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San Sombrero
A land of carnival, cocktail and coups
With BONUS 28-page HOT GUIDE
By Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch
Each year more and more visitors are discovering the magic of San Sombrero, lured by its tropical charms, exotic lifestyle and lack of extradition treaties with the outside world. Proudly considered the birthplace of tinted sunglasses and sequins, this fascinating land is packed with things to see and do. Have your photo taken with a colourfully dressed ruhmero (drunk) while his accomplice steals your wallet. Sway to the steamy bababumba, one of the few dances in the world to routinely involve an exchange of bodily fluids. Try 'red-water rafting' your way down a river of boiling lava. Or simply sit back and sip a molitivo cocktail while listening to the hypnotic rhythm of government helicopters strafing a nearby rebel stronghold. Crammed with expert advice, this fully updated guide contains everything the unsuspecting traveller needs to know about San Sombrero, Central America's forgotten jewel.
Visit San Sombrero online at www.sansombrero.com
RRP $29.95, paperback |
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The Meaning of Life
According to the great and the good
By Richard Kinnier et al.
Since records began, human beings have wondered about their existence and whether or not life has meaning and purpose. The quotations that appear in this book are taken from a study conducted by Arizone State University, in which hundreds of quotations from eminent people regarding their beliefs about the meaning of life were content analysed. The study revealed that these beliefs fell into ten main categories, which were: ‘Life is to be enjoyed’, ‘We are here to serve God’, ‘We are here to seek wisdom and self-actualisation’, ‘The meaning of life is a mystery’, ‘Life is meaningless’,‘We are here to help others’, ‘Life is a struggle’, ‘We are here to contribute to society’, ‘We must create meaning for ourselves’, and ‘Life is absurd.’ The Meaning of Life takes a selection of these quotations from some of the most famous names throughout history, divided into chapters based on the categories above. Included here are thoughts on life from philosophers and scientists, novelists and poets, film stars and politicians - from the ancient to the modern. Together they form a unique and revealing exposé of humanity’s diverse and often surprising views on its own place in the universe.
RRP $19.95, paperback
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It's Time to Go Home When the Ferris Wheel Breaks
Cautionary tales for a dangerous world
Written and illustrated by Brett Woodward
Poo is not a toy. Don’t make fun of fat kids or they might eat you. If you drop your ice-cream, you may as well be dead. These are just a few of life’s important lessons that have been illustrated in Brett Woodward’s funny, frightmare of a book. It's Time to Go Home When the Ferris Wheel Breaks is a collection of blackly humorous cartoons, providing practical advice for surviving childhood or, at the very least, a police siege at the family home. Told from a kiddie viewpoint and illustrated with blithely sinister toilet-wall scrawls, this book is a compendium of life lessons with a cruel twist.
RRP $12.95, paperback |
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Being a Girl
Navigating the ups and downs of teen life
By Kim Cattrall
Thanks to her role as frank-talking Samantha Jones on the smash television series Sex and the City, Kim Cattrall has become a teen icon. Young women who meet her are always asking for advice – about friendship, dating, losing weight, makeup, what's hot, what's not. Now, in a book written especially for girls, Kim tackles many of the questions that teen fans have asked her again and again. Whether you're struggling with self-esteem, dealing with parents who are driving you crazy, or trying to find your own unique style, Being a Girl will give you a new perspective on life as a teen. And just in case you think that no one, could possibly understand the things that are happening in your world, Kim lets you in on some of the things that were happening in hers as a teen – being a shy late bloomer, coping with authority, and struggling to define herself while pursuing her goal of becoming a professional actress.
RRP
$19.95, hardback
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The Medici Conspiracy
The illicit journey of looted antiquities
By Peter Watson and Cecilia Todeschini
On a bright winter's day in January 1994, eight priceless Greek vases were stolen from the Melfi Museum in southern Italy. Their eventual recovery – beside a pool in a palatial German estate – led Italian and Swiss authorities to an international trafficking ring worth somewhere between $US2 billion and $US6 billion per year. At the centre of this ring was Giacomo Medici, notorious trafficker in stolen antiquities. Recovered along with the vases was another priceless treasure: a detailed card index revealing a vast network of tomb raiders, dealers and smugglers who spirit classical artefacts out of Italy and into the hands of wealthy collectors and museums. Among those implicated were Sotheby's, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the mighty Metropolitan Museum in New York.
