Michael O'Mara – serie

‘Malcolm Alexander is to GPs what James Herriot is to vets’ – MATT GAW_____________________‘An ode to island life in all its glorious foibles’ – THE HERALD _____________________'A fascinating, funny and utterly heart-warming family adventure.’ – RUTH HOGAN_______________________An immensely heart-warming story of life on the frontline within extreme circumstances. When Malcolm Alexander saw the job advert, ‘urgent: island doctor needed’, he applied immediately. What he didn’t anticipate was how much Orkney would affect his family, for better or worse. In stories that range from the humorous to the deeply moving, Malcolm describes what it’s like adjusting to life without modern conveniences and to the extreme – and constantly changing – weather; and what it means to be providing the best medical care to the local population with limited resources. Which often includes the wildlife as well ... Malcolm’s journey evokes the awe that the Orkney landscape can inspire, as well as the challenges of island life and the demons that the dark, cold winter months can give birth to. Gripping and beautifully written, Close to Where the Heart Gives Out reminds us of the importance of listening to our heart, as well as to the rhythms of the landscape.

The official All Creatures Great & Small companion, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of the award-winning show, with beautiful photography throughout.‘All Creatures Great & Small is the loveliest place in (fictional) Britain.’ The Telegraph‘The show that heals cows and soothes souls.’ The New York TimesFeaturing hundreds of spectacular shots from all four series, plus an in-depth look at the characters and real-life inspiration for the show, this book tells the fascinating story of the programme’s main character: the Yorkshire Dales.Packed full of heartwarming photographs of the landscape, the set and the characters, as well as soundbites from the cast, this is everything you need to know about James and Helen Herriot, the beloved setting of Skeldale House and, of course, the animals.Lavish, celebratory and richly detailed, this is an unmissable and sumptuous guide to All Creatures Great & Small, which showcases how Darrowby and its inhabitants have paid homage to such an incredible heritage. The perfect book for anyone with an interest in the Yorkshire Dales and James Herriot.Foreword written by Rosie Page, James Herriot’s daughter.

In this expert guide to the ancient city, Dr Philip Matyszak takes us on a tour of ancient Rome’s most fascinating and important sites and locations, revealing the secrets of the beating heart of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Rome itself was never grander or more magnificent than just before it fell, so be transported back in time to the empire’s twilight years at the end of the 4th century AD, with almost a thousand years of Roman history to explore. Each chapter focuses on one of Rome’s districts, with maps throughout and explanations of how the same routes would look today. Put yourself in the sandals of a Roman pedestrian and take a walk along the Via Appia, through the Capuan Gate and past all the wonders inside the walls of ancient Rome, from tombs and temples to sewers and shrines, the grand gardens and the humble street markets, from Nero’s Golden House to the slums where Julius Caesar grew up. Walk alongside the ghosts of Trajan, Nero and Cicero; stand where they stood and see what they saw.

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTOBIOGRAPHYThe quintessential suave hero, Roger Moore has had an extraordinary career that has spanned seven decades, from early television to the golden age of Hollywood and on to international superstardom. Dashing, handsome and every inch the archetypal English gentleman, he is unforgettable as The Saint, as Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! and, of course, as James Bond, making seven blockbusting films as arguably the most debonair of the 007s. For the first time, Roger shares his recollections of playing some of the world's most famous roles alongside a host of legendary stars. With myriad stories from his personal life - from his childhood in London and experiences during the Second World War, to the happy and turbulent times in his later life. Along with anecdotes about his encounters with the stars and his wonderful memories from the heyday of Hollywood, My Word is My Bond is as frank, funny and disarmingly charming as the legend himself.

