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The Other Side of Happiness: Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living
by Dr. Brock Bastian'Required reading ... Brock Bastian expertly picks apart the fundamental idea that humans thrive when they approach pleasure and avoid pain, explaining why hardship sometimes yields richer lives that are laden with meaning, deep social connections, and unexpected bliss' Adam Alter, author of Drunk Tank Pink In today's culture, happiness has become the new marker of success, while hardships are viewed as personal weaknesses, or problems to be fixed. We increasingly try to eradicate pain through medication and by insulating ourselves from risk and offence, despite being the safest generation to have ever lived. Yet in his research, renowned social psychologist Brock Bastian has found that suffering and sadness are neither antithetical to happiness nor incidental to it: they are a necessary ingredient for emotional well-being.Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and internationally acclaimed findings from Bastian's own lab, The Other Side of Happiness encourages us to take a more fearless approach to living. The most thrilling moments of our lives are often balanced on a knife edge between pleasure and pain, whether it is finding your true love, holding your new-born for the first time, finishing a marathon or even plunging into an icy sea. This is because pain and the threat of loss quite literally increase our capacity for happiness, as Bastian reveals, making us stronger, more resilient, more connected to other people and more attuned to what truly matters. Pain even makes us more mindful, since in our darkest moments we are especially focused and aware of the world around us. Our addiction to positivity and the pursuit of pleasure is actually making us miserable. Brock Bastian shows that, without some pain, we have no real way to achieve and appreciate the kind of happiness that is true and transcendent.
The Other Side Of Paradise: An epic and moving love story under the shadow of war
by Margaret MayhewFans of Katie Flynn, Rosamunde Pilcher and Dinah Jeffries will love this emotional and sweeping wartime romance set in Singapore from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew.READERS ARE LOVING THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE! "Moving tale of bravery and human endurance...the sounds and smells and life of Singapore come alive in this well-told story" - 5 STARS"This is an amazing read" - 5 STARS"Left me craving more, loving the characters, totally absorbed in the detailed descriptions and finding myself recommending her novels over a coffee with friends" - 5 STARS"Great read!" - 5 STARS"Really loved this book" - 5 STARS**********************************************SHE ONLY LIVED FOR PLEASURE......until war forced her to find courage she did not know she had, and love where she least expected it.1941: Britain is in the grip of war; life in the Far East is one of wealth and privilege. In Singapore Susan Roper enjoys dancing, clothes and fast cars, tennis and light flirtations with visiting naval officers - her life is devoted solely to pleasure and dismisses any warnings of danger.Singapore goes on partying, oblivious to the threat of invasion and believing the British flag will, protect them from all enemies. But when Japan invades, Susan finds herself in grave danger. She becomes an ambulance driver and is taken prisoner by the Japanese. Gradually and reluctantly she realises that she will have to face many hardships and witness terrible events, forcing her to acknowledge the truth...But will this new world lead her to a love where she least expects it?
The Other Side of the Dale
by Gervase PhinnTake a trip to the country with Gervase Phinn's heartwarming tales of life as a school inspector in Yorkshire'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph_______ As the newly appointed County Inspector of Schools in North Yorkshire, Gervase Phinn reveals in this warm and wonderfully humorous account, the experiences of his first year in the job - and what an education it was! He quickly learns that he must slow his pace and appreciate the beautiful countryside - 'Are tha'comin' in then, mester, or are tha' stoppin' out theer all day admirin' t'view?'He encounters some larger-than-life characters, from farmers and lords of the manor to teaching nuns and eccentric caretakers.And, best of all, he discovers the delightful and enchanting qualities of the Dales children, including the small boy, who, when told he's not very talkative, answers: 'If I've got owt to say I says it, and if I've got owt to ask I asks it.' With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous, Gervase Phinn's stories in The Other Side of the Dale will not fail to make you weep with laughter.
Other Times
by Leslie ThomasAt the start of the war in 1939 James Bevan is a junior officer approaching middle-age, attached to a small anti-aircraft unit on the south coast.Abandoned by his wife, the soldiers he command are his family: Bairnsfather, whose sexual encounters with his girl friend Muriel take place in an air-raid shelter; Cartwright, trying to keep two women on his gunner's pay of a shilling a day; Hignet, cosily educating himself in the orderly room. It is a rude awakening when they are called upon for the real war.Hugely absorbing, rich and rewarding, Other Times brims with history and experience, love, sorrow and humour.
