A sumptuous, wide-ranging guide to cycling, full of practical information but with a huge sense of fun, packed with evocative images from the history of cycling. Cycling is hugely popular nowadays. Since 2003 more than 100 million bikes have been produced each year, more than twice the amount of cars. And in 2011, more than 741,000 people cycled to work, an increase of 90,000 from 2001. The Splendid Book of the Bicycle is a wide-ranging celebration of the bicycle and cycling, incorporating social history, sport and science. It covers the bicycle's invention and subsequent historical development, stories of intrepid early cyclists who travelled the world, the 20th-century popularity of cycle touring, and the depiction of bicycles in films, books and art. It examines the sport of cycling, including histories of the Tour de France and the other great European races, the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana, and goes on to explore velodrome-based cycling and the rise of BMX and mountain biking. It investigates the science behind balance and aerodynamics, and covers the future of bicycles, including innovative flying, floating and electric bikes. It also touches on the technical aspects of bicycles, including an exploded diagram of a typical bike and tips for basic maintenance of your own bike. Beautifully illustrated with vintage and modern images, this book is a perfect gift for both bike obsessives and general readers. Word count: 35,000 words

From nose to tail and everything in between - this is your visual guide to understanding your four-legged friend! When your dog looks at you with those big, expressive puppy-dog eyes, do you ever wonder what's going on in their fur-covered heads? This dog book will help you gain invaluable canine insight through quirky illustrations and infographics. The unique dog encyclopedia explores and explains the world of dogs! It includes: - The dog in pictures - with more than 500 original illustrations - Encyclopedic in scope - covers dog behaviour, psychology, communication, history and dog breeds, as well as celebrity pups and record-breaking hounds - Dog infographics that communicate facts and ideas in a fun way - Witty language that will both inform and entertain readers Do you walk your dog or does your dog walk you? Can you teach an old dog new tricks? What is your dog saying with its wagging tail? This fun visual book gives you all the essential facts about dogs to help you translate their curious canine behaviour. Covering history, breeds, dog care, and training, How Dogs Work is the perfect gift for dog lovers of all ages - from 9 to 109! From how dogs evolved from the wolf to our favourite pet to the finer points of working dogs and show dogs - this unique dog guide is a wonderful celebration of man's best friend! Learn what experts believe the cute doggy head tilt could mean, explore what your dog's wagging tail could be saying about their mood and discover the world's fastest dog that's twice as quick as Usain Bolt. This a must-have book for every soon-to-be dog whisperer!

Inside this philosophy-stuffed book are fifty fact-tastic ways to advance your thinking skills, so you'll never be scratching your head in bemusement ever again. Featuring the key philosophic principles of every philosopher you've heard of (and some you haven't), from prominent ancient Greek thinkers such as Aristotle and Socrates to modern-day thinkers such as Bertrand Russell and Thomas Kuhn, Cool Philosophy is stuffed to the gills with amazing facts, tricks and stats to help you discover everything you need to know about what philosophy is - in a way you'll never forget. Word count: 20,000