Having been published in over 100 countries, translated into 42 different languages, with over 21 million copies of his books sold internationally, Paulo Coelho can truly claim to be one of the most popular writers in the world.The Independent on Sunday has called him a ‘publishing phenomenon’.Paulo’s writing is a visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore. His stories are simple and direct, yet they have the power to change lives and inspire you with the courage to follow your dreams……His fifth novel, The Fifth Mountain, is set in the 9th century BC. Elijah is a young man struggling to maintain his sanity amidst a chaotic world of tyranny and war. Forced to flee his home, then choose between his newfound love and security and his overwhelming sense of duty, this is a moving and inspiring story about how we can transcend even the most terrible ordeals by keeping faith and love alive.
Love Valentine’s or hate it, we have a story for everyone.**A 272 page ebook short story collection**From heart-wrenching proposals to naughty little Chihuahuas; unexpected secret pregnancies to wicked love-potions; serendipitous brief encounters that change the hands of fate to bitter ghostly beauties who haunt loveless singletons. This is the ultimate Valentine’s Day short story collection. Tear-jerking, enchanting, feel-good and fabulous… Curl up, relax and escape into Valentine’s Day.WE SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER: The Weepy OneIt’s the afternoon before the Lusitania docks. Tragedy strikes. Will love survive?SINGLE, FORTY AND FABULOUS: The Feel-Good OneKate wishes she could turn back time to her 21st, in the arms of her childhood sweetheart. Be careful what you wish for …AN UNFORGETTABLE PROPOSAL: The Guilty OneWilliam accepts Samuel’s proposal of marriage, but discovers that Sam has been hiding a secret. And it’s one that will change their lives forever…THE LOVE POTION: The Vengeful OneWhen a pharmacist discovers her boyfriend's infidelity, she cooks up a Valentine's feast he won’t forget…THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF CUPID AND THE DRAG QUEEN: The Suspicious OneSearching for a Chihuahua called Cupid, PI Jayne McCartney discovers love comes with a bite!SNOW ON VALENTINE’S DAY: The Bittersweet OneClara goes to the same landmark every year, for the same heartbreaking reason. But what if things change?A BRIEF ENCOUNTER: The Romantic OneRachel has a secret. Daniel has a diamond ring. When a storm traps the two strangers together, destiny changes.SAVING MIRANDA: The Serendipitous OneDynamic Rufus and his desire to save the planet has won Miranda’s heart, but is he really her perfect match?THE STAINED GLASS HEART: The Enchanting OneDoes the new tenant have what it takes to break the spell of the three loveless ghosts at No.17?THE VALENTINE-FREE ZONE: The Funny OneOusted by her teenage son’s Valentine’s plans, Jenny has no idea how to spend the most romantic night of the year…
From sports to innovation, art to politics – meet the incredible women who got there first.Ever heard the saying “It’s a man’s world”? Clearly, the speaker had never met Amelia Earhart or Harriet Tubman. Those feisty females, and many more, rivaled their male counterparts in everything from computer programming to civil rights, and from world speed records to the invention of the chocolate chip cookie!• Did you know that the first computer programmer was a woman? Countess Ada Lovelace (1842).• Or that the inventor of the life raft, windshield wiper, and Kevlar were all female? Maria Beaseley (1882), Mary Anderson (1903), Stephanie Kwolek (1966).From ground-breaking inventions to feats of endurance, We Can Do Anything is the ideal book for growing girls’ and boys’ intellectually curious minds. Loaded with 200+ main entries, readers will be armed with incredible trivia about history, science, sports, and the arts—perfect for anyone looking to stimulate their mind, brush up for school, or simply indulge in a good read.Organized chronologically, this fact-o-pedia is subdivided intoa range of subjects, including science & innovation, sports & endurance, arts & literature, politics & world-building, business & industry, world records, and unusual achievements.With engaging and accessible text and delightful illustrations throughout, We Can Do Anything is sure to educate, entertain, and inspire!
After the best part of forty years spent either living under his parents’ roof, in the tropical rainforests of three continents, a vast array of student digs or most recently a one-bedroom flat, The One Show’s Mike Dilger has at last bought a house – and with it, a (potentially) glorious garden…‘Potential’ was definitely the word that sprang to mind the very first time Mike and his partner Christina viewed their new ‘house-and-garden-to-be’ in a small rural village some eight miles south of Bristol.And so begins their year-long journey to create their very own wildlife sanctuary. From otters to badgers, chickens to hedgehogs, an orchard, a pond and compost bins, to the best birdlife imaginable, what began as a straightforward mission soon became the adventure of a lifetime.Illustrated throughout with beautiful black-and-white line drawings by Christina Holvey, Mike Dilger’s partner-in-crime, this light-hearted nature tale with a twist will appeal to wildlife enthusiasts and keen gardeners alike.
