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Angel of the Mountains: The Strange Tale of Charly Gaul, Winner of the 1958 Tour de France
by Paul Maunder'Maunder's book is more than just a biography of the rise and fall of a complicated man . . . It is also a critique of the damage that myth-making and the media can do to an athlete; a study of what happens to a demigod when thrown from Mount Olympus' The TimesCharly Gaul is a forgotten cycling legend. Once a household name across Europe, the diminutive Luxembourger won the 1958 Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia twice. A unique rider, Gaul was supremely gifted at climbing and resilient even in the foulest weather. His pedalling style was smooth and swift, and he could set an unmatchable metronome rhythm on a mountain climb. 'Mozart on two wheels,' was how one contemporary writer described him; another dubbed him 'The Angel of the Mountains'.At the end of his cycling career Gaul disappeared, becoming a hermit living in a forest in Luxembourg. What drove Charly Gaul into a recluse's life? In Angel of the Mountains, Paul Maunder seeks to uncover the truth about Gaul, his psychology and the circumstances of his withdrawal from society. In rediscovering Gaul's enigmatic life, we find not only an unlikely hero but also a larger truth about the nature of sporting success.
Why Mummy Drinks on Holiday
by null Gill SimsNo.1 bestselling author Gill Sims is back with her eagerly awaited sixth Why Mummy novel. When family life gives you lemons, trade them for grapes! Mummy Ellen is on a well-earned sabbatical from work, and she has A Vision. She is going to cherish *every* moment this holiday with her Precious Moppets Peter and Jane, alongside her ride-or-die best friend, Hannah. There will be wicker baskets! Vintage bicycles! Pink sunshine wine! And not an electronic babysitter in sight. But as she strives for her picture-perfect “Ultimate Family Summer” in the sun-kissed bliss of her almost-chateau, reality crashes the party. With small feral hell-beasts to keep alive on the daily, and Hannah suddenly and mysteriously MIA, wine o’clock gets earlier and earlier as each day crawls by. Can she keep The Vision alive without resorting to nightly beige ‘freezer tapas’ (aka guilt-flavoured chicken nuggets)? Or will she reach the end of her Gentle Parenting book and her tether as her dream holiday descends into a nightmare? Join Ellen on her uproarious quest to salvage one of the #18PreciousSummers, or simply find her Grape Escape.
Finding My Voice: A story of strength, self-belief and S Club
by null Rachel StevensThe inspirational first book from S Club legend Rachel Stevens Whether as part of the iconic S Club or as a successful solo artist, Rachel Stevens was in the eye of the Noughties pop storm. Catapulted to fame in her teens, the whirlwind of celebrity life began, bringing with it all the glamour, glitz and BRITS. But not everything was as it seemed behind the smile. Constantly stereotyped and controlled within the industry, Rachel privately struggled with her self-worth and mental health, but has since been on a journey of development and growth. Following a personal break-up and an S Club reunion – and after finding her voice and a new sense of confidence – Rachel is ready to open up for the very first time, covering everything from the impact of her childhood experiences to managing lifelong anxiety. Finding My Voice is Rachel’s inspiring, unfiltered story about discovering her true self in a manufactured world.
It Happened Like This: My Testimony
by Vicky FosterA searing, inventive memoir that interrogates misogyny, heroism and women's power in an often-unsafe world through the lens of Vicky's Foster's own traumatic background.How do you get close to people when the people close to you keep shattering your world?Vicky Foster thought she'd finally escaped violence when her abusive ex-partner was murdered. Vicky was 25. She tried to draw a line under the past and move on with her life. This meant overcoming PTSD, trusting people again, building her career and ultimately, learning to return to herself. But, 16 years later, the past came crashing down on her, when one of her ex-partner's murderers hit the headlines. This time, as the 'hero' of the 2019 London Bridge terrorist attack.Lyrical and raw, It Happened Like This is a book about misogyny in all its forms, about heroism and villainy, about class and the climate of neglect created by austerity, but most importantly it's a book about women and their power, explored through the prism of Vicky's story.