RRP $34.95, paperback |
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50 Years of Television in Australia
By Michael Roberts
Australians have enjoyed a love affair with television since it first appeared in our lounge rooms way back in 1956. We're fiercely loyal to our favourite shows and personalities, and just as passionate about those we loathe. We consider the stars to be our friends and the characters as members of our extended family. Millions tuned in and cried when Molly Jones died, watched horrified as the Number 96 block came crashing down, laughed at comedies from Mavis Bramston to Kath and Kim, and mourned when Hey Hey It's Saturday left our screens after 28 years. Here's a fun and nostalgic celebration of the first 50 years of television in Australia – the good, the bad and the downright embarrassing. Relive all of the colour, drama and sensations that television has provided: the stars, the spats, the great (and not-so-great) programs, the on-air gaffes, and all the unforgettable moments that make up half a century of broadcasting.
RRP
$59.95, paperback
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Time For Change
Edited by Tim Wright
Foreword by Geoffrey Robertson
The new century has already seen much change . . . both in Australia and abroad. But has the change we've witnessed been positive? And are we satisfied with the direction in which our nation is heading? This collection of original essays provides a forum for 18 well-known politicians, judges, academics and community leaders to describe – accessibly, energetically and optimistically – their vision for Australia in the 21st century. Each firmly believes that we, as a nation, can do better. Stimulating, inspiring and a must-read for anyone interested in who we are and where we're headed, Time for Change is a compelling blueprint for our nation's future.
RRP $24.95, paperback |
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Neil Young Nation
By Kevin Chong
Neil Young is a figure who stradles divisions: he's Canadian and American, folkie and rocker, an old guy relevant enough to be quoted in the suicide note of Kurt Cobain. His brilliant, gnomic, lyrical music has earned him fans of all vintages and persuasions – among them novelist Kevin Chong. Fast approaching the dreaded age of thirty, Chong is shocked to realize that his boyhood hero is turning sixty. He takes to the road in celebration, crisscrossing the continent with three buddies and a hatbox full of space cakes to visit places central to Neil's life and career. Chong doesn't meet the man in his travels, but that was never his intention. Instead, his brief vacation from adulthood – recounted to hilarious effect in these pages – teaches him something about rock 'n' roll, being cool, and aging gracefully.
RRP
$29.95, paperback
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The Global Shopper
Where to find the best online buys (shhh!) from around the world
By Nicole Hopkinson
Love the idea of buying unique, original or personalised presents from overseas? Ever wanted to shop online but don't have the time to trawl through endless sites? Chatty, stylish and entertaining, The Global Shopper is the essential guide to easy online shopping from the world's best and quirkiest e-stores and sites. From gorgeous baby clothes and women's accessories to books, CDs and customised cushions, you'll find it all here (and just one click away), in informative entries on over 300 of the best sites across the globe. So what's stopping you? Turn on your laptop and let an expert take you through the global shopping mall – without even leaving your chair.
RRP $24.95, paperback |
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It's Never Too Late . . . Balance
By Patrick Lindsay
It's never too late to be the person you always wanted to be! Or to inspire ourselves and our loved ones. But often, our lives seem so entangled, we're overwhelmed by choice and work dominates and swaps us. Balance is hard to find. Sometimes, we need a gentle reminder of the small things we can do to enrich our lives. Balance: It's Never Too Late is that reminder. In his third book in the It's Never Too Late series, acclaimed author Patrick Lindsay shows us how to achieve authentic work-life balance. Organised with a thought per page and coupled with wise quotes and beautiful illustrations, Balance: It's Never Too Late will inspire you to look at your life anew and to take the first step to bold new adventures.
RRP
$19.95, hardback
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The Spirit of Gallipoli
By Patrick Lindsay
In 1915, on a rugged beach in south-western Turkey, young soldiers fighting for their countries forged what we now know as the Anzac spirit. The mateship, loyalty and courage they displayed in the trenches formed the bedrock of the Australian and New Zealand national characters. In The Spirit of Gallipoli, bestselling author Patrick Lindsay examines this momentous conflict, bringing to life the heroes and the villians; the tragedy and the glory. In his simple yet powerful retelling, Lindsay shows that our understanding of the Anzac spirit can only be complete once we understand the spirit of Gallipoli.
