25 Years of Big Ideas

Have you ever wished you could tell your favourite books just what they mean to you? Or wanted to give a piece of your mind to the 'must-read' book that you wish you hadn't? Librarian Annie Spence has done just that, writing letters to the books under her care, from love letters to Matilda and The Goldfinch, to snarky break-up notes to Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hobbit.

Annie's letters will make you laugh, remind you why you love your favourite books, and give you lots of new entries for your reading list. She's also on-hand to help out with your bookish dilemmas: recommendations for lazy readers; excuses to tell your friends when you'd rather stay home reading; and how to turn your lover into a reader.

Hilarious, compassionate and smart, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is the consummate book-lover's book.

THE INCREDIBLE AS-IT-HAPPENED STORY OF LEICESTER CITY'S MARCH TO PREMIER LEAGUE VICTORY

In August 2015 bookmakers priced Leicester at 5000–1 to win the Premier League — the same odds as Elvis being found alive.

On 2 May 2016, the impossible happened — Leicester won, to ecstatic celebrations in the city and around the world.

Relive this remarkable season with Rob Tanner, the Leicester Mercury 's chief football writer, from the great escape of 2015 to the curtain-closer at Stamford Bridge, via Ulloa's last-gasp winner at Norwich and Vardy's stunning volley against Liverpool.

Detailing the key matches and turning points, Tanner's book tells the inside story of Leicester City's heroic year of triumph — and the players who under Claudio Ranieri's inspired leadership became the most unlikely champions in football history.

In the 1970s Kevin Threlfall built up the chain of Lo-Cost discount stores from a single grocery stall on Cannock market.

Having sold out to RCA of America he then went on to build an empire of 1,215 shops in just 25 years from a single cigarette kiosk on Wolverhampton market.

Trading as Supercigs, Dillons, Preedy, One-Stop and Day & Nite, T&S Stores plc became the largest specialised convenience store group in Britain, eventually selling out to Tesco in 2002 for £530 million.

But it was not all plain sailing, as among other challenges he survived having his appendix removed without anaesthetic. Then on 23 April 2014, before completing this book, he dropped down dead for 40 minutes on the golf course and was saved only by the actions of his quick-thinking golf partners.

This is the remarkable story of his life, in which passion, hard work, good timing and luck all played a part in bringing together a fascinating tale that is a real page-turner of a book.

The early 21st century has been a golden age for British track cycling, with world championship glory for the likes of Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton, and Olympic medals galore.

Tracing the origins of this phenomenal success story, Mark Wellings delves into cycling's chaotic and colourful past to chronicle the rise of the sport through the story of Herne Hill Velodrome, the iconic south London venue.

125 years on from the inaugural race, Herne Hill has played host to many of the most significant moments in British cycling history, from the first Good Friday Meeting in 1903 to the 1948 London Olympics and later the first track rides of a twelveyear— old Wiggins. Writer and historian Wellings, a Herne Hill regular with rare behind-the-scenes access, brings these events vividly to life, while also exploring the lives of those involved, such as 'Champion of Champions' Fausto Coppi, the legendary rivals Tommy Godwin and Reg Harris, the tragic figure of Tom Simpson and the fascinating Graeme Obree.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with key figures and featuring many previously unpublished photographs, Ride! Ride! Ride! is a thrilling circuit of track cycling's history, the story of a unique venue, and a tale of British achievement against all the odds.

Capitalism now dominates the globe, both in economics and ideology, shapes every aspect of our world and influences everything from laws, wars and government to interpersonal relationships.Introducing Capitalism tells the story of its remarkable and often ruthless rise, evolving through strife and struggle as much as innovation and enterprise.

Dan Cryan and Sharron Shatil, with Piero's brilliant graphics, cover the major economic, social and political developments that shaped the world we live in, such as the rise of banking, the founding of America and the Opium Wars.The book explores the leading views for and against, including thinkers like Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Theodor Adorno and Milton Friedman, the connections between them and their historical context.

Few ideas have had as much impact on our everyday lives as capitalism. Introducing Capitalism is the essential companion.

An attractive force

Between all objects with mass

Just like you and me
Science is a thing of magic and wonder. It reveals complex patterns — and often thrilling chaos — at the heart of nature; the strange alchemy of reactions between invisible atoms; the bewildering origins of our universe; and the connections in our brains that create love, fear, joy — and poetry. Sciku brings together more than 400 revealing, poignant, witty haiku on scientific subjects. Written by students at The Camden School for Girls, these poems reflect on topics as varied as Newton's laws, climate change, time travel and evolution. They are also elegiac, enigmatic and often extremely beautiful.

Dissolving confusion

To some, solutions

Are answers; to chemists they

Are still all mixed up.

Maximize your happiness in the workplace.

Stop negative thinking and tackle your problems at work using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Learn to control anger and frustration, reduce workplace anxiety and take control of your work-life balance by introducing CBT's insights into your working day.