It Happened Like This: My Testimony
by Vicky FosterA searing, inventive memoir that interrogates misogyny, heroism and women's power in an often-unsafe world through the lens of Vicky's Foster's own traumatic background.How do you get close to people when the people close to you keep shattering your world?Vicky Foster thought she'd finally escaped violence when her abusive ex-partner was murdered. Vicky was 25. She tried to draw a line under the past and move on with her life. This meant overcoming PTSD, trusting people again, building her career and ultimately, learning to return to herself. But, 16 years later, the past came crashing down on her, when one of her ex-partner's murderers hit the headlines. This time, as the 'hero' of the 2019 London Bridge terrorist attack.Lyrical and raw, It Happened Like This is a book about misogyny in all its forms, about heroism and villainy, about class and the climate of neglect created by austerity, but most importantly it's a book about women and their power, explored through the prism of Vicky's story.
All Boats Are Sinking: Navigating Life, Love and Locks on a Narrowboat
by Hannah PierceHaving spontaneously bought a houseboat after a break-up, Hannah is plunged into life on the water, learning quickly how to deal with exploding toilets and disappearing hulls. When life threatens to sink her, Hannah embarks on an odyssey along Britain's canals. An uplifting and hilarious story of a woman trying to keep her boat and life afloat.
Izabela the Valiant: The Story of an Indomitable Polish Princess
by null Adam ZamoyskiTrawling through a vast family archive and arcane sources in half a dozen languages, Adam Zamoyski has revealed the dramatic life of his great-great-great grandmother, an uneducated, vulnerable girl cast into a man’s world. Her aristocratic position enmeshed her in high politics and close encounters with Frederick the Great, Benjamin Franklin, Rousseau, Joseph II, Marie-Antoinette and Tsar Alexander I, and earned her the enmity of Catherine the Great. She lived through revolution and no less than five wars, in which her cherished homes were devastated, her possessions looted and her children scattered. Caught up in tempestuous love affairs which led her to nervous breakdown and the brink of suicide, exploited by her lovers, she remained undaunted and liberated herself through education. And, unusually for her time, she became a caring mother devoted to her children. She learned much by travelling extensively around Europe at a time of political and ideological change, and her observations, particularly on Georgian Britain, are remarkable. She gradually won the admiration of learned men and intellectual honours. She pioneered schooling for children of the poor and developed her own educational methods. Fascinated by the power of objects to kindle memories and arouse emotions, she was an avid collector of anything with a sensuous association and built two unique museums to act as teaching aids. This is a story of triumph over adversity and betrayal. It was not achieved by her looks: ‘I have never been beautiful, but I have sometimes been pretty,’ she wrote. It was achieved by force of character and resilience.
Travelling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell
by null Ann PowersAn Independent Best Non-Fiction Book for 2024 Celebrated music critic Ann Powers explores the life and career of the legendary Joni Mitchell What you are about to read is not a standard account of the life and work of Joni Mitchell. Instead, it’s a tale of long journeying through a life that changed popular music: of a homesick wanderer forging ahead on routes of her invention, and of me on her trail, heading toward the ringing of her voice. One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians and writers, while never stopping still herself. In Travelling, celebrated music critic Ann Powers seeks to understand the paradox of Mitchell – at once both elusive and inviting – through her myriad journeys. Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitchell’s peers and deep archival research, Powers takes readers to rural Canada, charts the course of Mitchell’s musical evolution, follows the winding road of Mitchell’s collaborations with other greats and explores the loves that fed her songwriting. Kaleidoscopic in scope and intimate in detail, Travelling is a fresh and fascinating addition to the Joni Mitchell corpus – and one that questions whether an artist can ever truly be known to their fans.
The House of Beckham: Money, Sex and Power
by null Tom BowerThe explosive new book from Britain’s leading investigative biographer, Tom Bower As one of the most famous and influential couples in the world, David and Victoria Beckham have attained iconic status. The ultimate power couple have together built a multi-billion-dollar global brand. For decades, adoring fans have been captivated by the glamorous world they have created, while their unrivalled fusion of showbiz, fashion, football and celebrity has been cultivated alongside the image of a strong marriage. When the much-trailed Netflix documentary Beckham aired in 2023, viewers were offered an even more intimate insight into their private lives. Produced by the Beckhams themselves, the series raised many questions, not only about their success and personal relationship, but also about the ruthlessly successful management of their image in the media. Are their lives really as perfect as the Beckhams would like the world to believe? Through extensive research, expert sourcing and interviews with insiders, Britain’s most celebrated investigative biographer, Tom Bower, has unearthed a succession of revelations that give surprising insight into the reality of ‘Brand Beckham’. Exploring the couple’s relationship, and the truth about their football and fashion careers, their finances and their new life in Miami, The House of Beckham unravels the extraordinary reality of the business-savvy cultural icons to tell an engrossing, often astonishing story of money, sex and power.
