Showing 21–40 of 46 results
Going by Train
The Complete New Zealand Railways Story
Railways played a pivotal part in the development of New Zealand’s economy, towns and cities, and helped shape a distinctive culture. This is a comprehensive account of our railways story, from the earliest days of the colony, through rail’s growth and golden days, slow decline and recent resurgence. Fully illustrated, and written in a very readable style, rail fans and general readers alike will enjoy its wide-ranging topics, generous illustrations, anecdotes and personal accounts.
SPECIFICATIONS: 9781775593553 |Cover & Jacket | 260 x 183 mm / 10.25 x 7.25 inches | 312 Pages | Colour
Wake of the Invercauld
USD $34.99 Tax IncludedNZ Customers Special Sale (Limited Time Offer as shown)
Shipwrecked in the sub-Antarctic: A great-granddaughter’s pilgrimage
This is the story of Robert Holding, a young English adventurer who was only 23 when he was shipwrecked with 19 others on the Auckland Islands in the sub-Antarctic Ocean in 1864. A year later he was rescued, along with only two of his shipmates. The others had perished from starvation and exposure.
It was when Madelene Ferguson Allen was researching the history of her birth family that she discovered she was Holding’s great-granddaughter. Then she learned of the existence of his account of the shipwreck and his enforced stay on the Aucklands, so she decided to retrace his footsteps. This book is an account of her journey, not only tracing the voyage of the Invercauld, but also the life of Robert Holding. Allen intersperses her narrative with extracts from Holding’s own journal, revealing an extraordinary tale of survival, in which conflict, cannibalism and cunning all play a part. The survivors’ rescue is in itself a hair-raising tale of intrigue and deception.
Wake of the Invercauld is a gripping story that will enthral anyone interested in true adventure at sea.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 260 x 186 mm | 10.2 x 7.3 inches | Colour | 256 Pages
Cluck
USD $14.99A book of happiness for chicken lovers.
Any chicken owner will know that there’s more to these endearing, quirky, clever characters than the eggs they produce. Cluck is a celebration of hens, roosters and chicks, combining high-quality photography with inspirational and amusing quotes to create the perfect gift for chicken fans. Some of the collection’s quotations come from famous people (Oscar Wilde, C. S. Lewis, Mark Twain, Plutarch), others don’t; some are philosophical, others light-hearted — all are memorable. Accompanied by beautiful pictures of a variety of these farmyard birds, from Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons to Welsummers and Silkies, this collection of quotes and proverbs will steal any chicken lover’s heart.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback/Paperback | 225 x 203 mm | 8.75 x 8 inches | 160 Pages | Colour
Australia Illustrated (2nd edition)
USD $23.99 Tax IncludedAustralia. Big. Beautiful. Diverse. From the First People to washing lines and crocodiles, football and sunshine, koalas and akubras, skyscrapers and beaches, this is a glorious tribute to this wide brown land and its rich and varied multicultural communities. Vibrantly illustrated with watercolour, ink and mono-printing, it not only celebrates the more ‘typical’ Australian flora, fauna and landmarks, but also showcases the everyday quirks and idiosyncrasies that make Australia unique.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 280 x 245 mm / 11 x 9.5 Inches | Colour | 96 Pages
Curious English Words and Phrases (2nd edition)
USD $16.99 Tax IncludedThe truth behind the expressions we use.
‘Cloud nine’, ‘at the drop of a hat’, ‘spitting image’, ‘mollycoddle’, ‘rigmarole’, ‘round robin’, ‘spill the beans’, ‘kick the bucket’, ‘balderdash’ and ‘touch wood’. There are so many curious words and phrases that we often use and yet haven’t you ever wondered why we say them, where they come from and what they mean?
Written by language expert Max Cryer, Curious Words and Phrases has all the answers behind some of the most interesting and perplexing words and expressions in the English language. Bulging with information, it’s a useful reference book and the ideal gift for anyone curious about the words and phrases we use.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 Inches | 432 Pages |
Minibeasts
USD $29.99 Tax IncludedTrue rulers of our world and the key to our survival.
Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking macrophotography, this stunning insight into the world of the minibeasts reveals the critical role these true rulers of our world play in our survival. Topics covered include the jobs invertebrates (insects) perform that enable life on earth to exist, as well as how they have evolved to suit their environments. From new medical drugs to hi-tech robotics, minibeasts provide a wealth of material for humans to draw on to help solve our 21st-century problems.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 254 x 254 mm / 10 x 10 Inches | Colour | 160 Pages |
Word to the Wise
USD $19.99 Tax IncludedUntangling the Mix-ups, Misuse and Myths of Language
Even the best wordsmiths can trip over words that are commonly misused, mixed up or misspelled. This useful reference gets to the bottom of these language issues so that you can ensure you’ve got the word you’re looking for. With examples of how to sharpen up text and improve your writing, lists of useful social media abbreviations and a discussion of unusual plurals, this playful look at the often bizarre English language has got you covered, whether you’re writing a book, blog or an email.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | 192 Pages |
Happiness is a Red Teapot
USD $19.99 Tax IncludedNZ Customers Special Sale (Limited Time Offer as shown)
‘When you have nobody you can make a cup of tea for… that’s when life is over.’ So said Audrey Hepburn, and we quite agree. Tea has a valued place in cultures worldwide. From the ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony to the cosy informality of an English cuppa, it soothes, grounds and comforts us.
This beautiful collection of quotes and photographs features words from people as diverse as Mick Jagger, Thich Nat Hahn, Rod Stewart, Billy Connolly and Bear Grylls. It’s a testament to the universal appeal of tea, perfect for reading whilst sipping a mug or two. ‘Tea makes everything better’, after all.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 225 x 203 mm / 8¾ x 8 Inches | Colour | 160 Pages |
PUG: How to be the Best You
USD $17.99 Tax IncludedNZ Customers Special Sale (Limited Time Offer as shown)
Pugs have been the favorite pets of Chinese Emperors, and even lived with Tibetan Monks, so it’s not surprising they’ve gathered a wealth of wisdom over the centuries.
This delightful, illustrated book will put a smile on everyone’s face. Humorous and beautiful illustrations, combined with words of wisdom from PUG, take readers on an inspirational journey. Who would have thought that PUG stands for Philosophical Universal Guidance?
An excellent gift for all ages, or a fun coffee table item, How To Be The Best You will be loved by millions of people the world over.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 225 x 203 mm / 8 x 8 Inches | Colour | 64 Pages |
The Longevity List
USD $17.99 Tax IncludedMyth busting the top ways to live a long and healthy life
Every day we’re bombarded by often-contradictory advice on what to do to keep ourselves healthy. How can we separate fact from fad? Written by a medical clinician, this is the ultimate myth-busting guide to what will really help us live a long and healthy life.
Along the way you’ll discover stacks of intriguing, entertaining and often very funny facts. It’s the one-stop checklist to living a life that might just see you reach your 100th birthday and beyond!
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | Black & White | 352 Pages |
Railway Season
Celebrate the days when trains were trains, individual expresses had their own character, serving their passengers in style in the restaurant car, and connecting services ran over picturesque branch lines that were a very part of the countryside they served. Railway Season captures all our railway yesterdays with panache.
This is indeed a railway book like no other, a portfolio of word portraits by an enthusiast who knows his subject intimately and is never at a loss for a telling example.
Though this is not specifically a book about the countryside, inevitably it looms large since even intercity trains run through it, as demonstrated in the chapter ‘A country journey like no other’, which also emphasises the author’s West Country background. But whatever your interest in railways and wherever your favourite part of the countryside, there is much here for you. The chapter on railways for pleasure perhaps sums it all up.
