Entertainment Books

The 2023 Private Eye Annual presents the year's best cartoons, jokes, parodies and topical sketches from the UK's most successful satirical news and current affairs magazine! The Private Eye Annual has become both a seasonal institution and a perennial Christmas bestseller with its funny illustrations throughout! The perfect gift!  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781901784732 • Author:  Ian Hislop  • Publisher:  Private Eye • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  96 • Dimensions:  21 x 1.4 x 26 cm 

Now including the top astronomical places to visit, star festivals and the latest on star parties in Britain and Ireland, the new 2024 edition is totally up-to-date for exploring the wonder of the night skies, month-by-month and day-by-day. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just starting out, Philip's Stargazing 2024 is the only book you'll need. Compiled by experts and specially designed for easy and daily use, Stargazing 2024 acts as a handily illustrated and comprehensive companion. Includes 12 updated sky charts for year-round astronomical discovery, Month-to-Month information. Daily Moon Phase Calendar, highlighting special lunar events throughout the year and planet Watch for ideal viewing days in 2024. Find the best places to experience Dark Skies, along with the latest on Star Festivals and Star Parties and the top places to visit for astronomical insights. With expert advice and insight throughout from internationally renowned Prof Nigel Henbest, a special article on the use of filters for astro-photography by expert Robin Scagell, the complete calendar of major astronomical events, including the Top 20 Sky Sights of 2024 and Jargon Buster, explaining common or confusing terms, the planets' movements explained from solar and lunar eclipses to meteor showers and comets.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781849076517 • Author: Nigel Henbest • Publisher:  Philip's • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  96 • Dimensions: 14.9 x 14.9 x 21 cm

Ripley's Believe It or Not! will amaze and astound children and adults alike with thousands of strange stories, unusual feats and hair-raising oddities from around the world. Bursting with thousands of extraordinary facts and accompanied by lists, stunning photography, infographics, and the science behind some of the weirdest stories, Ripley's Believe It or Not! will entertain, inform and flabbergast you with stories of people who are pushing the boundaries. This year's annual takes the reading experience to the next level with mini games, interactive video content, quizzes, secrets to be unlocked and many more innovative features. No Christmas is complete without it. Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781529916607 • Author: Ripley • Publisher:  Penguin Books Ltd • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  256 • Dimensions: 23.5 x 2.2 x 30.5 cm

Explore the unique stories behind every Grand Prix track in this fully updated second edition. Written by award-winning journalist Maurice Hamilton and complete with bespoke digital maps of each course, this is the ultimate guide to the circuits of Formula One. Each venue is listed in chronological order from the first time it hosted a Grand Prix, starting with Monza, then taking in renowned locations such as Spa, Nürburgring, Monaco and Silverstone, all the way up to F1’s latest destination: Miami. Uncover little-known facts about famous circuits and discover the story behind some of the sport’s lesser-known venues. This fully updated second edition includes: all 77 Formula 1 circuits, featuring six additional venues from the previous edition, bespoke digital maps of every racetrack, statistics including circuit lengths, lap records, and names of corners and straights, alphabetical and ‘by country’ indices for ease of reference.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9780008554798 • Author: Maurice Hamilton  • Publisher:  Collins • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  336 • Dimensions:  22.7 x 2.8 x 27.1 cm

A classic collection the Art of War and other Chinese military texts, beautifully presented with a striking, foil-embossed cover design. Written between 500 BCE and 700 CE, these seven texts have inspired generals for millennia, both in China and the wider world. These seven texts display an understanding of strategy and warfare still relevant more than 2,000 years after they were originally written. Together, they present a uniquely eastern tradition of warfare that emphasizes speed, stealth, and cunning. This collection includes seven of the most famous military texts of ancient China: The Art of War, Wuzi, Wei Liaozi, Taigong's Six Secret Teachings, The Methods of the Sima, Three Strategies of Huang Shigong, and Questions and Replies Between Emperor Taizong of Tang and General Li Jing. These new translations bring to light several texts that display an understanding of strategy and warfare that still has relevance millennia after their original publication. From the 11th-century AD onward, these texts became required reading for Chinese military officers. Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781839401596 • Author: Sun Tzu • Publisher:  Arcturus • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  384 • Dimensions: 23.7 x 3.3 x 19.2 cm

Jeremy's one-man war on crimes against common sense has not yet been won. And our hero's still scratching his head at the madness of it all. But it's not all bad. He's learned a little along the way, including: Why binge drinking is good for you The worst word in the English language The remarkable secret of eternal youth The pleasure and pain of middle-aged drumming The problem with America And how to dispose of a seal For anyone who's ever been driven to wonder just what is the matter with people these days, For Crying Out Loud is the perfect riposte. Surprising, fearless and always laugh-out-loud funny, Clarkson's back. And he's got a point . . . Product Information:  • ISBN: 9781405970525 • Author:  Jeremy Clarkson  • Publisher:  Penguin Publishing • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  352 • Dimensions: 12.7 x 2.29 x 19.69cm  