Top To Bottom: A Memoir and Personal Guide Through Phalloplasty
by Finlay Games'Radical, honest and timely' FOX FISHER'Fascinating' ASH PALMISCIANO'A cracking read' MEG-JOHN BARKER"This book is about my penis. This is my story of going through lower surgery, specifically phalloplasty, and the adventures I have with my changing genitals along the way. Welcome to my journey."After coming out as trans, Finlay Games was adamant lower surgery would not be a part of his transition, but as the years went by, and his gender dysphoria increased, he decided to explore surgical options. Detailing the emotional and physical journey of phalloplasty, this book takes the reader through Finlay's experiences, from the initial decision-making through each stage of the surgery to its completion, recovery and after-care. Describing how he had to relearn his body, sexuality and his relationships, Finlay shares his wealth of advice and tips on donor site options, different types of surgery, the referral process, essential items and resources, and looking after your mental health.Part memoir, part self-help guide, this insightful, witty and deeply honest book highlights the life-changing impact surgery can have for trans people and provides hope to those on a similar journey.
Guitar: A rock 'n' roll tell-all autobiography from David Bowie's sideman
by Jeff Slate Earl SlickRead this rollicking rock 'n' roll memoir of the last 50 years of rock history, from David Bowie's longest serving lead guitarist and legendary sideman, Earl Slick. He's played with everyone from John Lennon to the New York Dolls – and he's got the stories to prove it.----‘Earl is a legendary guitar star. His playing is earth, timeless and never less than stellar’ DAVID BOWIE ‘You play mean ass blues for a skinny ass white boy’ BUDDY GUY ‘Had a good night out did we . . .?’ JOHN LENNON Earl Slick was barely out of his teens when David Bowie hired him to play guitar on the ground-breaking 1974 Diamond Dogs tour. It marked the beginning of a relationship that would endure through thick and thin for the next forty years. Gracing classic albums like Young Americans, Station to Station and the 2013 comeback, The Next Day, Slick played on the tour that followed Bowie’s smash hit Let’s Dance album and was at his side for the epic Glastonbury show in 2000. But it wasn’t just Bowie. The young guitarist was in John Lennon’s band at the time of the former Beatle’s tragic murder. Other collaborations read like a roll call of rock ‘n’ roll royalty including Mick Jagger, The Cure, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy, Ian Hunter, David Coverdale and Eric Clapton. And in the ‘80s he became an MTV star in his own right with the success of Phantom, Rocker and Slick. Through it all he lived the rock ‘n’ roll life to the hilt. Until it nearly killed him. One of rock’s great sidemen, Earl Slick was in the room when music history was made. Guitar takes us there, shining a light on superstars like Bowie and Lennon, while recounting the extraordinary story of the boy from New York City who became a real-life Johnny B. Goode.
See Me Rolling: On Disability, Equality and Ten-Point Turns
by Lottie JacksonA wonderfully witty and fiercely passionate memoir on living with a disability, and how we can redefine what it means to be disabled.________________________________'Jackson's frank, fearless and sometimes hilarious book deserves to be read as widely as possible.' Daily Express'I am blown away . . . Beautifully written, funny and such an important call to action.' Venetia La Manna'I loved, loved, loved this book. A profound, heartfelt and eye-opening look into the way people with disabilities are treated, with the power of championing change and inclusion for all.' Charli Howard____________________________________________In this heartfelt, thought-provoking and often hilarious book, Lottie Jackson reflects on her experiences of living with disability: from the pitfalls of going shopping on a mobility scooter, and the headache of defining oneself on a tick-box form, to a slapstick scuffle with the so-called 'easy-pull' tights aid, and the intense pleasure of finally swapping a hospital gown for a slinky dress. Lottie captivatingly expresses the raw vulnerabilities, injustices and untold joys of disability, as well as the bizarre everyday occurrences that able-bodied people usually don't experience.Lottie powerfully explores the ways in which we undervalue and underrepresent disabled people in our society, and demonstrates how negative stigmas about 'abnormal' bodies seep into all aspects our lives. In this dazzling debut, Lottie reveals why we must strive for change and redefine what it means to be disabled in every facet of life.
