Other Non Fiction

Become a dazzling wit or enjoy a good laugh with this entertaining collection of humorous quotations, carefully handpicked and edited (read more)

Become a dazzling wit or enjoy a good laugh with this entertaining collection of humorous quotations, carefully handpicked and edited by writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth. From Art to Bores, Tennis to Wine, this little dictionary contains over 2,700 of the best quotations, from witty one-liners and funny phrases to pithy comments and unintended humour. If you live to be one hundred you've got it made.
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Materiality is a recurring and key issue in architecture. This book explains how materials are "constructed", how they become substances (read more)

Materiality is a recurring and key issue in architecture. This book explains how materials are "constructed", how they become substances of our culture. Metabolic Processes follows up on the relationship between natural materials and technology, science, and sensuality.

Gottfried Semper (1803-1879) made the concept of metabolic processes the key element of his theory. He referred to the fact that architectural forms originally resulting from a method of processing a material are used for other substances. For the first time, the book investigates the subject from a historic point of view whilst reflecting current interdisciplinary findings.

Examples from Aalto to Zumthor illustrate the special aspects of erstwhile and contemporary material concepts.
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The scuba-diving philosopher and bestselling author of Other Minds explores the origins of animal consciousness. Dip below the ocean's (read more)

The scuba-diving philosopher and bestselling author of Other Minds explores the origins of animal consciousness. Dip below the ocean's surface and you are soon confronted by forms of life that could not seem more foreign to our own: sea sponges, soft corals and flower-like worms, whose rooted bodies and intricate geometry are more reminiscent of plant life than anything recognisably animal. Yet these creatures are our cousins.

As fellow members of the animal kingdom - the Metazoa - they can teach us about the evolutionary origins of not only our bodies, but also our minds. In his acclaimed book, Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith explored the mind of the octopus - the closest thing to an intelligent alien on Earth. In Metazoa, he expands his inquiry to animals at large, investigating the evolution of experience with the assistance of far-flung species. (hide)

'Only Lady Luck can get a table at Mildreds. It's one of London's coolest vegetarian restaurants.' - Time Out'Who needs meat when (read more)

'Only Lady Luck can get a table at Mildreds. It's one of London's coolest vegetarian restaurants.' - Time Out'Who needs meat when you get this much flavour?' - HardensBursting with clever ideas for feasts with family and friends, as well as for delicious, simple everyday meals, Mildreds Vegan Cookbook brings you punchy flavours, satisfying dishes, a dash of urban cool and a refreshing take on the conventional stereotype of vegan food.There are plenty of dishes to wow a crowd, whether it's Walnut, Date & Cinnamon Rolls and Smoky Baked Beans on Grilled Sourdough for a brunch with friends; Memphis Bourbon Barbecue Skewers and Rainbow Root Slaw with Orange, Maple & Thyme Dressing for a summer barbecue; Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Icing for a children's party; or Butternut Squash & Tofu Terrine with Redcurrant Stuffing and an I-can't-believe-it's-vegan Espresso Creme Caramel for a celebration dinner. A vegan diet the Mildreds way, will bring joy and surprise to your life, and ensure your taste buds are well and truly alive and kicking.

Published:1 Feb 2018 (hide)

If you ever needed proof that a magazine can have a love affair with a musician, you re holding it in your hands. For DownBeat, the (read more)

If you ever needed proof that a magazine can have a love affair with a musician, you re holding it in your hands. For DownBeat, the preeminent publication of the jazz world, Miles Dewey Davis was one of its most cherished subjects. Since it began covering the jazz scene in 1939, no other artist has been more diligently chronicled in its pages than Davis.

The beauty of this collection is seeing the development of an artist over time. The reviews of his music go from quietly introducing a new talent to revering, perhaps, the greatest jazz artist of his generation. The feature articles begin with a very young, very polite Davis lamenting, I ve worked so little.

Published:7 Oct 2018
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Dive into the wonderful world of innovative knitter, Sachiyo Ishii and create an ocean of fishy friends. This charming book contains (read more)

Dive into the wonderful world of innovative knitter, Sachiyo Ishii and create an ocean of fishy friends. This charming book contains over 30 fun, simple knitting patterns for a range of cute and cuddly underwater characters. Create simple nautical knits such as dolphins, whales, clownfish and sharks, and then try your hand at larger maritime toys, including a fishing vessel, a ship's crew, some magical mermaids and a yellow submarine.

The book is suitable for knitters of all skill levels, and all the patterns require only small amounts of readily available yarn. The book also contains a useful techniques section with step-by-step instructions for the necessary techniques, including stuffing and sewing up figures, creating crocheted fins, and all the embroidery stitches needed to create the facial features and details.

Pub Date:31/10/2016 (hide)

In the music world, there are dozens of talented photographers known for their images of flesh-and-blood rockers doing their thing (read more)

In the music world, there are dozens of talented photographers known for their images of flesh-and-blood rockers doing their thing for the audiences that love them. But there is only one Lisa S. Johnson.

She is the Annie Lebowitz of the musical ax, whose nuanced approach to still instrument photography has placed the veteran photographer in a league of her own. Armed with a macro lens, laser-focused eye for detail, and a unique, singular vision, Johnson's guitar art has become imbedded in pop culture's six-string consciousness. The follow-up to her 2013 debut book, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Johnson continues her journey photographing guitars that have rocked the world with Mortal and Immortal Guitars.

Published:15 Jul 2020
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Moss is all around us. While it is most often associated with damp, shady spaces, it can be found in the most unexpected and far-flung (read more)

Moss is all around us. While it is most often associated with damp, shady spaces, it can be found in the most unexpected and far-flung places, from deserts to Antarctica.

This book is a celebration of its quiet, unassuming beauty and a primer to understanding the secrets of the world's most ancient plant: * Discover the fascinating history of this soft and tactile plant * Learn how and where to identify and gather different moss species. * Take a tour of some of the most beautiful moss gardens in the UK, the US and Japan, where moss viewing has become a national phenomenon. * Learn how to cultivate moss, tie Japanese moss balls (kokedama) and plant moss landscapes in pots and terrariums. (hide)

Music as an Art begins by examining music through a philosophical lens, engaging in discussions about tonality, music and the moral (read more)

Music as an Art begins by examining music through a philosophical lens, engaging in discussions about tonality, music and the moral life, music and cognitive science and German idealism, as well as recalling the author's struggle to encourage his students to distinguish the qualities of good music. Scruton then explains - via erudite chapters on Schubert, Britten, Rameau, opera and film - how we can develop greater judgement in music, recognising both good taste and bad, establishing musical values, as well as musical pleasures. As Scruton argues in this book, in earlier times, our musical culture had secure foundations in the church, the concert hall and the home; in the ceremonies and celebrations of ordinary life, religion and manners.
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'From a very early age I loved the countryside as much as any garden and was fascinated by the life that I saw all around me from (read more)

'From a very early age I loved the countryside as much as any garden and was fascinated by the life that I saw all around me from trees, wildflowers, birds, insects and mammals. In a sense this book has been over sixty years in gestation. I have kept notebooks and journals ever since I could write and I have drawn upon these as well as the events of the past year.'

My Garden World by Monty Don is a celebration of every living creature that we all share.

This year has given us the enforced opportunity to learn more about the fascinating natural world around us. Whether you live in the countryside or the town, Monty's observations and insights are relevant to each and every one of us. My Garden World is Monty Don's personal journey through the natural year, month by month, season by season, observed from the immediate world around him. (hide)