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The Art of Coming Home
by Craig StortiIf you were lucky, you knew about and were prepared for culture shock when you moved overseas, But unless you are very lucky, you probably don't know about and are not prepared for reverse culture shock. And you should be. Most expats find coming home after an overseas assignment more difficult than adjusting to a foreign culture-and very few organizations and companies prepare people for the experience.Veteran trainer and consultant Craig Storti sketches the workplace challenges faced by returning businessmen and women as well as the re-entry issues of spouses, younger children, and teenagers. He also addresses in detail the special issues faced by exchange students, international development volunteers, and military and missionary personnel and their families.From leave-taking and the honeymoon stage through to reverse culture shock and eventual readjustment, The Art of Coming Home lays out the four stages of the re-entry process and details practical strategies for dealing with the challenges you will face each step of the way.Whether you're about to relocate abroad, are already living abroad, about to come home, or already home, this book walks you through the biggest adjustments, personal and professional, and in this new edition presents a complete do-it-yourself repatriation workshop to help you identify and address your individual readjustment issues.
The Art of Crossing Cultures
by Craig StortiAdjusting to a new culture and getting along with the local people challenge everyone who lives and works abroad. Whether in business, diplomacy, education, or as a long-term visitor abroad, anyone can be blind-sided by a lack of international knowledge and experience and be caught at a disadvantage. In this completely revised and expanded edition of the classic The Art of Crossing Cultures, Craig Storti shows what it takes to encounter a new culture head-on an succeed. This one-of-a-kind guidebook to bridging the cultural divide - with more than 50,000 copies sold worldwide - incorporates a stellar sampling of the writings of some of the world's greatest writers, poets and observers of the human condition. Through the vivid perceptions and words of such literary legends as Noel Coward, Graham Greene, Rudyard Kipling, E. M. Forster, Mark Twain, Evelyn Waugh, and others, Storti paints an intimate portrait of the personal challenges of adjusting to another culture: anticipating differences, managing the temptation to withdraw, and gradually adjusting expectations of behaviour to fit reality. This timely new edition focuses special attention on how to deal with country and culture shock and includes many new examples of cross-cultural misunderstandings - particularly in business. Storti breaks new ground with his easy-to-understand model of cultural adjustment and tips on how to master the process and develop adaptive strategies - the heart of the cross-cultural experience.
The Art of Crossing Cultures
by Craig StortiAdjusting to a new culture and getting along with the local people can be a challenge for everyone who lives and works abroad. Whether in business, diplomacy, education, or as a long-term visitor, anyone can be blind-sided by a lack of international knowledge and experience and be caught at a disadvantage.In this completely revised and expanded third edition, Craig Storti outlines the personal challenges of adjusting to the change - anticipating differences, managing the temptation to withdraw, and gradually adjusting expectations of behaviour to fit reality - and shows what it takes to encounter a new culture head-on and succeed. Now an established bestseller, The Art of Crossing Cultures is a one-of-a-kind guidebook to bridging the cultural divide, incorporating an easy-to-understand model of cultural adjustment, and tips on how to master the process and develop adaptive strategies. This timely new edition focuses on how to deal with country and culture shock and includes many examples of cross-cultural misunderstandings. As well as revisions throughout, it includes a brand new chapter on crossing cultures at home."As enlightening to the university student as it is to the practical-minded businessperson." L. Robert Kohls, author of Survival Kit for Overseas Living
The Art of Exploration: Lessons in Curiosity, Leadership and Getting Things Done
by Levison WoodLevison Wood's most personal story yet, as he shares his most valuable rules to live life by, learned from fifteen years travelling through a hundred countries.In The Art of Exploration ex-soldier and explorer Levison Wood collates all the lessons he has learned from his journeys so far. Having written five books on his individual journeys, Levison recalls the most important learning points, on themes ranging from leadership and team-building to conceptual risk and spirituality, drawing on examples and anecdotes from across continents and cultures.Levison has always been inspired by the travels and tales of legendary explorers from Livingstone, Shackleton and Scott to modern-day figures like Ranulph Fiennes and John Blashford-Snell, and passes on lessons he has learned both from them and his own experiences on the road, to the next generation of explorers. 