The Otterbury Incident (A Puffin Book)
by C. Day LewisA reissue of a much-loved adventure which has stood the test of time and is as exciting today as when it was first published nearly 70 years ago. It all begins when Nick breaks the classroom window with his football, and the Headmaster says Nick has to pay for the damage. Nick has no more hope of raising the money than of going to the Moon, so that's when rivalling Ted's and Toppy's gangs decide to sign a truce and plan Operation Glazier to get the money for Nick. The plan goes smoothly and soon the money has been collected, but when it goes missing the boys turn detective to try and find the culprit.
Our Billie
by Ian Clayton'An astonishing work' - Joanne HarrisEvery parent's worst nightmare became a reality for Ian Clayton. On a short holiday break in Hay-on-Wye he took his nine-year-old twins canoeing, and in a freak accident his daughter Billie was drowned. In a remarkably frank and vivid way Clayton describes what happened on that spring day, his desperate attempts to save his two children, and then what it felt like two years later to come face to face with the men who hired out the canoe.But Our Billie is not a story of bitterness and recrimination. Instead it's the story of how a family attempts to come to terms with something which makes no sense at all. Through his memories of Billie and his wonderfully affectionate portrait of the small town in Yorkshire where the family has lived for generations, he weaves a story of loss and remembering, of gratitude and forgiveness.
Our Common Interest: An Argument
by Commission for Africa'The Commission for Africa finds the conditions of the lives of the majority of Africans to be intolerable and an affront to the dignity of all mankind. We insist upon an alteration of these conditions through a change of policy in favour of the weak.'The report of the Commission for Africa is the most important document of our time. Created by major decision-makers from across the globe, it is a call to action for the nations meeting at the 2005 G8 summit to end extreme poverty in the world's most desperate continent. This book sets out clearly the arguments and recommendations of the Commission's plan for a strong, prosperous Africa. 'The Africa Commission is a masterful display of diagnosis and politics' Jeffrey Sachs, Guardian'If we act on these recommendations, there is a good chance of a better life for hundreds of millions' Financial Times'This report will be an important contribution to the continuing search for effective solutions to the continent's problems' Kofi Annan
Our Emily: (The Adams Family: 2): An uplifting and funny Cockney saga that will warm the cockles of your heart (The Adams Family #2)
by Mary Jane StaplesThe continuation of a wonderful saga telling the story of a Cockney family in peace and war from multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples. Perfect for fans of Donna Douglas, Kitty Neale and Maggie Ford.PRAISE FOR THE ADAMS FAMILY SERIES! "Mary Jane Staples makes you care about her characters, which explains why her books have enjoyed so much popularity" -- Take a Break"Forget Eastenders, this it the London of old, when people knew each other's names and communities really pulled together." -- Woman's Realm"Mary Jane Staples completely capture the feel of the period and the essence of the people...has warmth, humour and charm. An ideal book for you holiday reading." Finesse "I get so engrossed in the stories I feel like one of the family." - ***** Reader review. "Read this book and you want it to go on, you want to know more of the Adams Family, can't wait to read more." -- ***** Reader review. *********************************CAN SHE WIN OVER HER SWEETHEART'S FAMILY? Emily had always been a trial as a child - pushy and rough - and Boots had always avoided her.But now she's an elegant and stylish young lady and she and Boots are due to be married - and must face the challenge of his wartime injuries together.Can she draw on that steely toughness to rise to the challenge and do right by the love of her life and his family? Our Emily is the second in Mary Jane Staples's Adams Family series. Their story continues in The King of Camberwell. Have you read Down Lambeth Way, the first Adams Family book?
Our Garden Birds: a stunning illustrated guide to the birdlife of the British Isles
by Matt SewellIn this beautiful gift edition, pop-art street artist Matt Sewell offers his own unique take on 52 of our favourite British garden birds.'An offbeat book featuring 52 charming characterful illustrations of our best-loved British birds' -- BBC Wildlife'A treasure to behold' -- ***** Reader review'Quirky, creative but very well-observed' -- ***** Reader review'This book should be owned by all garden bird lovers!' -- ***** Reader review'Absolutely love this book!' -- ***** Reader review'Utterly charming!' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************************Since its first appearance in July 2009, Matt's 'Bird of the Week' feature for the Caught by the River website has quickly become a cult hit.His pop-art watercolours are distinctive and enchanting, as are his innovative descriptions, which see great tits 'bossing the other birds around', the 'playful yet shy buoyancy' of bullfinches and the 'improbable' nature of the waxwing ('like a computer-generated samurai finch').This witty, delightful and distinctive gift book will appeal to bird watching enthusiasts, children and adults, and art and illustration fans alike.