In 1982, at the age of just twenty-three and halfway through her architecture studies, Elspeth Beard left her family and friends in London and set off on a 35,000-mile solo adventure around the world on her 1974 BMW R60/6.Reeling from a recent breakup and with only limited savings from her pub job, a tent, a few clothes and some tools, all packed on the back of her bike, she was determined to prove herself. She had ridden bikes since her teens and was well travelled. But nothing could prepare her for what lay ahead.When she returned to London nearly two and a half years later she was stones lighter and decades wiser. She'd ridden through unforgiving landscapes and countries ravaged by war, witnessed civil uprisings that forced her to fake documents, and fended off sexual attacks, biker gangs and corrupt police convinced she was trafficking drugs. She'd survived life-threatening illnesses, personal loss and brutal accidents that had left permanent scars and a black hole in her memory. And she'd fallen in love with two very different men.In an age before email, the internet, mobile phones, satnavs and, in some parts of the world, readily available and reliable maps, Elspeth achieved something that would still seem remarkable today. Told with honesty and wit, this is the extraordinary and moving story of a unique and life-changing adventure.

Dive into a fun and relaxing colour-by-numbers journey featuring 25 stunning images to bring to life with bright and vibrant colour.From amazing animals and beautiful birds – including a stunning tiger, a funky zebra, a cute dog, a wise owl and much more – to mindful patterns and stunning landscapes, follow the easy-to-use number codes to reveal a vivid and bold colour palette on every page. Colouring enthusiasts can use pens, paints or pencils to bring a kaleidoscope of colour to each intricate illustration.The perfect way to combine creativity with relaxation and mindfulness, this is the ultimate colour-by-numbers challenge for both kids and adults to enjoy for hours on end. Please note: this book contains material previously published in Patternation: A Tangle-by-Numbers Challenge.

In a career that spanned over seven decades, Roger Moore was at the very heart of the show-business scene. We all knew him as an actor who starred in films that made him famous the world over, but he was also a tremendous prankster, joker and raconteur - in fact, he was well known as one of the nicest guys in the business, and someone who was always up for some fun.In this fabulous collection of true stories from his stellar career, Roger lifts the lid on the movie business, from Hollywood to Pinewood. It features outrageous tales from his own life and career as well as those told to him by a host of stars and filmmakers, including Tony Curtis, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, David Niven, Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck, John Mills, Peter Sellers, Michael Winner, Cubby Broccoli and many more.Wonderfully entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny and told with his characteristic wit and good humour, Last Man Standing is vintage Moore at his very best.

Can you really tell a criminal by the bumps on his head? What does a memory look like? Can a machine think? Why are some people shy? Is it better not to feel so much? These are some of the many questions that have troubled the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in human civilization and are discussed in this comprehensive yet accessible introduction to psychology.The complex workings of the mind have fascinated mankind for centuries, but the key theories of psychology are often so complicated that it is almost impossible for the casual reader to understand. In Why We Do the Things We Do, Joel Levy unlocks the important studies and theories in a series of simple questions and answers that shine new and uncomplicated light on the important aspects of psychology. This book will demystify the key questions by tracking their origins in the writings of some of the most prominent thinkers in various fields, showing how these ideas and concepts have developed over time.With each section broken down into the key concepts, issues and arguments, considering how these ideas influence the way we all go about our daily lives, Why We Do the Things We Do will illuminate this fascinating subject.

'This "essential cornucopia" aims to inspire you to use uncommon words in their original contex'- BooksellerEver wanted to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, engage in a little intellectual badinage or been discombobulated by tricky diction? 500 Words You Should Know has you covered. This book will inspire the reader to use uncommon words in their correct context, utilize the English language to its full potential, and test themselves on the words they think they already know. This is a book for the appreciator of correct usage, and contains words you thought you knew (decimate, caveat, nemesis), words you should know (euphemism, diatribe, tautology), and just a few that you might want to know (peripatetic, shibboleth, callipygian). Arranged thematically, each word is dissected, with a brief explanation of etymology, historical and modern usage, allowing you to fully understand and effectively employ the word in its proper context.For those interested in everything this eclectic language has to offer, who wish to celebrate its majesty and depth, this veracious cornucopia of knowledge will have you confabulating with the literary cognoscenti in no time.By the same author:9781843176572 My Grammar and I (Or Should That Be 'Me'?)9781782438205 The Accidental Apostrophe