'By travelling at the slowest means on my journeys I have had the joy and pleasure of meeting thousands of inspiring and hopeful individuals along the way, in some of the most poverty-stricken and war-torn countries in the world. It's from these humbling characters - shepherds, soldiers and fishermen; and my walking companions like Boston, the Congolese refugee and Binod my Nepali guide that I have learnt so much about how to approach life both on the road and back home.'Many lessons of course are learned the hard way, through trial and error - and making plenty of mistakes. It's through tragedy and loss that the biggest lessons are learned. In this audiobook he talks about his own regrets and blunders that have resulted in growth and development and made him a better person. The Art of Exploration will bare all on the tough times and how Levison ended up dealing with them, providing both a reflective and entertaining account of life on the road.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Art of Exploration: Lessons in Curiosity, Leadership and Getting Things Done
by Levison Wood'Forget routine; now is the time to embrace the unknown, step out of your comfort zone and open the gateway to the Art of Exploration.''Britain's best loved adventurer' (The Times) talks about his secrets of discovery for the first time in this revealing manual of what it means to be an explorer in the modern age. The man who has walked the Nile, the Himalayas and the Americas discusses his lessons from a life on the road, how he managed to turn a passion into a lifestyle, and what inspired and motivated him along the way. Wood explains how he and other explorers face up to life's challenges, often in extraordinary circumstances and demonstrate resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. He shares examples of pioneers in many fields, using their work to show how we can all develop our own explorers mindset and how these lessons can be applied in daily life. With chapters on curiosity, teamwork, resilience and positivity this is a book that provides a tool kit - no matter your age or profession. As Levison says, 'these lessons can help you to fulfil your potential for living a happy life, regardless of your circumstances'.
The Art of Flight
by Fredrik SjöbergAccidental Journeys with the Bestselling Author of The Fly TrapStories just begin. We rarely know where and almost never why. It doesn't matter. Nothing is certain any longer. I just want to shut my eyes, point at random and say, as a sort of experiment, that once, when I was sixteen years old, I spent a whole night singing romantic songs in the top of a pine tree. That's where it may have started.Fredrik Sjöberg continues his exploration of the pleasures and trials of those who spend their time tracing the smallest details of the natural world in these two tales of ambition, fear and hapless romance. Calling on his childhood memories and experience as a hoverfly collector, and following the trail of long forgotten entomologists before him who left their native Sweden for the national parks of the United States, Sjöberg contemplates the richness of life and the strange paths it leads us on.
The Art of Getting Lost: 365 Days of Adventure, Big and Small
by Brendan LeonardThe Art of Getting Lost will illuminate the details of dream trips, and inspiring readers to understand that adventure is not out of reach. Most of us face a couple of obstacles when it comes to living our Walter Mitty-esque adventure dreams: ideas of what to do, and concrete knowledge of how long those ideas will take. It&’s a long way from talking to some guy at the bar about his Grand Canyon Raft trip to going home and Googling a synopsis of how to make it happen, and then clicking around a guide company&’s website to find out if it takes three days or 30. But it won&’t be hard to flip through this book and get inspired.
The Art of Hutting: Live Off-Grid with The Highland Hutter
by Peter MacQueenLiving Off-the-Grid in ScotlandDon’t just experience Scottish history. Live it with The Art of Hutting, the essential beginner’s guide to sustainable living off the grid.Experience Scotland like never before. The Land of the Brave has so much to see and offer, but nothing is more breathtaking than living in its natural beauty. So how does one live away from the cities of Scotland? Inspired by traditional and modern shelter techniques, hutting expert Peter MacQueen shares how to live off the grid in The Art of Hutting. Each chapter answers many your questions about local sustainable living, from the safest bushcraft tools to growing a bountiful garden for every season. That way, you can be prepared to create your forever home and make memories in the untamed heart of Scotland.Create your own cozy Scottish hideaway. Along with learning the necessary outdoor skills to live off Scotland’s resources, this self-sufficient living book also shares how to create the hut of your dream. Off-grid living has never been cozier than with MacQueen’s hutting tips and tricks, from constructing the perfect eco-design to finding natural building materials. And with visual examples of local huts and cottages to choose from, you can create your next home with all the beauty and wonders the Scottish highlands and lowlands have to offer.Inside The Art of Hutting, you’ll also find:Best locations for hut buildingHow to create a wildlife garden made from Scotland’s natural vegetationRecommendations for fire-starter tools and firewood storageIf you liked books such as Thrive, Clansland Almanac, or Surviving the Wild, then you’ll love The Art of Hutting.