Want to impress your friends and family with both useful, worthless but undeniably interesting facts? Then Interesting Facts For Curious Minds: 1572 Random But Mind Blowing Facts About History, Science, Pop Culture and Everything in Between is the book for you! Know the answers to a variety of questions such as: When did zero become a number? Who was the inventor of Bitcoin? What did the Big Bang sound like? How have sports changed around the world? What’s a malapropism? and many more! With 63 chapters, this book has a nice mix of science, history, pop culture, and all sorts of stuff in between. Each chapter contains 25 concise yet engaging factoids that are sure to make you think and at times laugh. I guarantee you’ll find it one of the best tools to pass some time, relax alone, or connect with others. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn some truly interesting facts!  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9798887680026 • Author: Jordan Moore  • Publisher: Red Panda Press • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  198 • Dimensions: 17.78 x 1.14 x 25.4 cm

Guy Martin can't sit still. He has to keep pushing - both himself and whatever machine he is piloting - to the extreme. He's a doer, not a talker. That applies whether Guy's competing in a self-supported 750-mile mountain bike race across Arizona, or trying to reach 300mph in a standing mile on the 800-horsepower motorbike he built in his shed. And during his TV adventures, travelling through Japan, winning records for the world's fastest tractor, re-creating the famous Steve McQueen Great Escape jump, discovering the toil and sacrifice of the D-Day landings and trying to cut the mustard as a Battle of Britain pilot. Guy's become a dad now and he's hoping that one day his daughter will grow up to be a better welder than he is. Oh, and he's still getting up at 5am to work on trucks in for service or to be out on his tractor, working the Lincolnshire land he's always called home. This is Guy Martin's latest book, in his own words, on the last four years of his life that make the rest of us look like we're in slow motion. We're here for a good time, not a long time. To Guy, if it's worth doing, it's worth dying for.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781529940145 • Author:  Guy Martin • Publisher:  Ebury Press • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  320 • Dimensions:  15.24 x 3.05 x 23.34 cm

If you've always wanted to know how societies function - and why sometimes they don't - this beginner's guide to sociology has got the essential theories and thinkers covered! Sociology has almost limitless scope. From the smallest everyday interaction to the impact of vast systemic change, societies are brimming with fascinating phenomena we all want to understand more clearly. There's never been a more important moment to grasp what's going on around us, and this pocket-sized guide offers an engaging introduction to the key sociological concepts and debates. It includes easy-to-follow coverage of: The origins and development of modern sociology and the influence of foundational figures such as Durkheim, Marx and Weber. The major sociological schools or perspectives, from functionalism to feminism. How sociologists strive to test their theories ethically and carefully by using scientific research methods. The key topics in sociology, including inequality, class, crime, gender and race. How sociology can help us tackle new challenges and change our societies - and the wider world - for the better. Perfect for newcomers, or anyone seeking a concise breakdown of the subject, The Little Book of Sociology takes all the big ideas and makes them crystal clear.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781800077188 • Author: Rasha Barrage • Publisher:  Summersdale • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  144 • Dimensions:  10.6 x 2 x 14 cm

The remarkable inside story of how two Hollywood A-listers, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, stunned the football world by buying a non-league club in North Wales. It was one of the most extraordinary takeovers British football has known. In February 2021, Ryan Reynolds joined with Rob McElhenney to buy Wrexham FC, a non-league team in North Wales. Wrexham, a former coal and steel town dealing with its post-industrial legacy, suddenly found itself at the centre of global attention, with broadcast networks around the world descending to discover what was going on. The club became the subject of a smash hit Disney+ docu-series, Welcome to Wrexham. Tinseltown tells the story of this extraordinary, unpredictable and often surreal football takeover and the remarkable events that followed. Written with the full cooperation of Wrexham FC, it is the inside story of what happened when Hollywood met a dot on a map. How a town was transformed when its football club, aspiring only to survive on the fifth rung of the British football ladder, was sprinkled with gold dust and found ambition again. With unique access to key figures, the book charts the club's attempts to climb up the pyramid, providing a vivid sense of what it is like to play for this 'Hollywood' team and the pressure and spotlight that comes with it. Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781035407705 • Author:  Ian Herbert • Publisher:  Headline • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  400 • Dimensions:   16.4 x 3.8 x 23.8 cm

