Biography & Memoir

Biography & Memoir

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In this unique book, His Holiness the Dalai Lama tells the full story of his 75-year struggle with China to save Tibet and its people. Instant New York Times Bestseller The Dalai Lama has had to contend with the People’s Republic of China his entire life. He was 15 years old when communist China invaded Tibet in 1950, only 19 when he had his first meeting with Chairman Mao in Beijing, and 24 when he was forced to escape to India and became a leader in exile. Almost 75 years after China’s initial invasion of Tibet, the Dalai Lama has faced communist China’s leaders – Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping – in his effort to protect Tibet and its people. In Voice for the Voiceless, the Dalai Lama reminds the world of Tibet’s unresolved struggle for freedom and the hardship his people continue to face in their homeland. The book captures his extraordinary life, uncovering what it means to lose your home to a repressive invader and build a life in exile; dealing with the existential crisis of a nation, its people, and its culture and religion; and envisioning the path forward. Voice for the Voiceless is a powerful testimony from a global icon, sharing both his pain and his enduring hope in his people’s ongoing quest to restore dignity and freedom.
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES' BEST BOOKS OF 2023 ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 ONE OF THE NEW YORKER'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 TIME MAGAZINE'S #1 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR My job is to go to places where people die. I pack my bags, talk to the survivors, write my stories, then go home to wait for the next catastrophe. I don't wait very long. Journalist Patricia Evangelista came of age in the aftermath of a street revolution that forged a new future for the Philippines. Three decades later, in the face of mounting inequality, the nation discovered the fragility of its democratic institutions under the regime of strongman Rodrigo Duterte. Some People Need Killing is Evangelista's meticulously reported and deeply human chronicle of the Philippines' drug war. For six years, Evangelista chronicled the killings carried out by police and vigilantes in the name of Duterte's war on drugs - a war that has led to the slaughter of thousands - immersing herself in the world of killers and survivors and capturing the atmosphere of fear created when an elected president decides that some lives are worth less than others. The book takes its title from a vigilante whose words seemed to reflect the psychological accommodation that most of the country had made: 'I'm really not a bad guy,' he said. 'I'm not all bad.  Some people need killing.' A profound act of witness and a tour de force of literary journalism, Some People Need Killing is also a brilliant dissection of the grammar of violence and an important investigation of the human impulses to dominate and resist.
The astonishing reality of living without our most important resource: money. 'An inspiring and entertaining guide to escaping the money trap and reconnecting with reality.' Paul Kingsnorth, author of Real EnglandImagine a year living without spending money... Former businessman Mark Boyle undertook this extraordinary challenge and recounts the amazing adventure it led him on. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and discovered that friendship has no price. Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, caravans, compost toilets, and – the unthinkable – a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. A testament to Mark’s astounding determination, this witty and thought-provoking book will make you reevaluate what is most precious in life.
Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life. What's your dream? It's a simple question, but one which very few of us ever really think about. From early on, we are taught that there's only one path to getting ahead: do well at school, get a certain kind of job, and avoid failure at all costs. We're so busy trying to follow these rules that we never stop and ask ourselves: What's my purpose? What do I really want? Do I have the power to make it happen?Simon Squibb is on a mission to change people's lives for the better. Here, he shares the hard-won life lessons from his years in the business world plus his own personal life, from facing homelessness as a teenager to selling a multi-million pound business, and now inspiring a new generation of budding entrepreneurs. Simon will empower readers to identify their own meaningful goals, to remove the barriers that stand in the way, and ultimately to build a richer life. Sometimes, it just takes one person to believe in you... 
As he announces his retirement, relive the story of one of the greatest to ever play the game - Rafael Nadal. This winning memoir, in Rafa's own words, gets to the heart of his major achievements on and off court, and is a fascinating insight into the making of a champion. 'A winner' Independent 'A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes' New Statesman 'As exciting as Rafa himself' Woman's OwnNo tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer's record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it. This book takes us to the heart of Nadal's childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final - a match that John McEnroe called the 'greatest game of tennis ever played' - to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010. It transports us from Nadal's lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person - who has never before talked about his home life - tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself.
The must-have gift for every football fan this Christmas Life is a beautiful game - but how should you play it? 'To be a manager, you have to perform always. You cannot live in history. It's now and tomorrow that counts' For Sven-Goran Eriksson, one of the world's most revered and respected football managers, the game has come to an end. He leaves us with his parting reflections, looking back on what he has achieved, experienced and learned over a lifetime in service to the beautiful game. It is a journey that has taken him from a small club in his native Sweden, across every continent, to competing on the world's stage. Before his death, he was able to impart the lessons he's learned along the way - about life, leadership and love - and to speak candidly about his extraordinary successes, as well as overcoming his failures. On the field, he led some of the finest sportsmen on earth to great victories and heartbreaking defeats, and in the process left his indelible mark on the game. This is a story of lives touched and connections made in the dogged pursuit of excellence. But for Sven the true journey he wanted to share is the one he made on the inside - the man that he became. Because A Beautiful Game is far more than the tale of a successful football manager. It is the story of the biggest game of all - what makes a good life. A story that endures, long after the final whistle.
The bestselling book that inspired the cult classic film, Girl, Interrupted, starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie.   "Not since Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar has a personal account of life in a mental hospital achieved as much popularity and acclaim" TIME In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital to be treated for depression. She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital renowned for its famous clientele - Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor and Ray Charles. A clear-sighted, unflinching work that provokes questions about our definitions of sane and insane, Kaysen's extraordinary memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers.
