Other Non Fiction

Enid Blyton's books are beloved the world over and The Famous Five have been the perennial favourite of her fans. Now, in this new (read more)

Enid Blyton's books are beloved the world over and The Famous Five have been the perennial favourite of her fans. Now, in this new series of Enid Blyton for Grown-Ups, George, Dick, Anne, Julian and Timmy confront a new challenge: give up the booze. Give up alcohol you say? Why, of course they can! Talk about an easy challenge! Five old friends set about this simple task and find all of a sudden that: the days are longer; they get to see each other for who they really are; the empty laughter of ordinary conversation is so much harder to fake.

Yes, they're saving money and losing weight, but the world itself seems to take on a slow, dreary inevitability. Soon they begin to snap at each other, and then fight - until they begin to wonder, have the Five at last found the challenge that will defeat them? The perfect gift for anyone who has woken up and promised themselves that they will never drink again. Or at least until next weekend. (hide)

Offering a fresh perspective on one of the most prolific and well-loved catalogues of songs in the rock 'n' roll canon, Fleetwood (read more)

Offering a fresh perspective on one of the most prolific and well-loved catalogues of songs in the rock 'n' roll canon, Fleetwood Mac FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Iconic Rock Survivors digs deeper than your average music compendium and sidesteps the tediousness of most generalized band histories. Professional yet playful, the book's most unique feature is its structure: a hybrid of historical breakdowns, Q and As, music criticism, and best of lists chronicling the band's influence and legacy. No Fleetwood Mac book would be complete without addressing the sensationalism of Rumours or the mythic psychological breakdown of Peter Green.

Published:7 Jan 2019 (hide)

Discover the extraordinary diversity of the plant world - and how plants work - with this photographic celebration of the trees, (read more)

Discover the extraordinary diversity of the plant world - and how plants work - with this photographic celebration of the trees, flowers, and foliage plants that share our planet. From tiny mosses and delicate ferns to vibrant blooms and stately palms, Flora invites you to explore the plant kingdom from the ground up, and from root to leaf tip. DK's elegant introduction to botany is packed with sumptuous photos and crystal-clear artworks that explain the mechanics of photosynthesis, why leaves change colour, how cacti store water, and how seeds know when to grow.
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The whole world has gone colouring crazy. Once considered the favourite pastime of children, the colouring craze has now extended (read more)

The whole world has gone colouring crazy. Once considered the favourite pastime of children, the colouring craze has now extended to include 'kids of all ages', thanks to its well-known therapeutic properties. This fresh and exciting series of titles, designed especially for grown-ups, is the perfect way to relax after a hard day at work and a creative antidote to staring too long at a computer screen.

Covering a range of distinct and fascinating subject areas these stylish activity books are a brilliant way to bring some creativity and colour into your life...as well as improve your rusty art skills. With more than 125 classic and contemporary designs to put your own unique spin on, this adult activity book is a unique source of flowers and nature themed artwork and the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys getting creative in the great outdoors. (hide)

Look out of your window, walk down a country path or go to the beach in Great Britain, and you are sure to see many wild species (read more)

Look out of your window, walk down a country path or go to the beach in Great Britain, and you are sure to see many wild species that you can take home and eat.

From dandelions in spring to sloe berries in autumn, via wild garlic, samphire, chanterelles and even grasshoppers, our countryside is full of edible delights in any season. John Wright is the country's foremost expert in foraging and brings decades of experience, including as forager at the River Cottage, to this seasonal guide. Month by month, he shows us what species can be found and where, how to identify them, and how to store, use and cook them. (hide)

A breathtaking and beautiful exploration of our planet, this groundbreaking book accompanies the new BBC One TV series, providing (read more)

A breathtaking and beautiful exploration of our planet, this groundbreaking book accompanies the new BBC One TV series, providing the deepest answers to the simplest questions. 'What is motion?' 'Why is every snowflake different?' 'Why is life symmetrical?' To answer these and many other questions, Professor Brian Cox uncovers some of the most extraordinary natural events on Earth and in the Universe and beyond. From the immensity of the Universe and the roundness of Earth to the form of every single snowflake, the forces of nature shape everything we see.

Pushed to extremes, the results are astonishing. In seeking to understand the everyday world, the colours, structure, behaviour and history of our home, we develop the knowledge and techniques necessary to step beyond the everyday and approach the Universe beyond. Forces of Nature takes you to the great plains of the Serengeti, the volcanoes of Indonesia and the precipitous cliffs in Nepal, to the humpback whales of the Caribbean and the northern lights of the Arctic. (hide)

Brian Mountford has chosen thirty five poems which explore the human experience of suffering and redemption, accompanied by his own (read more)

Brian Mountford has chosen thirty five poems which explore the human experience of suffering and redemption, accompanied by his own thoughtful and witty commentary. The collection contains secular and sacred pieces in equal measure and came into being as part of a programme to bring a sense of seriousness, in a non prescriptive, open-ended way to the Easter holiday crowds in the University Church, Oxford, where the poems were read on Good Friday with dignity and panache by senior school children. (hide)

The Fundamentals of Interior Architecture (second edition) offers an introduction to the key elements involved in the creation of (read more)

The Fundamentals of Interior Architecture (second edition) offers an introduction to the key elements involved in the creation of aesthetically appealing and practically appropriate interior architecture. The book contains five sections, which together encapsulate the principle ideas, skills and knowledge that are employed in effective interior architecture and design. Areas of study include space and form, site and function, materials and texture, light and mood, and presentation and representation.

Emphasis is placed on spatial solutions that support the needs of the client and which recognise the qualities of the building and its situation. The theory is contextualised using practitioner biographies and work from leading designers. The new material in this highly illustrated second edition includes interviews with leading practitioners. (hide)

This book presents professional techniques to bring your furniture back to life. How to dismantle, reassemble, repair, restore, upholster, (read more)

This book presents professional techniques to bring your furniture back to life. How to dismantle, reassemble, repair, restore, upholster, polish, wax and stain antique chairs at home. It includes clear step-by-step instructions for everyday restoration tasks, including upholstering a stuff-over seat, repairing feet and legs, and mending a broken back.

It features a fascinating history, including how chairs from different periods are made, and how to take them apart and put them back together. It includes expert advice on buying, using and caring for tools, equipment and materials. It offers projects that include restoring an 18th-century carved chair, replacing a dog-chewed arm, repairing a top rail, cutting in a tenon joint, and reeding a turned chair leg. (hide)

Garden Wildlife provides all the essential information you need to identify the wildlife found in your garden, as well as advising (read more)

Garden Wildlife provides all the essential information you need to identify the wildlife found in your garden, as well as advising you on how to make your garden a haven for wildlife and attract an abundance of different insects, birds mammals and more. The book will appeal to the expert and amateur alike. Offering a wealth of information on identifying nearly 400 of the most commonly encountered garden wildlife in Britain and Northern Europe, each species is clearly described with informed and concise text and an easy-to-follow layout for quick identification.

Detailed colour artworks accompany the accessible and engaging text. (hide)