Fabulous children's story
By Michael Dugan and illustrated by Brett Colquhoun
This is a really fabulous children's story / picture book published by Puffin.
As you can see, the illustrations are superb. They are simple black and white pen & ink pictures conveying a wealth of information and emotion with a few strokes. There are some really vile details which will appeal to children of all ages (although maybe not to very sensitive under-fives).
The story is a moral one where Billy gets his just desserts in the end but in between his second birthday and his final comeuppance, there are quite a few amusing adventures.
We hadn't noticed this book in our stock but today one of our very regular young customers called Alice brought it up to the counter to show us. (She was chuckling).
We really love it and thank Alice for showing it to us.
Back Pain: The Scourge of a desk-bound society
The horrors of back pain, neck strain, headaches, sciatica and other associated problems.
Nigel Howard's Alternative Answers to Back Problems: The Complete Conventional and alternative guide to treating back pain
and
Andrew Wilson's Are You Sitting Comfortably? may be just what you're looking for.
Whether you've got a short-term complaint or a more serious long-term problem, back pain can be quite debilitating and can prevent you from concentrating or doing your job effectively.
These books (and many others in stock) can answer your questions, give advice, treat and/or alleviate your pain, teach you about correct posture and choosing a chair, and much more.
There is information from back specialists and explanation of the various alternative remedies available to you such as acupuncture, reflexology, t'ai chi, aromatherapy, colour therapy and even self-hypnosis.
Get reading today and sort that pain out before it ruins your life.
Sleeping, snoozing, dozing, napping,
Sleepfaring: A Journey through the Science of Sleep
by Jim Horne
Everyone does it. We can't exist without it. We have to get enough of it to function. And in the main, it is rather enjoyable. It's sleep.
Jim Horne, the author of this book, is Professor of Psychophysiology and Director of the Sleep Research Centre. Here he looks at the science and secrets behind sleep and the enormous amount that scientists and researchers still don't understand about it. Sleep is a process involving many parts and many substances within the brain and is much more complex than just a nice rest with dreams!
He looks at brain physiology, psychology and medical factors affecting sleep. We learn about the body clock, sleep deficit or deprivation, REM sleep, current sleep research, and how fundamental sleep is to our ability to think and make decisions.
You might even find a few practical hints to help you get a better night's sleep if you happen to have problems sleeping.
The Earth from the Air
These are the most amazing aerial photographs you'll ever see. They are inspiring and really beautiful. This is the world as you've never seen it before.
There is a photograph for each day of the year. The images cover every corner of every continent from the Arctic to the Antarctic, from dizzy peaks to desert plains, from pristine coral islands to flood devastated villages. Each image is accompanied by a brief, pertinent, informative comment from an environmentalist.
This book will stop you in your tracks. Photography at its best. Sensational.
Beer and Food
Everyone loves food. Most people love beer. Lots of people love cooking. Here is a book that combines three of nearly everyone's favourite things: beer, food and cooking.
Given there has been a real explosion in craft & boutique breweries recently, this is a great time to experiment with matching different beer styles with food. Start by trying out some of the delicious recipes in this book and seeing if you agree with the chefs' suggestions about what beer to drink with them.
Most people think of matching wines with food so here is a chance to branch out and try harmonising fine beer with favourite dishes. You might become a convert.
This is more than just a cookbook, it also looks at the history of brewing, the many varieties of beer available and how to pour with perfect foam. It even tells you how and why to use beer warmers (??). Read the book and you'll find out. ( I was not convinced!)
Buy this book, get cooking and impress your friends.
GUNPOWDER
By Jack Kelly
Apparently, Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder to frighten evil spirits way back in the 10th century. It was a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal (well, it probably still is - clearly I am one who should read this book all the way through instead of skimming!).
It is probably responsible for Western expansionism, the industrial revolution, the end of feudalism, and all sorts of technological innovations.
This book about gunpowder blends science and technology with military, economic. and social history. It also gives some fascinating insights into people as diverse as Guy Fawkes (no surprise there), Hernan Cortes (less obvious) and Michelangelo (a bit of an unexpected entrant in the cast of gunpowder heroes).
Wendell Phillips said, "What gunpowder did for war, the printing press has done for the mind.” so if gunpowder is anywhere near as important as the printing press, then it is definitely worth reading this fascinating volume and learning a bit more about it.
The Beatles - by Julian Lennon & Brian Southall
With the new Beatles documentary/film coming out any day, this is a timely reminder of the huge collection of Beatles books we have, both in the shop and online.
Julian Lennon (son of John Lennon, just in case there is someone out there who doesn't know) is the owner of a unique collection of memorabilia, including guitars, clothing, letters, postcards, photographs and much more. In this book he explains the sentimental value of many of these articles and shares the memories that they carry for him. Here is his complete collection beautifully presented and fascinatingly discussed.
The book is brand new and priced very reasonably (under $20.00 per copy). It would make a great gift for the Beatles' fan in your life.
The Sleepwalkers
In this detailed and interesting book Arthur Koestler takes a look at the history of cosmology. Beginning with the Babylonians and Ancient Greeks and working his way through several important figures such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton, he shows how our understanding of the universe has changed throughout the centuries.
While the history of science is an interesting topic on its own, this book goes much further. Delving into the political and personal biases of each great figure we also learn about how changing attitudes affected scientific discovery and research. The influence of religion and spirituality is also discussed, making this not only a fascinating account of scientific thought but also a study in philosophy and sociology.
