In the sequel to Russell's best-selling biography 'My Booky Wook' we follow the now sober but still scandalous, sex-fuelled star on his electrifying rise to international fame. A roller coaster ride through tours, films, stand up and tabloids - this time, it's personal. Rarely has a sequel delivered on the promise of the original with such literary and comic gusto. In Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal, Russell Brand takes off where his international best-seller My Book Wook left off. Brand is sober and, after dedicating his life and compromising his sanity in the pursuit of fame, he has had his first taste of national notoriety. Does fame bring happiness and inner peace? Not exactly, but it does mean a lot of sex. It also ushers in an unforgettable and raucous ride through chat shows, tabloid scandals, and Hollywood, all the while detailing Brand's search for the contentment that fame can't quite grant. Booky Wook 2 is a "celebrity memoir" unlike any you've read before: more clever and inventive than ever, Russell Brand explores the consequences of massive stardom just as he demonstrates the power of language and wit to make sense of it all.
Details: On 24 November 2012, four-time World Champion boxer Ricky Hatton dropped to his knees, felled by a sickening punch to the body in his first comeback fight in almost three years. Gasping for breath, down and out, it was then that something extraordinary happened: 20, 000 fans began to sing his name. Ricky Hatton: War and Peace is the story of one of British boxings true icons. From a Manchester council estate to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Ricky Hatton experienced incredible highs in his career, including one of the greatest ever wins by a British boxer, over the IBF Light Welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu. But heavy defeats to two legends of the ring, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, brought him quickly down to earth to face a new set of battles against depression, drink and drugs. Through it all, however, Ricky Hatton has remained the same charismatic, funny, eloquent man ? a man who boxing fans have always taken to their hearts. A man who has survived a lifetime of wars both in and out of the ring, and who in defeat has finally found something close to peace. Ideal for: A thumping must-read memoir perfect for Boxing fans. This Hardback Measures: 24 x 16 x 3 cm - Pages: 297
To Loyalists, Michael Stone is an idol and an icon. His name and face are painted on walls across Belfast. His desire to remove Adams and McGuinness from the political spectrum has turned him into a local super-hero. A meticulous killing machine, he executed six men, whose deaths were claimed under different Loyalist groupings, and when justice finally caught up with him he was sentenced to 800 years in prison. Twelve years later, he left a free man, renounced terrorism, apologised for the suffering he had caused and said the fledgling peace process was the only way forward. This is his own true story...
David Beckham is the world's most famous football icon. In May this year he brought down the curtain on a hugely successful playing career that spanned two decades, during which he proudly wore the shirts of Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and England. He captained his country on 58 occasions, winning 115 international caps in total, an English record for an outfield player. His colourful and stellar career has been characterised by the emotional highs of great goals and remarkable trophy successes around the world, as well as by more than the occasional moment of set-back, disappointment and despair, but through it all Beckham has emerged as a universally adored figure, both inside and outside the game. Here, intimately talking us through 150 of his favourite images which define his playing days, he invites us behind the scenes of an incredible 20-year footballing journey.
Love him or loathe him, ?Iron? Mike Tyson is an icon and one of the most fascinating sporting figures of our time. In this no-holds-barred autobiography, Tyson lays bare his demons and tells his story: from poverty to stardom to hell and back again In this, his first, autobiography, ?Iron? Mike Tyson pulls no punches and lays bare the story of his remarkable life and career. Co-written with Larry Sloman, author of Antony Keidiss best-selling memoir scar Tissue?, this is a visceral, and unputdown-able story of a man born and raised to brutality, who reached the heights of stardom before falling to crime, substance abuse and infamy. Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise people and reveal a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence. If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.