Breathe: Seven Ways to Win a Greener World
by Sadiq Khan'A breath of fresh air' Observer'Passionate and authentic' GQ'Refreshing and galvanising' Vogue'Rousing and thoughtful' Independent'Quite the page-turner' Evening StandardTo win the climate war, you first need to win the climate argument.For many years, Sadiq wasn't fully aware of the dangers posed by air pollution, nor its connection with climate change. Then, aged 43, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with adult-onset asthma - brought on by the polluted London air he had been breathing for decades.Scandalised, Sadiq underwent a political transformation that would see him become one of the most prominent global politicians fighting (and winning) elections on green issues. Since becoming Mayor of London in 2016, he has declared a climate emergency, introduced the world's first Ultra-Low Emission Zone, and turned London into the first-ever 'National Park City'.Now, Sadiq draws on his experiences to reveal the seven ways environmental action gets blown off course - and how to get it back on track. Whether by building coalitions across the political spectrum, putting social justice at the heart of green politics, or showing that the climate crisis is a health crisis too, he offers a playbook for anyone - voter, activist or politician - who wants to win the argument on the environment.It will help create a world where we can all breathe again.
Jürgen Klopp
by Elmar NevelingUpdated to include Klopp’s final season at Anfield "It is the intensity of the football, of how the people live football in Liverpool, all the Liverpool fans around the world. It is not a normal club, it is a special club." Jürgen KloppJürgen Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool after nine incredible years shocked the football community. His tactical acumen, motivational skills and ability to develop young talent were instrumental in Liverpool's resurgence as a top team in English and European football. Before disrupting the game in England, the extraordinary manager had single-handedly overthrown the accepted order in the German league, taking Borussia Dortmund from nowhere to back-to-back Bundesliga titles. Then, in 2019, he cemented his name in the history books by returning Liverpool to Champions League glory, ending the club's 14-year wait for a major European trophy. Klopp was the mastermind behind Liverpool’s Premier League title in the 2019-2020 season, a welcome return to the very heights of top flight football that saw his position as a Liverpool legend well and truly cemented in club history.Long after his departure, Klopp will continue to be revered as a master tactician with his own unique playing philosophies. His legacy among his players will be his passion and man-management skills, and he will forever be adored by fans for his charm, wit and thrilling football on the pitch.This is the definitive celebration of Jürgen Klopp, his down-to-earth nature and his footballing genius.
Christopher Isherwood Inside Out
by Katherine Bucknell'A first-rate biography of the man, the writer and the lover' DAVID HOCKNEY'Bucknell's research is impressive and her judgements astute' GUARDIANAn engrossing new biography of the man whose writings about 1930s Berlin made him famous. From the editor of Isherwood’s diaries and letters.Christopher Isherwood rejected the life he was born to and set out to make a different one. Heir to an English estate, he flunked out of university, moved to Berlin, was driven through Europe by the Nazis, and circled the globe before settling in Hollywood.There he adopted a new religion and continued to form the friendships – including an astounding number of romantic and sexual ones – through which he discovered himself.Using a wealth of unpublished material, Christopher Isherwood Inside Out tells how the traumas of his father’s death in World War I and his failure to protect his German lover from the Nazis were healed by his life as a monk in the 1940s, enabling him to commit unflinchingly to a sexually open relationship in the 1950s, and to come out as a ‘grand old man’ of the gay rights movement in the 1970s.With this new biography, enriched by unlimited access to Isherwood’s partner Don Bachardy, Katherine Bucknell shows how Christopher Isherwood achieved a uniquely inspiring personal life. He effected lasting change in our culture, through both his literary works and the way he lived.‘The best biography I’ve ever read . . . Every page is full of surprises’ EDMUND WHITE'It’s hard to imagine a better qualified candidate for this task than Katherine Bucknell' THE TIMES'A fast-paced story of an extraordinary life and a broadly illuminating history of vast cultural changes’ EDWARD MENDELSON
Why We Were Right
by Rosie HoltRosie Holt, the desperate and loyal Tory MP famous for her viral twitter ‘interviews’, is finally here in book form to celebrate the last 14 years of Conservative government and explain to you, the British public, why the so called “scandals” or “controversial” decisions derided by the left were completely right (and intentional) all along. She’ll make Tories of you all yet.Having flourished as an MP during the reign of Boris and clung on through to Rishi Sunak’s government, via a short and turbulent detour through the brief fever dream of Liz Truss, Rosie – everyone’s favourite MP – will have you cheering and desperate to ensure the Tories rule for another 14 years. Let’s make Britain great again. (Again.)
