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Discover remarkable real-life stories with biographies at The Works. Offers something for every curious reader, with a range that includes honest autobiographies, celebrity memoirs, and stories from sport, music, history, and beyond. Explore personal accounts of success, challenge, adventure and change, alongside true stories that offer a closer look at the people and experiences behind the headlines. Find a biography that informs, inspires or simply keeps you turning the pages.

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Enthusiastic trainee farmer Jeremy Clarkson made just £144 in his first year at Diddly Squat Farm. This year he's determined to do better. Not because he now knows what he's doing. But because he's fed up of getting stick from Kaleb. Yet farming continues to be a challenge. For instance... Loading a grain trailer was more demanding than flying an Apache gunship? Cows were more dangerous than motor-racing? It's easier to get planning permission to build a nuclear plant than to turn a barn into a restaurant? Jeremy's always got a plan. Loads of them. Often cunning. Not always greeted with wild enthusiasm by Kaleb and Cheerful Charlie, however...  Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781405954631 • Author: Jeremy Clarkson • Publisher:  Penguin • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  240 • Dimensions:  19.8 x 1.5 x 12.9 cm

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In this poignant, moving book, Muhammad Ali shares the beliefs he has come to live by and which he has passed on to his children. Some of the wisdom is his own; some comes from the teachings of true Islam, from his spiritual studies, and from people he has met in the course of his extraordinary life. Here, as he recalls his early days as a young warrior in Louisville, Kentucky, and his meteoric rise to fame as Heavyweight Champion of the World, a title he won three times, he tells of the many battles he won and lost, both inside and outside the ring and his conversion to Islam in the 1960s. Now, working tirelessly as a worldwide ambassador for peace, he talks of the damage caused when religion is used to tear people apart, the essential need for unity in this troubled world, and how his faith sustains him on this, the most important journey of his life - the journey to forgiveness and peace. Together with his daughter Hana, in this timely spiritual memoir Ali draws upon his rich reserve of notes, tapes and journals, and writes with compassion, warmth and, of course, humour on how we can liberate mind, body and spirit when we pursue and embrace the one essential truth - love. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781911754831 • Author: Muhammad Ali & Hana Yasmeen Ali • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback

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Bear Grylls has always sought out adventure. From childhood escapades to would-record-breaking expeditions, to his infamous survival challenges, Bear has spent a lifetime in the wild. In his autobiography, the global adventurer, Chief Scout and TV presenter reflects on the extraordinary adventures that have shaped his life. Sharing personal stories from his toughest expeditions and capturing the exhilarating reality behind some of the hairiest survival missions, Bear takes readers up mountains and across oceans, through jungles and deserts. Immersing us in the behind-the-scenes action on his celebrated television shows, and with a rare insight into his family life, Bear recounts his most death-defying and life-defining moments. Packed with deeply personal and wildly entertaining tales, Never Give Up is a testament to the value of adventure. It celebrates the power of the wild and what it can teach us, and highlights the importance of courage, kindness and a resilient attitude - a 'never give up spirit' - to navigate the great adventure of life. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781837321001 • Author: Bear Grylls • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback • Pages: 432 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 2.9 cm

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The sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912 is one of the most dramatic stories in maritime history. The largest passenger steamship in the world, fitted with more advanced safety features than any of her rivals, she was proclaimed to be virtually unsinkable. Just how and why the Titanic foundered on such a beautiful April evening is the subject of this fascinating book. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781398879829 • Author: Rupert Matthews • Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Ltd • Format: Paperback

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Revealing the most outrageous secrets and fiercest rivalries, The Mechanic follows Priestley as he travels the world working in the high-octane atmosphere of the F1 pit lane. While the spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers, the mechanics are the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have critical consequences. However, these highly skilled engineers don't just fine-tune machinery and crunch data through high-spec computers. These boys can seriously let their hair down. Whether it's partying on luxury yachts or photo opportunities aboard gravity-defying aeroplanes, this is a world which thrills on and off the track. This is Formula One, but not like you've seen it before. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781787290631 • Author: Marc 'Elvis' Priestley • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback • Pages: 256 • Dimensions: 19.7 x 12.9 x 1.7 cm