From icons of British history to geography, and the economy to the legal system, I Should Know That: Great Britain covers a wide range of topics, filling in all those embarrassing gaps in your knowledge of this fair isle.Inspired by the UK citizenship test, this useful and interesting guide includes sections such as essential British history, the current political and legal system, migration to Britain, women’s rights, geography and culture. Learn all about the Magna Carta, the House of Lords, the Old Bailey and the Commonwealth, and more light-hearted topics such as allotments, pets, haggis and marmite, while scoffing at the unfortunate but hilarious gaffes made by our politicians.Packed full of information, this entertaining and fact-filled guide to Great Britain is perfect for anyone who wishes that they were a more informed citizen.

Everything you need to know about the 25 essential rules of English grammar.English grammar is often said to be over-complicated and difficult to get to grips with but the truth is that, while there are certain rules that should be obeyed, the language evolves and develops over time – and quite rightly so. In this useful book, Joseph Piercy outlines the 25 rules that should be adhered to in written and spoken English, defining the rules themselves and then decoding them for the layman so that he or she understands each rule and how it has been used and developed over time. Here the author highlights the most common misuses – or plain errors – in the language, such as apostrophes, 'who' and 'whom', and avoiding split infinitives and double negatives, while also setting the reader on to the right path to speaking and writing in good, plain English.

Have you ever found yourself alone with your thoughts? Have you ever been asked if the glass is half full or half empty? Do you wonder what true happiness is or how to attain it? Or maybe nothing really matters if everything is just an illusion or a dream?These ideas are some of the central questions of philosophical enquiry that have engaged, troubled and exasperated some of the greatest minds throughout the history of human civilization, provoking argument and debate in an attempt to broaden the horizons of human thought.Author Alain Stephen seeks to explore some of these key questions by tracing their origins in the writings of prominent thinkers through the ages, from the colonnades of ancient Greece to the intellectual salons of twentieth-century France, and show how these ideas and concepts have developed over time.Why We Think the Things We Think provides plenty of food for thought for both the amateur philosopher and enlightened thinker to digest.

Relax and get your brain in gear with some puzzling!Give your brain a good workout, de-stress and unwind with some great puzzles. Forgetting the troubles of your day and focusing on something entirely different is a great way to unwind, and this book will help you do just that. Packed with over 100 assorted crosswords and word searches of varying degrees of difficulty, there’s something here for every dad to enjoy. And if you get stuck, all the answers are in the back of the book.

Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same.These were the words uttered by the seventeen-year-old Lady Jane Grey as she stood on the scaffold awaiting death on a cold February morning in 1554. Forced onto the throne by the great power players at court, Queen Jane reigned for just thirteen tumultuous days before being imprisoned in the Tower, condemned for high treason and executed.In this dramatic retelling of an often misread tale, historian and researcher Nicola Tallis explores a range of evidence that has never before been used in a biography to sweep away the many myths and reveal the moving, human story of an extraordinarily intelligent, independent and courageous young woman.

When you’re feeling disappointed or just a little blue, there’s nothing like good a laugh at some groanworthy jokes to raise the spirits – and that’s what you’ll get with this whopping compendium. With all-time classic subjects such as bankers, the battle of the sexes and Doctor, Doctor, as well as cheeky wordplay and one-liners, Nick Harris has collected together a bumper crop of mirth to turn that frown upside down!

How to reach your goals in seven scientifically tested steps that really work.Working inside the world’s first Nudge Unit, Owain Service and Rory Gallagher know the huge impact that small changes, based on a scientific understanding of human behavior, can have, whether you’re trying to save money, be a better manager or get more people to vote in the next election.For the first time, Think Small takes these successful approaches and translates them into an easy, simple framework that has the potential to make a big difference to all our lives.