Off The Beat: My life as a brown, Muslim woman in the Met
by Nusrit Mehtab'Nusrit Mehtab has gone through the Met like a force of nature…Her story is one worth reading.’HH Wendy Joseph KC, author of Unlawful Killings‘Off The Beat lifts the filthy carpets at the Met Police and shines a light on the darkness below. Gripping, fascinating and crucial to the future of UK policing.’Alice Vinten, author of On the Line.‘A disturbing account of institutionalised sexism and racism in the Metropolitan police told from the perspective of a tough and fiercely ambitious officer who strove to rise up through the ranks’Harriet Wistrich, author of Sister in LawIf you can’t change a system from the inside, you have no choice but to try and change it from the outside. That act starts with telling my own story as a brown Muslim woman in the Met.When Nusrit Mehtab joined the Metropolitan Police, the organization was rife with racism and misogyny. Officers refused to patrol with her, or even call her by her name. Her attempts to get promoted were met with hostility and ridicule, and she was subjected to cruel pranks.As the years passed and her seniority grew, Nusrit was dismayed to find that these problems got worse, not better. In this searing memoir, she recounts her thirty years in the Met and the appalling treatment she endured. Now lecturing young recruits in criminology and mentoring BAME officers, Nusrit is confident that we can mould the next generation to create a more inclusive police force, safer for both the officers and the public.Full of deeply shocking stories from the heart of the organization, Off the Beat shines a light on an institution that has lost sight of its mission to protect us and pleads the case for a brighter and safer future.
One Sinha Lifetime: Comedy, disaster and one man’s quest for happiness
by Paul Sinha'That night, I'd survived my life flashing before me, with my dignity intact. Yes, this chaotic life has always been a gamble.... But what a gamble.'Paul Sinha is an award-winning comedian, a quizzing mastermind and a happily-married husband. But for much of his life none of these seemed remotely imaginable.As a boy, Paul struggled to find his place in a world where he didn't quite fit. Who was he? An over-achieving schoolkid with the world's knowledge at his fingertips? A traditional Bengali son, destined for a career in medicine that he never once craved. A young gay man yearning to breathe freely? Or was he yet another flawed human being on a self-destruct mission?Amid life's mayhem, it was frequently Paul's love of facts in which he found solace, whether funding his lifestyle through quiz machines or simply trying to show off to his mates. Stumbling serendipitously into both a career in stand-up and the clandestine network of competitive quizzers introduced him to a new sense of purpose, a new identity, and, eventually, new love...A hilarious and moving coming-of-age memoir of one man's search for fulfilment, One Sinha Lifetime is an unconventional odyssey through love, family, and the joy of general knowledge.