RRP $24.95, hardback |
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Love in a Lunch Box
Tales of a modern mum
By Susannah Mac
'Should I be checking my baby's breathing every 12 minutes?
'Does their lunch include all the key food groups?'
'Is it possible I've lost my sense of proportion?' Yes.
The kids are alive, they're loved and well-fed. It's actually all going rather well. It's time to let yourself off your own hook for a while – to laugh at, rather than lament, the little things that go wrong. Motherhood is chaos. Enjoy it!
RRP
$19.95, hardback
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Freaks of the Storm
From flying cows to stealing thunder
By Randy Cerveny
Blood rain . . . chicken plucking . . . the vapour effect . . . cyclones . . . lightning . . hail . . . Extremes of nature have long inspired curiosity, fear and reverence – from Old Testament tales of fire-and-brimstone to modern natural catastrophies. Even in societies where the elements seem predictable or tame, nature's awesome capacity still has the ability to shock; and when the weather does something unusual, human reason can often insufficient in explaining it. How, for example, can a phenomenon like "blood rain", which has been documented by Plutarch, Saint Gergory of Tours and Reverend Thomas Short, really happen? In the course of his talks and presentations around the world, acclaimed US climatologist Dr Randy Cerveny found that people of all ages are fascinated by the "unusual". Light hearted, informative and entertaing, Freaks of the Storm answers the strangest weather questions imaginable.
RRP $22.95, paperback |
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Living the Good Life
How one family changed their world from their own backyard
By Linda Cockburn
Imagine not needing money, Not for bills – there are none. Not for food – you grow or make it all yourself. Not for transport – you have a bike. Disillusioned with their lives, Linda Cockburn and Trevor Wittmer decide this is how to break the cycle of too much work and too little time for doing the things that are important, like spending time with their son, Caleb. Their idea of living sustainably on a suburban block is simple and perfect. By drawing all their power from the sun, harvesting their water from the rain and growing enough produce to give them variety, they can do something positive for the environment and for themselves. For six months they take it to the extreme – and come up against a drought, an onslaught of fruit fly, and the demands of an unruly goat called Possum. But they also become fitter, healthier and happier, and delight in the simple pleasures of being reconnected with nature. Join them on their journey – share their recipes and tips for how to live more sustainably and learn astounding facts on the state of the Earth. This is a practical, fascinating and inspiring read that will have you looking afresh at your own backyard.
RRP
$29.95, paperback
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The book of Kakuro & Kakuro Mania
Over 120 totally addictive number puzzles
Hot on the heels of Sudoku comes Kakuro, the latest number puzzle craze from Japan. The principle is very simple– fill in the blank squares on the grid with numbers between 1 and 9. Each row or column must add up to the number given in the border, and you can only use each number once per sum. It is simple, but there are infinite possibilities to these confounding little logic puzzles. If you like logic or number puzzles you're sure to enjoy Kakuro. Both these books are ideal even if you are new to Kakuro as they contain a complete chapter on how to do Kakuro that takes you through a whole puzzle step by step. Then you'll find 124 Kakuro puzzles of varying difficulty levels, and all the answers in case you get stuck.
RRP $12.95 each, paperback |
 
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Broken Lives
By Estelle Blackburn
From 1958 to 1963 the formerly friendly country town of Perth was transformed into
the hunting ground of one of Australia’s most vicious serial killers. Eric Edgar Cooke, driven by his fantasies and delusions, commited a series of crimes that would shock and horrify the nation. During a five year spree of shootings, stabbings, stranglings and sexual perversions Cooke either murdered or attempted to murder 22 people. Broken Lives tells not only the story of this home grown serial killer but gives voice to the victims and reveals the failures and successes of the police dedicated to tracking him down.