Full of real-life examples and useful exercises, this Practical Guide will help you to replace feelings of inadequacy and a lack of motivation with new ways of thinking, to help you work better with others, and make you happier and more effective in the workplace.

Verdi's now-popular opera was a fiasco in Venice in 1853, attributable perhaps to the prima donna being noticeably obese, despite apparently wasting with tuberculosis. Soon, however, Verdi's scandalous love story was on stage contemporaneously at Her Majesty's Theatre, Covent Garden and Drury Lane.

Piave's libretto depicts Violetta and Alfredo Germont, the Marguerite and Armand of The Lady with the Camelias by Alexandre Dumas (son of the author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers). The bestseller was based on the short life of the courtesan Marie Duplessis, mistress of a duke, a viscount and a baron — in Paris the 'oldest profession', prostitution, was the only way many women could survive, as Victor Hugo's Les Misérables depicts.

Featuring some of Verdi's best-loved tunes, such as the 'Brindisi' and Violetta's Sempre libera, La Traviata is enduringly popular. Violetta has been sung by international operatic sopranos such as Patti and Melba, and recently Gheorghiu. Some, like Joan Sutherland, have preferred to stay off-stage and make an opera recording. Domingo and Pavarotti have sung the role of Alfredo.

Written by Michael Steen, author of the acclaimed The Lives and Times of the Great Composers, 'Short Guides to Great Operas' are concise, entertaining and easy to read. They are packed with useful information and informed opinion, helping to make you a truly knowledgeable opera-goer, and so maximising your enjoyment of a great musical experience.

Other 'Short Guides to Great Operas' that you may enjoy include Rigoletto, Carmen and La Bohème.

In 2009 Real Madrid paid £80m, a then record fee, to sign a ready-made superstar in an effort to keep pace with a Barcelona side that had won it all. In doing so, they sparked a rivalry like no other; Messi vs Ronaldo.

The seasons that have followed have been truly spectacular, the battle for supremacy increasing in profile and intensity all the while. Their styles, personalities and footballing allegiances continue to divide opinion, but their dominance of the record books has now put one claim beyond debate — this is football's greatest ever head-to-head.

Acclaimed football writer Luca Caioli draws on invaluable testimonies from those closest to the two stars, with exclusive insights from friends, families, teammates and managers, to tell the inside story of this fascinating rivalry.

On 1 September 2015, Anthony Martial completed his transfer from Monaco to Manchester United. At just 19 years of age, the fee of £36m (potentially rising to £58m) made the France international the most expensive teenager of all time.

Eyebrows were raised at the landmark fee but a goal against Liverpool in his first game helped get the supporters onside, while a number of key strikes in his debut season soon won over the critics as he became integral to Manchester United's attack.

Renowned sports biographers Luca Caioli and Cyril Collot talk to coaches, teammates and even Martial himself, to provide an unrivalled behind-the-scenes look at the life of the teenage superstar.

'[Harry Leslie Smith] is absolutely one of my heroes. Everyone should read this and be humbled.' Annie Lennox

'A deep love of humanity is what animates Smith. He is a hero of our times.' Newsweek

'His straight-from-the-heart delivery makes these events seem as clear and immediate as if they happened yesterday' Morning Star

At 22, the war is over for RAF serviceman Harry Leslie Smith — the now 92-year-old activist and author of the acclaimed Harry's Last Stand — but the battle for love and hope rages on. Stationed in occupied Hamburg, a city physically and emotionally ripped apart by Allied bombing, and determined to escape the grinding poverty of his Yorkshire youth, Harry unexpectedly finds a reason to stay: a young German woman by the name of Friede.

As their love develops, they must face both German suspicion and British disapproval of relations with 'the enemy'.

Harry's ardent, straight-from-the-heart memoir brings to life a city reduced to rubble, populated with refugees, black marketeers, corrupt businessmen and cynical soldiers. Love Among Ruins: A memoir of life and love in Hamburg is a unique snapshot of a terrible period in Europe's history, and a passionate love letter to a city, to a woman, and to life itself.

What is beauty, and what is truth? These are some of the questions which aesthetics tries to answer. In our everyday life, we talk about the 'aesthetics' of an artwork or a piece of design. But aesthetics goes beyond the simple experience of art. It is also a branch of philosophy concerned with the whole nature of experience itself, explored through our perceptions, feelings and emotions.

Join award-winning writer James Steen for a feast of facts, stories, recipes and tips about food and drink.

Delving into forgotten corners of gastronomic history, Steen reveals what Parmesan has to do with broken bones, why John Wayne kept a cow in a hotel and how our attitudes to food have changed over the centuries. Laying bare the secrets of the kitchen, he concocts the ultimate hangover cure and explains how to cook perfect rib of beef with the oven off.

With much-loved cooks including Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood sharing their passion and know-how, this mouth-watering miscellany will sate the appetite of every kitchen dweller, from the masterful expert to the earnest apprentice.

