READ BY DAVID WALLIAMS, with Nitin Ganatra as Raj - listen to David perform these ten cautionary tales introducing a delightfully dreadful cast of characters.
Are you ready to listen to the World's Worst Children? Five beastly boys and five gruesome girls!
* Like Sofia Sofa - a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa that she's turning into one!
* Or Dribbling Drew - a boy whose drool gets him into trouble on a school trip!
* And not forgetting Blubbering Bertha - a girl who bawls and tells terrible tales!
From Number One bestselling author David Walliams comes this collection of wickedly funny, deliciously mischievous tales, read by the author himself and Nitin Ganatra as Raj.
Clarice Cliff was one of the most prominent ceramic designers of the twentieth century. Born in 1899 in the Staffordshire Potteries, she started work as just another factory girl, but by 1928 had launched her own range of pottery, 'Bizarre'. A 'gargantuan feast of colour', it blazed a trail through the homes of inter-war Britain. But if Clarice Cliff's rise from apprentice gilder to art director was remarkable - and all the more so for her being a woman - it was not without its tensions; for years she conducted a secret relationship with her married boss. Fusing art, design and industry and vividly conveying the texture of women's lives between the wars, this is a compelling study of the complex, talented woman whose work is for many the epitome of art deco.
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES AND TOP FIVE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A BBC ONE DRAMA ADAPTATION CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION
WINNER OF THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD 2018 WINNER OF THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR WINNER OF NOVEL OF THE YEAR AND BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS INTERNATIONAL AUTHOR OF THE YEAR LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2018 LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2019
Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation - awkward but electrifying - something life-changing begins.
Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can't.
'The literary phenomenon of the decade.' - Guardian
SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD 2019 SHORTLISTED FOR THE RSL ENCORE PRIZE 2019 LONGLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2019
Artist, architect, poet and philosopher, Leon Battista Alberti revolutionized the history of art with his theories of perspective in On Painting (1435). Inspired by the order and beauty inherent in nature, his groundbreaking work sets out the principles of distance, dimension and proportion; instructs the painter on how to use the rules of composition, representation, light and colour to create work that is graceful and pleasing to the eye; and stipulates the moral and artistic pre-requisites of the successful painter. On Painting had an immediate and profound influence on Italian Renaissance artists including Ghiberti, Fra Angelico and Veneziano and on later figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, and remains a compelling theory of art.
'This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met' J K Rowling
'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink' is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fading glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer's block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time.
'I know of few novels that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers' Joanna Trollope
**One of the BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**
What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger . . . because of you?
Three years ago, Toni's five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.
Toni's mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter.
A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister.
'Brilliant, very clever . . . I absolutely recommend it' B. A. Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors
What readers are saying about Blink:
'Once I started I couldn't stop. I devoured it. Chomped away chapter by chapter until I had hoofed the whole damned lot and you know what? It left me hungry for more ... An absolutely stonking 5 stars from me.' Jen Med's Book Reviews
'A novel that those who liked The Girl on The Train and Behind Closed Doors won't want to miss' My Little Book Corner
'I finished this book in nearly one day. I was completely unable to put this book down. Everything about this book sucks you in and doesn't let go.' Bombshell Reads
'Just BRILLIANT' It's All About Books
'A thrilling roller coaster of a read that will have you gripping on for dear life' By the Letter Book Reviews
'The book had me from the very first sentence and kept hold of me until I finished it. There are twists galore but on one occasion my jaw actually dropped open as I realised that all was not as it seemed. Fantastic writing, excellent characterisation that has left me salivating for book number three! Five stars.' Angela Marsons
'Five stars! This book had me hook line and sinker ... this author's mind is very very clever.' Sue and her Books
'WOW, what a corker of a book, gripping story, believable untrustworthy characters and not just one but two totally jaw dropping unexpected twists' Nicki's Life of Crime
'What a read ... The ending took me completely by surprise! In most books, I end up guessing the ending, but this book was spectacular. The book had me gripped from word 'go'. I couldn't stop reading ...a brilliant brilliant book' Any Excuse to Read
'A fantastic psychological thriller and I was kept hooked throughout. Lots of twists and turns, an excellent pace and so much suspense and surprise, I didn't quite know where the book was going at times ...couldn't be anything other than five stars!' Donna's Book Blog
'With bucketfuls of suspense and intrigue Blink is guaranteed to keep the most hardened psychological thriller love on the edge of their seats. Five Stars' The Book Review Cafe
'Pure genius!! Blink is everything a psychological thriller should be! K L Slater is in a class of her own ... Just when you think you have it figured out, you are knocked out of the park! One of the most mind-bending twists ever, just simply stunning!' What Rachel Read Next
'The twist towards the end took me completely by surprise. I actually had to put the book down for a moment and stop before I could carry on. It really took my breath away. K. L. Slater pulled this off brilliantly!' Hooked from Page One
'K.L. Slater has done it again with her latest book, Blink. From a creepy beginning to the twisty end, this book keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat. Hang on for the ride' Shelf Knowledge
In Aesthetic Computing, key scholars and practitioners from art, design, computer science, and mathematics lay the foundations for a discipline that applies the theory and practice of art to computing. Aesthetic computing explores the way art and aesthetics can play a role in different areas of computer science. One of its goals is to modify computer science by the application of the wide range of definitions and categories normally associated with making art. For example, structures in computing might be represented using the style of Gaudi or the Bauhaus school. This goes beyond the usual definition of aesthetics in computing, which most often refers to the formal, abstract qualities of such structures-a beautiful proof, or an elegant diagram. The contributors to this book discuss the broader spectrum of aesthetics-from abstract qualities of symmetry and form to ideas of creative expression and pleasure-in the context of computer science. The assumption behind aesthetic computing is that the field of computing will be enriched if it embraces all of aesthetics. Human-computer interaction will benefit-"usability," for example, could refer to improving a user's emotional state-and new models of learning will emerge.
