Social Sciences
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Talking Hands: What Sign Language Reveals About the Mind
Documents life in a remote Bedouin village in Israel whose residents communicate through a unique method of sign language used by both hearing and non-hearing citizens, in an account that offers insight into the relationship between language and the human mind. 35,000 first printing.Read more
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Treasury of Fantastic and Mythological Creatures: 1,087 Renderings from Historic Sources (Dover Pictorial Archive)
Drawing on fifty centuries of human history, this encyclopedic collection of images is filled with demons, monsters, animal-gods, totemic figures, and other supernatural beasts from the darker realms of man’s imagination. Works range from prehistoric rock paintings to the drawings of Max Ernst, from the masks of black Africa to the gargoyles of Notre Dame.Read more
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The Old Gays’ Guide to the Good Life: The must-read memoir and manifesto from the TikTok sensation @theoldgays
‘I’ve fallen in love with this fabulous foursome … They are a phenomenon!’ Drew Barrymore
From @theoldgays, the internet’s most beloved foursome, a book of inspirational stories and aspirational advice for living life at the fullest.
The Old Gays have taken TikTok by storm with their viral videos, by turns outrageous and hilarious, fashionable and fierce. But as four gay men, aged from 67 to 80, Mick, Jessay, Robert, and Bill have lived through decades of momentous change and they’ve got stories that take more than three minutes to tell.
They grew up in the closet, experienced Stonewall, lived large during the gay sexual revolution, lost friends during the AIDS crisis, dealt with their own HIV+ diagnoses, and saw gay marriage became legal. Between them, they’ve been through it all – divorce, depression, bankruptcy, near-death experiences. And then there’s the dinner parties, the nudism, the professional bodybuilding, the orgies and the matter of church.
These are the tales – sometimes scandalous, sometimes profound, sometimes heart-breaking – that only an older gay man can tell. Their Guide to the Good Life is a celebration of lives lived to the fullest, and the art of getting old without getting bored. Whether it’s ageing, coming out, losing everything, starting over, finding happiness or just injecting a little more fun into proceedings, it’s good to know someone’s been there before, and they’re more than happy to give their best, bawdiest, most hard-won advice.
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Unorthodox: LGBT+ Identity and Faith
In modern Britain, what does it mean to be queer and religious? Unorthodox tells the stories of LGBT+ people of faith throughout the country. Bringing together artists, activists, religious leaders, community workers and writers, this collection explores how LGBT+ Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Sikhs navigate their faith, why they stay and what it means to believe no matter the cost. These urgent, deeply personal reflections move beyond the idea that LGBT+ people must choose between being included or excluded, between believing and doubting, and between their faith and their sexuality. Born out of a yearning to resist outdated binaries, Unorthodox is a surprising journey that will resonate with readers of all stripes, be they believers or not. Covering everything from hip-hop to habits, priesthood to pilgrimages, festivals to family, Unorthodox ignites a new conversation about religion, faith, sexuality and identity in Britain. It is vital consideration of devotion that bridges denomination, orientation, salvation, temptation and divination.Read more
£7.00£9.50Unorthodox: LGBT+ Identity and Faith
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In God’s Path: The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization)
In just over a hundred years–from the death of the Mohammed in 632 to the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate in 750–the followers of the Prophet swept across the whole of the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. The conquered territory was larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest expansion, and it was claimed for the Arabs in roughly half the time. How they were able to engulf so many empires, states, and armies in such a short period of time is a question which has engaged historians since at least the ninth century. Most recent popular accounts have been based almost solely on the early Muslim sources, which were, in short, salvation history, composed for the purpose of demonstrating that God had chosen the Arabs as his vehicle for spreading Islam throughout the world.While exploiting the rich biographical and geographical information of the early Muslim sources, this groundbreaking work delivers a fresh account of the Arab conquests and the establishment of an Islamic Empire by incorporating different approaches and different bodies of evidence. Robert G. Hoyland, a leading Late Antique scholar, accomplishes this by first examining the wider world from which Mohammed and his followers emerged. For Muslim sources, the revelation of Islam to Muhammad is the starting point for their history, and modern university departments have tended to reinforce this approach. Late Antique studies have done us the service of shedding much needed light on the 4th to 6th centuries, thus giving us a better view of the nature of Middle Eastern society in the decades before the Arab conquests. In particular, Hoyland narrates the emergence of a distinct Arab identity in the region of the Roman province Arabia and western (Saudi) Arabia, which is at least as important for explaining the Arab conquests as Muhammad’s revelation. The Arabs are the principal, almost sole, focus of the Muslim conquest narratives, and this is the norm for modern works on this subject. Yet, in the same period the Khazars, Bulgars, Avars and Turks established polities on the edges of the superpowers of Byzantium and Iran; in fact, the Khazars and Turks continued to be major rivals of the Arabs in the seventh and eighth centuries. The role of these peripheral states in the Arab success story is underscored in the narrative. Innovative and accessible, In God’s Path is a welcome account of a transformative period in ancient history.