He is one of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court - but from early childhood Andre Agassi hated the game. Coaxed to swing a racket while still in the crib, forced to hit hundreds of balls a day while still in grade school, Agassi resented the constant pressure even as he drove himself to become a prodigy, an inner conflict that would define him. Now, in his beautiful, haunting autobiography, Agassi tells the story of a life framed by such conflicts. Agassi makes us feel his panic as an undersized seven-year-old in Las Vegas, practicing all day under the obsessive gaze of his violent father. We see him at thirteen, banished to a Florida tennis camp. Lonely, scared, a ninth-grade dropout, he rebels in ways that will soon make him a 1980s icon. By the time he turns pro at sixteen, his new look promises to change tennis forever, as does his lightning fast return. And yet, despite his raw talent, he struggles early on. We feel his confusion as he loses to the world's best, his greater confusion as he starts to win. After stumbling in three Grand Slam finals, Agassi shocks the world, and himself, by capturing the 1992 Wimbledon. Overnight he becomes a fan favorite and a media target. Agassi brings a near-photographic memory to every pivotal match, and every public relationship. Alongside vivid portraits of rivals, Agassi gives unstinting accounts of his brief time with Barbra Streisand and his doomed marriage to Brooke Shields. He reveals the depression that shatters his confidence, and the mistake that nearly costs him everything. Finally, he recounts his spectacular resurrection and his march to become the oldest man ever ranked number one. In clear, taut prose, Agassi evokes his loyal brother, his wise coach, his gentle trainer, all the people who help him regain his balance and find love at last with Stefanie Graf. With its breakneck tempo and raw candor, Open will be read and cherished for years. A treat for ardent fans, it will also captivate readers who know nothing about tennis. Like Agassi's game, it sets a new standard for grace, style, speed and power.
Still Got It, Never Lost It! tells the story of Louie Spence, star of Pineapple Dance Studios and ruthless judge on Dancing on Ice. 'I did everything my sisters did, that's how my dancing days started - they went dancing, I went dancing and I just kept on dancing.' - Louie Spence From a very early age Louie was a little boy who loved to dance and had high ambitions. He attended every disco dance class he could and excelled each time, with the constant support of his Mum and Dad. Before long Louie's blue leotard had become a mainstay of the family home, and soon enough he was accepted into the Italia Conti School of Theatre Arts. And he never looked back. From dancing on the Spice Girls World Tour to becoming BFFs with Emma Bunton and hanging out with Take That (not to mention his performances in Cats and Miss Saigon), Louie lived out his dreams. Now a TV personality in his own right, a judge on Dancing on Ice, the star of Pineapple Dance Studios and his own series Showbusiness, he has become a much-loved household name. This hilarious, warm and compellingly-written autobiography takes us back to Louie's early days in Essex, with a cast of characters that includes Nanny Lock (who lived down the Enfield lock), Nanny Twinkle and Nanny Downer (with whom Louie, as a kid, would swipe cans of Special Brew). Still Got It, Never Lost It! is the story of the real-life Billy Elliot - a tale that proves nothing can stop you when you think big and hold on to your dreams.
Details:Hercule Poirot, with his distinctive moustache and fastidious ways, is one of Agatha Christies finest creations and one of the worlds best-loved detectives. Through his television performance in ITVs Agatha Christies Poirot, David Suchet has become inextricably linked with the little Belgian, a man whom he has grown to love dearly through an intimate relationship lasting more than twenty years. In Poirot and Me, he shares his many memories of creating this iconic television series and reflects on what the detective has meant to him over the years.Ideal for:Fans of the great detective show Poirot and the incredible David Suchet.This hardback book measures: 24 x 16 x 3cm.