Our Journey: Rak Su’s Official Autobiography. The X Factor Winners
by Rak-SuA shout-out to all fans of Rak-Su - this is their story, from where it all began to where they are now, full of exclusive stories and pictures. Make it a special day. Make it a Rak-Su day! __________Rak-Pack! Are you ready for our official story?As long as we've been friends, we've been creating our unique sound of soul, R'n'B, Hip-Hop, Latin and Caribbean music.Keeping the momentum going from our X-Factor journey, we are now performing at sold-out arenas, making more music and having fun!So why not join us on the adventure? Unrivalled access to never-before-seen photos, intimate stories, and behind-the-scenes info - in our first and only memoir!_________Ashley, Jamaal, Myles and Mustafa shot to stardom in 2017 as the first ever male group to win the X-Factor. Since then, the soulful boys have been topping the charts with their eclectic sound, performing at sold-out arenas, touring with global sensation Little Mix, recording their first album and most recently dropping their brand new hit single, Pyro Ting.Join Rak-Su on their journey from ordinary North-West London lads, to victors of one of the world's biggest talent shows in their one and ONLY! OFFICIAL memoir, Our Journey.
Our Mutual Friend
by Charles Dickens'Perhaps his greatest work. The great novel of London: dark, wise, unsentimental' William BoydWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY NICK HORNBY John Harmon returns to England after years in exile to claim his inheritance: a great fortune and a beautiful young woman to whom he is betrothed, but has never met. When Harmon's body is pulled out of the Thames, all of London is fascinated by the mystery of the murdered man and his unclaimed riches. Scavengers, social-climbers, lawyers and teachers, a money-lender and a dolls-dressmaker, men and women both honest and villainous, will all become embroiled in this tale of love and obsession, death and rebirth. **One of the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**
Our Mutual Friend
by Charles DickensOne of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World''The great poet of the city. He was created by London' Peter AckroydOur Mutual Friend centres on an inheritance - Old Harmon's profitable dust heaps - and its legatees: young John Harmon, presumed drowned when a body is pulled out of the Thames, and kindly dustman Mr Boffin, to whom the fortune defaults. With brilliant satire, Dickens portrays a dark, macabre London, inhabited by such disparate characters as Gaffer Hexam, scavenging the river for corpses; enchanting, mercenary Bella Wilfer; the social-climbing Veneerings; and the unscrupulous street-trader Silas Wegg. Dickens's last completed novel is richly symbolic in its vision of death and renewal in a city dominated by the fetid Thames, and of the corrupting power of money.Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Adrian Poole
Our Mutual Friend
by Charles DickensOne of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'"Yours is a 'spectable calling. To save your 'spectability, it's worth your while to pawn every article of clothes you've got, sell every stick in your house, and beg and borrow every penny you can get trusted with. When you've done that and handed over, I'll leave you. Not afore"Our Mutual Friend centres on an inheritance - Old Harmon's profitable dust heaps - and its legatees, young John Harmon, presumed drowned when a body is pulled out of the River Thames, and kindly dustman Mr Boffin, to whom the fortune defaults. With brilliant satire, Dickens portrays a dark, macabre London, inhabited by such disparate characters as Gaffer Hexam, scavenging the river for corpses; enchanting, mercenary Bella Wilfer; the social climbing Veneerings; and the unscrupulous street-trader Silas Wegg. The novel is richly symbolic in its vision of death and renewal in a city dominated by the fetid Thames, and the corrupting power of money.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
Our Songbirds: A songbird for every week of the year
by Matt SewellIn this beautiful follow-up to 2012's hit, Our Garden Birds, street artist Matt Sewell offers more watercolours and quirky descriptions of British songbirds.In Matt's world, the peewit sings the blues, and the bittern fills his neck 'like a tweed pair of bellows'. Distinctive and enchanting, with a songbird for each week of the year, this delightful gift book will appeal to birders, children and adults, and art and design fans alike.
Our Times in Rhymes: Being a Prosodical Chronicle of Our Damnable Age
by Sam LeithA parliament of fools, or a confederacy of dunces? Blethering celebrities and blundering politicians, royal babies and right royal cock-ups, milkshake madness and vegan sausage rolls - and, of course, the long and winding road to Brexit. If ever the times were ripe for a return to the high days of Augustan satire, it’s now – and the Spectator’s literary editor Sam Leith provides it. Our Times in Rhymes is a waspish, affectionate and very funny look at the state of our nation as it – let's be even-handed - teeters on the cliff-edge of a marvellous opportunity. Here is all the insanity and inanity of 2019, month by cherishable month, rendered in galloping comic verse and paired with satirical drawings by the brilliant cartoonist Edith Pritchett. It makes the perfect Christmas stocking filler for anyone who needs a good laugh at the damnable times we live in.