WINNER OF THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST TRUE CRIME BOOK. WINNER OF THE WALKLEY AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM
RRP
$32.95, paperback
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1001
Songs
By Toby Creswell
1001 Songs tells the stories behind the best and most popular
songs of the last century. It reveals background facts that will
fascinate and intrigue, biographical information on each performer
and also boasts a guide to the definitive and the oddball covers
of songs. The book also features over 400 show-stopping, full
colour, rarely seen photographs. 1001 Songs provides endless
entertainment and insider information on over a thousand artists
and songs, right up to the minute - the perfect book for music
buffs, keen listeners, and anyone who's ever had a song stuck
in their head. This book contains expert and insightful background
information on everyone from Elvis to Fatboy Slim.
RRP $59.95, paperback |
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Happy
Times Together
By Jo England
Being one of their children's first teachers gives parents a unique
opportunity to discover the eagerness with which children learn,
and the joy they feel when they are helping and part of a team.
In Happy Times Together, parents will find twelve themes
that will have them brainstorming, creating, laughing, cooking
and partying with their kids. Each chapter is designed with a
series of activities and recipes. The activities are packed with
outrageous fun as well as being educational, and the recipes are
delicious and easy to make (and eat!) as well as being nutritious.
Each theme featured in the book can be expanded into a party. Happy Times Together is not about spending a lot of money,
it's about spending quality time. So get together and create some
happy times!
RRP
$34.95, paperback
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The
Original Sudoku & Advanced Sudoku
Sudoko is a number puzzle, with 9 boxes across and 9 down forming
an 81 square grid, with missing numbers. You have to put the correct
numbers in the blank boxes so that each horizontal line, and each
vertical line, as well as each 3 x 3 block has got the numbers
1 to 9 in it. Sudoku, which began its attack on the nation last
year, is the Rubik's cube of the new millennium. Invented in Basel,
Switzerland, by an 18th Century mathematician called Leonhard
Euler, Sudoko made its way via Japan, and a New Zealand-born judge
and amateur computer programmer, Wayne Gould, to Britain and now
Australia, where newspapers such as The Age and Sydney
Morning Herald have swarmed over the idea. Their readers have
apparently refused all nourishment until they are given their
daily dose.
RRP
$12.95 each, paperback
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Dreaming
of East
By Barbara Hodgson
Dreaming of East explores the enduring fascination that
the Middle East has exerted on women of the West, both because
of its exotic trappings and because of the freedom it seemed to
offer. When Lady Mary Wortley Montagu visited baths in Turkey
in 1717, the first European woman on record to have ever done
so, she was so tightly corseted that the women bathing there were
convinced that her husband had locked her into some kind of devious
machine. Montagu, stiff in her whalebone undergarments, envied
not only the free and luxurious nudity of the bathers but was
drawn to the apparent liberty of other aspects of their lives.
She coveted this freedom and spent the rest of her life pursuing
her own independence. Montagu's account of her journey, along
with sporadic reports by other travellers, mostly male, slowly
brought the area now known as the Middle East, into the consciousness
of Western women. By the early 1800s the taste for things Oriental
had firmly gripped Europe.
RRP
$32.95, paperback
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Encyclopedia
of Crime
By Carlton Books
The Encyclopedia of Crime breaks new ground with controversial
assessments of major cases and startling new evidence on unsolved
crimes - the deaths of Monroe, Kennedy, Pope John Paul I - and
comprehensive studies of monstrous killers including Bundy, Dahmer,
Sutcliffe and Nilsen. With entries presented in alphabetical order
and written in an authoritative and engaging style, the encyclopedia
leaves no stone unturned and is completely up-to-date on the entire
gamut of true crime, from assassinations to kidnappings, serial
killers to art forgeries. Its entries range from the specific,
such as 'Aileen Wuornos', to the more general entries such as
'Severed Ears', and it also includes sections on 'the psychology
of crime', 'the history of detection' and 'forensic science'.
It is a definitive, comprehensive encyclopedia of true crime,
heavily pictorial with 250 black and white photos and illustrations.
RRP
$29.95, paperback
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The Dog
Naughty dogs, little dogs, big dogs
By Carlton Books
The Dog is a must-have collection of pint-sized books for dog lovers who appreciate the
loyal, gentle, playful, sometimes attention-seeking and
energetic characteristics that make dogs so irresistible. The photographs featured are taken with a fish eye lens camera creating a
70% head, 30% body ratio to highlight their cutest features! Inside each little book you'll find many adorable breeds of dogs from around the world.