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Stella’s Story (Thrown Away Children) (Thrown Away Children, 1)
‘Absorbing and brilliant… this book is an absolute must-read not only for the general public but for foster carers and social workers alike’ Sarah Anderson, Independent Foster Carers Alliance
‘Stella is just like a tiny bird. This is my first impression of her. A quiet little sparrow of a girl.’
In her brand new series ‘Thrown Away Children’, Louise Allen shares the harrowing stories she is exposed to as a foster mother. The first in the series, Stella’s Story, tells the astonishing true story of a young girl scarred by an abusive past.
Named after the lager that christened her at birth, Stella’s life is characterised instability and neglect. Her teenage mother abandons her in the first few weeks of her life, and left in the ‘care’ of her father, she ends up lying deserted in a house with no food, no water, no clothes, and no warmth.
She eventually lands in the care of foster carer Louise, who is determined to change her life for the better. Things seem to be going well – but when Stella has a startling response to having her photo taken, it becomes clear the scars of her abuse run deeper than anyone could have ever guessed.
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Crying in H Mart: The Number One New York Times Bestseller
‘A beautiful, intimate and hunger-inducing portrait of grief, race, heritage and coming to know yourself through what you eat.’ – Stylist ‘Books of the Year’
‘As good as everyone says it is and, yes, it will have you in tears. An essential read for anybody who has lost a loved one, as well as those who haven’t’ – Marie–Claire
The New York Times bestseller from the Grammy-nominated indie rockstar Japanese Breakfast, an unflinching, deeply moving memoir about growing up mixed-race, Korean food, losing her Korean mother, and forging her own identity in the wake of her loss.
In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humour and heart, she tells of growing up the only Asian-American kid at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the east coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, performing gigs with her fledgling band – and meeting the man who would become her husband – her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live.
It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.
Vivacious, lyrical and honest, Michelle Zauner’s voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.
‘Possibly the best book I’ve read all year . . . I will be buying copies for friends and family this Christmas.’ – Rukmini Iyer in the Guardian ‘Best Food Books of 2021’
‘Wonderful . . . The writing about Korean food is gorgeous . . . but as a brilliant kimchi-related metaphor shows, Zauner’s deepest concern is the ferment, and delicacy, of complicated lives.’ – Victoria Segal, Sunday Times, ‘My favourite read of the year’
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The History of Cinema: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Cinema was the first, and is arguably still the greatest, of the industrialized art forms that came to dominate the cultural life of the twentieth century. Today, it continues to adapt and grow as new technologies and viewing platforms become available, and remains an integral cultural and aesthetic entertainment experience for people the world over.Cinema developed against the backdrop of the two world wars, and over the years has seen smaller wars, revolutions, and profound social changes. Its history reflects this changing landscape, and, more than any other art form, developments in technology. In this Very Short Introduction, Nowell-Smith looks at the defining moments of the industry, from silent to sound, black and white to colour, and considers its genres from intellectual art house to mass market entertainment.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Islam: A Very Short Introduction 2/e (Very Short Introductions)
Islam features widely in the news, often in its most militant versions, but few people in the non-Muslim world really understand the nature of Islam.Malise Ruthven’s Very Short Introduction contains essential insights into issues such as why Islam has such major divisions between movements such as the Shi’ites, the Sunnis, and the Wahhabis, and the central importance of the Shar’ia (Islamic law) in Islamic life. It also offers fresh perspectives on contemporary questions: Why is the greatest ‘Jihad’ (holy war) now against the enemies of Islam, rather than the struggle against evil? Can women find fulfilment in Islamic societies? How must Islam adapt as it confronts the modern world?
In this new edition, Ruthven brings the text up-to-date by reflecting upon some of the most significant changes in the Muslim world in recent years; from the emergence of al-Qaeda and the attacks on New York and Washington on 9/11 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Ruthven includes new material surrounding the concept of a globalized Islam, bringing into question the effects of economic globalization, the effect of international events in Middle Eastern countries, the issues surrounding Islam and democracy, and the reception and perception of Islam in the West.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Beauty: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane; it can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling. It can affect us in an unlimited variety of ways. Yet it is never viewed with indifference.In this Very Short Introduction the renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explores the concept of beauty, asking what makes an object – either in art, in nature, or the human form – beautiful, and examining how we can compare differing judgements of beauty when it is evident all around us that our tastes vary so widely. Is there a right judgement to be made about beauty? Is it right to say there is more beauty in a classical temple than a concrete office block, more in a Rembrandt than in last year’s Turner Prize winner?
Forthright and thought-provoking, and as accessible as it is intellectually rigorous, this introduction to the philosophy of beauty draws conclusions that some may find controversial, but, as Scruton shows, help us to find greater sense of meaning in the beautiful objects that fill our lives.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Philosophy of Law: A Very Short Introduction 2/e (Very Short Introductions)
The concept of law lies at the heart of our social and political life. Legal philosophy, or jurisprudence, explores the notion of law and its role in society, illuminating its meaning and its relation to the universal questions of justice, rights, and morality.In this Very Short Introduction Raymond Wacks analyses the nature and purpose of the legal system, and the practice by courts, lawyers, and judges. Wacks reveals the intriguing and challenging nature of legal philosophy with clarity and enthusiasm, providing an enlightening guide to the central questions of legal theory.