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THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER | TRANSLATED BY INTERNATIONAL BOOKER SHORTLISTEE ANTON HUR PSYCHIATRIST: So how can I help you? ME: I don't know, I'm – what's the word – depressed? Do I have to go into detail? Baek Sehee is a successful young social media director at a publishing house when she begins seeing a psychiatrist about her – what to call it? – depression? She feels persistently low, anxious, endlessly self-doubting, but also highly judgemental of others. She hides her feelings well at work and with friends; adept at performing the calmness, even ease, her lifestyle demands. The effort is exhausting, overwhelming, and keeps her from forming deep relationships. This can't be normal. But if she's so hopeless, why can she always summon a desire for her favourite street food, the hot, spicy rice cake, tteokbokki? Is this just what life is like? Recording her conversations with her psychiatrist over 12 weeks, Baek begins to disentangle the feedback loops, knee-jerk reactions and harmful behaviours that keep her locked in a cycle of self-abuse. Part memoir, part self-help book, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki is a book to keep close and to reach for in times of darkness. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781526648099 • Author: Baek Sehee • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc • Format: Paperback • Pages: 208 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 1.6 cm

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'I am a survivor. That comes with a survivor's obligation to represent one and half million Jewish children murdered by the Nazis. They cannot speak. So I must speak on their behalf.' Tova Friedman was one of the youngest people to emerge from Auschwitz. After surviving the liquidation of the Jewish ghetto in Central Poland where she lived as a toddler, Tova was four when she and her parents were sent to a Nazi labour camp, and almost six when she and her mother were forced into a packed cattle truck and sent to Auschwitz II, also known as the Birkenau extermination camp, while her father was transported to Dachau. During six months of incarceration in Birkenau, Tova witnessed atrocities that she could never forget, and experienced numerous escapes from death. She is one of a handful of Jews to have entered a gas chamber and lived to tell the tale. As Nazi killing squads roamed Birkenau before abandoning the camp in January 1945, Tova and her mother hid among corpses. After being liberated by the Russians they made their way back to their hometown in Poland. Eventually Tova's father tracked them down and the family was reunited. In The Daughter of Auschwitz, Tova immortalizes what she saw, to keep the story of the Holocaust alive, at a time when it's in danger of fading from memory. She has used those memories that have shaped her life to honour the victims. Written with award-winning former war reporter Malcolm Brabant, this is an extremely important book. Brabant's meticulous research has helped Tova recall her experiences in searing detail. Together they have painstakingly recreated Tova's extraordinary story about the world's worst ever crime. Product Information:  • ISBN:  9781529423501 • Author: Tova Friedman & Malcolm Brabant • Publisher:  Quercus • Format:  Paperback • Pages:  352 • Dimensions: 12.8 x 3 x 19.6 cm

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Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. They have almost no money for food or shelter and must carry only the essentials for survival on their backs as they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter, and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey. The Salt Path is an unflinchingly honest, inspiring and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt, and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781405937184 • Author: Raynor Winn • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback

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Full of fascinating anecdotes of murder, mystery and occasional mayhem, ex Chief Crime Correspondent Jeff Edwards reveals the details of cases that will grip readers from start to finish. The Murder Guy is an action-packed ride through some of the biggest cases from the 1970s to recent years. It tackles everything from the search for the 'Mardi Gra' bombers to Chechen hitmen, from the murder of PC Stephen Tibble to the inside track on Heathrow Airport's biggest crimes of all time, and the unsolved murders of three young women still baffling Scotland Yard With unrivalled access, Jeff takes readers on a journey to explain what really goes on behind the headlines. It is sprinkled with funny stories about his relationships with cops, bank robbers and serial killers, as well as world changing events. Jeff Edwards became the Daily Mirror Chief Crime Correspondent after starting out in local papers in the East End of London in the 1960’s and 70’s. Now retired, he is ready to share the true stories behind some of the most high-profile crimes in Britain. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781917439794 • Author: Jeff Edwards • Publisher: Mirror Books Macmillan • Format: Paperback • Pages: 288

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Diego's Story is the thirteenth instalment in the popular Thrown Away Children paperback series. Diego and his siblings live in desperate poverty, but nobody seems to notice or care as they come close to starving, scouring food banks to survive. But he’s wrong – someone has noticed him. County Lines gang members can see his vulnerability. With an absent father, alcoholic mother and dependent young siblings, Diego is the perfect mark. Entrapped, used, abused and witness to terrible crimes, young Diego escapes a murder scene and runs. Experienced foster carer Louise Allen steps in when 14-year-old Diego is placed with her. Can she help him overcome his disturbing past and finally feel safe again? And what will happen if the County Lines gang finds him – with Louise and her family? ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781917439732 • Author: Louise Allen • Publisher: Ad Lib • Format: Paperback • Pages: 288 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 3 cm

