Other books that might interest you

• 

  A Quiet Evening - The Travels of...

  Norman Lewis

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Collected here, from a period of nearly five decades, are thirty-six of Norman Lewis's best articles. In each, his writing crackles with poker-faced wit and stylistic brilliance. As a witness to his times – the good, the bad and the absurd – he was unmatched, and his instinct for important events, and moments, was infallible. His range here includes Ibizan fishermen, an interview with Castro's executioner, the genocide of the South American indigenous tribes, a paean to Seville and his meeting with a tragic Ernest Hemingway. Lewis told Ian Fleming, who had commissioned him, that the meeting was 'a shattering experience of the kind likely to sabotage ambition'. Fortunately it didn't, and the articles assembled between these covers are compulsive, hilarious, tender and beautifully written, at times deeply upsetting and always unforgettable.

  Show book

• 

  Legends of the Leaf - Unearthing...

  Jane Perrone

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Have you ever wondered why the leaves of the Swiss cheese plant have holes? How aloe vera came to be harnessed as a medicinal powerhouse? Or why – despite your best efforts – you can’t keep your Venus flytrap alive? 
  You are not alone: houseplant expert Jane Perrone has asked herself those very questions, and in Legends of the Leaf she digs deep beneath the surface to reveal the answers. By exploring how they grow in the wild, and the ways they are understood and used by the people who live among them, we can learn almost everything we need to know about our cherished houseplants. 
  Along the way, she unearths their hidden histories and the journeys they’ve taken to become prized possessions in our homes: from the Kentia palms which stood either side of Queen Victoria’s coffin as she lay in state; to the dark history of the leopard lily, once exploited for its toxic properties; to English ivy, which provided fishermen with a source of bait. 
  Each houseplant history in this beautifully illustrated collection is accompanied by a detailed care guide and hard-won practical advice, but it is only by understanding their roots that we can truly unlock the secrets to helping plants thrive.

  Show book

• 

  Useless Facts That Will Bore You...

  Calmy Heart

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Can’t sleep? Let your racing mind wind down with the most mind-numbing facts you never knew you didn’t need. Useless Facts That Will Bore You to Sleep Fast is the perfect audiobook to lull you into a peaceful slumber by focusing your restless thoughts on the utterly mundane. 
  Did you know that a cloud can weigh as much as 1 million pounds? Or that octopuses have three hearts? No? Well, don’t worry—you won’t remember these tidbits by morning anyway. With a soothing narration designed to relax and distract your busy brain, this audiobook delivers hours of delightfully unimportant information guaranteed to help you drift off. 
  Whether you’re an overthinker or someone who simply struggles to unplug at night, this quirky sleep aid is your secret weapon. It’s not about staying engaged; it’s about letting go. By filling your mind with random, irrelevant facts, this audiobook provides just enough focus to steer you away from stress and straight into dreamland. 
  So grab your blanket, press play, and let the delightful dullness take over. Sleep has never been so easy—or so full of useless knowledge.

  Show book

• 

  Handmade Houses and Feeders for...

  Michele McKee-Orsini

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  These handmade birdhouses and feeders, bee hotels, and butterfly and ladybird homes will bring welcome visitors to your garden.
  
  Handmade Houses and Feeders for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies features 35 beautiful havens to build to attract more wildlife into your garden. Each house is beautifully designed, with colourful details, but is also perfectly adapted for its intended inhabitants. There are birdhouses you can hang up or place on stands, and a bee house you can 'plant' in your flowerbed. There are also feeders for birds, and homes for butterflies and ladybirds. With her trademark attention to detail, Michele McKee-Orsini has designed a gorgeous collection of miniature palaces for the wildlife that we should all be encouraging into our gardens. Michele takes you through the basic woodworking and decorating skills you will need, and the step-by-step project instructions, clear artwork, and stunning photography will all inspire you to build your own havens for our flying friends. Handmade Houses and Feeders for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies is a compilation of previously published favourites.

  Show book

• 

  A Charming Fellow

  Eleanor Trollope

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "A Charming Fellow, a novel by Frances Eleanor Trollope, was published in 1876. This intriguing work explores the complexities of human relationships, social climbing, and the consequences of choices.    Here are some key details about the novel:    Setting: The story unfolds in London during the late 19th century.  Plot Summary: The novel delves into the lives of diverse characters, each grappling with their own desires, ambitions, and secrets. At its core, it is a serious exploration of a bitterly unhappy marriage and its impact on those involved .  Themes: Social climbing, character development, and the clash between personal aspirations and societal expectations are central themes.  Characterization: The characters are well-drawn, and their interactions reveal hidden depths and motivations.  If you're drawn to stories that dissect human nature and societal norms, A Charming Fellow offers a thought-provoking journey through the intricacies of life and love. Whether you choose to read the original text or explore the audiobook versions, you'll find a scathing critique wrapped in eloquent prose."  Support us at https://manifoldmedia.net/donate

  Show book

• 

  That's Not Funny - How the Right...

  Nick Marx, Matt Sienkiewicz

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A 2022 Best Comedy Book, Vulture 
   
   
   
  "Why do conservatives hate comedy? Why is there no right-wing Jon Stewart?" These sorts of questions launch a million tweets, a thousand op-eds, and more than a few scholarly analyses. That's Not Funny argues that it is both an intellectual and politically strategic mistake to assume that comedy has a liberal bias. Matt Sienkiewicz and Nick Marx take listeners—particularly self-described liberals—on a tour of contemporary conservative comedy and the "right-wing comedy complex." 
   
   
    
  In That's Not Funny, "complex" takes on an important double meaning. On the one hand, liberals have developed a social-psychological complex—it feels difficult, even dangerous, to acknowledge that their political opposition can produce comedy. At the same time, the right has been slowly building up a comedy-industrial complex, utilizing the irony-laden media strategies of liberals such as Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, and John Oliver to garner audiences and supporters. Right-wing comedy has been hiding in plain sight, finding its way into mainstream conservative media through figures ranging from Fox News's Greg Gutfeld to libertarian podcasters like Joe Rogan. That's Not Funny taps interviews with conservative comedians and observations of them in action to guide listeners through media history, text, and technique.

  Show book