Michael Parkinson – författare

The Sunday Times Bestseller All Michael Parkinson really wanted to do was play cricket for Yorkshire and England. However, he soon realised that to be paid to watch films, football and cricket would be the best way to spend life, and he became a journalist. Television beckoned and for three decades Parkinson interviewed the movers and shakers of the late twentieth century, making his television programme the must-see event of the week. In singing with Bing Crosby, dancing with Billy Connolly, flirting with Miss Piggy and sparring with Muhammad Ali, Parkinson proved himself one of the most engaging and durable hosts in both Britain and Australia. In Parky he recalls a full life with honesty, insight and humour.Praise for Parky: 'Nothing less than riveting.' Mirror 'Joyous' Telegraph 'Wonderfully readable' Daily Mail 'One of the finest broadcasters of any era' Guardian

For most of his professional life Michael Parkinson has been a highly regarded sports journalist. This consistently entertaining collection of his best articles reminds us that his first love is cricket and the people who excel at it. His ambition to play for England was thwarted, but not before he opened the batting with a young Dickie Bird at Barnsley.Along with hilarious memories of his cricket mad father and a lost youth emulating his heroes in street games, Michael Parkinson has written compelling descriptions of great players he has known and the moments or matches during which they became famous. Unsurprisingly, there is an edge to what the author has to say about cricket administrators and the way the game is run; the book is a sheer joy to read and written with the author's easy assurance.

The Sunday Times BestsellerAll Michael Parkinson really wanted to do was play cricket for Yorkshire and England. However, he soon realised that to be paid to watch films, football and cricket would be the best way to spend life, so he became a journalist.Television beckoned and for three decades Parkinson interviewed the movers and shakers of the late twentieth century, making his television programme the must-see event of the week. In singing with Bing Crosby, dancing with Billy Connolly, flirting with Miss Piggy and sparring with Muhammad Ali, Parkinson proved himself one of the most engaging and durable hosts in both Britain and Australia.In Parky he recalls a full life with honesty, insight and humour.Praise for Parky:'Nothing less than riveting.' Mirror'Joyous' Telegraph'Wonderfully readable' Daily Mail'One of the finest broadcasters of any era' Guardian

Originally published in 1970, Michael Parkinson examines the Labour Party’s attitude towards secondary education in general and comprehensive schooling in particular and shows the effect of the party’s philosophy on the question of education and its social importance. The Labour Party is seen both as a policy-maker with the power to implement policies and as a pressure group with power only to influence. The case study provides valuable background reading to the controversies over comprehensive education at the time.

Originally published in 1970, Michael Parkinson examines the Labour Party’s attitude towards secondary education in general and comprehensive schooling in particular and shows the effect of the party’s philosophy on the question of education and its social importance. The Labour Party is seen both as a policy-maker with the power to implement policies and as a pressure group with power only to influence. The case study provides valuable background reading to the controversies over comprehensive education at the time.

'A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white of yesteryear' - The Oldie Review'He writes about them all with wonderful precision and a powerful evocation' - Radio Times'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.

'A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white of yesteryear' - The Oldie Review'He writes about them all with wonderful precision and a powerful evocation' - Radio Times'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.

'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'Michael Parkinson was destined to spend his life in sport. Introduced at a young age to cricket and football by his father, he rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket alongside Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he found a career watching, writing and talking about sport.My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm, humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.

Sir Michael Parkinson interviewed Muhammad Ali four times and in this memoir you are given a ringside seat for all of the interviews.Muhammad Ali was God's Gift to the interviewer. Funny, articulate, outspoken with a fascinating life story, unparalleled talent and controversial views. These 4 interviews charted Ali's life, revealing significant phases at different times, charting the rise and fall of this kaleidoscope of a man.In Muhammad Ali: A Memoir Sir Michael Parkinson will bring his award-winning journalistic talents to bear on this extraordinary man. The book will mix personal recollections of the times they met with selected transcripts of the famous and, in the case of the 1974 meeting, infamous interviews all brought together and contextualised by a sober and honest assessment of the life and times of a figure that, it is certain, we will never see the like of again. Muhammad Ali: A Memoir is a fresh, revealing and personal account of the life of the most important and enduring cultural figures of our age.