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The Nazi Ghost Train is an epic tale of action and adventure, uncovering a story of airmen on the run and resistance heroes carrying out espionage and sabotage. But, betrayed, they all face the same fate: a concentration camp. This thrilling new book is an incredible piece of history brought to life using interviews and meticulous research carried out over more than a decade. The courage and audacity of a small group of ordinary people were the last hope for hundreds who had risked all for the Allied cause in World War II. As they watched the railway station fill up with men and women, they pledged that the train would never reach Germany... They had the next few hours to work a miracle. The true story of how more than 1,400 men and women of the Resistance, SOE agents, and airmen from Britain, the US and Canada were saved from death in a concentration camp by the courage and cunning of a small group of civilians. The Nazi Ghost Train unfolds in a pulse-pounding narrative, describing the terror of being shot down on bombing missions, the fight to stay free and alive with Gestapo on your tail, and the gut wrenching horror of betrayal. Drawing upon a wealth of primary sources and extensive interviews, The Nazi Ghost Train brings to life a cast of unforgettable characters. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781917439695 • Author: Greg Lewis • Publisher: Ad Lib • Format: Paperback • Pages: 288 • Dimensions: 19.8 x12.9 x 2 cm

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'HI, MY NAME IS MATTHEW, although you may know me by my full name. My friends call me Matty.' So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who travelled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us . . . and so much more. In an extraordinary story that only he could tell - and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it - Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he's found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humour, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fuelled it despite seemingly having it all. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781472295972 • Author: Matthew Perry • Publisher: Hachette UK • Format: Paperback

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It's 3 a.m. and Elizabeth Gilbert is sobbing on the bathroom floor. She's in her thirties, she has a husband, a house, they're trying for a baby - and she doesn't want any of it. A bitter divorce and a turbulent love affair later, she emerges battered and bewildered and realises it is time to pursue her own journey in search of three things she has been missing: pleasure, devotion and balance. So she travels to Rome, where she learns Italian from handsome, brown-eyed identical twins and gains twenty-five pounds, an ashram in India, where she finds that enlightenment entails getting up in the middle of the night to scrub the temple floor, and Bali where a toothless medicine man of indeterminate age offers her a new path to peace: simply sit still and smile. And slowly happiness begins to creep up on her. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9780747585664 • Author: Elizabeth Gilbert • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc • Format: Paperback

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In the world of espionage, where the accounts of renowned spies often dominate the narrative, this is a rare gem - an untold story of a completely unknown spy. Baron William de Ropp, a Baltic German aristocrat, wasn't just any ordinary spy; he was MI6's top secret agent in Nazi Germany from 1931 to 1939, managing to escape Berlin just before war broke out. This unsung hero had direct access to Adolf Hitler and an inside track on the Nazi regime. His reports, shrouded in secrecy, had the power to shape British policy toward Germany in a pivotal period of history. The Spy and the Devil is a riveting tale of espionage, intrigue, and the untold impact of one man's secret mission on the course of history. A journey into the shadows of Nazi Germany, where a forgotten British spy worked tirelessly to avert catastrophe, and discover the secrets that history almost left behind. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781789468717 • Author: Tim Willasey-Wilsey • Publisher: Bonnier Books UK Limited • Format: Paperback

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Tracing its beginnings as an underground society which sprang up in Sicily, to the Mob which went on to run organised crime throughout Italy and America, The Mafia: The First 100 Years tells the gripping story of the most mythical and misunderstood criminal organisation. How did the Mob evolve from a gang of bumbling killers into the smooth-running international 'corporation' of today? Drawing on nearly two decades of research, William Balsamo - great-nephew of the original godfather - and George Carpozi Jr. reveal the Mafia's coalescence into an organisation whose insidious influence reached across the Atlantic and into a presidential administration. Delving behind the headlines to uncover the true extent of the Mafia's influence, The Mafia: The First 100 Years reads like the most compelling crime fiction, yet is the terrifying, deadly truth. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9780753562987 • Author: William Balsamo & George Carpozi Jr  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback • Pages: 496 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.6 x 2.9 cm

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Under the stewardship of Gareth Southgate and captained by Harry Kane, a cultural transformation saw England reach two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final in four tournaments. Now, with Thomas Tuchel at the helm, the team and its playing style has evolved once more. After years of intricate planning and preparation, they come into the 2026 World Cup as genuine contenders with a star-studded squad that's the envy of the world. How did we get here? Inside England: Behind the Scenes of the Three Lions' World Cup Dream charts the progress from Gareth Southgate's appointment, including the dizzying highs and the near-misses of his tenure, the fallout post-Euro 2024, the FA's search for a successor and how Thomas Tuchel shaped a team in his image. Bestselling and award-winning football writers Jonathan Northcroft and Rob Draper have had extraordinary access to the England team during both manager's reigns and take us behind the scenes of England's transformation over the last decade. For the first time, this is the real story of England's evolution both on and off the pitch, revealing how Southgate and Tuchel inched the team ever closer to their ultimate dream: winning the World Cup. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781785122545 • Author: Jonathan Northcroft &  Rob Draper • Publisher: Bonnier Books UK • Format: Paperback

