Other Non Fiction

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)

This charming and indispensable reference guide contains specific month-by-month `to do' lists for ornamental gardens, edible crops (read more)

This charming and indispensable reference guide contains specific month-by-month `to do' lists for ornamental gardens, edible crops and general maintenance, as well as tips on everything green-fingered, from protecting your plants from frost, pests and disease to making sure you get a bumper harvest to enjoy year-round. With diary pages for making your own notes each month, this pocket-sized yearbook is a must-have for every season. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this book will become an old and trusted friend. (hide)

Revamp, recycle and rejuvenate your old containers into some stunning feature pieces for your garden. Learn how to become more eco-friendly (read more)

Revamp, recycle and rejuvenate your old containers into some stunning feature pieces for your garden. Learn how to become more eco-friendly and make the most of old mugs, oil cans, plastic bottles and so much more with Gardening with Junk. Delve into gardening with the first section, Getting Started, which is devoted to teaching you the basics and explaining how to choose the right container and the right plant for your space.

It's easy to get carried away by your own enthusiasm but Getting Started will show you how to condense your creative thoughts into gorgeous and cohesive projects. The second section, Planted Junk, will demonstrate how to utilise all sorts of great materials, from ceramics, stone and glass, to wood, wicker, metal and plastic. Learn how to make the most of any container, whether they are beer cans, wicker baskets, quirky ceramics and so much more! The final section, Plant Directory, provides a comprehensive list of flowers and plants so that you can find what best suits you and your newly converted pots! This section also provides useful addresses that will help you on your way to a fabulously upcycled garden.

Published:8 May 2018 (hide)

The GCHQ team's long-awaited second puzzle book - full of both harder and easier brain teasers - is the PERFECT GIFT for anyone who (read more)

The GCHQ team's long-awaited second puzzle book - full of both harder and easier brain teasers - is the PERFECT GIFT for anyone who loves a challenge. 'Fiendishly tricky' Daily Mail With their first bestselling book, The GCHQ Puzzle Book, the UK's intelligence and security experts tested us with puzzles, codes and real-life entrance tests from their archives. Now, they are back with a NEW collection of head-scratching, mind-boggling and brain-bending puzzles that will leave you pondering for hours.
(hide)

A classic book gets a new, redesigned, and sumptuous edition in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Updated and revised, Gems & (read more)

A classic book gets a new, redesigned, and sumptuous edition in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Updated and revised, Gems & Crystals showcases the museum's renowned collection and unlocks the science behind the dazzling properties of each gemstone species. Nearly 150 key varieties of gems and minerals are profiled, with information on their history, lore, and sources, as well as the relationships among the bewildering variety of crystals, minerals, rocks, and gemstones.

Extensively researched and stunningly illustrated, this very special volume will fascinate novice and expert alike. (hide)

The international bestseller that reveals the amazing mind of your favourite friend Is your dog purposefully disobeying you? Probably, (read more)

The international bestseller that reveals the amazing mind of your favourite friend Is your dog purposefully disobeying you? Probably, and usually behind your back. Should you act like 'top dog' to maintain control? No, you're better off displaying your friendliness - and not just to your dog. Which breed is the cleverest? That's the wrong question to ask.

These are just some of the extraordinary insights to be found in The Genius of Dogs - the seminal book on how dogs evolved their unique intelligence by award-winning scientist Dr Brian Hare. He shares more than two decades of startling discoveries about the mysteries of the dog mind and how you can use his groundbreaking work to build a better relationship with your own dog. (hide)