The Art of Looking Up
by Catherine McCormackA guide to spectacular ceilings around the globe that have been graced by the brushes of great artists including Michelangelo, Marc Chagall and Cy Twombly.From the lotus flowers of the Senso-ji Temple in Japan, to the religious iconography that adorns places of worship from Vienna to Istanbul, all the way to Chihuly’s glass flora suspended from the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas—this book takes you on a tour of the extraordinary artworks that demand an alternative viewpoint.Art historian Catherine McCormack guides you through the stories behind the artworks—their conception, execution, and the artists that visualized them. In many cases, these works make bold but controlled political, religious or cultural statements, revealing much about the society and times in which they were created. Divided by these social themes into four sections—Religion, Culture, Power and Politics—and pictured from various viewpoints in glorious color photography, tour the astounding ceilings of these and more remarkable locations:Vatican Palace, Rome, ItalyBlenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UKLouvre Museum, Paris, FranceDali Theatre-Museum, Figueres, CataloniaMuseum of the Revolution, Havana, CubaCapitol Building, Washington, DC, USAFour eight-page foldout sections showcase some of the world’s most spectacular ceilings in exquisite detail.First and foremost, this is a visual feast, but also a desirable art book that challenges you to seek out fine art in more unusual places and question the statements they may be making.“Deepens our perspective of 40 of the most artistic, fascinating and iconic ceilings around the world.” —Forbes
The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet
by Sylvain TessonA journey in search of one of the most elusive creatures on the planetAdventurer Sylvain Tesson has led a restless life, riding across Central Asia on horseback, freeclimbing the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, and traversing the Himalayas by foot. But while recovering from an accident that left him in a coma, and nursing his wounds from a lost love, he found himself domesticated, his lust for life draining with each moment spent staring at a screen. An expedition to the mountains of Tibet, in search of the famously elusive snow leopard, presented itself as a cure.For the chance to glimpse this near mythical beast, Tesson and his companions must wait for hours without making a sound or a movement, enduring the thin air and brutal cold. Their vigil becomes an act of faith--many have pursued the snow leopard for years without seeing it--and as they keep their watch, Tesson comes to embrace the virtues of patience and silence. His faith is rewarded when the snow leopard, the spirit of the mountain, reveals itself: an embodiment of what we have surrendered in our contemporary lives. And the simple act of waiting proves to be an antidote to the frenzy of our times.A celebration of the power and grace of the wild, and a requiem for the world's vanishing places, The Art of Patience is a revelatory account of the communion between nature and the human heart. Sylvain Tesson has written a new masterpiece on the relationship between man and beast in prose as sublime as the wilderness that inspired it.
The Art of Patience: Seeking the Snow Leopard in Tibet
by Sylvain TessonWinner of the Prix Renaudot 2019 A New York Times Best Book of 2021 &‘Extraordinarily beautiful… a long last loving glance at the planet.&’ Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild The Art of Patience sees the renowned French adventurer and writer set off for the high plateaux of remotest Tibet in search of the elusive snow leopard. There, in the company of leading wildlife photographer Vincent Munier and two companions, at 5,000 metres and in temperatures of -25ºC, the team set up their hides on exposed mountainsides, and occasionally in the luxury of an icy cave, to await a visitation from the almost mythical beast. This tightly focused and tautly written narrative is simultaneously a dazzling account of an exacting journey, an apprenticeship in the art of patience, an acceptance of the ruthlessness of the natural world and, finally, a plea for ecological sanity. A small masterpiece, it is one of those books that demands to be read again and again.
The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred
by Phil CousineauA literary and meditative guide to bringing purpose and meaning to every journey you take, now updated with a new preface by the author. We are descendants of nomads. And although we no longer partake in this nomadic life, the instinct to travel remains. Whether we&’re planning a trip or buying a secondhand copy of Siddhartha, we&’re always searching for some kind of pilgrimage. With remarkable stories from famous travelers, poets, and modern-day pilgrims, The Art of Pilgrimage is for the mindful traveler who longs for something more than diversion and escape. Through literary travel stories and meditations, award-winning writer, filmmaker, and host of the acclaimed Global Spirits series Phil Cousineau shows readers that travel is worthy of mindfulness and spiritual examination. Whether traveling to Mecca or Memphis, Stonehenge or Cooperstown, one&’s journey becomes meaningful when the traveler&’s heart and imagination are open to experiencing the sacred. This edition of The Art of Pilgrimage includes a new preface by the author, more than seventy illustrations, and stories, myths, parables, and quotes from many travelers and many faiths.