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Johnny Herbert was one of the most brilliant natural talents to emerge in motor racing, but for all his bravery and prowess, he's lucky to be alive. After becoming British Junior Karting Champion (losing part of a finger in the process), then the Formula 3 title for Eddie Jordan in 1987, he was all set for a glittering debut season in Formula 1 when he was caught in a mass pile-up at Brands Hatch. That horrific crash threatened to end his career, but Herbert made a miraculous recovery, was a hugely popular winner of the British Grand Prix in 1995, and enjoyed 25 years of competitive motorsport, becoming the only British driver to win the 24 hours of Le Mans followed by a Grand Prix. And all that despite driving every pace in extreme pain; in fact, as the first and only disabled driver in F1 history. While chronicling an extraordinary life behind the wheel with cheer and his trademark cheeky humour, What Doesn't Kill You... contains a wealth of stories from the hard end of Formula 1: on Johnny's team-mate Michael Schumacher, legends like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, his fellow British adversaries Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Nigel Mansell, and of course all those gruesome accidents. With an encyclopaedic knowledge and love of the sport, Johnny Herbert's autobiography, much like the man himself, delivers brilliance from the back of the grid. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781911754541 • Author: Johnny Herbert • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Paperback • Pages: 320 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.7 x 1.9 cm

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Hilarious stories and heartfelt advice from one of the UK’s most celebrated presenters, Claudia Winkleman MBE. Funny, moving and truthful… Quite Claudia Winkleman’s warmth, humour, no-holds-barred attitude and smoky eye have made her the favourite broadcaster of millions and a much-loved household name. In her first ever book, Claudia invites us all into her world. She shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it’s never okay to have sex with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit, how nurses are our most precious national treasure, and why colourful clothing is only for the under 10s (if you’re reading this sporting a bright red jumper and you’re 9, great! If you’re older, sorry). This is a love letter to life – the real, sometimes messy kind. Quite celebrates friendship, the power of art, the highs and lows of parenting, and of course, how a good eyeliner can really save your life. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9780008421694 • Author: Claudia Winkleman • Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers • Format: Paperback • Pages: 256 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 2 cm

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‘They made me do it, it wasn’t my fault!’ When three brothers come to live with Maggie, she knows that it’s going to be challenging. They are all already struggling with rejection after their dad abandoned them, their mum having died several years before. While four-year-old Billy is a delight, eleven-year-old Keegan is quiet and withdrawn, and teenager Cooper is a whirlwind of destruction. His behaviour at school is disruptive and Maggie struggles to get through to him, especially when he’s in danger of being expelled. But when a shocking discovery turns everything on its head, Maggie begins to realise that what she believed to be true is completely wrong. Danger is lurking, but is it too late for Maggie to help? From Britain’s best-loved foster carer, a new and emotional true story of bonds, brothers and family. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781399638548 • Author: Maggie Hartley • Publisher: Hachette UK • Format: Paperback

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The remarkable story of the footballer who battled against the odds to achieve his dreams – only to see his country having to fight to survive, after the shocking invasion of Ukraine. A fan favourite at Arsenal and previously at Manchester City, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been lighting up the Premier League with his fearless performances for many years. But his success has not come without its challenges. Having begun his career as a teenager at Shakhtar Donetsk, Zinchenko played amateur football when no club would sign him. But after he joined Manchester City in 2016 he would go on to experience exhilarating career highs, with four league titles in six years, before moving to Arsenal where he has played an integral part in their challenge for honours. He has shown heroism of a very different kind through his extraordinary campaigning in support of his homeland during the ongoing war. After the invasion of Ukraine, he decided he could make the greatest difference by using his platform to spread awareness and raise money to support his country. Written with candour and bravery, Believe is no ordinary tale of success on the pitch, but one of unwavering strength and integrity, tempered by sadness and anger. It provides unique insights into the methods of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and the machinations of elite football teams. It is the story of a selfless man who cares deeply for his homeland's welfare, and always tries to deliver his best on and off the field. ​​​​​​​Product Information: • ISBN: 9781526674708 • Author: Oleksandr Zinchenko • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc • Format: Paperback • Pages: 304 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 cm

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