Richard Hammond – författare

Some 60 million people died during the Second World War; millions more were displaced in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The war resulted in the creation of new states, the acceleration of imperial decline, and a shift in the distribution of global power. Despite its unprecedented impact, a comprehensive account of the complex international experiences of this war remains elusive. The Peoples’ War? offers fresh approaches to the challenge of writing a new history of the Second World War. Exploring aspects of the war that have been marginalized in military and political studies, the volume foregrounds less familiar narratives, subjects, and places. Chapters recover the wartime experiences of individuals – including women, children, members of minority ethnic groups, and colonial subjects – whose stories do not fit easily into conventional national war narratives. The contributors show how terms used to delineate the conflict such as home front and battle front, occupier and occupied, captor and prisoner, and friend and foe became increasingly blurred as the war wore on. Above all, the volume encourages reflection on whether this conflict really was a “Peoples’ War.”Challenging the homogenizing narratives of the war as a nationally unifying experience, The Peoples’ War? seeks to enrich our understanding of the Second World War as a global event.

Some 60 million people died during the Second World War; millions more were displaced in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The war resulted in the creation of new states, the acceleration of imperial decline, and a shift in the distribution of global power. Despite its unprecedented impact, a comprehensive account of the complex international experiences of this war remains elusive. The Peoples’ War? offers fresh approaches to the challenge of writing a new history of the Second World War. Exploring aspects of the war that have been marginalized in military and political studies, the volume foregrounds less familiar narratives, subjects, and places. Chapters recover the wartime experiences of individuals – including women, children, members of minority ethnic groups, and colonial subjects – whose stories do not fit easily into conventional national war narratives. The contributors show how terms used to delineate the conflict such as home front and battle front, occupier and occupied, captor and prisoner, and friend and foe became increasingly blurred as the war wore on. Above all, the volume encourages reflection on whether this conflict really was a “Peoples’ War.”Challenging the homogenizing narratives of the war as a nationally unifying experience, The Peoples’ War? seeks to enrich our understanding of the Second World War as a global event.

What is it about bikes that leaves so many of us powerless to resist?This entertaining guide charts the history of the bike from its origin as a cheap means of transport to its modern incarnations: a symbol of rebellion, a high-tech racing machine and the rich kid''s plaything. Richard Hammond, passionate biker and collector of bikes, looks at the machines that have propelled people across the world to work, to school - and occasionally to their doom.With his trademark expertise and wit, Hammond examines bikers of every type, from the happy farmer trundling through fields on his Honda Cub to the Hells Angel terrorising towns on their hog.

The life and times of the No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE.The wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of a very brave and clever TV presenter, Arctic Explorer and general drawer of the Short Straw. As one third of the BBC''s Top Gear team, Richard Hammond''s year since his near-fatal accident has been full of stunts and drama. From a race to the North Pole (with skis and dog-sled) to a journey through Botswana in a car named Oliver, and a seventeen-mile run through floods to his Gloucestershire home, in order to get to his daughter''s birthday party, the year has been eventful, to say the least . . .With his boundless optimism in the face of certain failure, Richard Hammond has become one of our funniest writers about a life (and a job) which constantly present a challenge.

Gripping account by Richard Hammond of life before and after his terrifying high-speed car crash.Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. In September 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash. ON THE EDGE is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his recovery, full of drama and incident. An adrenalin junkie long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol.After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous, make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear that Richard was involved in a high speed crash, driving a jet-powered dragster. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.

More antics from the much-loved TOP GEAR presenter, and the No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE."There is, I discovered, a technique to performing a low-rent, comedy motorcycle jump with a bad hip joint following a low-speed fall off a horse on to your wife''s Land Rover keys..."More of the wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of Richard Hammond - TV presenter, adventurer and general drawer of the Short Straw. Continuing where AS YOU DO left off, OR IS THAT JUST ME? focuses on just a few of the many hair-raising stunts, expeditions and encounters experienced by Richard Hammond over the last eventful year.