'Nicola Tallis, one of our great popular historians.' Alison WeirThe first biography of Lettice Knollys, one of the most prominent women of the Elizabethan era.Cousin to Elizabeth I – and very likely also Henry VIII’s illegitimate granddaughter – Lettice Knollys had a life of dizzying highs and pitiful lows. Darling of the court, entangled in a love triangle with Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, banished from court, plagued by scandals of affairs and murder, embroiled in treason, Lettice would go on to lose a husband and beloved son to the executioner’s axe. Living to the astonishing age of ninety-one, Lettice’s tale gives us a remarkable, personal lens on to the grand sweep of the Tudor Age, with those closest to her often at the heart of the events that defined it. In the first ever biography of this extraordinary woman, Nicola Tallis’s dramatic narrative takes us through those events, including the religious turmoil, plots and intrigues of Mary, Queen of Scots, attempted coups, and bloody Irish conflicts, among others. Surviving well into the reign of Charles I, Lettice truly was the last of the great Elizabethans.

Give your logic skills a workout with the brilliant Sudoku puzzles in this book, put together by puzzle master Dr Gareth Moore. Forget your worries, pick up a pen and focus on these challenging brain-teasers.

The Spitfire Story, published in association with Imperial War Museums, is a fascinating anthology of first-hand stories from Spitfire heroes and heroines, as well as the people behind the scenes.The Spitfire is the world’s most iconic aeroplane. Coming into its own during the Battle of Britain, it became famous during the Second World War as the only plane that could match the enemy fighters in the sky.Yet, even today, the history of the Spitfire contains many hitherto hidden or little-known stories of the men and women behind the plane; not only the gifted creators and inventors who brought the Spitfire to life, or the brave fighter pilots from many countries who triumphed in battle, but also the thousands of other people whose lives were affected by their personal connection to it – engineers, ground crew, factory or office workers, and their families. The Spitfire Story recounts the memories and stories of these people, from the birth of the iconic Spitfire in the 1930s to the present day. Among these accounts is the extraordinary tale of the fighter pilot who only discovered, fifty years on, the tragic truth of his last Spitfire flight, the businessman whose blank cheque changed the course of the war, the ninety-five-year-old Royal Air Force engineer who was determined to be reunited with his beloved Spit before he died, and the little girl who inspired the plane’s creation – and went on to marry a movie star.Using documents, letters and photographs from the Imperial War Museums’ unparalleled archive, plus exclusive first-hand interviews, these stories of the Spitfire are a revelatory collection of small but significant histories, to be treasured by all who love and admire the iconic plane.

A timely celebration of the many attributes our Queen brings to the nation – fortitude, stoicism, diplomacy, family values, sense of fun and style among them.Queen Elizabeth II – Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Head of the Commonwealth – has reigned over us for a record-breaking sixty-seven years. Now in her ninety-fourth year, this timely celebration sheds new light on the myriad attributes and personal qualities she brings to the nation. From fortitude in the face of adversity to standing as the nation’s ambassador all over the world, no one could doubt the work ethic that powers this remarkable woman, even into her nineties. Equally, her love of family – from her rock of over sixty years’ marriage, Prince Philip, to her great grandchildren – shines through. But what are the secrets of her success? How does she still approach her day-to-day with such vitality and aplomb, even when culture and society are changing rapidly all around her?The Queen on fame: When an MP commented that it must be a strain meeting so many strangers all the time, the Queen smiled, ‘It is not as difficult as it might seem. You see, I don’t have to introduce myself. They all seem to know who I am.’The Queen on fashion: In the late sixties when Mary Quant and the mini skirt came to epitomize all that was fashionable, Princess Anne suggested her mother might also consider shortening her hemline. The Queen was adamant, ‘I am not a film star.’ The Queen on family: As Great Britain’s most famous great grandmother, it is no surprise that the Queen values family life. ‘Marriage gains from the web of family relationships between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles.’In this book Karen Dolby unpicks the key elements that make the Queen so special to – and so loved by – the nation and presents a guide to how you too could put into practice some of Her Majesty’s traits to help overcome adversity, find inner strength and present yourself as wonderfully considered and calm, even when all about you seems in chaos.

