Pop music's a simple pleasure. Is it catchy? Can you dance to it? Do you fancy the singer? But what's fascinating about pop is our relationship with it. David Hepworth is interested in the human side of pop. He's interested in how people make the stuff and, more importantly, what it means to us. In this collection of essays written throughout his career, Hepworth shows how it is possible to take music seriously and, at the same time, not drain the life out of it. From the legacy of the Beatles to the dramatic decline of the record shop via the bewildering nomenclature of musical genres; with characteristic insight and humour Hepworth asks some essential questions about music and, indeed, life: is it all about the drummer; are band managers misunderstood; and is it appropriate to play 'Angels' at funerals? As Pope John Paul II said 'of all the unimportant things, football is the most important'. David Hepworth believes the same to be true of music and this selection of his best writing, covering the music of last fifty years, shows you precisely why.

The perfect gift for any music lover . . . The Rock and Roll A Level is here to rescue the pop quiz from the grip of bores who know the chart position of everything and the value of nothing. It's for the people who like pop music because it tells them so much about real life, the people who learned about America from the songs of Chuck Berry, about Europe from the albums of David Bowie and about all manner of things from the songs of Steely Dan. It's the first quiz book where the answers are as interesting as the questions. It's the first quiz book where general knowledge matters as much as an adolescence spent reading the NME or Smash Hits. It's a proper education.

There seemed nothing odd about Luke to begin with - except perhaps the snakes. If they were snakes, that is… David wasn't sure. "Just kindle a flame and I'll be with you," says Luke. David thinks he's joking, but certainly, whenever he strikes a match, Luke appears immediately. But David's new friend seems to have some extraordinary friends and relations, and some very dark secrets. And when David enters into a bargain with the mysterious one-eyed Mr Wedding, life gets very hot indeed!

In Alligator and Other Stories, Dima Alzayat captures luminously how it feels to be 'other': as a Syrian, as an Arab, as an immigrant, as a woman. Each one of the nine stories collected here is a snapshot of those moments when unusual circumstances suddenly distinguish us from our neighbours, when our difference is thrown into relief. Here are 'dangerous' women transgressing, missing children in 1970s New York, a family who were once Syrian but have now lost their name, and a young woman about to discover the hollowness of the American dream. At its centre lies 'Alligator': a remarkable compilation of real and invented sources, which rescues from history the story of a Syrian American couple who were murdered at the hands of the state. Alzayat explores experiences that are startling and real, delivering an emotional punch that lingers long after reading.

This is the fascinating story of the biggest band the world has ever known, told through the objects that were owned, used and inspired by John, Paul, George and Ringo. George's hand-painted guitar Rocky, John Lennon's Rolls-Royce, Paul McCartney's handwritten recording notes for 'Hey Jude', the ashtray from Abbey Road that Ringo kept beside his drum kit and many more iconic items from throughout the decade that the Beatles were together. Rare posters, unique items of clothing, tickets to their concerts, instruments played by them on the road and in the studio and many other personal possessions are included in the 100 objects that together tell you the story of the Beatles as never before. 100 objects that made the Beatles the Beatles.

"If I disappear, he won't notice, if I die, he won't care. I think about him all the time, and he doesn't think about me at all. I love him, and my love torments me. There are times when I feel like a ghost next to him; as if he alone is real, and I'm just a waking dream."This is the story of two brothers. One is passionate and the other is reserved. One is destined to go down in history, and the other is destined to be forgotten.In the hands of Pullman, this sacred story is being revived as one of the most charming, exciting and visionary stories of recent years.The Myths series unites the best writers of the world, each of whom retold the myth in a modern and memorable way. The authors of the series are Karen Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, A. S. Byatt, David Grossman, Natsuo Kirino, Alexander McCall Smith, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson.

"If I disappear, he won't notice, if I die, he won't care. I think about him all the time, and he doesn't think about me at all. I love him, and my love torments me. There are times when I feel like a ghost next to him; as if he alone is real, and I'm just a waking dream."This is the story of two brothers. One is passionate and the other is reserved. One is destined to go down in history, and the other is destined to be forgotten.In the hands of Pullman, this sacred story is being revived as one of the most charming, exciting and visionary stories of recent years.The Myths series unites the best writers of the world, each of whom retold the myth in a modern and memorable way. The authors of the series are Karen Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, A. S. Byatt, David Grossman, Natsuo Kirino, Alexander McCall Smith, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson.