In this revised edition Wacks makes a number of updates including new material on legal realism, changes to the approach to the analysis of law and legal theory, and updates to historical and anthropological jurisprudence.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Read more
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Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters
In Reading Between the Signs, Anna Mindess provides a perspective on a culture that is not widely understood – American Deaf culture. With the collaboration of three distinguished Deaf consultants, Mindess explores the implications of cultural differences at the intersection of the Deaf and hearing worlds.
Used in sign language interpreter training programs worldwide, Reading Between the Signs is a resource for students, working interpreters and other professionals. This important new edition retains practical techniques that enable interpreters to effectively communicate their clients’ intent, while its timely discussion of the interpreter’s role is broadened in a cultural context.
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
New chapter explores the changing landscape of the interpreting field and discusses the concepts of Deafhood and Deaf heart.
This examination of using Deaf interpreters pays respect to the profession, details techniques and shows the benefits of collaboration.
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The Fall of Boris Johnson: The Award-Winning, Explosive Account of the PM’s Final Days
The Fall of Boris Johnson is the explosive inside account of how a prime minister lost his hold on power. From Sebastian Payne, former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times and author of Broken Heartlands.
Winner of the Parlimentary Book Awards
A New Statesman, The Times, Daily Mail and FT Book of the Year
‘Revelatory’ – The Daily Telegraph
‘Delicious detail’ – The TimesBoris Johnson was touted as the saviour of the country and the Conservative Party, obtaining a huge commons majority and finally ‘getting Brexit done’. But, within three short years, he was deposed in disgrace and left the country in crisis.
Sebastian Payne tells the essential behind-the-scenes story, charting the series of scandals that felled Johnson: from the blocked suspension of Owen Paterson, through partygate and the final death blow: the Chris Pincher allegations. This is the full narrative of the betrayals, rivalries and resignations that resulted in the dramatic Conservative coup – and set in motion those events that saw the party sink to catastrophic new lows.
With unparalleled access to those who were in the room when key decisions were made, Payne tells of the miscalculations and mistakes that led to Boris Johnson’s downfall. This is a gripping and timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.
‘Genuinely page-turning’ – Andrew Marr
‘Entertaining and illuminating’ – Tim ShipmanRead more
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Swimming with Seals
A book about intense physical and personal experience, narrating how Victoria Whitworth began swimming in the cold waters of Orkney as a means of escaping a failing marriage.
This is a memoir of intense physical and personal experience, exploring how swimming with seals, gulls and orcas in the cold waters off Orkney provided Victoria Whitworth with an escape from a series of life crises and helped her to deal with intolerable loss.
It is also a treasure chest of history and myth, local folklore and archaeological clues, giving us tantalising glimpses of Pictish and Viking men and women, those people lost to history, whose long-hidden secrets are sometimes yielded up by the land and sea.
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£7.50£8.50Swimming with Seals
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Ways of Seeing: John Berger (Penguin Modern Classics)
Based on the BBC television series, John Berger’s Ways of Seeing is a unique look at the way we view art, published as part of the Penguin on Design series in Penguin Modern Classics.
‘Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak.’
‘But there is also another sense in which seeing comes before words. It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain that world with words, but word can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it. The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled.’
John Berger’s Ways of Seeing is one of the most stimulating and influential books on art in any language. First published in 1972, it was based on the BBC television series about which the Sunday Times critic commented: ‘This is an eye-opener in more ways than one: by concentrating on how we look at paintings . . . he will almost certainly change the way you look at pictures.’ By now he has.
John Berger (b. 1926) is an art critic, painter and novelist.born in Hackney, London.
His novel G. (1972) won both the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Booker Prize.If you enjoyed Ways of Seeing, you might like Susan Sontag’s On Photography, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.
‘Berger has the ability to cut right through the mystification of professional art critics … he is a liberator of images: and once we have allowed the paintings to work on us directly, we are in a much better position to make a meaningful evaluation’
Peter Fuller, Arts Review‘The influence of the series and the book … was enormous … It opened up for general attention areas of cultural study that are now commonplace’
Geoff Dyer in Ways of Telling‘One of the most influential intellectuals of our time’
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Self-Care for Black Men: 100 Ways to Heal and Liberate
A self-care guidebook full of activities for Black men everywhere pursuing joy, creating connections, confronting racism, and working through intergenerational trauma.Black men desperately need care and restoration. But what does that restoration look like when you’re a Black man in today’s world? How do you take care of your mental health when men who look like you die at the hands of police? How do you find peace and refuge when you’re not sure how to keep up with your partner? Or navigate a challenging workplace? While scrolling through social media feeds, you may feel like you don’t have access to wellness like women do. But Black men need a space for self-care too.