Bestselling author Marcus Chown explores some of the most profound and important science about us, our world and the universe with fifty fascinating and mind-bending facts.Our adventures in space, our deepening understanding of the quantum world and huge leaps in technology over the last century have revealed a universe far stranger than we could ever have imagined. With brilliant clarity and wit, bestselling author Marcus Chown examines the profound science behind fifty remarkable scientific facts that help explain the vast complexities of our existence. Did you know that you could fit the whole human race in the volume of a sugar cube? Or that the electrical energy in a single mosquito is enough to cause a global mass extinction? Or that, out there in the universe, there are an infinite number of copies of you reading an infinite number of copies of this? Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand is a mind-bending journey through some of the most weird and wonderful facts about our universe, vividly illuminating the hidden truths that govern our everyday lives.

'Paths of glory', 'Theirs not to reason why', 'When you are old and grey and full of sleep', 'A handful of dust', 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day'.___________'Glorious' – Tribune'Superb' – The Good Book Guide ___________These and many others are famous lines of poetry that often occur in everyday speech. But do you know the rest of the verse, or even the rest of the poem?An anthology to warm the coldest heart or charm the least romantic soul, this is a collection of poems (or in some cases, extracts) that are not only memorable, but lend themselves to being learned by heart.This is the perfect book for anyone with even the vaguest interest in poetry, providing a wonderful opportunity to revisit those much-loved lines remembered from earlier days.

Obsession, jealousy, lust, revenge ...There is nothing more dangerous than a passion that curdles into murderous intent. Love, when it goes wrong and spirals into violence, can lead to the most tragically chilling consequences; death at the hands of a partner or ex-partner is the most common way for a woman to be murdered, far outnumbering her risk of murder by stranger.Sexual obsession is the theme that ties all of these tragic stories together. There is the tale of talented landscape artist Jill Cahill, whose husband was not content with battering his wife to a pulp and so went back to finish the job while she lay in her hospital bed. There is the wife whose body was found in the boot of her own car, and whose husband had framed his girlfriend for the crime, hoping to get rid of two women from his life. But men don’t have a monopoly on murder; there is also the case of Martha Freeman, who hid her lover in her wardrobe, and teamed up with him to murder her husband. John Tanner served a twelve-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, and is now back behind bars for another attack on another partner. British soldier Emile Cilliers attempted to murder his wife by cutting the cords of her parachute; however, while he may not have succeeded, Belgian teacher and amateur skydiver Els Clotterman did when she cut her love rival’s cords five years earlier.These, and many others, are the stories of fatal attraction you will find in the pages of this book.

From Andrew Carnegie and Oprah Winfrey to Steve Jobs and Sunil Mittal, this book will teach you how to think like the best minds in the business. Drawing on the stories, experiences and words of iconic business figures from around the globe and across the years, each chapter deals with a specific aspect of entrepreneurship and the lessons they can teach us, such as: – If you want to become big, you need to think big– Don't forget what makes your business scalable in the first place– Prepare your company for growing pains– Try to predict what lies ahead, but remember Warren Buffet's wise words: 'Forecasts usually tell us more of the forecaster than of the future' Informative, educational, thought-provoking and packed full of words of wisdom from and about the world's best entrepreneurs, How to Think Like an Entrepreneur presents the ideas and methods of the business greats, allowing the reader to expand their understanding of what drives and informs successful entrepreneurship.

