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)

A former aircraft engineer exposes the dangerous breakdown in airline safety due to lapses in maintenance and quality control. This (read more)

A former aircraft engineer exposes the dangerous breakdown in airline safety due to lapses in maintenance and quality control. This book chronicles maintenance-related accidents caused by individual, corporate, or governmental negligence and brings the industry's current state of affairs into sharp focus. The author, a former aviation engineer, examines how failures of the smallest of parts have brought down airliners, explaining sometimes esoteric mechanical issues for readers with no technical background.

Vividly describing the terror of accidents and close calls, the author then follows the painstaking investigations to determine causes. He focuses on maintenance errors, which rank as one of the top three causes of airline accidents, and points to the factors that have led to an alarming situation-- continued reduction of licensed mechanics, the shutting down of maintenance bases in the United States, and the outsourcing of maintenance to lowballing contractors. Outsourcing has forced thousands of licensed mechanics into retirement or different careers.

Published:19 Jun 2020 (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.
(hide)

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)

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)

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)

Galapagos Giant Tortoises brings together researchers and conservationists to share the most up-to-date knowledge of Galapagos giant (read more)

Galapagos Giant Tortoises brings together researchers and conservationists to share the most up-to-date knowledge of Galapagos giant tortoises. Despite being icons of the world-famous Galapagos Archipelago and the target of more than 50 years of conservation research and management, Galapagos giant tortoise evolution and much of their ecology remained unknown until recently. This book documents the history, the pressing conservation issues, and success stories recovering several of the 15 different species of Galapagos tortoises from near extinction.

Published:27 Nov 2020 (hide)

There was a time when garden designer Cleve West questioned the importance of his role as a garden designer. Two things changed his (read more)

There was a time when garden designer Cleve West questioned the importance of his role as a garden designer. Two things changed his mind: designing a garden for a hospital and adopting a vegan lifestyle. Cleve's transition to veganism was a profound and varied learning experience.

He learned more about nutrition than when he studied it as part of a sports science degree. He learned a great deal about propaganda in the food industry and how, contrary to what he'd been led to believe, the cows and chickens in the dairy industry are far from 'happy'. He learned that animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and a whole range of environmental catastrophes. (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)