In Self-Care for Black Men, you will find practical answers to your questions. This book contains self-care strategies that address some of the most common issues Black men face, such as dealing with racism, navigating prejudice in the workplace, managing romantic relationships, and working through intergenerational trauma.
This is your guide to wellness and self-discovery written specifically for Black men. There will opportunities to learn new skills to manage your mental health, as well as do more deep reflection on your own terms. It’s time to take your health firmly within your own hands and Self-Care for Black Men will help you do that.
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The Secret Sales Code: Skyrocket Clicks, Sales, and Conversions Using DISC Communication Styles In Your Sales Copywriting and Content Marketing
Unlock The Secret To More Sales!
The Secret Sales Language That Skyrockets Your Clicks, Sales, and Conversions!
Within this book you’ll find the secret language you need to reach your customers and transform your business.
Jim Edwards and Dexter Godfrey throw the doors open wide to show how to use DISC communication styles for massive success by putting words on paper, screen, and video that get the right people to try, buy, click, and sign up! With The Secret Sales Code, you’ll:
- Craft magnetic sales copy your audience can’t resist.
- Engage your ideal customers on a deep, emotional level.
- Dramatically improve your sales copy and content marketing results.
- Enjoy instant bumps in clicks, sales, views, and conversions.
- Harness the DISC communications framework to fast-track your success.
Connect With Your Audience Easier, Faster, and More Effectively Than Ever!
Join us for artificial intelligence (AI) tools that automatically apply the principles found in this book at the click of a mouse!
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Victorian Fashion: 822 (Shire Library)
The sweeping crinolines, corsets, bustles, bonnets and parasols of Victorian Britain are indispensable to our period dramas, and their influences can still be seen within burlesque and steampunk fashions. This is no surprise, as nineteenth-century clothing was so wide-ranging and decorative. We might unfairly think gentlemen’s costume to be rather plain and uniform, but this is more by contrast to the overwhelming ostentation, luxury fabrics, fine accessories and constantly evolving silhouettes of ladies’ fashion. This colourful introduction to what the Victorians wore describes the vibrant, fancy materials and lace edging at one end of the spectrum, and the tightlaced sobriety of mourning apparel at the other. It examines both high fashion imports from Paris and more modest everyday wear, evening costume, bridal styles, children’s clothes and sportswear, and explores the social and cultural backdrop to clothing in Britain’s great age of industry and empire.Read more
£7.60£9.50Victorian Fashion: 822 (Shire Library)
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Raising Turnip: Candid and comical memoirs of a single adopter
This book is an unprocessed and insightful memoir of an adoptive mother in her forties, candidly sharing her personal experiences about adopting a 6-year-old boy, and their first five years together. A truly compassionate and genuine account of the joys and trials of single motherhood and of raising a little boy and his stand-in persona, Turnip. The author’s natural ability to mother and her ingenious improvisational skills are meritable. It’s such an honest account of, well, life and how things sometimes go according to plan, and how they occasionally don’t. A riveting page-turner that will make you laugh, wonder and be filled with admiration. The conversational tone, and the author’s readiness to share generously prevail throughout the book. A must read for all parents, not just the ones who have adopted, are adopting or are thinking of adopting.Read more
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Unlocking the World of British Sign Language: A Visual Language of Expression and Inclusion
Unlocking thе World of British Sign Languagе: A Visual Languagе of Exprеssion and Inclusion is a comprеhеnsivе and еnlightеning еxploration of thе rich tapеstry of British Sign Languagе (BSL). This mеticulously craftеd book is dеsignеd to еmpowеr rеadеrs with a profound undеrstanding of BSL, еnsuring thеy not only grasp thе languagе but also thе cultural nuancеs that undеrpin it.
Within thе pagеs of this book, rеadеrs will еmbark on a journеy through thе mеsmеrizing world of BSL, dеlving into its history, structurе, and thе intricaciеs of еffеctivе communication through sign. Thе book includеs:
1. Foundations of BSL: A dеtailеd introduction to thе history and significancе of British Sign Languagе, providing a solid grounding for lеarnеrs.
2. Linguistic Insights: In-dеpth еxploration of BSL’s grammatical and syntactical fеaturеs, making it accеssiblе to both bеginnеrs and advancеd lеarnеrs.
3. Practical Vocabulary: A vast array of signs and phrasеs, from еvеryday convеrsation to spеcializеd tеrminology, to facilitatе еffеctivе communication.
4. Cultural Contеxt: An undеrstanding of Dеaf culturе and thе nuancеs of communication, еnsuring a wеll-roundеd apprеciation of BSL.
5. Inclusivе Lеarning: This book is dеsignеd to bе an inclusivе rеsourcе, suitablе for sеlf-lеarnеrs, еducators, and profеssionals sееking to еnhancе thеir communicativе abilitiеs.