RRP $7.95 each, paperback
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Domestic
Crime File
By Ross de Kretser
Are you a bathroom tyrant? A kitchen fascist? A member of the
living room police? Fair enough. But you're probably a criminal
too. As this cheeky compendium certifies, when it comes to the
petty frustrations of share-house living, we all stand convicted
of something. Exposing such crimes as leaving empty milk cartons
in the fridge, to eating only the chocolate stripe in the Neopolitan
ice-cream tub, Domestic Crime File is packed with humorous
pictures of those household crimes that annoy us all. Indict your
housemates, and yourself, today.
RRP
$13.95, paperback
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Criminal
Profile
By Wayne Petherick
It might be the style of the attack, the geographic location,
the position of the body, a scrupulous cover-up - in almost every
instance, the offender who thinks he vanished without a trace
has in fact left behind a multitude of clues. Criminal Profile
offers insight into the professional's casebook, including the
most cutting-edge profiling techniques, the origins and limitations
of the practice, as well as the way some of history's most infamous
criminals have been caught. The author, Wayne Petherick is a criminologist
at Bond University in Queensland, Australia.
RRP
$24.95, hardback
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Peter
Fudge Gardens
By Peter Fudge
Peter Fudge Gardens reveals the exciting variety of his
award-winning gardens that are changing the face of garden design
in Australia. He breaks down his clever designs into the basic
elements to show readers how it's done - and how they can do it
themselves. Peter explains design reasoning, plant choice and
hard landscaping - right through to clever ideas on the basics
such as outdoor furniture and pots. There's something for everyone
in Peter Fudge Gardens - from the suburban backyard to
inner-city backyard, from coastal climates to the country and
beyond. Lavishly illustrated throughout by award-winning photographer
David Matheson.
RRP
$59.95, hardback
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The
Essence of Kokoda
By Patrick Lindsay
Kokoda is much more than just the name of a military campaign.
Like Gallipoli, it represents a tradition - a tradition conceived
at Anzac Cove, then reborn in the jungles of the Owen Stanley
Mountain Range in Papua New Guinea. And like Gallipoli, the spirit
of Kokoda lives on to this day. In this remarkable and accessible
new account, bestselling author Patrick Lindsay succinctly captures
the essence of the battles and the heroes who helped defend Australia
from invasion in 1942. Featuring stunning images as well as interviews
with the survivors - from both sides - Patrick shows how a group
of young, untested Australians, many of whom were just in their
teens, repelled an invading force vastly superior in both numbers
and firepower. Amidst deplorable conditions and wracked with disease,
these valiant young men 'dug in' and for just on six months held
the enemy at bay, eventually forcing a retreat. Lavishly illustrated
with many never-before-seen images, The Essence of Kokoda
is the quintessential guide to the battle that saved a nation.
Hardback $19.95 .
RRP
$19.95, hardback
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The
Spirit of Kokoda
By Patrick Lindsay
The Spirit of Kokoda celebrates the remarkable achievements
of the Diggers who fought battles along one of the most difficult
pieces of terrain on earth. This revised edition contains a new
introduction and foreword, a 'virtual trek' and more photos. Patrick
Lindsay has been a regular visitor to Papua New Guinea since 1983,
and has walked the Kokoda Track a number of times. Previously,
he has worked as a television presenter, reporter and producer
and is the author of several bestselling books, including The
Spirit of Kokoda and the It's Never Too Late series.
RRP
$24.95, paperback
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Worse
than Watergate
By John W. Dean
Watergate whistleblower and former White House counsel John W.
Dean is a man who knows what happens behind closed doors in a
corrupt administration. Now, in his explosive new examination
of the dark side of the Bush-Cheney White House, he lays out the
overwhelming evidence of the pervasive secrecy in the current
administration and suggests how to put an end to these abuses
of presidential power. The Bush team has shamelessly exploited
the threat of terrorism to justify secret tactics more befitting
third world tyrants than today's democratic leaders-while at the
same time aggressively violating the privacy of the rest of America.