The Art of Scottish-American Cooking
by Kay Shaw NelsonThis history, travelogue and cookbook contains over two hundred recipes celebrating four centuries of Scottish cultural and culinary legacy in America. In this comprehensive cookbook, learn about the glories of shortbread, or Scotch cake, a unique Scottish creation, as well as marvelous rock buns and Dundee cake. Find out how the Scots introduced fried chicken to America and enjoy recipes for happit hen, wet devil, and Scotch grouse. Digest the histories of the Campbell Soup company, Old Crow Bourbon whiskey, and the graham cracker, invented by the eccentric clergyman Sylvester Graham. Try your hand at innovative egg dishes, fish pies, Scottish hot dogs, oatcakes, scones, griddle breads, and crumpets. Finally, make an ale toast at Hogmanay (New Year&’s Eve) and ring in the New Year celebrating the many Scottish American contributions to our daily lives. Scottish-American author Kay Shaw Nelson has combined her ancestral pride, her travel experiences and love of gastronomy to create The Art of Scottish-American Cooking, an homage to four hundred years of Scottish food and drink in the United States and Canada. The cookbook includes more than two hundred recipes as well as a wealth of information about Scottish holidays, heroes, traditions, and notable culinary and other cultural achievements by Scottish Americans. &“A book that we can keep at hand to keep Scottish and American dishes vibrantly alive . . . for generations to come.&” —Valerie Kearny, editor, The Scottish Banner &“Salutes Scottish-Americans who have a natural respect for fine fare and traditional hospitality.&” —Anne Robertson Kennedy, founder-president, The Living Legacy of Scotland, Inc.
The Art of Stand Up Paddling: A Complete Guide to SUP on Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans (How to Paddle Series)
by Ben MarcusStand up paddling (SUP) is experiencing fast growth in the United States and around the world. It can be enjoyed on inland lakes and rivers, as well as on the ocean and in the surf—but most important, it&’s fun and a great way to stay fit. The Art of Stand Up Paddling will include everything both new and not-so-new paddlers need to know—from buying a board and getting started on your local lake to paddling rivers and surfing ocean waves. This revised edition features a brand new chapter on SUP Yoga, which combines the passion of yoga with the art of stand up paddling. Also included is a fascinating and controversial history of stand up paddling, which, although new to many, dates back hundreds of years to Peruvian fishermen, Venetian gondoliers, and Hawaiian beach boys. Chapters on surf-break etiquette, fitness, yoga, and the exhilarating potential for adventures on a stand up paddleboard makes this a complete resource for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.
The Art of String Figures
by International String Figure AssociationCompiled from issues of String Figure Magazine, simple instructions and easy-to-follow photographs offer step-by-step guides to creating more than two dozen captivating string figures, accompanied by brief accounts of their historical background.
The Art of Travel (Vintage International)
by Alain De BottonAny Baedeker will tell uswherewe ought to travel, but only Alain de Botton will tell ushowandwhy. With the same intelligence and insouciant charm he brought toHow Proust Can Save Your Life,de Botton considers the pleasures of anticipation; the allure of the exotic, and the value of noticing everything from a seascape in Barbados to the takeoffs at Heathrow. Even as de Botton takes the reader along on his own peregrinations, he also cites such distinguished fellow-travelers as Baudelaire, Wordsworth, Van Gogh, the biologist Alexander von Humboldt, and the 18th-century eccentric Xavier de Maistre, who catalogued the wonders of his bedroom. The Art of Travelis a wise and utterly original book. Don’t leave home without it. From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529: the Transition From Mediaeval to Modern Warfare During the Renaissance
by F L Taylor“The birth of 'New War' in ItalyIt is easy to consider the Renaissance as a time of enlightenment typified principally by the artistic and scientific genius of Leonardo da Vinci and his peers; but giant leaps forward are never confined to one aspect of society and the application of new ideas is always adapted to various purposes and the meeting of differing objectives. The creation of modern political science by Niccolo Machiavelli is a prime example of how new ways of thinking and doing impacted on the advancement and securing of power. These changes were inevitably accompanied by significant developments in making war more effectively, strategically and tactically-with corresponding advances in weaponry and other equipage. This excellent book considers these developments through the changes to traditional military strategy and the use of infantry, cavalry and artillery, in both open battle and fortification and siege-craft, at the turn of the sixteenth century.”-Print ed.