The new Hercule Poirot novel – another brilliant murder mystery that can only be solved by the eponymous Belgian detective and his ‘little grey cells’.Since the publication of her first book in 1920, Agatha Christie wrote 33 novels, two plays and more than 50 short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. Now, for the first time ever, the guardians of her legacy have approved a brand new novel featuring Dame Agatha's most beloved creation.Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffee house is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. She is terrified, but begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done.Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at the fashionable Bloxham Hotel have been murdered, a cufflink placed in each one’s mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim…In the hands of internationally bestselling author Sophie Hannah, Poirot plunges into a mystery set in 1920s London – a diabolically clever puzzle that can only be solved by the talented Belgian detective and his ‘little grey cells’.
ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTIAN BIRMINGHAM.A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion.“All my life I’ll think of you, I promise I will. I won’t ever forget you.”Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion which ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten.
Foreword by Bill GatesFrom the authors of New York Times bestsellers, The Alliance and The Start-up of You, comes a smart and accessible must-have guide for budding entrepreneurs everywhere.Silicon Valley is renowned for its striking number of businesses which have grown from garage start-ups into global giants; Apple, Cisco, Google, HP and Intel to name a few. But what is the secret to their outstanding success? Hoffman and Yeh explain that it’s simple: they’ve learnt how to blitzscale.Featuring case studies from numerous prominent tech businesses such as AirBnB and WeChat, this book offers a specific set of practices for catalysing and managing dizzying growth in bourgeoning start-ups. Prioritising speed over efficiency in an environment of uncertainty, Blitzscaling illustrates how businesses can accelerate to the stage in a company’s life cycle where the most value is generated. Using the framework provided by Hoffman and Yeh, readers will learn how to design business models which simultaneously support growth at a furious pace and capture the market, as well as how to navigate the necessary shifts in strategy needed at each level of scale.
The extraordinary story of Vivian Stanshall, lead singer of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, true British eccentric.Charismatic and flamboyant, Vivian Stanshall was a natural frontman for The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. The eccentric group who satirised trad jazz, pop and rock, reached Number five with ‘I’m The Urban Spaceman’ in 1968. A punishing schedule of tours and television followed, including work with the future Monty Python team. The following year, broke and burned out, the Bonzos split up, leaving behind a loyal cult following.Vivian launched into myriad solo projects in music, film and theatre, giving himself several nervous breakdowns in the process. His comic masterpiece, ‘Sir Henry at Rawlinson End’, was heard in radio, on an album, and then hit the big screen. Vivian wrote the musical ‘Stinkfoot’, was narrator on ‘Tubular Bells’ and provided lyrics for Steve Winwood. In person, he was just as multi-faceted, by turns the erudite artist and the truculent Teddy Boy, breathtakingly rude. A powerful figure, tall, red-haired and never less than extravagant in his fashion, Vivian Stanshall was a hell-raiser of legendary reputation – ably assisted through much of the 1970s by Who drummer Keith Moon. Vivian drove the many who loved him to the limit, struggling with terrible tranquilliser and alcohol dependency. He died at home in a house fire in 1995. The story of his turbulent life is utterly compelling.
Since October 2015, a whole lot of people have been getting relationship advice from a very well-intentioned but untrained source – actress Anna Faris – on her ridiculously popular podcast, Unqualified.Anna’s own personal life was messy, even while her career soared as the lead in the Scary Movie franchise, and as the star of the CBS comedy, MOM. She started Unqualified as something gone-a-goof, but the podcast is already getting 1.5 million downloads a month, and is consistently one of the most popular out there.Now, working with collaborator Rachel Bertsche, she is telling all in her first book UNQUALIFIED. Unable to find an ex who would spill the beans, Chris has graciously agreed to write the introduction.
From leaping dolphins to boxing hares, soaring eagles to the beat of a million wings – the British Isles offer some of the richest and most varied wildlife encounters in Europe. But how do you pick the must-see events?Britain is one of the best wildlife spots in Europe and this is the best of the best – as voted for by a panel of naturalists from suggestions from the public via BBC TV, BBC local radio and the web.Nature’s Top 40: Britain’s Best Wildlife is a definitive top-40 list of the UK’s most spectacular wildlife wonders. Based on the public’s recommendations, Mike Dilger gives a unique countdown of the UK’s 40 most remarkable sights, with tips on where and when to go, along with the fascinating stories behind each event – why it happens, what’s going on and how to get the very best view.So what are Britain’s top 40 sights, and which one is top of the wildlife pops?