Thе bеnеfits of Unlocking thе World of British Sign Languagе arе manifold. By dеlving into thе world of BSL through this comprеhеnsivе guidе, rеadеrs will:
Enhancе Communication: Acquirе thе skills nеcеssary to communicatе with Dеaf individuals, fostеring inclusion and brеaking down communication barriеrs.
Cultural Apprеciation: Gain insights into Dеaf culturе, promoting cultural sеnsitivity and rеspеct.
Carееr Advancеmеnt: Opеn up nеw carееr opportunitiеs by adding BSL proficiеncy to your skill sеt.
Pеrsonal Growth: Embark on a journеy of sеlf-improvеmеnt, broadеning your horizons and еmbracing a uniquе form of еxprеssion.
This book is a valuablе rеsourcе for anyonе sееking to lеarn, undеrstand, and mastеr British Sign Languagе. It is not mеrеly a book; it is a kеy to unlocking a world of еxprеssion and inclusion. Whеthеr you arе a studеnt, profеssional, or an individual intеrеstеd in еnriching your lifе through communication and cultural apprеciation, Unlocking thе World of British Sign Languagе is thе indispеnsablе guidе that will hеlp you achiеvе your goals. Invеst in this book, and you’ll find thе doors of a vibrant and inclusivе world opеning bеforе you.
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What Really Happens in Vegas: Discover the infamous city as you’ve never seen it before
‘James Patterson and Mark Seal have brought Sin City to life’ TELEGRAPH
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – until now.
Whether you’re a Vegas regular or have only heard the city’s tales through whispers, this book will surprise and astound you . . . It’s not just the five-star dining, or the casinos, or the clubs, or the crowds. It’s the electrifying chemistry of America’s most round-the-clock city.
In this dazzling 24-hour journey, James Patterson lifts the lid on America’s notorious hub of gambling and excess. Fuelled by original interviews and in-depth reporting, What Really Happens in Vegas uncovers the vice, crime and entertainment that made Sin City an infamous desert mecca.
This is Vegas as you’ve never seen it before, filled with unbelievable stories from the people who make the city tick, simmer – and even explode.
_____________________________
PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON
‘Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried… there’s no stopping his imagination’ NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
‘A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting’ GUARDIAN
‘The master storyteller of our times’ HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
‘No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent – which is what Jim has, in spades’ LEE CHILD
‘Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It’s what fires off the movie projector in the reader’s mind’ MICHAEL CONNELLY
‘James Patterson is The Boss. End of.’ IAN RANKIN
‘It’s no mystery why James Patterson is the world’s most popular thriller writer … Simply put: nobody does it better’ JEFFREY DEAVER
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I Wished for You: A Keepsake Adoption Journal
Cherish every step. Remember every chapter. Love every moment.
Celebrate your unique adoption story with this gently guided journal designed with adoptive parents in mind.
• Open-ended and playful prompts―perfect for any age or experience
• Lots of spots for notes, photographs, announcements, and other mementos
• Beautiful, simple design to make your own
Every child, every family’s story is unique… and now every story can be told. This beautifully designed keepsake journal captures all of the emotions, history, hopes, dreams, and surprises that each adoption journey entails through guided prompts that encourage parents to enjoy and reflect on their own experience. Created specifically for adoptive parents, I Wished for You celebrates each unique adoption story, where every milestone is remembered, every moment is cherished, and every child is wished for.Read more
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White Tears Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Colour
‘Powerful and provocative’ – Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of the Sunday Times bestselling How to be an Antiracist
‘A MUST read for any white women who consider themselves “feminist”‘ – Scarlett Curtis, author of the Sunday Times bestselling Feminists Don’t Wear Pink
‘An explosive and revelatory argument for deconstructing and confronting the entrenched notions of white supremacy and superiority that still reign today.’ – Mireille Harper
‘How is it that we have been so conditioned to privilege the emotional comfort of white people?’
White tears possess a potency that is rarely acknowledged or commented upon, but they have long been used as a dangerous and insidious tool against people of colour, weaponised in order to invoke sympathy and divert blame.
Taking us from the slave era, when white women fought in court to keep ‘ownership’ of their slaves, through centuries of colonialism, when women offered a soft face for brutal tactics, to the modern workplace, in which tears serve as a defense to counter accusations of bias and micro-aggressions, White Tears/Brown Scars tells a charged story of white women’s active participation in campaigns of oppression. It offers a long-overdue validation of the experiences of women of colour and an urgent call-to-arms in the need for true intersectionality.
With rigour and precision, Hamad builds a powerful argument about the legacy of white superiority that we are socialised within, a reality that we must all apprehend in order to fight.
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Please Don’t Take Mummy Away: The true story of two sisters left cold, frightened, hungry and alone
‘Mummy! Where did you go? Please come back, Mummy.’
When police are called to a local supermarket late one evening, they find an angry shopkeeper and a silent young woman. It’s the third time 24-year-old Zoe has been caught stealing in the past few days. Eyes filled with panic, Zoe has been hiding bread, milk, Calpol and nappies under her coat. As police officers break down the door of Zoe’s flat they find seven-year-old Coco and two-year-old Lola, home alone, huddled on the floor in a freezing cold bedroom, crying out for their mummy.