Supercharge your game and claim your victory with this powerful collection of uplifting words from kickass women in sports. Inside every woman is a lioness just waiting to break free. This feisty feline is independent, brave, strong and agile. She is ready to acknowledge and shout about her power. She wants to crush her goals. She believes she deserves to live her life courageously and to the full. All she needs is for you to open your heart and set her free. This small-but-mighty book is the perfect companion on your journey to attaining the unshakeable confidence of a lioness. Inside you'll find empowering quotes from sporting legends all the way from Billie Jean King right up to Leah Williamson. Let these bold words from badass women inspire you to find your pride of supportive sisters, reach for your dreams, and celebrate every success along the way. Stay fierce and fearless - unleash your inner lioness and hear her roar!  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781800079182 • Author: Harriet Dyer • Publisher:  Summersdale • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  160 • Dimensions:  13.7 x 2.4 x 10.2 cm

Another year on the Diddly Squat Farm and Jeremy is still knee-deep in mud and endless challenges. Welcome back to Clarkson's Farm. Since taking the wheel three years ago Jeremy's had his work cut out. And it's now clear from hard-won experience that, when it comes to farming, there's only one golden rule: Whatever you hope will happen, won't. Enthusiastic schemes to diversify have met with stubborn opposition from the red trouser brigade, defeat at the hands of Council Planning department, and predictable derision from Kaleb - although, to be fair, even Lisa had doubts about Jeremy's brilliant plan to build a business empire founded on rewilding and nettle soup. And only Cheerful Charlie is still smiling about the stifling amount of red tape that's incoming... But he charges by the hour. Then there are the animals: the sheep are gone; the cows have been joined by a rented bull called Break-Heart Maestro;. the pigs are making piglets; and the goats have turned out to be psychopaths. But despite the naysayers and (sometimes self-inflicted) setbacks, Jeremy remains irrepressibly optimistic about life at Diddly Squat. Because It's hard not to be when you get to harvest blackberries with a vacuum cleaner. And, after all, it shouldn't just be Break-heart Maestro who gets to enjoy a happy ending...  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9780241674895 • Author:  Jeremy Clarkson • Publisher:  Michael Joseph • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  192 • Dimensions: 15.2 x 2.6 x 23.6 cm

A definitive and intriguing biography of Max Verstappen, Formula 1's superstar, Lewis Hamilton's great rival and the three-time winner of the World Drivers' Championship. No Hollywood scriptwriter could possibly have envisioned the breathless, adrenaline-pumping climax to the 2021 Formula 1 season. On the very last lap of the final race of an unbelievably arduous and controversial season, Red Bull's Max Verstappen nervelessly overtook the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to clinch the first place that thrust the young prodigy to the narrowest of victories and to his first World Drivers' title. He followed up by taking the 2022 and 2023 titles as well. Verstappen may only be 26 years of age, but the Dutch motorsport sensation has an incredible record in F1. This young man has already left an indelible mark on the sport. The son of F1 driver Jos, Verstappen junior quickly stepped out of his father's shadow: his youthful charisma, ferocious speed, fearless driving style and refusal to back down mark him out as a true champion. And the phenomenal success of Netflix's Drive to Survive documentary series has elevated his worldwide popularity still further. Widely respected motorsport writer and F1 insider Mark Hughes is perfectly placed to write the most authoritative narrative on Verstappen's incredible rise through the ranks to F1 glory. Hughes' immaculate credentials and first-rate access enable him to generate fresh and fascinating insights, and to paint a fully-rounded and richly-textured portrait of one of the most exciting young sportsmen on the planet.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781472299048 • Author:  Mark Hughes • Publisher:  Headline • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  352 • Dimensions:   15.4 x 3.6 x 23.6 cm

Alan Rickman remains one of the most beloved actors of all time across almost every genre, from his breakout role as Die Hard's villainous Hans Gruber to his heart-wrenching run as Professor Severus Snape, and beyond. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate new audiences today. But Rickman's artistry wasn't confined to just his performances. Rickman's writing details the extraordinary and the ordinary in a way that is anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy and utterly candid. He takes us behind the scenes on films and plays ranging from Sense & Sensibility, the Harry Potter series, Private Lives, My Name Is Rachel Corrie and many more. The diaries run from 1993 to his death in 2016 and offer insight into both a public and private life. Here is Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveller, the fan, the director, the enthusiast: in short, the real Alan Rickman. Here is a life fully lived, all detailed in intimate and characteristically plain-spoken prose. Reading the diaries is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close friend.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781838854805 • Author:  Alan Rickman  • Publisher:  Canongate Books • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  496 • Dimensions:  12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm

Discover the elemental properties of iconic Marvel Comics characters. From the volatile gamma-irradiated Hulk to the stable Super-Soldier Captain America, and the technologically enhanced Iron Man to the cosmically charged Silver Surfer, the Marvel Comics Universe boasts a diverse array of heroes and villains. Whether mutants or Asgardians, Celestials or Inhumans, The Periodic Table of Marvel expertly classifies key and lesser known Marvel characters to reveal the properties that bind them, the catalysts that created them, the chain reactions that energize them, and the underlying structures and formulas that underpin the Marvel Universe. With more than 130 character profiles written by a Marvel expert, beautiful comic book art, and Marvel's seal of approval, The Periodic Table of Marvel reveals the fascinating and surprising connections between the most incredible heroes and villains ever created. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780241500835 • Author: Melanie Scott • Publisher: DK • Format: Hardback • Pages: 192 • Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 4 cm

One of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar, the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship will take place in Germany in June-July 2024, with 24 teams competing for the most prestigious international prize in the European game. UEFA EURO 2024: The Official Book covers every aspect of the tournament, including a comprehensive analysis of each national team and its chances of success, and a detailed look at the players expected to grab the headlines. It also contains a guide to the 10 stadiums and host cities, a fill-in tournament chart, the story of qualifying and a selection of magic moments. Packed full of facts and stats and fully illustrated with a great collection of action photographs, UEFA EURO 2024: The Official Book is suitable for fans of all ages and is the perfect accompaniment to 2024's biggest football event. Product Information:  • ISBN: 9781802797527 • Author: Keir Radnedge • Publisher: Welbeck • Format:  Paperback • Pages: 128 • Dimensions: 18.5 x 1.8 x 24.4cm

Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across something I couldn't get a laugh at. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that's a whole other story... When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers' floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh - even piggy-backed - to get to his next destination. Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling - it's a state of mind. Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road. In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781399802574 • Author: Billy Connolly  • Publisher:  Two Roads • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  320 • Dimensions: 16.4 x 3.6 x 24.3 cm

From declaring my love to Vanessa Redgrave to being fed cockroaches by Steve Buscemi, from turnip-based comedy with Blackadder to being farted on by Arnold Schwarzenegger, from Graham Norton's sofa to Alan Cumming's campervan, my life has been (and continues to be) a riotous adventure. Oh Miriam! has been such a constant refrain in my life, said in all kinds of tones - laughs, surprised gasps and orgasmic sighs (I'm hoping for all those from you as you read on!) - that it had to be the title of this book. And with a castlist that stretches from Churchill to di Caprio, Dahl to Dietrich, Princess Margaret to Maggie Smith, I've got so much more to tell you and so much more to say. My chapters range from 'How to Stay Married' to 'Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down'. Discover how to break the thickest conversational ice; why swearing is actually good for you (though not on the Today programme); the unexpected things I actually learnt at school and what my Spice Girl name would be. Not to mention my Tale of the Unexpected and my very own Vagina Monologue. Buckle up and join me on another unforgettable adventure, but this time through my heart and head...  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781399803359 • Author: Miriam Margolyes • Publisher:  John Murray • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  336 • Dimensions: 15.29 x 1.78 x 23.39 cm 

Dogs love a drink! When you're not looking, your four-legged friend is busy knocking them back. This book gathers the best photos of dogs getting buzzed off booze and looking pawfully pitiful the morning after. And to add to your amusement, these snaps of hedonistic and hazy hounds have been paired with hilarious captions telling us what their barking is all about. Raise a glass to these howl-raisers! Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781800070219 • Author:  Charlie Ellis • Publisher:  Summersdale • Format:  Hardback • Pages:  96 • Dimensions:  14.73 x 1.65 x 14.61 cm

David Gardner delves into the world of celebrity to investigate legendary stories that continue to fascinate and intrigue to this day.  If people famously remember where they were when JFK was assassinated, many also recall where they were and what they were doing when Elvis, Princess Diana and John Lennon died. As for Marilyn Monroe, the candle flickered out long ago, but only now can the truth be told about how and why she died.  After combing through thousands of recently declassified FBI files, and interviewing key witnesses, crime analysts and forensic experts during years of research, investigative writer David Gardner has unearthed new information that will transform the way we look at these iconic tragedies as well as include new insights on the conspiracy theories that surround the deaths of Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain and even the Queen.  For the first time, Conspiracy: Legends provides many of the answers that have been so elusive for so long while explaining what it was about these enduring legends that made them so memorable.  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781789467093 • Author: David Gardner • Publisher:  John Blake • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  336 • Dimensions:  12.7 x 19.8 x 2.1 cm