. The time travellers end their eventful day with a family feast and a sleepover at their hosts' house. Tim Knapman's text is funny and informative, and the scenarios the kids – and cat – find themselves in lead to lots of visual gags and funny character interaction and misunderstandings. Well-researched historical facts are introduced in a gentle, playful way. Warm, comical and engaging illustrations from Matt Robertson bring the past alive so the reader really feels like they are living like kids from long ago.

This timely book offers a detailed, multidisciplinary view on the radical changes in higher education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapters carefully investigate how the pandemic led to massive disruption in the sector, examining the contentious politics involved, and managerial and policy changes that stemmed from this unprecedented crisis. Dually focused on recent events and imminent futures, this insightful book addresses questions raised about the nature of post-pandemic learning, for instance interrogating digital changes and their permanency. Institutional changes are observed on three different levels: micro, meso and macro. Ultimately this book successfully recounts past events and hypothesizes potential future developments within the sector. Building the Post-Pandemic University will be crucial for students engaging in critical university studies, education policy, digital sociology and higher education studies. It will also be of interest for university policy makers seeking to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the higher education system.

THIS Easter bunny looks a little bit funny. IN FACT, he looks a little bit like . . . A DINOSAUR. He has claws, and sharp teeth and seems pretty scary. Could he REALLY be the Easter bunny?! Hilarious, anarchic and with hugely fun details to spot, this is the perfect book for parents looking for an EGGcellent Easter gift - with added dinosaurs!

Johannes Roberts writes and directs this high school-set British horror-thriller. When a group of teachers become trapped in school after hours by a mysterious group of murderous, hooded teenagers, alcoholic teacher Robert Anderson (David Schofield) must do all he can to save his daughter, Kate (Eliza Bennett), from the gang's clutches.

Australian supernatural suspense thriller/horror. Four teenagers find themselves on a ride to hell when they are tormented by a train without a driver in the wilds of the Australian outback.

Three years on from the previous blockbuster, Marvel comic book character Spider-Man returns in his latest adventure. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and his girl Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst) are on the cusp of contentment - but not for long. His ex-friend Harry (James Franco), son of the Green Goblin of the first film, becomes the New Goblin in his desire for revenge against Spider-Man. Fugitive Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), killer of Peter's Uncle Ben, has been transformed into the shape-shifting Sandman, possibly Spider-Man's toughest foe so far. To complicate matters further, a parasitic alien symbiote has attached itself to Peter's suit, giving him even greater powers but also bringing out the evil side of his personality. He has to struggle not only against two major adversaries but also against himself.

Don't just read - read aloud! A treasure-trove of favourite tales chosen by Pie Corbett from around the world, each accompanied by an audio retelling by a professional storyteller including Pie Corbett, Taffy Thomas and Xanthe Graham. This book gives children the perfect opportunity to read aloud, listen along, follow text, read together and do all the things they need to build reading, listening, speaking and comprehension skills! They'll meet dragons, monsters and much more in this captivating collection, which comes with an audio CD.

Kort nadat Gideon 'n baie groot eier onder sy ma se lieflingshoenderhen ontdek, begin hy vir 'n babadrakie sorg. Gideon neem sy ouerlike pligte baie ernstig op. Hy gee les in 'Hoe om 'n meisie bang te maak' en 'Hoe om 'n ridder op te foeter'. Maar die draak verlang na sy eie soort, en een dag verdwyn hy... Dit is 'n fantastiese verhaal vol avontuur en ontdekkings, met pragtige verbeeldingryke illustrasies.

Soul Feast is a companion anthology to Soul Food, offering up a further feast of thoughtful poems to stir the mind and feed the spirit, bringing hope and light in dark, uncertain times. This book’s inspiration – Soul Food – achieved its wide popularity by word of mouth. For many thousands of readers feeling adrift in the early years of the 21st century, the poems in that book offered support and sustenance. What followed has been even more destructive and disorientating: wars, pandemic, oppression, persecution of peoples and minorities, mass migration, dishonest government, financial meltdown, and looming environmental catastrophe. Yet amidst all this there are voices of hope and healing, of love and tolerance, kindness and compassion, sanity and solace, to be heard and felt in the poems of Soul Feast. This new compilation shows how poetry can help sustain our search for meaning in times of spiritual starvation. All these poems are universal illuminations of the meaning of life, speaking to readers of all faiths as well as to seekers and non-believers. Drawn from many traditions, Soul Feast includes work by poets ranging from Lal Ded and Tukaram to Pessoa, Borges, Cummings and Langston Hughes, as well as poems by celebrated contemporary poets such as Ellen Bass, Imtiaz Dharker, Jane Hirshfield and Naomi Shihab Nye. This is a book to keep by the bedside or to keep with you when travelling.

Vienna is unique amongst world capitals in its consistent international importance over the centuries. From the ascent of the Habsburgs as Europe's leading dynasty to the Congress of Vienna, which reordered Europe after Napoleon, to bridge- building summits during the Cold War, it is the Austrian capital that has been the scene of key moments in European and world affairs. History has been shaped by scores of figures influenced by their time in Vienna, including: Empress Maria Theresa, Count Metternich, Bertha von Suttner, Theodore Herzl, Gustav Mahler, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, John F. Kennedy and many others. In a city of great composers and thinkers it is here that both the most positive and destructive ideas of recent history have developed. From its time as the capital of an imperial superpower, through war, dissolution, dictatorship to democracy Vienna has reinvented itself and its relevance to the rest of the world.

How do you solve a murder when everyone thinks you're guilty? Marjorie Crowe lives in Kilgoyne, Scotland. The locals put her age at somewhere between 55 and 70. They think she's divorced or a lifelong spinster; that she used to be a librarian, a pharmacist, or a witch. They think she's lonely, or ill, or maybe just plain rude. For the most part, they leave her be. But one day, everything changes. Local teenager Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, and Marjorie is the first one to see his body. When what she saw turns out to be impossible, the police have their doubts. And when another young person goes missing, the tide of suspicion turns on her. Is Marjorie the monster, or the victim? And how far will she go to fight for her name? PRAISE FOR C.S. ROBERTSON: 'A truly startling novel' Sunday Times 'A remarkable thriller' Sunday Express 'Ingenious' Daily Mail 'Enthralling' Liz Nugent 'Gut-wrenching' The Times

If there was one genuine truth that Morris Bird III thought he understood, it was that the world forever and relentlessly changed. But only in one direction--from simple to complicated.

When he was nine, Morris Bird III learned the meaning of bravery. Now, at seventeen, he's on the verge of adulthood . . . and he's fallen in love. But it's 1952 and the Korean War hangs over his head like a dangling sword--and his prickly, complicated relationship with his cold and silent father has never been satisfactorily resolved. When Morris's own mortality stares him in the face, he learns what it truly means to become a man.

"The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened" is the final book in Don Robertson's classic trilogy featuring one of the most endearing characters in American literature.

Coming of age adventure feature following the experiences of a young woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she goes to stay with her grandmother for the summer holidays. Nicole (Aimee Teegarden) is a quiet, slightly bookish teenager from New York. Her grandmother, Sue (Patricia Richardson), lives a very different life. As the owner of a California surf shop, she presents a fresh environment for her granddaughter and encourages her to try surfing herself. Nicole gradually begins to emerge from her shell and even plans a road trip to Mexico, where the discovery of a long-buried family secret shakes her world even more...