SPECIFICATIONS: Cased and Jacket | 195 x 135 mm | 192 Pages |
Love Me Tender
The stories behind the world’s favourite songs
Some of the world’s best-loved songs have had remarkable origins. In a book full of surprises and curiosities, Max Cryer reveals stories from all around the world, and from artists as diverse as Marlene Dietrich, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Elton John. This truly fascinating book makes enthralling reading.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 210 x 155 mm | Illustrations | 192 Pages |
Is It True?
USD $13.99 Tax IncludedThe facts behind the things we have been told
In this revealing book, Max Cryer explores the truth or otherwise of facts and beliefs we may have always been told are true, but which on closer examination may not be. In a wide-ranging book encompassing social history, language, music, politics, food, sport, the natural world and much more, we discover the truth behind some of our most cherished beliefs.
For example:
Do St Bernard dogs really carry brandy?
Does Santa Claus come from the North Pole?
Did Winston Churchill coin the term ‘Iron Curtain’?
‘OK’ is an American expression, right?
Tulips come from Holland, don’t they?
Did Sarah Palin say ‘I can see Russia from my house?’
Did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone?
Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry – didn’t she?
Max Cryer is a seasoned author who is incapable of writing a dull word. Always fresh and amusing, he will take you on a journey through your acquired knowledge, testing whether it is really up to scratch.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm | 216 Pages |
Inspiration for the Heart
USD $14.95 Tax IncludedOften our lives are so busy that we forget to reflect on the important issues that underpin our relationships, careers and family life. But reflection is essential. From enjoying the present moment to using your imagination to its greatest potential, each page insightfully provides a catalyst for your own reflection.
If you apply the wisdom in this book to your life, you are sure to benefit, but the currencies in play may be patience, empathy and love rather than those of the material kind.
SPECIFICATIONS: Cased with Jacket | 138 x 105 mm | Black & White | 192 Pages |
Everyone Can Write
USD $14.95 Tax IncludedEveryone Can Write is an easy-to-understand, practical, ‘how to write’ book that is accessible to everyone from a business executive wanting to polish his reports to a retiree wanting to chronicle her family history. It solves the problems that beginning writers struggle with by giving them an easy-to-follow and simple set of rules that allows them to write rapidly and clearly.
The book outlines the three forms of non-fiction writing: report, narrative and essay. Each one is dissected and a set of rules applied to each structure. The rules are easily put into practice and vary for each structure. For example, in report writing, two easy-to-apply rules are: 25 words to a sentence and 3 or 4 sentences in a paragraph.
The author has also developed a foolproof method of structuring your writing, so that you make effective use of your time. It’s based on the easy-to-remember three-step formula: Pre-write, Free-write, Re-write. Pre-write refers to researching the necessary information. Free-write refers to getting the information onto the computer screen. Re-write refers to the essential task of editing the writing into clear readable text. This technique allows writers to become the editors of their own writing, thereby dramatically improve its quality.
The essentials of grammar and punctuation, easily confused words and other useful tips for writers are also covered.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 162 mm x 125 mm | 176 Pages |
Illuminating Wisdom: Words of Wisdom, Works of Art
USD $24.99 Tax IncludedNZ Customers Special Sale (Limited Time Offer as shown)
Illuminating Wisdom brings art and wisdom together in a beautiful celebration of some of the world’s most inspiring philosophical, spiritual and literary quotes.
Approximately 80 quotes have been drawn from some of the great wisdom and literary traditions of both East and West, as well as from inspiring people throughout history noted for their practical wisdom. These quotes have been set to exquisite calligraphy by Deirdre Hassed, a leading professional calligrapher, in a range of styles — from the traditional to the contemporary, and making use of many and varied techniques such as gilding, collage, work on glass, letterpress and linoprinting.