Details: Charming, funny, a good friend, a less than perfect boyfriend, Spencer Matthews is one of the most talked-about stars of Made in Chelsea. But what lies behind his sometimes controversial behaviour? In Confessions of a Chelsea Boy, his honest and revealing autobiography, Spencer opens up about life before the cameras, including growing up on the beautiful island of St Barths where his parents own the exclusive Eden Rock hotel. He also writes movingly about the devastating loss of his brother on Everest, and the close family ties that ground him. Spencer describes his antics at Eton, where the masters declared they'd never met a boy like him before (this was not entirely a compliment), and introduces us to his friends Proudlock, Jamie, Hugo and Caggie. He takes us from his first kiss to his many romantic adventures (and misadventures) and describes the four loves of his life so far and why things didn't work out. From St Barths to St Tropez, from London to New York, Spencer also gives us glimpses into his world as he gambles with Hollywood stars, runs away from an enraged Middle-Eastern despot, and narrowly avoids death in a powerboat crash. Sensational, entertaining, full of laughter, this is the real Spenny as you've never seen him before. Ideal for: Fans of Spencer Matthews and made in Chelsea. This hardback book has 251 pages and measures: 24.1 x 16 x 2.7cm
Details: Denis Law is undoubtedly Scottish football's favourite son. He is joint top record scorer for his country with an impressive strike rate of 30 goals in 52 games and scored in the famous 3 - 2 win over world champions England at Wembley in 1967. As well as his prolific strike rate, he was also part of the Scotland team that won their way through to the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany - the first time the Scots had reached the finals in 16 years. In this unique portrait of Denis Law, which is the first book solely devoted to his illustrious international career, Alex Gordon interviews a vast array of former teammates, including Willie Henderson, Davie Hay, John Greig, Pat Crerand, Tommy Gemmell, and international opponents such as Gordon Banks, George Best and Bobby Charlton. Denis Law was the showman supreme. He was more than a mere goal scorer whose cavalier thrusts and menacing darts brought panic to opposing defences. Law was an inspiration to those around him at club and country level and to younger generations of fans everywhere. Team-mates adored him, opponents feared him, fans revered him. He was a free spirit, an extrovert, a complete one-off, a rare combination of impudence and intelligence, class and clout. Denis Law is, was and always will be The King. Ideal for: This is an absolute must for any Denis Law fan. Wonderfully insightful and a real salute to The King's Scotland career. This Hardback measures: 23.2 x 16.4 x 2.7 - Pages: 280
Details: Widely considered to be the most important biography of Nelson Mandela, Antony Sampsons remarkable book has been updated with an afterword by acclaimed South African journalist, John Battersby. Long after his presidency of South Africa, Nelson Mandela remained an inspirational figure to millions ? both in his homeland and far beyond. He has been, without doubt, one of the most important figures in global history. His death, on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95, resonated around the world. Mandelas opposition to apartheid and his 27 year incarceration at the hands of South Africas all-white regime are familiar to most. In this utterly compelling book, eminent biographer Anthony Sampson draws on a fifty year-long relationship to reveal the man who rocked a continent ? and changed its future. With unprecedented access to the former South African president ? the letters he wrote in prison, his unpublished jail autobiography, extensive conversations, and interviews with hundreds of colleagues, friends, and family ? Sampson depicts the realities of Mandelas private and public life, and the tragic tension between them. Updated after Sampsons death with a new afterword by distinguished South African journalist John Battersby, this is the ultimate biography of one of the twentieth centurys greatest statesmen. Ideal for: anyone wanting to know more about Nelson Mandela. This paperback book has 708 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.8 x 4.8cm
Beyonce Knowles first rose to fame as lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the most successful girl groups of all time. Since striking out on her own as a solo artist in 2003, with her multi-platinum debut album Dangerously in Love, Knowles' career has gone from strength to strength. This biography tells the full story of a fantastically talented artist, detailing the ups and downs of her early career with Destiny's Child, the group's success and disbandment, her move into the solo spotlight and the commercial and critical acclaim that has followed. The book also examines key events in Beyonce's personal life A--including her marriage to hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z.
Written with the general reader in mind, this provides an ideal introduction to philosophical ideas. The A-Z format covers the ideas of history's most influential thinkers, from Thales of Miletus to contemporary philosophers such as Wittgenstein and Peter Singer. Concise and informative, the text introduces the basic concepts behind each philosopher's work together with biographical and historical details. Both easy-to-use and a stimulating read, this is an ideal source of reference, and includes an eight-page photographic section! Philip Stokes has a Masters degree in Philosophy from Bristol University.