A Day Like Any Other

Guy Ware

Publisher: Salt

Summary

A woman with a successful career in child protection is floored by her husband's sudden death; a retired civil servant smothers his wife, but can't go through with their pact; a teacher fleeing a disastrous school trip finds himself – literally – in a dark wood.
Pascal famously said we shall die alone. But there are always others left behind to grieve, to cheer, to feel guilt, relief or laughter, because we are human, whether we like it or not. In these stories, a dozen characters find at least a dozen ways to live by facing death – their own or that of those they love – in familiar worlds shot through with a strange absurdity.
A man with cancer is employed to smoke by a character from a novel who may never have existed; an historian finds a love he hopes will last beyond the grave, even if it isn't his; a former judge dispenses justice in a prison camp; a randomly-selected Prime Minister confronts the biggest life-or-death decision she – or anyone – will ever have to take.
A Day Like Any Other explores death – natural, assisted, promised and unexpected – with compassion, wit, a steady gaze and a desire to confront the challenge we mostly prefer to avoid: why live at all? It is the perfect collection for anyone who's going to die one day.

Available since: 06/08/2026.

Print length: 240 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Dropped Calls

Robert McGuiness

Dropped Calls will  ring like a lost phone and have you scrambling to pick up the call. Should water, food, and even the air we breathe become threatened? Providence assembles at the bugler’s call. When democracy is under threat from our collective complacency, these words shall find meaning in the screaming echoes of two centuries past “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”. 
 
In  this work of fiction, the resonance of truth should challenge the reader’s sagacity so that each person becomes the keystone to the solution. Just like Siddhartha, to read it once is a revelation, and immersed deep in its pages, understanding and enlightenment may develop.
 Perhaps  some of the people and places in this book are familiar to you. Imagine  the events that unfold happening to your loved ones, in your backyard, or on your watch. Prudence necessitates reading Dropped Calls as an act of prevention and a pathway to compassion.

Show book

Exasperated - A Short Story...

J M Barrie, Frank Stockton, G K...

In this volume we discover that the obvious and the easy are not perhaps as obvious and easy as our authors first present them. 
 
They play with us.  There is certainty.  Then there is uncertainty.  There is a fact and then seemingly not. 
 
One thing we can rely on though is that each new twist and turn takes us on a journey of frustration and exasperation that is as enjoyable as it is bewildering. 
 
And, in the company of the sparkling wits of Chesterton, Aumonier, Barrie and a host of others who summon indignation and vexation as they rile and befuddle us then being exasperated was never quite so much fun. 
 
01 - Exasperated - A Short Story Collection - An Introduction 
02 - A Somewhat Improbable Story by G K Chesterton 
03 - The Man Who Did Not Believe in Luck by Jerome K Jerome 
04 - Putois by Anatole France 
05 - The Lady, or the Tiger by Frank Stockton 
06 - The Inconsiderate Waiter by J M Barrie 
07 - The Absent Minded Man by Jerome K Jerome 
08 - The Little Room by Madeline Yale Wynne 
09 - The Mysterious Card by Cleveland Moffet 
10 - Where Was Wych Street by Stacy Aumonier

Show book

The Art of War

Sun Tzu

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."

Written over two thousand years ago, Sun Tzu's insights remain as sharp and relevant today as they were in ancient China. The Art of War is not merely a book about military maneuvers; it is a profound philosophical study of human nature and the mechanics of conflict. Across thirteen concise chapters, Sun Tzu teaches the importance of intelligence, the value of flexibility, and the necessity of knowing both yourself and your opponent. It is a guide to achieving victory through the path of least resistance, emphasizing that the most successful "warrior" is the one who understands how to outmaneuver the competition before the first blow is even struck.

The Five Essentials for Victory: Sun Tzu identifies five critical factors that determine the outcome of any engagement: The Moral Law (Purpose), Heaven (Timing), Earth (Terrain), Command (Leadership), and Method (Organization). By mastering these variables, a leader can predict the outcome of a conflict with startling accuracy.

Victory Through Deception and Adaptability: "All warfare is based on deception." Sun Tzu argues that a successful strategist must be like water—shapeless, flowing around obstacles, and striking only where the enemy is weak. This focus on psychological warfare and environmental awareness makes the text a masterclass in high-stakes decision-making.

Why It Is a Global Icon: The Art of War has transcended its origins to become a universal manual for survival and success. Whether you are navigating a corporate merger, coaching a sports team, or seeking personal discipline, Sun Tzu's aphorisms provide a framework for clear thinking under pressure. It is the ultimate toolkit for anyone who wishes to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Master the mind of the strategist. Purchase "The Art of War" today.

Show book

Great Gatsby The: Original 1925...

Francis Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Jazz Age Novel_______The 1925 Original Version, with Classroom History_______The Great Gatsby is considered F. Scott Fitzgerald's magnum opus, exploring themes of decadence, idealism, social stigmas, patriarchal norms, and the deleterious effects of unencumbered wealth in capitalistic society, set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties. At its heart, it's a cautionary tale, a revealing look into the darker side to the American Dream."When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away. This responsiveness had nothing to do with that flabby impressionability which is dignified under the name of the "creative temperament"—it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again. No—Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men..."

Show book

A Stab in the Heartland

David Clifford Grieser

Taking place across the Midwest's heartland of America, this collection of short stories offers nuance to the darker aspects of human relationships. Told primarily from the intoxicating beginnings of lust before progressing toward love, the stories fluidly transform into stark realities rather than romantic ideals. Each story provides an intimate look at how commitment and affection can turn into disloyalty or even hatred. 
With subtle mystery and humor sprinkled throughout, readers will be fascinated and shocked at where these winding plots lead, both physically and psychologically. Though at times jarring, the stories ultimately highlight the complexity of bonds between people in both their beauty and brutality.

Show book

The Adjuster

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Adjuster by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a poignant exploration of love, betrayal, and the emotional struggles of a woman navigating the complexities of marriage and societal expectations in the Jazz Age. As she confronts the choices that have shaped her life, she begins to question her place in the world and the meaning of happiness. Fitzgerald’s masterful prose captures the glamour and disillusionment of the 1920s, weaving a bittersweet tale of emotional turmoil and self-reflection. 
Narrated by Julie Ann Marra, this audiobook brings to life the elegance and emotional depth of Fitzgerald’s writing, drawing listeners into the complex world of his unforgettable characters. 
Perfect for fans of classic literature, Jazz Age stories, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless exploration of the human condition, The Adjuster is a captivating tale of love and loss.

Show book