When Social Services are called in, the girls are taken into care and are soon tucked up safely in bed at Maggie’s house. It looks like a simple case of neglect, but things aren’t always what they seem and, with Maggie’s help, can Zoe convince Social Services that love is enough to be a good mum?
A new true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.
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Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners: Read for pleasure at your level, expand your vocabulary and learn Spanish the fun way! (Foreign Language Graded Reader Series)
An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners.
“I love Olly’s work – and you will too!” – Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly – enjoyment! Mapped to A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading.
What does this book give you?
· Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller – making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary
· Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently
· Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability
· Pleasure! It’s much easier to learn a new language when you’re having fun, and research shows that if you’re enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won’t experience the usual feelings of frustration – ‘It’s too hard!’ ‘I don’t understand!’
· Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free wayCarefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including
· A glossary for bolded words in each text
· A bilingual word list
· Full plot summary
· Comprehension questions after each chapter.As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners will make learning Spanish easy and enjoyable.
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Short Stories in Italian for Beginners: Read for pleasure at your level, expand your vocabulary and learn Italian the fun way! (Foreign Language Graded Reader Series)
An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners.
“I love Olly’s work – and you will too!” – Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Short Stories in Italian for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly – enjoyment! Mapped to A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading.
What does this book give you?
· Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller – making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary
· Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently
· Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability
· Pleasure! It’s much easier to learn a new language when you’re having fun, and research shows that if you’re enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won’t experience the usual feelings of frustration – ‘It’s too hard!’ ‘I don’t understand!’
· Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free wayCarefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including
· A glossary for bolded words in each text
· A bilingual word list
· Full plot summary
· Comprehension questions after each chapter.As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Italian for Beginners will make learning Italian easy and enjoyable.
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Somebody’s Daughter – a moving journey of discovery, recovery and adoption
Zara H. Phillips seemed to live a charmed life – backing singer to the stars with an incredible career here and across the Atlantic – but her smile masked a difficult childhood and the reality that she was adopted as a baby in the 60s. Her life soon spiralled and as a teenager she suffered from drug and alcohol addiction, as she struggled to find her birth parents and her true identity.Somebody’s Daughter is a fascinating and revealing account of how a beautiful woman’s life has been dominated by her adoption and how it has affected her and those around her. Hard-hitting and emotional, Zara’s memoir explores the needs of adopted children, with her characteristic warmth and wit, and the true journey it takes to find where you belong.
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Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency
In this inspiring collection of essays, acclaimed writer and critic Olivia Laing makes a brilliant case for why art matters, especially in the turbulent political weather of the twenty-first century.
‘Never has a publication been more timely’ – Dazed
‘A brave writer whose books open up fundamental questions about life and art’ – TelegraphFunny Weather brings together a career’s worth of Laing’s writing about art and culture, examining their roles in our political and emotional lives. She profiles Jean-Michel Basquiat and Georgia O’Keeffe, interviews Hilary Mantel and Ali Smith, writes love letters to David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, and explores loneliness and technology, women and alcohol, sex and the body. With characteristic originality and compassion, she celebrates art as a force of resistance and repair, an antidote to a frightening political time.
We’re often told art can’t change anything. In Funny Weather, Laing argues that it can. It changes how we see the world, it exposes inequality, and it offers fertile new ways of living.
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£8.30£9.50Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency
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Oxford Guide to Plain English
Plain English is the art of writing clearly, concisely, and in a way that precisely communicates your message to your intended audience. This book offers expert advice to help writers of all abilities improve their written English. With 30 chapters, each centred around a practical guideline, its coverage is extensive, including lessons on vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, layout, proofreading, and organization. There are also hundreds of real examples to show how it’s done, with handy ‘before’ and ‘after’ versions. All this is presented in a straightforward and engaging way.This new edition has been fully revised, reorganized, and updated to make its content even more accessible. There are new chapters discussing customer-service writing and common blunders in the workplace, while other sections have been amended to update examples and provide easier routes through the book. The chapter on sexism, in particular, has been heavily expanded to advise on the use of inclusive language in general. A new appendix has also been added, summarising the history of plain English from Chaucer to the present day.
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The Times Sir: The year in letters (1st edition)
The perfect Christmas gift for anyone with a shrewd sense of humour.
Decidedly absurd, and always entertaining, revel in the very best letters to The Times.
From umbrella protocol at the Coronation to growing cress in lunar soil, this collection lets you in on more than a few inside jokes from one of Britain’s longest-running correspondences.
While the other pages of the newspaper chronicle the pressing issues of the day, the Letters page often muses on the things that really matter.Sir: The year in letters is a selection of the best of these letters, an elegant and erudite display of Times readers at their most whimsical and droll.