Our Woodland Birds
by Matt SewellBritain has some of the most beautiful woodland in the world, with some of the most beautiful inhabitants. All year round, the trees in forests, copses and wastelands offer our feathered friends food, shelter and a place to congregate and show-off. Now, in this beautiful follow-up to Our Garden Birds and Our Songbirds, street artist Matt Sewell captures Britain’s unique woodland life with his charming and distinctive illustrations. Featuring an array of enchanting scenes, from bramble-picking Blue Tits and a flight of Finches to a parliament of young Tawny Owls, Matt’s quirky, pop-art watercolours and whimsical descriptions express the individual characters of our woodland birds as never before. A delightful gift, this book will appeal to bird-watching enthusiasts, children, adults and art and design fans alike.
Our World: Our OFFICIAL autobiography
by Little MixCelebrate Little Mix's first UK number-one album - Glory Days - by reading the full story of the girls' astonishing rise to pop super stardom. Our World is full of exclusive photos and inspirational stories about Jade, Perrie, Jesy and Leigh-Anne's unique friendship.Little Mix are the UK's most successful girl band. They first found fame - and each other - on The X Factor in 2011. Five years later they have gone from strength to strength, achieving huge global success. With three platinum-selling albums in the UK and over 14 million record sales worldwide, the band are both adored by their fans and critically acclaimed for their brilliant music. In this book the girls share the real behind-the-scenes story of both their personal lives and their success. They reveal the many highs - what it feels like to perform in front of thousands of people; the excitement of seeing your music soar to Number One around the world - but also the lows. Through it all the girls have had each other, and their incredibly close friendship has grown stronger and stronger as the years have gone by. Now the girls are like sisters, and in this book they share their journeys and how it feels for your dreams to come true.Brimming with exclusive photos, this book shares with us the girls' innermost secrets - their hopes and dreams for the future, their families, their relationships, their style advice and above all their friendship. This book is Little Mix's story in their own words and tells you everything you need to know about their lives both in and out of the spotlight.
Our Yanks: A feel good wartime romance you won't be able to put down...
by Margaret MayhewPerfect for fans of Donna Douglas, Rosie Clarke and Katie Flynn, a heart-warming saga set during World War II from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew.READERS ARE LOVING OUR YANKS!"Omg this book was everything and more than i expected. My ideal book as i love family saga books. Loved that it showed how the Yanks got involved with the girls during wartime . Highs and lows of everyday life. Loved, loved ,loved it" - 5 STARS"The type of book where one found it hard to put down until the end." - 5 STARS"Excellent book, village life with the Yanks very warming story." - 5 STARS"Loved this saga ,drew me right in. I could not put this book down. The small town the characters the Yanks. I loved leaving my world and entering their lives. An author whose books I will be devouring." - 5 STARS"As always with Margaret Mayhew books, this one hasn't failed to please..."- 5 STARS"Brilliant story, held me in its grasp..."- 5 STARS*********************************"I STILL REMEMBER THE YANKS, ALMOST MORE THAN I DO THE WAR..." -- A Suffolk Woman. August 1943. A fighter group of US airmen descends upon the quiet and sleepy village of King's Thorpe in Northamptonshire. The village has never seen the like of them before: they are glamorous, rich, exciting and full of bravado. While some of the older residents are dismayed, many of the younger ones cannot help but be won over by their charms. And for many - including young Sally Barnet from the bakery, Agnes Dawe - the Rector's daughter, and newly-widowed Lady Beauchamp, they will have a long-lasting impact.It will be a summer many will never forget...