The Art of the City: Rome, Florence, Venice (Pushkin Collection)
by Georg SimmelA quartet of essays on great European cities from the groundbreaking thinker Georg SimmelThese brilliant essays, from one of Germany's greatest and most influential thinkers, are beautifully written and highly readable portraits of three Italian cities: Rome, Venice and Florence. Simmel saw the city as a work of art in itself, and taken together these pieces act as a powerful suite expounding that notion.A seminal work of psycho-geography, this collection has never been published together in English before.
The Art of the Deal
by Laurence J. Brahm"Cigarette smoke whirled to the ceiling filling the room like incense in a Taoist temple. Chessboard silence filled that area of the room not already suffuse with cigarette smoke. " -ForewordNegotiating a deal in China requires patience-a well-known Confucian virtue; persistence-something which comes with time; and survival instincts-something that comes with persistence. For both the uninitiated, negotiations in China may come as a culture shock, laced with frustration. For the experience China trade negotiator, it is a never-ending learning process. For both parties, the secret to negotiating in China may well lie in the knowledge of the military ploys described in China's ancient classics.In The Art of the Deal in China, author Laurence J. Brahm applies Sun Tzu's Art of War, the ultimate guru's statement of military strategy and the Thirty-six Strategies, a collection of sayings which capsulize strategic prowess in ancient Chinese history, to modern-day negotiating situations in China, both commercial and political. The stories in the book, all based on actual happenings, will not only amuse but will provide hope to many foreigners engaged in the often drawn -out and frustrating process of negotiating a deal in China.
The Art of the Deal
by Laurence J. Brahm"Cigarette smoke whirled to the ceiling filling the room like incense in a Taoist temple. Chessboard silence filled that area of the room not already suffuse with cigarette smoke. " -ForewordNegotiating a deal in China requires patience-a well-known Confucian virtue; persistence-something which comes with time; and survival instincts-something that comes with persistence. For both the uninitiated, negotiations in China may come as a culture shock, laced with frustration. For the experience China trade negotiator, it is a never-ending learning process. For both parties, the secret to negotiating in China may well lie in the knowledge of the military ploys described in China's ancient classics.In The Art of the Deal in China, author Laurence J. Brahm applies Sun Tzu's Art of War, the ultimate guru's statement of military strategy and the Thirty-six Strategies, a collection of sayings which capsulize strategic prowess in ancient Chinese history, to modern-day negotiating situations in China, both commercial and political. The stories in the book, all based on actual happenings, will not only amuse but will provide hope to many foreigners engaged in the often drawn -out and frustrating process of negotiating a deal in China.
The Artful Evolution of Hal & Mal’s
by Malcolm WhiteThe Artful Evolution of Hal & Mal's is a collaboration between artist Ginger Williams Cook and author Malcolm White about the people, the place, and the history of Hal & Mal's, an iconic institution in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.Featuring beautiful watercolor paintings, the book brings together thirty years of family history, live music performances, and cafe society through graphic designs of old photographs, original illustrations, Hal's legendary recipe cards, and the written word. Opening with a foreword by the renowned author and chef Robert St. John and featuring Ginger's bold and vibrant look at a place she grew up patronizing, The Artful Evolution of Hal & Mal's captures the reflective, quirky voice of one half of the dynamic team known to millions as Hal & Mal.Hal & Mal's was conceived by brothers Hal and Malcolm White. The dream was rooted in a childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, reinforced by years of living and working in New Orleans, and ultimately launched in Jackson in 1985. This gathering place has always been owned and operated by family--now the second and third generations. The multifunctional, southern-soul-soaked rooms are adorned with memorabilia and chock-full of local character; each one also features a stage for live music. The kitchen serves a steady offering of hearty regional staples with a nod toward the Gulf of Mexico.Hal & Mal's is the most-talked-about upscale honky-tonk in all of Mississippi, where art is made, music plays, and folks gather to share community and celebrate the very best of Mississippi's creative spirit.