'A riveting read about an amazing man' THE SUNLegendary boxer Muhammad Ali visited Michael Parkinson's chat show sofa four times, culminating in an iconic interview in 1971. Muhammad Ali: A Memoir is a fresh, revealing and personal account of the life of the most important and enduring cultural figures of our age. An icon of boxing who has inspired the biggest names in boxing, from Mike Tyson to Anthony Joshua, this is the story of boxing's biggest star. Muhammad Ali was God's Gift to the interviewer. Funny, articulate, outspoken with a fascinating life story, unparalleled talent and controversial views. These 4 interviews charted Ali's life, revealing significant phases at different times, charting the rise and fall of this kaleidoscope of a man.In Muhammad Ali: A Memoir Sir Michael Parkinson will bring his award-winning journalistic talents to bear on this extraordinary man. The book will mix personal recollections of the times they met with selected transcripts of the famous and, in the case of the 1974 meeting, infamous interviews all brought together and contextualised by a sober and honest assessment of the life and times of a figure that, it is certain, we will never see the like of again.

One of the most famous footballers of all time, George Best is an icon to football fans all over the world. He lived a tumultuous life, and died in 2005 after battling with alcoholism. He is someone who has crossed over into legend status, with his personal life sometimes overshadowing his footballing prowess. There have been many books written about George, but here, Michael Parkinson combines his professional and personal knowledge of George with his classic and much loved writing style to produce a new, and interesting biography of a football and cultural icon.

A look at the life and times of the man Sir Michael most looked up to.

Liverpool Beyond the Brink is a fascinating commentary on the economic decline thatcaused the physical, social and political fragmentation of the imperial city during the1970s and the efforts since then to revive and reconnect it. It charts Liverpool’s fall inthe 1980s, its gradual normalisation in the 1990s, its staggering achievements and, asa European city in the first part of this century, its efforts to be ambitious in an age ofausterity. This thought-provoking work asks: how far has Liverpool come and wheredoes it now stand in comparison with thirty years ago and alongside other cities in theUK? What were the most important forces driving change? Who helped the most andwho helped the least? Who and where gained the most and who and where gainedthe least? Finally, the author asks what is next for Liverpool: what are the currentchallenges for the city? Liverpool Beyond the Brink identifies the key economic, socialand political challenges facing the city today to ensure there is increased productivity,future development is high quality and that the benefits of the city’s renaissance areexperienced by all the people in Liverpool in all parts of the city. [Cover image: Liverpool Waterfront 2017 © McCoy Wynne (mccoywynne.co.uk)]

This book provides, in a single volume, a review of the findings of the largest ever programme of cities research in the UK, the Economic and Social Research Council's 'Cities: Competitiveness and Cohesion programme'. Leading experts present the findings of this wide-ranging programme organised around themes of competitiveness, social cohesion and the role of policy and governance. The book develops our understanding of key processes, issues and concepts critical to cities and urban change and examines a large body of evidence on a wide range of policy issues at the heart of current debates about the performance of cities and the prospects for urban renaissance. City matters is essential reading for all policy makers, practitioners, analysts and academics with an interest or involvement in urban issues.

This book provides, in a single volume, a review of the findings of the largest ever programme of cities research in the UK, the Economic and Social Research Council's 'Cities: Competitiveness and Cohesion programme'. Leading experts present the findings of this wide-ranging programme organised around themes of competitiveness, social cohesion and the role of policy and governance. The book develops our understanding of key processes, issues and concepts critical to cities and urban change and examines a large body of evidence on a wide range of policy issues at the heart of current debates about the performance of cities and the prospects for urban renaissance. City matters is essential reading for all policy makers, practitioners, analysts and academics with an interest or involvement in urban issues.