As Dean shows, among other things, Bush has authorised vast new
government powers to engage in domestic surveillance, including
the ability to issue secret subpoenas to libraries and bookstores
to check up on the reading habits of citizens.
RRP
$22.95, paperback
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Sexual
Intelligence
By Kim Cattrall
Her portrayal of frank-talking Samantha Jones in the hit TV show
Sex and the City has made her an international star. Her bestselling
book Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm sold over
260,000 copies worldwide. Now in Sexual Intelligence, Kim
Cattrall helps explain what turns us on and why. Sexual Intelligence
takes an entertaining yet deeply informed approach to examining
sexual behaviour. Cattrall draws on some of the most authoritative
sources on the subject, as well as on the insights of ordinary
people. Complementing the text are paintings, erotic artefacts
and photographs of the human body. Written in the same accessible
style that made Satisfaction a best-seller, Kim Cattrall's
Sexual Intelligence is destined to be one very hot, very
smart book about sex.
RRP
$39.95, hardback
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Everyday
Diet Secrets
By Catherine Saxelby
What diet secrets? The secrets that make losing weight and keeping
it off EASY! With some basic knowledge of nutrition, you can simply
and effectively make a huge difference to the way your body metabolises
food. You will discover the secrets of pop diets and how to rate
them, dining out and fast food, eating habits and how to change
them, and smart shopping tips for slimmers. These diet secrets
are all you need to know for easy, permanent weight loss.
RRP
$12.95, paperback
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It's Never Too Late...Happiness
By Patrick Lindsay
It's an oft-proven adage that it's never too late to do all those
inspirational, encouraging, positive things for ourselves that
we put off because the routines of everyday life get in the way.
Sometimes it takes just a gentle reminder of small things we can
do to make our lives more enjoyable and satisfying - Happiness
is that reminder. In his second book in the It's Never Too
Late series, Patrick Lindsay shows us in inspirational yet
practical ways how it's never too late to make your life the one
you've always wanted to live, how simple things we can do can
make us happy. Organised with a thought per page and coupled with
inspirational quotes, Happiness will inspire you to look
at your life anew.
RRP
$19.95, hardback |
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Federation
Square
By Norman Day et
al
Federation Square is a celebration of the building and
architecture of Federation Square, which has become one of Australia's
most important landmarks and a global triumph of architectural
design. Federation Square is the creation of a new centre
of cultural activity, fulfilling the long-held dream of a large,
open, public gathering space in Melbourne. In the true spirit
of Federation, the square integrates a broad range of civic, cultural
and commercial activities. This commemorative edition historically
explores the site of Federation Square and its relation to the
CBD. The book also examines the design, materials, building constraints,
fascinating construction information and the controversies surrounding
Federation Square.
RRP
$29.95, paperback & $34.95, hardback
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War
of the Windsors
A century of unconstitutional monarchy
By Lynn Pickett, Clive Prince and
Stephen Prior
Queen Elizabeth II has reigned longer than any Windsor, yet the
future of the monarchy faces uncertainty due in no small part
to weaknesses within the royal house itself. While many of its
failings are well-known, still more disturbing activities have
been hidden from public scrutiny...until now. This book reveals
the unconstitutional behaviour of the House of Windsor; the cover-up
of major financial scandals connected with George VI and other
kings; the routine use of euthanasia to dispatch those who inconveniently
linger - and new evidence concerning the deaths of Dodi Fayed
and Diana, Princess of Wales. This is a book that will inspire
debate and provoke worldwide controversy.
RRP
$22.95, paperback |
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What
We Do Now
Edited by Dennis
Loy Johnson and Valerie Merians
In a galvanising call to arms in the wake of the presidential
election, an all-star line-up of leading progressive voices and
cultural figures has joined together to urge opponents of the
right, both in the US and throughout the world, not to give in
to despair and to launch an immediate counterattack. The project
is the result of a round-the-clock effort that saw Howard Dean,
Donna Brazile, Greg Palast, Lewis Lapham, Nicholas Kristof and
others writing a series of passionate manifestoes outlining a
variety of new ideas for life in a post 2nd November 2004 world.
The result is a powerful collection that also features economists,
environmentalists, media critics, feminists, anti-war activists,
novelists, poets and satirists writing about what to do in their
key areas of expertise.