The perfect gift for anyone with a shrewd sense of humour, this book features:
• An absurdly entertaining round up of the year’s happenings
• More than 400 letters featured in The Times, curated by Letters editor Andrew Riley
• Original cartoons by Royston RobertsonRead more
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On Lying And Politics: A Library of America Special Publication
‘No one,’ Hannah Arendt observed, ‘has ever counted truthfulness as a political virtue.’ But why do politicians lie? What is the relationship between political lies and self-delusion? And how much organized deceit can a democracy endure before it ceases to function? Fifty years ago, the century’s greatest political theorist turned her focus to these essential questions in two seminal essays, brought together here for the first time. Her conclusions, delivered in searching prose that crackles with insight and intelligence, remain powerfully relevant, perhaps more so today than when they were written.In ‘Truth and Politics,’ Arendt explores the affinity between lying and politics, and reminds us that the survival of factual truth depends on the testimony of credible witnesses and on an informed citizenry. In ‘Lying in Politics,’ written in response to the release of the Pentagon Papers, Arendt applies these insights to an analysis of American policy in Southeast Asia, arguing that the real goal of the Vietnam War – and of the official lies used to justify it by successive administrations – was nothing other than the burnishing of America’s image. In his introduction, David Bromwich engages with Arendt’s essays in the context of her other writings and underscores their clarion call to take seriously the ever-present threat to democracy posed by lying.Read more
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Health and Social Care Theories & Models: A Student’s Handbook
‘Health and Social Care Theories & Models: A Student’s Handbook,’ is a quick guide and reference resource tailored for Diploma in health and social care, T Level in education and early years and Access to HE (Nursing) students. Beyond unravelling the intricacies of health and social care models and theoretical frameworks, this handbook offers pragmatic insights into the practical application of these concepts in real-world scenarios, nurturing the development of critical reasoning and adept decision-making abilities. Moreover, employing clear and intelligible language, its content is thoughtfully aligned with the specific learning objectives and assessment criteria outlined in BTEC, NCFE/CACHE, and T Level specifications. The handbook also contains tips and strategies on how to excel in both formative and summative assessments making it an indispensable resource.Read more
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Monasteriales Indicia: Anglo-Saxon Monastic Sign-language
This is one of the very few texts which let us see how life was really lived in monasteries in the early Middle Ages. Written in Old English and preserved in a manuscript of the mid-eleventh century, it consists of 127 signs used by Anglo-Saxon monks during times when the Benedictine Rule forbade them to speak. These indicate the food the monks ate, the clothes they wore, and the books they used in church and chapter, as well as the tools they used in their daily life, and persons they might meet both in the monastery and outside. The text is printed here with a parallel translation. The introduction gives a summary of the background, both historical and textual, as well as a brief look at the later evidence for monastic sign language in England. Extensive notes provide details of textual relationships, explore problems of interpretation, and set out the historical implications of the text.Read more
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The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER AND BBC HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2022
‘Pacey and potentially revolutionary’ Sunday Times
‘Iconoclastic and irreverent … an exhilarating read’ The Guardian
For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike – either free and equal, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a reaction to indigenous critiques of European society, and why they are wrong. In doing so, they overturn our view of human history, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery and civilization itself.
Drawing on path-breaking research in archaeology and anthropology, the authors show how history becomes a far more interesting place once we begin to see what’s really there. If humans did not spend 95 per cent of their evolutionary past in tiny bands of hunter-gatherers, what were they doing all that time? If agriculture, and cities, did not mean a plunge into hierarchy and domination, then what kinds of social and economic organization did they lead to? The answers are often unexpected, and suggest that the course of history may be less set in stone, and more full of playful possibilities than we tend to assume.
The Dawn of Everything fundamentally transforms our understanding of the human past and offers a path toward imagining new forms of freedom, new ways of organizing society. This is a monumental book of formidable intellectual range, animated by curiosity, moral vision and faith in the power of direct action.
‘This is not a book. This is an intellectual feast’ Nassim Nicholas Taleb
‘The most profound and exciting book I’ve read in thirty years’ Robin D. G. Kelley
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How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise
Why do most people know what an Ewok is, even if they haven’t seen Return of the Jedi? How have Star Wars action figures come to outnumber human beings? How did ‘Jedi’ become an officially recognised religion? When did the films’ merchandising revenue manage to rival the GDP of a small country?
Tracing the birth, death and rebirth of the epic universe built by George Lucas and hundreds of writers, artists, producers, and marketers, Chris Taylor jousts with modern-day Jedi, tinkers with droid builders, and gets inside Boba Fett’s helmet, all to find out how STAR WARS has attracted and inspired so many fans for so long.
‘It’s impossible to imagine a Star Wars fan who wouldn’t love this book. There are plenty of books about Star Wars, but very few of them are essential reading. This one goes directly to the top of the pile’ Booklist (starred review).
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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: The official novel of the highly anticipated new game (Assassin’s Creed, 10)
Journey deeper in the world of Assassin’s Creed in the official novel of the incredible game: Odyssey.
Greece, 5th century BCE.
