Exisle Publishing – förlag

The world of opera is a mystery to some and a comedy to others, but it is deadly serious to the people who live and breathe it. Opera conductor Brian Castles-Onion has seen opera from all sides and has decided to step back and reflect on the great operas and on the people who bring them to the stage. In this book he offers light-hearted accounts of some of the best-known operas, spiced with anecdotes and behind-the-scenes gossip, as well as his impressions of the famous stereotypes of the operatic world: emotional sopranos, bitchy tenors, incompetent choruses and rebellious orchestras. The operas may be tragic, but these re-tellings of Tosca, La Boheme, Turandot, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata and more are hilarious – and strangely informative. The specialised worlds of Wagner and Gilbert & Sullivan do not escape his acid wit, and he also casts a wry eye over some of his fellow-conductors. Altogether, this is a book that will delight both the seasoned opera buff and the opera virgin: settle in your armchair and prepare to be entertained!

This entertaining book is a light-hearted but factual look at the Australian way of life. It covers all aspects of ‘the lucky country’, including the main Aussie icons, the Aborigines, sport, pubs, ‘kulture’, taxi drivers, gambling, dress, language and the main cities. Little-known facts are given, nuggets of history are unearthed and surprising statistics are presented, together with a host of amusing stories and anecdotes. The book also includes a detailed look at Australia’s unofficial national anthem, ‘Waltzing Matilda’, and the classic ballad, ‘The Man from Snowy River’. It’s All About Australia, Mate is a good read for anyone interested in our nearest neighbour and for anyone about to visit Australia. Unlike any other book on the market, this is the complete guide to the Australian way of life and a good laugh to go with it.

Dogs have a way of making our lives feel complete. They’re there for us through good times and bad, with their wholehearted engagement in life a lesson to us all on living in the moment. Woof: A book of happiness for dog lovers is a compendium of delightful quotes that capture the essence of our affection for these wonderful animals. Some are by famous people (Aldous Huxley, Mark Twain, Charles M. Schulz, Milan Kundera, G.K. Chesterton), others not; some are philosophical, others light-hearted — all are memorable. Accompanied by beautiful photography, and presented in a high-quality gift format, this is a collection of quotes to treasure.

In the ‘Emotional Eating: Learn to be free (EE-Free)’ program, readers begin by answering 10 of the common questions about EE, and then focus on different approaches and strategies that can help you find freedom from EE. This book and program is about living well, and improving your health and wellbeing so that you can find freedom from EE.

The perfect book to encourage fussy eaters to try a few more vegetables! Illustrator James Henderson is Pete Carter’s nephew, making this picture book a family affair.

It’s handy having a dad who can fix just about anything. A young girl believes her father is the king of fixing things, but following the death of her mother, she discovers that broken hearts are not as easy to repair as damaged toys and cracked teapots. Together, she and her father find a way to glue back the pieces of their lives. The Fix-It Man is a poignant picture book that explores how a child can cope with the loss of a parent.

The Digestive Health Solution takes you on a journey of scientific discovery towards personalized, effective natural solutions for optimal digestive health. Stomach cramps, pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation — collectively called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — affect 1 in 4 people. People can suffer tremendously from these symptoms, which often are not simply a digestive issue but also related to severe fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, depression and anxiety. Remarkably, IBS symptoms are still considered an enigma with no known cause; but in fact extensive research has uncovered numerous ways to resolve them and enhance digestive health. This book explores the mind–body connection, food intolerances, gluten sensitivity, dietary changes and key issues in the digestive system and provides practical ways to transform your digestive health. It looks at research on popular natural medicines, sifting fact from fiction and uncovering evidence-based, safe treatments that can enhance your digestion and improve, or even eliminate, symptoms fast. Using a personalized approach you can then follow an easy five-step plan for quick symptom relief, improve your health from the inside out and enjoy better digestive health, for life. This new edition includes updated information on gut bacteria and parasites, the FODMAP diet, additives and preservatives and a diet summary table.

A book sits abandoned on a living room shelf. While the Blossburn family happily gets on with other things like watching TV and playing video games, the book aches to be read. Slowly it starts to swell. Then it starts to leak! At first it’s only a small trickle, but when pirates sail out of the book, the family must band together to reclaim their living room. An action-packed adventure into the wonderful world of books, the power of the imagination, and the importance of family.

Through the Gate tells the story of a girl who is struggling to cope with all the changes in her life. It explores how our perceptions colour our world, through the eyes of a young girl who learns to notice all the fun adventures and friends there are out there if you open yourself up to opportunity! Young readers will delight in this beautifully illustrated picture book about resilience and coping with change. Watch the girl’s new house become a home and spot the differences from page to page!

Whether you are struggling with social anxiety of phobic proportions or are just held back when it comes to public speaking or meeting specific social goals, Social Courage offers help with its step-by-step program that draws from a range of therapeutic approaches. Packed with practical exercises and case studies, it will teach you to thrive in social settings, from friendships, to romance, to career advancement. Break the pattern of anxiety and make the most of your life and your relationships!

Top specialist psychologist Dr Sarah Hughes delivers new practical, immediate strategies for parents living with potentially difficult, rebellious, or irresponsible teenage daughters. Supported by real-life examples, studies and research into the adolescent brain, Hughes’ solutions will help mothers and fathers grow a stubborn, reckless or challenging teenager into a well-adjusted, respectful, and self-sufficient young woman.

If you’ve ever been told that you’re ‘too sensitive’ or felt overwhelmed by your emotions, this is the book for you. Using the principles of ACT and positive psychology, Dr Zurita Ona provides a simple roadmap for every ‘super-feeler’ on how to avoid being hijacked by your emotions. You will discover that you are far more than your emotions, and that you can always choose to act in a way that is consistent with your personal values, in order to experience fulfilling, loving relationships.

Even the best wordsmiths can trip over words that are commonly misused, mixed up or misspelled. This useful reference gets to the bottom of these language issues so that you can ensure you’ve got the word you’re looking for. With examples of how to sharpen up text and improve your writing, lists of useful social media abbreviations and a discussion of unusual plurals, this playful look at the often bizarre English language has got you covered, whether you’re writing a book, blog or an email.

The subantarctic islands circle the lower part of the globe below New Zealand, Australia, Africa and South America in the ‘Roaring Forties’ and ‘Furious Fifties’ latitudes. They are filled with unique plants and wildlife, constantly buffeted by lashing rain and furious gales, and have a rich and fascinating human history. Trial of Strength tells the compelling stories of these islands and will leave you with an appreciation for the tenacity of the human race and the forbidding forces of nature.

The Godzone Dictionary is a concise A – Z of the words and phrases that make our New Zealand language so distinctive and individual, from Aotearoa and Avondale spiders to Zambuck and Zespri. Never stuffy or academic, Max Cryer brings his expert knowledge and sly wit to a book that is sure to be a reference for many years to come. Sweet as!

Sleep is fundamental to our health and wellbeing. In Sleep Sense, international sleep expert Dr Katharina Lederle explores sleep''s connection to each of the three pillars of successful living: physical health, cognitive performance, and emotional wellbeing, and provides readers with the tools to effectively establish healthy sleep habits.

A Well Mind provides a holistic approach to mental wellness that explores how we can begin to feel better mentally by improving how we care for our physical health. Author Lisa Parkinson Roberts has struggled with mental health, and here she explains the tools and expertise which have helped her regain control of how she feels. Improve your eating, sleep, stress management and exercise routines, and ultimately your mental health, with this essential guide to feeling the best you can in your mind!