RRP
$19.95, paperback
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America
The Book
A citizen's guide to democracy inaction
By Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart, host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily
Show, and his coterie of patriots deliver a hilarious razor-sharp
look at American government. Stewart and The Daily Show writing
staff offer their insights into a unique system of government,
dissecting its institutions, explaining its history and processes,
and exploring the reasons why concepts like "One man, one vote,"
"Government by the people," and "Every vote counts" have become
such popular urban myths.
RRP
$39.95, hardback
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The
Gift
By Ruth Ostrow
'Everything that happens is a gift. I have but to open the wrapping
covering my own life and celebrate.' Ruth Ostrow's The Gift will
compel you to look at your life anew, and to create magic from
everything that happens, especially the sacred challenges that
we confront in our day-to-day existence. So many of the things
that happen to us are gifts in disguise. Difficult bosses, neighbours
or lovers can prove to be our greatest godsend, and lead us to
achieve something wonderful we may not have attempted were we
not motivated by the fire of our passions. With artwork from celebrated
artist David Band, The Gift is a beautiful package - and ideal
gift - for the holiday season.
RRP
$19.95, hardback
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Phaic
Tan
By Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob
Sitch
Hot on the success of Molvania, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner &
Rob Sitch have written the definitive travel guide to the beautiful
South East Asian country of Phaic Tan. Encompassing everything
we love about Asia, Phaic Tan is a hilarious travel guide. A small
example is Phaic Tan's history. During the 1920's Phaic Tan was
wracked by a bitter civil war, eventually forcing the Government
to divide the combatants by constructing a massive wall running
from Saoxuy in the west to Phop Kra on the eastern plains. An
enormous architectural undertaking, the wall spanned just over
300km however, being made of rice paper screens, it was frequently
breached.
Visit Phaic Tan online at www.phaictan.com RRP
$29.95, paperback |
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Belly
Laughs
By Jenny McCartney
Oh, the joys of pregnancy! There's the gassiness, constipation,
queasiness, and exhaustion; the forgetfulness, crankiness, and
the constant worry. No woman is spared these discomforts and humiliations,
but most are too polite to complain or too embarrassed to talk
about them. Not Jenny McCarthy! Belly Laughs reveals the naked
truth about pregnancy and childbirth: the tremendous mood swings,
the excruciating pains, and the unseemly disfigurement that go
along with the process. Never shy, frequently crude, and always
laugh-out-loud funny, McCarthy covers it all with her signature
wit and in the grittiest of girlfriend detail.
RRP
$19.95, paperback
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Sticks,
Stones, Mud Homes
By Nigel Noyes
Sticks, Stones, Mud Homes is a book about eco-friendly living,
founded on the principles of minimal impact and sustainable practices.
The buildings in the book are designed to conserve energy, to
create new life from old, and employ good recycling practices
that work in with the environment. With ingenuity, determination
and a new aesthetic sensibility, seemingly unconventional materials
can often be adapted to building in some way. The houses featured
are made from rammed earth, baled straw and mudbricks, from salvaged
material, recycled timber and stone, and from tin and other inexpensive
contemporary materials.
RRP
$59.95, hardback
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Facing
By Robin Sellick
Facing is a collection of Robin Sellick's portraits with a twist
- here are Kylie Minogue, Geoffrey Rush, the Prime Minister of
Australia John Howard, Lleyton Hewitt, lead singer of Radiohead
Thom Yorke, Cate Blanchett, John Laws, Cathy Freeman, Michael
Parkinson and KD Lang, to name a few, as you've never imagined
them. The book will be launched at the National Portrait Gallery
in Canberra on 27 October 2004, and accompanied by an exhibition
that will tour Australia and New Zealand through 2005.
RRP
$69.95, hardback
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Opium
A Portrait of the
Heavenly Demon
By Barbara Hodgson
Opium will open people's eyes to the bizarre and shocking history
that began with use in religious ceremonies, then raised high
hopes as a cure for many ills in Victorian times and was regarded
as an embodiment of the romantic East, leading to its horrific
consequences today. In her meticulously researched text, Barbara
Hodgson delves into the nature and history of opium, focusing
on its exotic incarnation as a drug to be smoked. As well as examining
its factual history - in memoirs, science, and travel books -
she explores portrayals of opium use in fiction and film. This
beautifully designed and well-written book leaves no doubt that
opium deserves its feared place in the pantheon of drugs.
RRP
$22.95, paperback
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Who
Killed Daniel Pearl?
By Bernard-Henri
Levy
The shocking book that caused a furore in Europe is now in B format.
It was a horrible tragedy, but what if, hidden behind the story
of the gruesome on-camera murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, was
another, still darker story? What if the people who murdered him
weren't actually fanatic followers of Osama bin Laden? What if
he wasn't murdered - as was universally assumed - because he was
Jewish and American? What if he was murdered because he was onto
something? In a ground-breaking book that combines a novelist's
eye with rivetting investigative journalism, Bernard-Henri Levy,
one of the world's most esteemed writers, retraces Pearl's final
steps through a murky Islamic underworld, suffused by "an odour
of the apocalypse."
RRP
$24.95, paperback
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Dicktionary
By Andrew Pegler
From the same (filthy) mind that brought you John Howard's Little
Book of Truth comes the last word on Australian profanity. This
tome speaks to the everyone, be you a Carpet Muncher, an Arse
Bandit or an AC/DC; a Tasmaniac or a Bogan. Whether you are wearing
your Beer Goggles or have a Head on you like a Bulldog Eating
a Wasp, it don't matter, it just don't matter. You will learn
how to really let that tosser at work have it; how to truly insult
your ex and how to build up a quiver of genuinely hilarious terms
and phrases for those big nights out on the piss with the lads.
Sure it ain't pretty, and it ain't polite, but it is very bloody
funny. So what are you waiting for?
RRP
$12.95, paperback
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The
Late Night Correspondence of John Howard
By Barry Everingham
From the secret files of John W. Howard comes the hidden and often
surprising correspondence between our Prime Minister and his Queen,
Elizabeth II. Decidedly one-sided, the letters show the qualities
of Howard he hasn't yet shown to the Australian public, unveiling
his true thoughts on the issues that have hounded him throughout
his term in office: Pauline Hanson, the children overboard, the
Hollingworth debacle and, of course, the war on terror. Guaranteed
to raise an eyebrow and tickle the funny bone, Late-Night Correspondence
gives Howard's immediate (and uncensored) responses to both the
big issues and the smaller ones, shared with the only queens in
his life: Elizabeth and Janette.
RRP
$12.95, paperback
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Vintage
Edited by Donata Carrazza & Paul Kane
2004 marks the tenth year of the Mildura Writers' Festival, an
arts festival noted for its camaraderie, conviviality and hospitality.
Writers, poets and cooks are all in attendance, and they join
in the festivities and conversations that make these days one
long and lively celebration. Vintage captures between its covers
a selection from festivals past, and the contributors will be
well known to Australians. The works cross a wide range of genres:
poems, stories, essays, memoirs, interviews, song lyrics and recipes.
It is a book to take pleasure in, for its entertainment and provocation;
its levity and intensity; its glittering surfaces and its deep
thoughtfulness.
RRP
$29.95, paperback
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Burning
Up
Sexual fantasies
By Ruth Ostrow
As part of her legendary column, Ruth Ostrow wrote a letter to
her readers inviting them to submit their sexual fantasies for
publication. What she got back was sizzling-hot, shocking and
totally unprecedented in Australian publishing. Originally published
as Burning Urges, Burning Up reveals in graphic detail the inner
lives of average Australians. Presented - in the tradition of
Nancy Friday - with Ostrow's provocative, ground-breaking analysis,
there is little doubt this book will continue to inspire indignation.
But Burning Up is the essence of free speech, and for those brave
enough to read in this climate of political correctness and censorship,
it will take your breath away.
RRP
$19.95, paperback
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Spiritual
Survival and the City
By Katie Spiers
Spiritual Survival and the City is a clear-sighted assessment
of the challenges of modern life, and a guide to slowing down
and discovering true peace and serenity. It brings together practical
information on yoga, meditation, breathing and prayer, and guidance
on many forms of spiritual practice to help us find peace amid
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