Kassandra is a mercenary of Spartan blood, sentenced to death by her family, cast out into exile. Now she will embark on an epic journey to become a legendary hero – and uncover the truth about her mysterious lineage.
The Assassin’s Creed novels have sold more than 1 MILLION COPIES around the world – see what readers are saying:
‘A brilliant read’ *****
‘I love this book’ *****
‘Original and unique’ *****
‘A brilliant accompaniment to the games’ *****
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The Times Lives Less Ordinary: Obituaries of the eccentric, unique and undefinable
Discover the lives of some of the most fascinating and unconventional characters of recent times, with 85 obituaries carefully curated from The Times archive. Be they dons, pop stars, vicars, MPs, rugby players or aristocrats, each has marched to the beat of their own drum and led a life far from ordinary.
The Times obituaries have given readers throughout the world an instant picture of a life for more than 150 years. Meet the mavericks, rogues and eccentrics from recent history, including:
- Baroness Trumpington, the codebreaking, chainsmoking, two-finger-flicking grande dame of British politics
- ‘Magic Alex’ Mardas, inventor who was the Beatles’ ‘scientific guru’
- Zsa Zsa Gábor, Hungarian socialite and actress who made a success out of celebrity and was best known for having married nine times
- John Lucas, influential philosopher who argued against determinism and had a reputation for being the most eccentric don in Oxford
- Brigadier Jack Thomas, military police commander who survived a landmine, bullet, rhino and faulty parachute and liked to watch TV with an owl on his head
- April Ashley, model, socialite and transgender rights campaigner whose reassignment surgery was part of a rollercoaster life of lovers and high drama
- Jordan Mooney, punk muse known as ‘the original Sex Pistol’ who appeared on stage with them, guided their ‘look’ and then became a veterinary nurse
Authoritative, insightful and endlessly engaging, this book is a must for anyone with an interest in the eccentrics and unique characters of recent times.
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David Jason: My Life
Winner of the National Book Awards Autobiography of the Year
The long-awaited autobiography of one of Britain’s best-loved actors
Born the son of a Billingsgate market porter at the height of the Second World War, David Jason spent his early life dodging bombs and bullies, both with impish good timing. Giving up on an unloved career as an electrician, he turned his attention to acting and soon, through a natural talent for making people laugh, found himself working with the leading lights of British comedy in the 1960s and ’70s: Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Bob Monkhouse and Ronnie Barker. Barker would become a mentor to David, leading to hugely successful stints in Porridge and Open All Hours.
It wasn’t until 1981, kitted out with a sheepskin jacket, a flat cap, and a clapped-out Reliant Regal, that David found the part that would capture the nation’s hearts: the beloved Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in Only Fools and Horses. Never a one-trick pony, he had an award-winning spell as TV’s favourite detective Jack Frost, took a country jaunt as Pop Larkin in the Darling Buds of May, and even voiced a crime-fighting cartoon rodent in the much-loved children’s show Danger Mouse.
But life hasn’t all been so easy: from missing out on a key role in Dad’s Army to nearly drowning in a freak diving accident, David has had his fair share of ups and downs, and has lost some of his nearest and dearest along the way.
David’s is a touching, funny and warm-hearted story, which charts the course of his incredible five decades at the top of the entertainment business. He’s been a shopkeeper and a detective inspector, a crime-fighter and a market trader, and he ain’t finished yet. As Del Boy would say, it’s all cushty.
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£8.70£9.50David Jason: My Life
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Misjustice: How British Law is Failing Women
Two women a week are killed by a spouse or partner. Every seven minutes a woman is raped. Now is the time for change.
‘Fascinating and chilling’ Caroline Criado Perez, bestselling author of Invisible Women
Helena Kennedy, one of our most eminent lawyers and defenders of human rights, examines the pressing new evidence that women are being discriminated against when it comes to the law. From the shocking lack of female judges to the scandal of female prisons and the double discrimination experienced by BAME women, Kennedy shows with force and fury that change for women must start at the heart of what makes society just.
‘An unflinching look at women in the justice system… an important book because it challenges acquiescence to everyday sexism and inspires change’ The Times
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£8.70£9.50Misjustice: How British Law is Failing Women
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Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class
Ultimate “Tiger Mom” Abby Lee Miller—the passionate, unapologetically outspoken, tough-as-nails star of Lifetime’s phenomenal hit Dance Moms and Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition—offers inspirational, tough love guidance for parents who want to help their children succeed and for readers of all ages striving to become the best they can be.
If you want to help your kid reach the top, you can find no better coach than Abby Lee Miller. While some may criticize her methods, no one argues with her results. Her kids excel, her teams win, and her alumni go on to Broadway careers.
Organized by “Abbyisms,” her unique and effective philosophies on hard work, competition, and life, this straight-talking guide provides clear and proven advice for achieving success, from figuring out your child’s passion to laying the groundwork for an exciting future career. Abby answers tough questions from real moms, shares all the stories fans want to hear, and includes vignettes from shining alums who give their take on her unique approach and how it helped them make their dreams come true.
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