‘Sometimes my mind reaches back beyond the fear and the arid landscapes of war, to memories of childhood that fill me with happiness and laughter.’___________‘A humane and gripping book which proves beyond doubt why the Gurkhas are known as such formidable warriors.’ – Sir Ranulph Fiennes___________This is a searingly honest memoir by Kailash Limbu, a serving Gurkha soldier who undertook five tours of active service in Afghanistan. Kailash Limbu was in the front line of the fighting in Helmand Province. On dangerous resupply missions and on offensive patrols that took them to the heart of the ‘killing zone’, he and his men came under frequent attack from Taliban fighters.He talks of other operations in which he has served – and, perhaps most movingly, of the other Gurkha soldiers – the united band of brothers – with whom he serves and on whom he relies every day.On many occasions he has feared he would not live to see the end of the day – and, inevitably, he lost several friends and colleagues from the close-knit Gurkha brotherhood. His means of coping with the trauma of conflict was to travel back in his mind to his childhood in a remote Himalayan village in Nepal. But even amid the simplicity of mountain life, danger and tragedy lurked.In this compelling narrative Capt Limbu celebrates his Gurkha heritage, relates remarkable stories of courage (his own and others’), and confronts demons that have shaped but never broken him. The result is a record of war and peace that is rare in its honesty and humility.

From royalty to peasantry, every age has its bad eggs, those who break all the rules and rub everyone up the wrong way. But their niggling, anti-social and irritating ways not only tell us about what upset people, but also what mattered to them, how their society functioned and what kind of world they lived in. In this brilliantly nitty-gritty exploration of real life in the Tudor and Stuart age, you will discover:– how to choose the perfect insult, whether it be draggletail, varlet, flap, saucy fellow strumpet, ninny-hammer or stinkard– why quoting Shakespeare was very poor form – why flashing the inside of your hat could repulse someone– the best way to mock accents, preachers, soldiers and pretty much everything else besides Ruth Goodman draws upon advice books and manuals, court cases and sermons, drama and imagery to outline bad behaviour from the gauche to the galling, the subtle to the outrageous. It is a celebration of drunkards, scolds, harridans and cross dressers in a time when calling a man a fool could get someone killed, and cursing wasn’t just rude, it worked!‘Ruth is the queen of living history – long may she reign!’ Lucy Worsley

Christmas comes but once a year... and in the world of the grumpy bloke, that’s once too often! But turn that frown upside down with the hundreds of jokes and one-liners in this book of festive fun.There’s nothing like a good laugh to chase away the winter blues or cheer yourself up and, let’s face it, some people need it more than others! Make sure the grumpy bloke in your life is well entertained (even when he really doesn’t want to be) by the gags and jokes in this whopping compendium of Christmas funnies from a veritable master of the art, Nick Harris.From Christmas jumpers to sad-sack Santas and from broken tree lights to shocking Christmas dinners, there are jokes aplenty to raise a smile in even the grumpiest bloke ... okay then, a chortle ... the merest hint of an upturned lip ...? Oh, come on, it’s FUNNY!

Learn the art of mindful flatulence and how to throw caution to your wind with Gas Cleric, Gus T. Blooms.This precious tome will show you how to take control of your wind and go with its flow. Discover the art of slowing down, savouring the silence (and smell) and getting to know your gasses. From the copious benefits of gas relief to how you can train your brain to release mindfully, this little book brings together essential exercises to help you clear your bottom and your mind as one.It can be easy to rush through life without noticing your flatulence. Paying attention to your farts, and their surrounding wind, has proven to improve your sense of humour.

From Socrates to Sartre, Avicenna to Angela Davis, this accessible guide will get you up to speed on the world’s greatest minds and help you to think like them.You’ve heard of Plato, but do you understand his Theory of Forms? What does René Descartes’ maxim ‘I think, therefore I am’ actually mean? And how is philosophy relevant to modern life?Drawing on the thoughts and words of iconic philosophers from the ancient world right through to the present day, each chapter deals with a specific philosophical theory. Explore the conflict between free will and determinism, the political concept of Machiavellianism, the difference between metaphysics and epistemology, and what dialectics actually is in this accessibly-written guide to the smartest minds in history.