Did Charlotte Brontë take opium? Did the Reverend Brontë carry a loaded pistol? What, precisely, does 'wuthering' mean?

Distinguished literary critic John Sutherland takes an idiosyncratic look at the world of the Brontës, from the bumps on Charlotte's head to the nefarious origins of Mr Rochester's fortune, by way of astral telephony, letterwriting dogs, an exploding peat bog, and much, much more.

Also features 'Jane Eyre abbreviated' by John Crace, author of the Guardian's 'Digested Reads' column — read Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece in five minutes!

Change can often seem like an impossible task, but this practical book will help you put it into perspective. With guidance from two experts, you'll recognise the behaviours and thoughts that hold you back, and will develop skills to think more positively, act more calmly and feel better about yourself.

Using the same tools employed by CBT practitioners, this book is full of activities and experiments to explore and challenge, stories and exercises to provide perspective, and a clear framework to encourage and guide you. The authors' friendly and supportive approach will help you learn to manage recurrences of negative thinking and behaviours, and to develop strong coping strategies.

CBT incorporates the latest therapies and research, including ACT and mindfulness, and explicitly addresses problem areas like insomnia and depression.

SHORTLISTED FOR 'BEST COMMUTER READ', CMI MANAGEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017

How do you ask for a promotion, deliver tough news to clients, or secure investment for your new business?
The answer is negotiation. It is the most important skill you can develop to get what you want in business and life. No matter how much experience you’ve got, We Have a Deal can help you to improve your negotiation skill — developing an awareness of your habits and abilities, recognising what’s really going on in a deal, and building a flexible approach that is confident and appropriate to each situation.
Negotiation expert Natalie Reynolds moves beyond the old-fashioned rules of deal making to explore why people react the way they do in certain situations and how can we use that knowledge to get a good deal. Her five-step DEALS method has helped individuals and organisations to excel at all kinds of negotiation, from clinching a pay rise to resolving disputes, from developing partnerships to shaking hands on multi-million dollar deals.
We Have a Deal will help you to overcome obstacles, work with different personalities and in varied cultures, and develop an intelligent and flexible approach will empower you to get the best deal, every time.

Linguist Noam Chomsky maintains that the human brain has an innate language faculty, and that part of this biological endowment is a 'universal grammar', a theory of principles common to all languages. Thus, all human languages and the ways in which children learn them are remarkably similar.

Chomsky's book Syntactic Structures was a turning-point in 20th-century linguistics, challenging assumptions in many areas such as philosophy, psychology and intellectual history. Heir to the Enlightenment tradition, Chomsky has introduced new perspectives on language, the creative individual and the nature of human freedom in society.

Introducing Chomsky traces Chomsky's understanding of the cognitive realities involved in the use of language, and the technical apparatus needed to represent it. The book also describes Chomsky's radical critique of the institutions of power and the pathways of oppression, and his commitment to freedom and justice.

LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2015

Forced to flee his native Bangladesh, eight year-old chess prodigy Fahim arrived in Paris with his father. Refused asylum, as illegal immigrants they spiralled downwards into homelessness and desperation.

By a stroke of luck, Fahim was introduced to one of France's top chess coaches, Xavier Parmentier, who tutored him and gave him a sense of purpose, his struggles on the chessboard mirroring both his victories and his crushing defeats in his battle for a normal life.

Rising through local and national tournaments to be crowned France's Under-12 Chess Champion in 2012, Fahim became a national sensation. In 2013 he went on to win the World Under-13 Student Championship.

Told through the clear eyes of a child, Fahim's tale is not only a moving account of the grim realities that underlie a supposedly caring society, but also a heartwarming testimony to a father's determination, the kindness of strangers, and one small boy's courageous will to succeed.

From Musa al-Khwarizmi who developed algebra in 9th century Baghdad to al-Jazari, a 13th-century Turkish engineer whose achievements include the crank, the camshaft and the reciprocating piston, Science and Islam tells the story of one of history's most misunderstood yet rich and fertile periods in science: the extraordinary Islamic scientific revolution between 700 and 1400 CE.

Where would humanity be now without fire, vaccinations, farming … or wine? A great idea is one that has changed the path of human civilisation. But which is the greatest of them all? John Farndon, author of the bestselling Do You Think You're Clever?, has set out to find the answer. A distinguished panel of experts agreed on a list of 50 ideas, and each chapter of The World's Greatest Idea sees Farndon explore the argument for a different one. The candidates are intriguingly varied: Electricity grids enable us to power our cities, but then sewers allowed those cities to grow. Without the wheel, modern civilisation would be pretty much impossible, but take away Logic and we'd lose the essential structures for rational thought… But then what would be the point of all of this without the idea of romance? The World's Greatest Idea is an enthralling voyage of discovery through the most powerful intellectual, social, scientific and creative brainwaves humans have ever had. They are ranked in the book determined by a public vote on www.theworldsgreatestidea.com But will you agree with the verdict?