ON THE ROAD: GROWING UP IN EIGHT JOURNEYS - MY EARLY YEARS is a new form of autobiography, in which TOP GEAR presenter Richard Hammond tells the story of his early life through a series of significant driving episodes. He''s a child in the back seat of Dad''s car on the way to the seaside in Weston-Super-Mare. He''s on his first bike, a red one, in Solihull, then on his first motorcycle, a Honda MTX50. He''s at the wheel of his first car (and in the back with his first girlfriend). He is driving a furniture delivery van as part of his first job in and around Ripon. Now he is showing off with a friend, risking everything.ON THE ROAD is an emotional road map in which each chapter has its own registration number, and its own distinctive interior. Most importantly, each chapter sets off and arrives. ON THE ROAD surges on to its destination, reversing or moving quickly through the gears, reliving the central episodes and conflicts of Richard''s life. Every chapter is a stage in a longer journey. Although there are precious few road-rage monologues against four-wheel drivers and men in vests in white vans, Richard Hammond''s readers will quickly recognise the funny self-deprecating and balanced ease that has made him one of Britain''s best-loved writers and television presenters.

SMART RETAIL IS THE HOW-TO RETAIL BIBLE.

Smart Retail reveals what the most successful retailers in the world know and how you can apply their secrets to your own business. Fully revised and updated, this new edition includes the latest success stories, new ideas and strategic and tactical thinking to help grow your sales.

Based on one simple question, which Richard Hammond posed to the world’s leading retailers: ‘What makes you so good?’, Smart Retail shows you how to use some of the best winning ideas, strategies and tactical thinking.

Covering everything from creating the ultimate retail experience to understanding your customer and the importance of a motivated team, this is the book that will equip managers, ambitious team-workers, retail entrepreneurs and indeed anybody who sells direct to customers, with practical winning ideas and strategies.

‘The heart of every retail success is the delivery of a great customer experience. In mapping out how to do that, this book is worth its weight in gold’ Ian Shepherd, Chief Commercial Officer, Odeon & UCI

'I highly recommend Smart Retail as part of any retailer's essential toolkit.' Rowan Gormley, CEO Majestic Wine PLC

'A really practical and helpful guide, essential reading for anyone involved in retailing.' Charles Dunstone, Founder and Chairman - The Carphone Warehouse ‘The heart of every retail success is the delivery of a great customer experience. In mapping out how to do that, this book is worth its weight in gold.’ Ian Shepherd, Chief Commercial Officer, Odeon & UCI 'Clear thinking with practical retail insight to get to innovative yet pragmatic ideas.' Alex Windle – Marketing Director BP 'A toolkit of retailing skills to take you beyond survival, to super-performance.' Angus Thirlwell, Founder - Hotel Chocolat 'Congratulations on pulling together such a comprehensive list of essential learnings.' Cliff Burrows, Group President USA & Americas – Starbucks 'This book is full of practical good things to make running stores that bit easier to get right.' Julian Richer, Chairman and Founder - Richer Sounds 'A wonderful insight into the world of retailing. A fun and inspiring read.' Vittorio Radice, Saviour of Selfridges

This business book is great for leaders, middle managers and entrepreneurs interested in the following categories;

Make it easy for customers to choose you; whatever your business, product or service.

With customers now subconsciously weighing up their massively expanded options in terms of purchase friction (how easy it is to spend) and shopping reward (the extras inherent to the buying experience); your job is to make it easy for them to choose you

When is high friction bad? Friction includes frustrations like putting a coin in a supermarket trolley lock, too many clicks, and hidden frictions from awkward presentation, process and offer. Reward includes quality of business support, amazing retail environments, even emotional issues such as trust and belonging.

When is high friction good? What value do different customers place on friction and reward across different buying scenarios? How can I benchmark against competitors? And, where are the big opportunities and where should we focus effort and resource? How do I market improved experiences to win customers?

Friction Reward teaches you how to understand, measure and improve every single possible customer interaction by applying techniques outlined in the book to your customer experiences and organisations.

Readers will: