Publisher: The Crowood Press
Embark on a remarkable journey with The Ultimate Adventure Guide, the go-to companion for exploring the exhilarating world of adventure sports and activities. Packed with breathtaking photography, this guide delves into the origins of each sport and traces its evolution into unique disciplines.
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A TIMES BEST MEMOIR OF 2023 ‘Grippingly vivid and pacey’ THE TIMES ‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing’ SIMON WINCHESTER ‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing … a fantastic story of a truly Odyssean journey across all the world’s great oceans – but is also the inspiring story of the developing of a restless and inquiring mind’ SIMON WINCHESTER 'An astonishing almost day-by-day account of [a] hazardous journey and its legacy’ TELEGRAPH ‘This is a story of an epic childhood journey, so exciting and so shocking it is hard to know whether you’re reading about a dream or a nightmare… Wavewalker is thrilling, horrifying, beautifully written – I couldn’t put it down’ ED BALLS Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children. Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water… At seventeen Suzanne earned an interview at Oxford University and returned to the UK. From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how her determination to educate herself enabled her to escape ‘A classic memoir of childhood. This is a book that every parent should read to consider the consequences of their midlife crises, and every child should read to learn how to deal with impossible mums and dads, as well as boils and barnacles’ Mail on Sunday 5* ‘An electrifying story about an extraordinary childhood, and Heywood tells it with remarkable clarity and assurance . . . an engrossing book that pitches the reader into the highs and lows of a young life spent in the “Wavewalker School of the Sea”’TLS HarperCollins 2023Show book
'Exposes a dark and corrupt underworld in British football' Joao Castelo-Branco, ESPN'Gritty, dark and inspiring - you won't have read a story like this before' Daniel Taylor, The Athletic and New York Times'The descent from talented footballer to convicted criminal is shocking. The journey thereafter is nothing short of inspirational' Rob Dorsett, Sky Sports'A compelling and necessary story' Nicolas Sayde, Council of Europe***In 2012, English football was rocked by the biggest match-fixing operation to hit these shores in the modern era. An Asian syndicate had infiltrated the Conference South with players being offered vast sums of money to help rig games and net millions of pounds for the fixers. Loyal fans attending matches were oblivious to the fact that outcomes had been predetermined. The remarkable story of how this syndicate was able to take hold of the national sport is told to us by a man who not only played in many of these games, but went to jail for helping to fix them - Moses Swaibu.Fixed breaks new ground as Moses Swaibu becomes the first player ever to write openly about how he helped to fix games, revealing exactly what happens on the pitch when a match is being manipulated. He also exposes how the criminal gangs operate, how young professional players are targeted and groomed and the threats of violence that are used to keep them in check. From fixer, to rehabilitation, Swaibu's story of redemption offers a fascinating insight into the ugly side of the beautiful game. This is a sporting account like none ever written before.Show book
'AN ABSOLUTE JOY' – VASSOS ALEXANDER ‘We’re not at parkrun any more,’ I mutter to myself, quietly longing for the presence of nice marshals in high-visibility vests. Failure is an Option is the story of an average runner who sets out to discover just how far he can go. With the support (and misgivings) of his family, and aware that his quickest years are behind him, Matt Whyman leaves the Saturday morning 5K to push towards 100-mile ultramarathons and beyond. By slowing things down to run a very long way, he joins a growing number of men and women from all walks of life striving to do something extraordinary. A newcomer to a world that can often seem off-limits, Matt finds his feet as an ultrarunner by learning the hard way. He battles monster hallucinations on endurance races spanning day and night, loses himself on tantalising trails across landscapes far from home, and forges bonds with fellow competitors in which small, kind gestures mean more than any medal. Determined to touch the boundaries of his running world before it starts to shrink, ultimately Matt sets his sights on a six-day mountain ultra that even hardened veterans consider to be the most formidable on earth: the Dragon’s Back Race. Brimming with good humour, honesty and joy, Failure is an Option pits ambition against ability to uncover human truths that resonate with us all. A mid-pack competitor who could win prizes for enthusiasm – if nothing else – Matt takes us on a journey far beyond his comfort zone and with no guaranteed outcome of success. The results are entertaining from start to finish, often very funny and at times deeply moving.Show book
Let legendary outdoor writer and editor Vin Sparano (Outdoor Life Magazine) take you into the great outdoors with stories about hunters, their dogs, and the upland game and waterfowl they hunt.Hunters will experience all the emotion they do in the outdoors in the comfort of their easy chair: the smell of an autumn forest, the friendship of a trusted hunting dog, the joy of the hunt, the satisfaction of a fine meal.Listeners will be grateful to have joined these hunts!Show book
The inspiring autobiography from Gabrielle Douglas—the first African-American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual All-Around champion—revealing her journey from the time she first entered a gym to her gold-medal-winning performances. In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner and the brightest star of the US gold-medal-winning women’s gymnastics team. That same year, Gabrielle was also named the 2012 Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. In this personal autobiography, Grace, Gold, and Glory My Leap of Faith, Gabrielle tells her story of faith, perseverance, and determination. Walk with Gabby Douglas through her journey of faith and what her family overcame, from the time she first entered a gymnasium to her gold-medal-winning performances, demonstrating to readers ages 13 and up that they can reach their dreams when they let themselves soar. Grace, Gold, and Glory My Leap of Faith:Is the official autobiography of renowned US gymnast Gabrielle DouglasChronicles Gabrielle’s journey from her first practice to becoming a 2012 gold-winning US gymnastCelebrates Gabrielle as the first African-American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual All-Around champion, and the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual All-Around and team competitions at the same Olympics.Is one of the most inspiring books on the market today for reader ages 13 and upShow book
What’s on your bucket list? Do you think about how extraordinary your life would be if you fulfilled those dreams? It’s time to make "one day" today with Live Your Bucket List. In Live Your Bucket List, Julia Goodfellow-Smith guides you through the proven process that will take you from dreaming to achieving. You’ll find steps to: Ignite your passion. Overcome obstacles including fear and lack of money and time. Plan to achieve your dream. Successfully implement your plans. Reflect on your achievements. Each step of the process is detailed and accompanied by inspiring personal stories and key lessons from Goodfellow-Smith’s own journey to live her bucket list. If bikepacking is on your bucket list, then combine Live Your Bucket List with Cycling King Alfred's Way in this box set. What’s it really like to cycle King Alfred’s Way? Julia Goodfellow-Smith was a non-cyclist just six weeks before she and her mountain biking friend Alison set off on this epic 350km route around southern England. Follow Julia’s sometimes bumpy journey from cycling novice to riding King Alfred’s Way itself. In Cycling King Alfred’s Way, you’ll discover what each section of the route is like to cycle, as well as strategies to: Plan your adventure. Reach the top of hills without stopping or pushing. Carry on when things get tough. Whether you’re an experienced cycle tourer or rookie, learn from Julia to make your next bikepacking adventure the best possible success.Show book