Vietnamese Language, Education and Change In and Outside Vietnam (Global Vietnam: Across Time, Space and Community)
by Dat Bao Phan Le Ha Joel WindleThis open access edited book attempts to break new ground in investigating multiple facets of Vietnamese language, education and change in global contexts, engaging with global Vietnam through complex lenses of language and education. Issues of language, globalization, and global identities have often been framed through the lens of hierarchical/binary power relations, and/or through a dichotomy between hyper-central languages, such as English, and revisualized or marginalized local language and cultures. In this book, this dichotomy is turned on its head by considering how Vietnam and Vietnamese are constructed in and outside Vietnam and enacted in global spaces of classrooms, textbooks, student mobility, community engagement, curriculum, and intercultural contacts. Vietnamese is among the world’s most spoken languages and is ranked in the top 20th in terms the number of speakers. Yet, at the same time, as a ‘peripheral’ or ‘southern’ global language as often seen in the Global North-Global South spectrum, the dynamics of multilingual and multicultural encounters involving Vietnamese generate distinctive dilemmas and tensions, as well as pointing to alternative ways of thinking about global phenomena from a fresh angle. Rather than being outside of the global, Vietnamese - like many other ‘non-central’ global languages - is present in diasporas, commercial, and transnational structures of higher education, schooling, and in the more conventional settings of primary and secondary school, in which visions of culture and language also evoke notions of heritage and tradition as well as bring to the fore deep seated ideological conflicts across time, space, communities, and generations. Relevant to students and scholars researching language, education, identity, multiculturalism, and their intersections, particularly related to Vietnam, but also in Southeast Asia and beyond, this volume is a pioneering investigation into overlooked contexts and languages from a global, southern-oriented perspective."This book presents an eclectic collection of 15 chapters unified by an interest in developing and teaching the Vietnamese language. To my knowledge, there has been no previous attempt to make the national language of Vietnam a focus for as many perspectives as are documented in the book. In this regard, the book makes an original and intriguing contribution to the literature on Vietnamese culture, including the culture of Vietnam’s expanding diaspora. The book is pioneering in the extent to which it draws attention to the many roles played by a national language in a nation’s political, social and cultural development. It also documents the challenges of preserving a national language in settings where it is at risk of being marginalized. It is pleasing that so many of the contributing authors are young Vietnamese scholars who can provide a distinctly Vietnamese perspective on concepts and practices of global significance."- Dr. MartinHayden, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education, Southern Cross University, Australia "Vietnamese Language, Education and Change In and Outside Vietnam brings together an excellent collection of chapters that highlight the diverse and important but under-explored roles Vietnamese language plays in different settings within and outside Vietnam. The fifteen chapters of this much needed book provide unique insights into various aspects and meanings of Vietnamese language. Collectively, the volume contributes to broadening our view about the evolution and transformation of Vietnamese language under the impacts of local, national, regional and global forces. The book invites readers to engage in a reflective and intersectional approach to rethinking and re-examining our understandings of the changes and developments of Vietnamese language over the history of the country."- Dr Ly Tran, Professor, Centre for Research for Educational Impact (REDI), Deakin University, Australia, and Founder: Australia-Vietnam
Inside Outside: The Hidden Voices of Historic-Old-New Yazd (Cities, Heritage and Transformation)
by Fatemeh RostamiThis book is the voice of everyday people talking about their city’s poetry–prose transformation. Through the narrative-imagination of the local lives, the book takes the reader on a journey of the past–present–future of Yazd: how the city was formed and transferred from the historic core to the newer parts over time; how people daily engage with the city; why some people enjoy living in the Historic Yazd while others prefer dwelling in the Old and New cities; why these areas are still occupied with the locals keeping the whole city alive and dynamic; if there is a socio-cultural interrelationship between these areas; and hearing the locals’ wishes about the future of their city. Using the "shoe" as a symbol of various social fabrics of Yazd, the book reveals unseen important matters affecting city life from the moment residents put on their shoes to engage within the city and their public lives to the time they remove their shoes on entering their households to share in their private lives. Beyond hearing the locals' voices, the book also examines to what extent scholars’ definitions of place are in parallel or in contrast with the ordinary people’s definitions of their living places. The book aims to introduce a new urban methodology to urban studies so that local voices can truly be considered in urban planning and design projects. This approach is particularly absent in Iranian urban studies on which this book attempts to investigate, which was examined in Yazd.