The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking: Nourishing Recipes and Heartfelt Moments (A Cookbook)
by Chloé Crane-Leroux Trudy CraneA unique collection of plant-based recipes from the mother-and-daughter duo who were inspired by the simple beauty and delicious meals throughout their travels.Throughout European countries like Spain, France, and Italy, cooking with fresh, local ingredients is a way of life. That&’s where this mother-and-daughter duo found inspiration during their travels to write their book in the richness of food, the beauty of architecture, and the wonder of luscious landscapes. But…authors Trudy and Chloé are plant-based. The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking isn&’t just a healthy collection of recipes that leave you feeling hungry like so many others. It&’s a cookbook that offers flavorful dishes for every meal and every moment of the day, from appetizers like Vibrant Beet and Pistachio Hummus; date-night dishes such as Pappardelle Mushroom Bolognese; main dishes, like the Ricotta and Squash Galette, perfect for entertaining; and desserts like Strawberry and Cream Cake or Decadent Double Dark Chocolate Cookies. These 80 recipes are not only good for you—they&’re good for the planet, too! The love this mother and daughter have for each other—and for sharing vegan food with others—shines through in their recipes and is sure to be a joy for everyone.
The Arts and Events (Routledge Advances in Event Research Series)
by Lee Jolliffe Hilary Du CrosCultural heritage and contemporary arts benefit from being showcased in events. Arts-related events are each unique in reflecting local culture; they may be therefore spontaneous (street art and so on) or planned (i.e. studio tours or arts festivals). The Arts and Events explores the nature and complexity of managing arts events and fills a significant gap in the available literature. It investigates the history, development and management of arts events to offer much needed insight into creating economic, social and cultural capital. It therefore contributes to a greater understanding of how arts events can create a beneficial experience for the individual and the community as well as their future sustainable development. The title explores a broad range of events from around the globe including: inspirational events for building creative (social, cultural and human) capital; affirming events for encouraging links to cultural identity or heritage; pleasurable events that offer enjoyable recreational, leisure and touristic experiences; enriching events that create opportunities for personal growth and/or to sell products or experiences, and finally, celebratory events that enhance cultural diversity. This significant volume is a valuable source for researchers, policy-makers and managers of arts events around the globe.
The Ashes: England vs. Australia: ultimate cricket rivalry
by Graeme SwannShortlisted for Cricket Book of the Year at the British Sports Book AwardsGraeme Swann leads us on a compelling adventure through one of world sport's most engrossing rivalries. He knows as much as anybody about the heat of England v Australia battles, having played in three series wins and also the whitewash defeat of 2013-14 when its intensity ended his international career. However, it brought out some of his best displays in Test cricket. But he is just one of dozens of colourful characters to have added their chapters to this great tome. The mock obituary of English cricket in the Sporting Times of 1882 was the forerunner of summers and winters of heaven and hell, depending on which side of the divide you were situated. When it comes to on-field relations nothing quite compares to the over-my-dead-body feel of the Ashes.From Grace to Sir Don, the most graceful of them all. From the foulest play to the fairest - contrast the 1932-33 Bodyline series affair to the image of Andrew Flintoff hunched over a distraught Brett Lee in 2005. From Ray Illingworth's famous walk-off in the Seventies, when an England team-mate was assaulted by a spectator, to Steve Waugh's hugely emotional lap of honour when he retired a quarter of a century later. Swann's book will reveal the magic of a series that first gripped him in his front room in Northampton as an aspiring spin bowler in the mid-1980s.
The Ashes: England vs. Australia: ultimate cricket rivalry
by Graeme SwannGraeme Swann leads us on a compelling adventure through one of world sport's most engrossing rivalries. He knows as much as anybody about the heat of England v Australia battles, having played in three series wins and also the whitewash defeat of 2013-14 when its intensity ended his international career. However, it brought out some of his best displays in Test cricket. But he is just one of dozens of colourful characters to have added their chapters to this great tome. The mock obituary of English cricket in the Sporting Times of 1882 was the forerunner of summers and winters of heaven and hell, depending on which side of the divide you were situated. When it comes to on-field relations nothing quite compares to the over-my-dead-body feel of the Ashes.From Grace to Sir Don, the most graceful of them all. From the foulest play to the fairest - contrast the 1932-33 Bodyline series affair to the image of Andrew Flintoff hunched over a distraught Brett Lee in 2005. From Ray Illingworth's famous walk-off in the Seventies, when an England team-mate was assaulted by a spectator, to Steve Waugh's hugely emotional lap of honour when he retired a quarter of a century later. Swann's book will reveal the magic of a series that first gripped him in his front room in Northampton as an aspiring spin bowler in the mid-1980s.