Out For Blood: The tense and addictive detective thriller set in Aberdeen (DI Eve Hunter #2)
by Deborah MassonDI Eve Hunter is back in the edge-of-your-seat new detective thriller from Deborah Masson, winning author of the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year 2020.A young man, the son of an influential businessman, is discovered dead in his central Aberdeen apartment.Hours later, a teenaged girl with no identification is found hanged in a suspected suicide.As DI Eve Hunter and her team investigate the two cases, they find themselves in a tug-of-war between privilege and poverty; between the elite and those on the fringes of society.Then an unexpected breakthrough leads them to the shocking conclusion: that those in power have been at the top for too long - and now, someone is going to desperate lengths to bring them down...Can they stop someone who is dead set on revenge, no matter the cost?*****READERS ARE OBSESSED WITH THE DI EVE HUNTER SERIES'One of the best books I've ever read!''I loved DI Eve Hunter and her team''Without a doubt the best police procedural I have read in a long time''I cannot wait to see what else is to come in the DI Eve Hunter series''You won't want to stop reading this addictive crime novel''Fantastic characters that you'll fall in love with - I really couldn't put this book down!''Can't wait for the next one . . . and the next one . . . and the next one!''Out For Blood has everything you need in a crime thriller and more' Rebecca Bradley'DI Eve Hunter is truly a force to be reckoned with' David Jackson'This is first-class crime fiction' Marion Todd'Not to be missed, edge-of-the-seat stuff from a genuine rising star' Denzil Meyrick
Out In The Midday Sun
by Elspeth HuxleyElspeth Huxley captivated readers throughout the world with her 'memories of an African childhood' in THE FLAME TREES OF THIKA and THE MOTTLED LIZARD. In this final volume of her trilogy she tells the story of her adult life in Africa, in which the vigorously evoked personalities - from the pioneer Lord Delamere and Baroness Blixen to Jomo Kenyatta - blend with her supurb description of the social, cultural and political upheavals of the time. 'An accomplished story-teller, she weaves anecdotes, character sketches, political history together without losing her thread or the readers momentum. ' SUNDAY TIMES 'She evokes it all lovingly but astringently, especially the glittering, often scandelous life of the young aristocrats who lived in Happy Valley. ' DAILY EXPRESS
Out Of The Blue: an enchanting and uplifting saga set in the West Country from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamA family finds peace through the unexpected struggle to aid a stranger in this captivating and moving saga. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jefferies.'An uplifting and inspiring book, emotional yet optimistic, which leaves the reader feeling optimistic and empowered' - THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE'I was surprised by this book. I'm not a romantic... but this did leave a little warm glow in my heart by the end.' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable read, I loved the ending' - ***** Reader Review*********************************************************************************HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?Florence Fontaine has not recovered from a family tragedy when she discovers astrangely dressed young man asleep in her guest cottage at the Old Rectory.Against her better judgement she offers him breakfast, only to find herself caught up in his drama. Florence's young and beautiful daughter, Amadea, is immediately suspicious of Edmund, as he appears to be called, fearing that he might be a fraud.Despite her reservations, Florence enlists friends and neighbours to help restore Edmund's memory. As the mystery unfolds, it becomes apparent that Edmund's history is entwined with that of nearby Harlington Hall, but that his real identity is something quite other.Florence and Amadea become united in their quest and are finally able to put the tragedies of the past behind them, repair their once disjointed lives, and embrace a new and happy future...
Out Of Bounds
by Mandy DickinsonWhen Katie - a young photographer - decides to start a new life in a French farmhouse left to her by her grandfather, she is horrified to find two men living illegally on her property. However, her horror quickly becomes curiosity as she realises how attracted she is to them, and how much illicit pleasure can be had by allowing them to stay. When her ex-boyfriend shows up, things get even more complicated and the sexual tension reaches breaking point.
Out of Bounds
by Beverley NaidooA collection of short stories - four previously published and three new - linked by the theme of young people experiencing personal dilemmas. All are set in South Africa, first under apartheid and then after the first democratic elections. They cover the period from 1950 to 2000 and reflect the lives of a range of young people, black and white, living in what was for many years seen as the world's most openly racist society.
Out of London Walks: Great escapes by Britain’s best walking tour company
by Stephen Barnett David TuckerEnjoy all that out of London has to offer, and discover the heritage and history behind the scenes in some of England's most picturesque places, such as Bath, Canterbury, Royal Winchester and Stratford. With stories and advice drawn from the expertise and knowledge of the famous London Walks Company and its small army of guides, this book is perfect for tourists who want to experience English life beyond Trafalgar Square, as well as for Londoners keen to step off the Circle Line and discover the secrets just beyond their own doorstep. With photos, maps and illustrations, Out of London Walks contains all the best day trips from the capital city – the ideal companion of the out of London rambler.
Out Of The Shadows (The Adams Family #27)
by Mary Jane StaplesTimes move on for the Adams family in south London, and as business prospers, there are new worries to deal with. A young woman arrives who is intent on ruining Sammy Adams' winter fashion show, and Sammy must deal with her unwelcome attention. Boots has to find a solution when one of his female employees tells him about a sinister visitor, but he doesn't realize that his family are being observed.Out of the shadows come dark and mysterious figures from the past who intrude on Boots, Polly and the twins, and his adopted daughter Rosie.Meanwhile Rosie has her hands full as her daughter Emily continues to rebel against everything around her. How will the Adams family cope, as trouble seems to lurk around every corner?