Women Don't Owe You Pretty: The record-breaking best-selling book every woman needs
by Florence Given'THE BEAUTY MYTH' FOR THE INSTAGRAM GENERATIONWomen Don't Owe You Pretty is the ultimate book for anyone who wants to challenge the out-dated narratives supplied to us by the patriarchy.Through Florence's story you will learn how to protect your energy, discover that you are the love of your own life, and realise that today is a wonderful day to dump them.Florence Given is here to remind you that you owe men nothing, least of all pretty.WARNING: CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT (AND A LOAD OF UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS). THE FEMINIST BOOK EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.'An incredible mouthpiece for modern intersectional feminism.' - Glamour'A fearless book.' - Cosmopolitan 'A hugely influential young woman.' - Woman's Hour 'Rallying, radical and pitched perfectly for her generation.' - Evening Standard
XOXY: A Memoir (Intersex Woman, Mother, Activist)
by Kimberly M. ZieselmanAMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 2021 STONEWALL HONOR BOOKMeet Kimberly, a regular suburban housewife and mother, whose discovery later in life that she was born intersex fuelled her to become an international human rights defender and globally-recognised activist. Charting her intersex discovery and her journey to self-acceptance, this book movingly portrays how being intersex impacted Kimberly's personal and family life, as well as her career. From uncovering a secret that was intentionally kept from her, to coming out to her family and friends and fighting for intersex rights, her candid and empowering story helps breakdown barriers and misconceptions of intersex people and brings to light the trauma and harmful impact medical intervention continues to have on the intersex community. Written from a non-queer perspective, and filled with much-needed, straightforward information and advice about what it means to be intersex, this is a vital and timely resource for intersex people and their families, as well as the general reader.
You Can Change the World!: Everyday Teen Heroes Making a Difference Everywhere
by Margaret Rooke**Joint Gold Winner of the Moonbeam Multicultural Non-Fiction Award 2019**This inspirational book tells the stories of more than 50 of today's teenagers who've dared to change the world they live in. It's been written to show other teens they can do the same. Bestselling author Margaret Rooke asks teens about their experiences of being volunteers, social entrepreneurs and campaigners, online and beyond. They explain how they have survived in a world often obsessed by celebrity, social media and appearance, by refusing to conform to other's expectations. If you want to achieve against the odds and create genuine impact, this book may be the encouragement you need. The interviews cover race, sexuality, violence, grief, neurodiversity, bullying and other issues central to life today.Read about teens from around the world including- Trisha, 18, who has invented a way of preventing bullying online- Dillon, 18, who takes damaged and donated clothing and upcycles it for the homeless - Guro, 13, who persuaded a pop band to portray women differently in its video- 'Happy D', 19, who learned to read at 14 and found ways to build his confidence- Heraa, 19, who fights Islamophobia online.- Ruben, 18, bullied because of Down's Syndrome, now a successful actor- Lucy who, at 14, walked into Tesco head office and persuaded them not to sell eggs from caged hens.- Cameron, 17, who has cerebral palsy and was side-lined by soccer teams who set up his own team 'Adversity United'- Alex, 18, who broke his back on his 15th birthday and says his injury has taught him to care for others- Amika, 18, who fights 'Period Poverty'- Jesse, 15, who's seven feet tall and embraces his stature- Billy, 18, who wore full make up every day at high school
The PDA Paradox: The Highs and Lows of My Life on a Little-Known Part of the Autism Spectrum
by Harry ThompsonDiagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in his teenage years, Harry Thompson looks back with wit and humour at the ups and downs of family and romantic relationships, school, work and mental health, as well as his teenage struggle with drugs and alcohol.By embracing neurodiversity and emphasising that autistic people are not flawed human beings, Thompson demonstrates that some merely need to take the "scenic route" in order to flourish and reach their full potential. The memoir brings to life Harry's past experiences and feelings, from his torrid time at school to the peaceful and meaningful moments when he is alone with a book, writing or creating YouTube videos.Eloquent and insightful, The PDA Paradox will bring readers to shock, laughter and tears through its overwhelming honesty. It is a turbulent memoir, but it ends with hope and a positive outlook to the future.
An Adult with an Autism Diagnosis: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
by Gillan DrewThrough the personal experiences of an adult diagnosed with Asperger's, this book will inform on the social challenges of life on the spectrum along with sensible advice for practical situations. Includes an informed introduction to Asperger's Syndrome and helpful resources and strategies for moving forward following a diagnosis.