Aesthetic Computing approaches its subject from a variety of perspectives. After defining the field and placing it in its historical context, the book looks at art and design, mathematics and computing, and interface and interaction. Contributions range from essays on the art of visualization and "the poesy of programming" to discussions of the aesthetics of mathematics throughout history and transparency and reflectivity in interface design.
Contributors James Alty, Olav W. Bertelsen, Jay David Bolter, Donna Cox, Stephan Diehl, Mark d'Inverno, Michele Emmer, Paul Fishwick, Monica Fleischmann, Ben Fry, Carsten Goerg, Susanne Grabowski, Diane Gromala, Kenneth A. Huff, John Lee, Frederic Fol Leymarie, Michael Leyton, Jonas Loewgren, Roger F. Malina, Laurent Mignonneau, Frieder Nake, Ray Paton, Jane Prophet, Aaron Quigley, Casey Reas, Christa Sommerer, Wolfgang Strauss, Noam Tractinksy, Paul Vickers, Dror Zmiri
This clinically focused, practical reference is a complete guide to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. It is written by and for the wide variety of clinicians who encounter sleep disorders, including neurologists, pediatric neurologists, pulmonologists, pediatric pulmonologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and sleep laboratory technicians. Chapters follow a standardized template and include bulleted lists, tables, and clinical pearls. New chapters in this edition cover dreams, interpretation of the polysomnography report, pediatric surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep scoring for both adults and pediatric patients. Also included is an overview chapter on comprehensive sleep medicine. Other highlights include updates on narcolepsy, parasomnias, and insomnia.
London, 1785. When the body of a former West Indies planter is found outside St Paul's Cathedral, suspicion abounds. But talk is not only of the man's death. His past brings a tide of fear directly to Harriet Westerman's door where William Geddings, senior footman, knows more than he is prepared to confess.
In search of answers, Harriet and her friend, anatomist Gabriel Crowther, reluctantly explore the dark and destructive world of Britain's slave trade. And as Harriet must confront an ugly truth close to home, London's hidden network of slave traders are forced to face the light. Francis Glass, a former slave, holds the key to their anonymity and no one can be sure what he plans to do with it.
When some people will risk everything for their reputation, some acts can never be forgiven.
This casebook introduces students to the fundamentals of labor, antitrust, and intellectual property law as applied in the professional and amateur sporting industries. It covers the unique office of the league commissioner and special concerns with the best interests of sports; the contract, antitrust, and labor law dimensions of the player-labor market; the peculiar institution of the player agent in a unionized industry; the economic and legal implications of agreements among league owners and responses to rival leagues; the system of commercialized college athletics governed by the NCAA and how law impacts individual sports like golf, tennis and boxing; as well as the structure and operation of international Olympic sports. Newly organized to enhance understanding, it also provides means for summary or detailed analysis of antitrust principles, and how these principles can be used to understand business dynamics. It also covers issues of statutory interpretation, administrative law, and torts before a variety of forums, including state and federal courts, agencies, and arbitration. The new edition updates material on the business of sports with the latest antitrust, drug testing and labor relations cases, in addition to new material on international athletics.
A Measure of Malpractice tells the story and presents the results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study, the largest and most comprehensive investigation ever undertaken of the performance of the medical malpractice system. The Harvard study was commissioned by the government of New York in 1986, in the midst of a malpractice crisis that had driven insurance premiums for surgeons and obstetricians in New York City to nearly $200,000 a year.
The Harvard-based team of doctors, lawyers, economists, and statisticians set out to investigate what was actually happening to patients in hospitals and to doctors in courtrooms, launching a far more informed debate about the future of medical liability in the 1990s. Careful analysis of the medical records of 30,000 patients hospitalized in 1984 showed that approximately one in twenty-five patients suffered a disabling medical injury, one quarter of these as a result of the negligence of a doctor or other provider. After assembling all the malpractice claims filed in New York State since 1975, the authors found that just one in eight patients who had been victims of negligence actually filed a malpractice claim, and more than two-thirds of these claims were filed by the wrong patients.
The study team then interviewed injured patients in the sample to discover the actual financial loss they had experienced: the key finding was that for roughly the same dollar amount now being spent on a tort system that compensates only a handful of victims, it would be possible to fund comprehensive disability insurance for all patients significantly disabled by a medical accident. The authors, who came to the project from very different perspectives about the present malpractice system, are now in agreement about the value of a new model of medical liability. Rather than merely tinker with the current system which fixes primary legal responsibility on individual doctors who can be proved medically negligent-legislatures should encourage health care organizations to take responsibility for the financial losses of all patients injured in their care.
Systems Engineering Principles and Practice is a national standard textbook for the study of traditional systems engineering for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. It addresses the need for an introductory overview, first-text for the development and acquisition of complex technical systems. The material is well organized, readable and fundamental to learning how to think like a systems engineer and carry out best practices in the field. Since systems engineering is still developing as a discipline, there have been new concepts and practices that have entered the field since the text was published in 2003. As an increasing number of students have used the text, topics have been discovered that would benefit from expansion, integration and clarification. The proposed second edition will be developed by colleagues of the original authors to upgrade this unique interdisciplinary guide to systems engineering to maintain relevance and currency in this rapidly changing and demanding field.