Accompanying each artwork is text by Craig Hassed, an international expert in mindfulness, that provides background on the quote’s author, explores the wisdom tradition to which it belongs, and offers deep insight into the meaning of the quote. The result is a book that is both a work of art and a collection of wisdom that will educate and inspire.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback, Case with Jacket | 225 x 203 mm / 8 ¾ x 8 Inches | 160 Pages |
Fishing Season
USD $23.95Take a journey through a Fishing Season, a year full of challenges and victories, disappointments and frustrations, but most of all, quiet happiness. Philip’s prose is lucid, and his reflection on the sport he loves is engaging. Avid anglers will find plenty to love in Fishing Season, but this is a book that also appeals to a wider audience, opening the door to a world few of us experience.
Lively, entertaining anecdotes, whether lovingly remembered or wryly bemoaned, will have you itching to pick up a rod and undertake your own adventure. A professional flyfishing guide and writer, Philip’s years of experience and time on the water have been sorted through and summarised in Fishing Season. What results is the most exciting book on this topic in many years.
Fishing Season is a gorgeous production and would make an excellent gift.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback, Cased with Jacket | 195 x 135 mm / 7 ½ x 5 ¼ Inches | 196 Pages |
Fishing Sense
USD $23.95Philip Weigall is considered to be probably the best writer on flyfishing in Australia and has a large following. Flyfishing, and fishing in general, is one of Australia’s – and the world’s – most popular outdoor activities. It’s a sad fact of flyfishing that there is no prescriptive manual for ensuring success.
It is an activity that defies simple evaluation, with enough variables to leave even the ‘experts’ scratching their heads from time to time. For example, why is it that a trout will respond to a certain fly one day, but ignore it entirely in identical conditions on another day? Acclaimed flyfishing author Philip Weigall attempts to answer this question and many more in this engaging book.
In his words, it is a book of ‘flyfishing truths’, a collection of techniques, ideas, concepts, knowledge and equipment that, to the best of his objective observations over many decades spent with a rod in hand, honestly seem to matter when it comes to catching trout.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback, Cased with Jacket | 195 x 135 mm / 7 ½ x 5 ¼ Inches | 196 Pages |
How to Fake Your Way Through a Wine List: Tips and Tricks to Sound Like an Expert
From the beginner to the person who may already have one wine book.
The bulk of How to Fake Your Way Through a Wine List is an attractive, breezy entertaining look at the world’s seventy five most prominent wine regions and styles, packed with mnemonic devices and colourful photos that help retain information. Get to know the key things in the area and you are more likely to know understand and remember the wines.
Other sections include “Learn the Lingo”, “Just get to know this short selection of terms related to wine and its appreciation and you’ll be talking like a pro”. The “Embrace the Unknown” chapter takes you ‘to meet the unsung regions and unknown grape varieties that will be tomorrow’s superstars’. There is a section on Choosing Your Own wine adventure –who said wine education must begin with Marlborough or the Barossa or even Bordeaux?
Most of all this energetic, fun book will be appreciated by all who love wine and there will be very few people indeed who cannot learn a few enjoyable things from this fact packed book.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 198 x 140 mm / 7 ⅘ x 5 ½ Inches | Colour |
The Art of Mindful Origami: Soothe the mind with 15 beautiful origami projects and accompanying mindfulness exercises
NZ Customers Special Sale (Limited Time Offer as shown)
The Art of Mindful Origami extends the concept of mindful, art-therapy colouring using 15 origami projects, ranging in difficulty from basic to complex, as tools to develop mindfulness. In recent years, interest in mindfulness has exploded and it is now a part of popular culture.
Increasingly, creative pursuits such as colouring are being used as a way for people to focus and enter a mindful state. Each project starts with a brief description and background to the model. Subsequent pages give instructions for folding the particular model.
High-quality patterned origami paper and colouring sheets, which can easily be torn from the book, are included to make this the ultimate gift for anyone wanting a calmer, more stress-free life.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 250 x 260 mm / 9 ¾ x 10 ¼ Inches | Approx. 45 colour photographs and illustrations; Approx. 100 step-by-step illustrations | 120 Pages | High-quality patterned origami and colouring tear out sheets throughout |