Machiavelli
For Beginners is a series of books which takes relatively complex ideas and simplifies them so that they are accessible to beginners (hence the titles). The books are presented in a comic strip or graphic novel format, with the cartoon drawings complementing the text. The series covers all sorts of topics and people. Here are a few: Philosophy for Beginners, Postmodernism for Beginners, Dante for Beginners, Plato for Beginners, Islam for Beginners, Democracy for Beginners. There is a very long list of titles to choose from.
Why not start with the one on Machiavelli:
Machiavelli for Beginners
by Patick Curry and Oscar Zarate (Illus)
Get yourself this easy introduction to the life and ideas of Machiavelli and put yourself in the best possible position to read his famous book The Prince. Although it was published 400 years ago, it remains a relevant analysis of politics, government and power.
Gustav Klimt
Or you could take an imaginative approach to art appreciation and browse only books on artists whose surnames begin with k: try Kiefer, Klee, Kamenev, Kandinsky or Kokoschka.
And while you're here, you could peruse other artists in our large art section. You might well like a book or two on Egon Schiele, a protege of Gustav Klimt's, even though his surname does not begin with k.
Being Good is Overrated
Life tends not to reward the good so you might as well live a decadent, sinful, lavish, self-indulgent life doing exactly what makes you happy. If you happen to be one of those rare people who find it hard to spend money, eat whatever you like, splurge on treats, sleep late, relax, and ignore irritating chores - then you need this book. You will find it is a comprehensive guide.
A Year of Living Sinfully: 7 Deadly Sins, 365 Days
A Self-serving Guide to Doing Whatever the Hell you Want
By Eric Grzymkowski
Drive at your own speed / Take the largest piece of pizza or cake / Drink a $200 bottle of wine / Call in sick / Stay in bed all day / Cycle without a helmet / Get a massage / Pretend you've lost your voice / Avoid the mirror all day.
"Never believe in mirrors or newspapers" John Osborne
IQ Tests
Whether you're in a panic about an upcoming IQ test, want to improve your IQ rating, enjoy pitting your wits against the quiz writers or just like showing off your scores, this book will provide you with hours of entertainment and self-improvement.
The Times Book of IQ Tests
by Ken Russell and Philip Carter
ALLEGED ARTIFICE is an anagram of which two words that are similar in meaning?
Find two five-letter boats out of these 10 letters: A A E F K K R R Y Y
What number comes next? 3412, 4223, 2334, 3442, ?
Which is the odd one out? warble, splutter, babble, prate, drawl
Mary has a third as many again as Mike who has a third again as Molly. In total they have 148. HOw many has each?
I can't show you any of the picture puzzles here so you'll just have to pop into the shop and peruse our many books on puzzles and games of all kinds. You'll find chess, crosswords, IQ tests, sudoku, mathematical and logic puzzles, word games, cryptic clues, trivia quizzes, riddles, patterns and more. You can check out our selection and check your answers to the above questions at the same time.
Every Kind of Weather
Given the weather forecast for tonight and the next couple of days, you could be forgiven for thinking this is about snow, gales, rain and miserable conditions. It is not.
This book is a collection of Bruce Mason's essays, letters and criticism selected from his almost thirty years of comment on New Zealand's cultural life. There is everything from literary criticism to comment on the Beatles' visit, musical appreciation to linguistic observation on the kiwi accent, and letters to many famous New Zealanders (and foreigners too) such as Witi Ihimaera, Charles Brasch, Sylvia Ashton Warner and Roger Hall.
This may be The End of the Golden Weather for us (pun intended) but this collection of writings by Bruce Mason will keep you entertained for hours as you snuggle down in front of the fire and keep out of the cold.
Physics
Fear of Physics: A Guide for the Perplexed
by Lawrence M Krauss
This is a "lively, irreverent, and informative look at everything from the physics of boiling water to cutting-edge research at the observable limits of the universe. Rich with anecdotes and accessible examples, Fear of Physics takes readers on a joy ride from Galileo to Stephen Hawking, from Plato to Marshall McLuhan, through new presentations of original classics and into today's physics quandaries.
This is a must read for anyone who has ever wanted to understand where modern phyiscs is coming from and where it is going."
Philip Pullman
The Scarecrow and his Servant
Philip Pullman
Most people know Philip Pullman's name because of his fantasy and science fiction novels, many of which have been bestsellers. Possibly the most famous is the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials.
Not so well known is the above children's book The Scarecrow and his Servant. It's about a scarecrow who comes to life and goes on a journey of excitement with his servant/companion, a young boy called Jack. It is a dramatic tale full of twists and turns, surprises and silliness, and battles and brigands.
You'll love it and so will your kids.
Mah Jong
If you are one of those people who have a beautiful set of mah jong tiles languishing on the shelf in your wardrobe or lying forgotten at the back of a drawer, now is the time to dust it off and learn to play.
Mah jong is a table game for four people which has been played in China since the time of the Qing dynasty. It is easy to learn (apparently) and playing is meant to be very good for your brain.
The best way to learn the strategies is to buy a book. The book will teach you to play and it will also ensure that you then have a clear set of rules to avoid confusion and arguments when playing with competitive types! Pop in and buy a copy and get started.