From the first known photograph taken in Los Angeles to its most recent sweeping vistas, this photographic tribute to the City of Angels provides a fascinating journey through the city's cultural, political, industrial, and sociological history. It traces the city's development from the 1880s' real estate boom, through the early days of Hollywood and the urban sprawl of the late 20th century, right up to the present day. With over 500 images, L.A. is shown emerging from a desert wasteland to become a vast palm-studded urban metropolis. Events that made world news-including two Olympics, Bobby Kennedy's assassination, and the Rodney King riots-reveal a city of many dimensions. The entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood, and its celebrities are showcased along with many other notable residents, personalities, architects, artists, and musicians. The city's pop cultural movements, its music, surfing, health food fads, gangs, and hot rods are included, as are its notorious crimes and criminals. This book depicts Los Angeles in all its glory and grit, via hundreds of freshly discovered images including those of Julius Shulman, Garry Winogrand, William Claxton and many other superb photographers, culled from major historical archives, museums, private collectors, and universities. These are given context and resonance through essays by renowned California historian Kevin Starr and Los Angeles literature expert David L. Ulin. About the editor: Cultural anthropologist and graphic design historian Jim Heimann is Executive Editor for TASCHEN America, and author of numerous books on architecture, pop culture, and the history of the West Coast, Los Angeles, and Hollywood. His unrivaled private collection of ephemera has been featured in museum exhibitions around the world and dozens of books. About the contributing authors: Kevin Starr holds a PhD from Harvard University and is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. His many articles and books have won him a Guggenheim Fellowship, Gold and Silver Medals of the Commonwealth Club, the Centennial Medal from Harvard, and the Humanities Medal from the National Endowment of the Humanities. David L. Ulin is the books editor of the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of "The Myth of Solid Ground: Earthquakes, Prediction, and the Fault Line Between Reason and Faith," and the editor of "Another City: Writing from Los Angeles" and "Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology." He has written for The Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, and The New York Times Book Review. Издание на английском, французском и немецком языках.

They hunt! They eat! They fight! This charmingly illustrated book is a perfect way for little children to find out about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, from the horned Triceratops and huge Brachiosaurus to the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. With lots to spot and talk about, from how big and small dinosaurs were, to where they came from.

They hunt! They eat! They fight! This charmingly illustrated book is a perfect way for little children to find out about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, from the horned Triceratops and huge Brachiosaurus to the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. With lots to spot and talk about, from how big and small dinosaurs were, to where they came from.

When a mythical creature befriends a real-life girl, an endearing kinship results, complete with unexpected adventures. Phoebe and Her Unicorn is the story of an unlikely friendship. Phoebe is a precocious child and Marigold is an arrogant unicorn, but their paths cross in the woods one day, and nothing will ever be the same. This is a comic about childhood, friendship, magic and humor.

Philippa Taylor (Pepper to her friends) has big dreams. When she closes her eyes, she can picture exactly who she ought to be. The problem is, it's about as far away from her real life in a small coastal town in Suffolk as she can imagine. So when her elderly friend Josephine persuades Pepper to accompany her on a trip to Europe, she jumps at the chance to change her routine. And when Pepper bumps (literally) into the handsome Finn in Lisbon, it seems as though she might have finally found what she's been looking for. But Pepper know all too well things are rarely as they seem. Her own quiet life hides a dark secret from the past. And even though she and Finn may have been destined to find each other, Pepper suspects life may have other plans as to how the story should end. A romantic and sweeping story about friendship, love and realising that sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination.

The final thrilling part of the New York Times bestselling trilogy, Reached is the sequel to Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie. After leaving the Society and desperately searching for each other - and the Rising - Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again . . . In the gripping conclusion to the bestselling Matched trilogy Cassia, Ky, and Xander return to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long: the power to choose.

Your Truth or Mine? is a gripping psychological suspense title by Trisha Sakhlecha about the breakdown of a marriage, perfect for fans of Erin Kelly's He Said/She Said and Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone. At their wedding Mia and Roy Kapoor promised to love and cherish each other. Whilst not perfect, their marriage is sacred and their commitment absolute. But a knock at the door changes everything when Roy is questioned over the disappearance of a young woman. As Roy and Mia's life unravels, they must question everything they know about each other if their marriage is to survive. But what if the real truth is not what they, or you, think?

Fully-illustrated and filled with real-world examples, this book explains the basics of psychology, from how people think, feel and behave to how scientists can study and be sure about what is actually going on in other people's brains.

Meet the magnificent creatures and fantastic beasts of J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World. Thunderbirds and Nifflers, house-elves and Hippogriffs - J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World abounds with magical creatures of all kinds. But how does a Bowtruckle come to life on the big screen? Is an Occamy a snake or a bird? And what's the truth about Mooncalf poo? Featuring detailed creature profiles, stunning artwork and captivating insights from the making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and all eight Harry Potter films, these pages reveal everything fans want to know about how these creatures were created. Jam-packed with bonus material - pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, removable posters and other goodies - this book offers young readers a thrilling backstage pass to the wizarding world.