Boris Johnson has always been larger than life. Controversial, untrammelled by the normal rules of politics, his route to becoming Britain's prime minister included a landmark career as a journalist, two terms as London's mayor, leading the Vote Leave Brexit campaign and acting as foreign secretary. He won the largest Tory majority since 1987 when he went to the polls in December 2019 for a mandate to 'Get Brexit Done' - only to have his administration hit by the global Covid pandemic and toppled in a Tory putsch.Unleashed is his account of his time in politics, and a book that shatters the mould of the modern prime ministerial memoir. Written in his inimitable style, it is honest, unrestrained and deeply revealing about the politician who has dominated our times.This is his story of the fifteen years since he trounced Ken Livingstone at the polls to become mayor of London. Riots, tackling knife crime, bikes, buses, the London Olympics, and so much more. He writes about his role in Brexit, takes readers through all the big decisions and his reasons for taking them, and describes how he nearly died from Covid.Underlying everything in the book is his view that the UK is an extraordinary country and should have an exceptional future. These are the reflections of a political leader who believes fundamentally in levelling up - that there are millions of people in Britain who do not have the present they need or the future they deserve, and that it is the first job of politicians to put this right.It is all here. From soup to nuts, warts and all. As a journalist he was famed as a blurter of unsayable truths, and he has drawn again on this quality for the book. About people, policies, mistakes and triumphs. This is it - the reality as he saw it: unvarnished, unlocked, unleashed.
A fully updated new edition of David Attenborough’s bestselling classic. BIRDS. 11,000 species, the most widespread of all animals: on icebergs, in the Sahara or under the sea, at home in our gardens or flying for over a year at a time. Earthbound, we can only look and listen, enjoying their lightness, freedom and richness of plumage and song. David Attenborough has been watching and learning all his life. His classic book, now fully updated with the latest discoveries in ornithology, is a brilliant introduction to bird behaviours around the world: what they do and why they do it. He looks at each step in birds' lives and the problems they have to solve: learning to fly; finding food; communicating; mating and caring for nests, eggs and young; migrating; facing dangers and surviving harsh conditions. Sir David has no equal in helping others to learn and making it exciting. His curiosity and enjoyment are infectious. He shows the lifelong pleasure that birds around us offer, and how much we miss if unaware of them.
THERE IS ONLY ONE CHER ...... and for seven decades she has been showing us why. Cher holds the attention of the world with her voice, her acting, her style, her wit and her unstoppable spirit. Now, for the first time, she tells her story in her own voice - as honest as it is hilarious, as powerful as it is perceptive.  Cher's childhood was anything but normal. As her mother Georgia - blessed with movie-star looks and a knockout voice - moved them around the country over and again in the hope of finding fame, her school life wasn't straightforward. But she always knew she was going to be somebody when she grew up. Cher's powerful instinct to keep moving eventually landed her in the arms of Sonny Bono. The duo became famous beyond their wildest dreams, from humble beginnings singing backup in Phil Spector's studio through to pop stardom as Sonny and Cher, and then on to the television show that made them household names. But as time passed, fame changed the dynamic of their relationship and Cher evolved from a wide-eyed teenager into a woman. She started fighting for herself, breaking away from Sonny's control - and realising that things were not as they seemed.Taking risks, making headlines, falling in love, Cher struggled and stumbled while trying to become her own woman. Cher: The Memoir, Part One brings us to the brink of her next chapter, as she begins to chart her own path, finally claiming her rightful place in the world and becoming CHER.
An immediate sensation upon its publication in 1969, Papillon is a vivid memoir of brutal penal colonies, daring prison breaks and heroic adventure on shark-infested seas. Condemned for a murder he did not commit, Henri Charriere, nicknamed Papillon, was sent to the penal colony of French Guiana. Forty-two days after his arrival he made his first break for freedom, travelling a thousand gruelling miles in an open boat. He was recaptured and put into solitary confinement but his spirit remained untamed: over thirteen years he made nine incredible escapes, including from the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island. This edition of Papillon, one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, includes an exclusive new essay by Howard Marks.
AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 and THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR In a career spanning over three decades, Ronnie O'Sullivan's journey to becoming the greatest snooker player of all time has been filled with extremes. A teenage snooker prodigy, Ronnie turned professional with the highest of expectations. This pressure, together with a challenging personal life, catapulted Ronnie into a life of excess and addiction. He was winning titles - his first within a year of turning professional - but losing himself and his game as he tried to block out the mental pain and misery. Whilst Ronnie appeared at the height of the game to spectators, these were the moments when he felt at his lowest. In the year 2000 Ronnie started rehab and began the journey to get his life back, addressing his demons and working on developing a stronger and more resilient mindset. More than twenty years on, Ronnie is still obsessed with delivering his peak performance and never happier than when in a snooker hall, but success has now taken on a new meaning for the record-equalling world champion. Framed around the many lessons Ronnie has learned from his extraordinary career, Unbreakable takes us beyond the success and record-breaking achievements to share the reality - and brutality - of making it to the very top, whatever your field. Ronnie is the first to say he doesn't have all the answers, but in sharing the experiences that have shaped him and mistakes that have made him, he hopes to help readers navigate their own personal challenges and obstacles, and in turn reach their maximum potential. This is Ronnie O'Sullivan as you've never seen him before, the definitive and unflinching story of a true British icon and a fascinating insight into the mindset of the world's greatest snooker player.
FOUR FOR ENGLAND. THREE FOR HURST. 'Images of us celebrating have taken their place in the nation’s photo album. Trophy aloft, smiling into our future. Banksy, George, Jack, Mooro, Ray, Nobby, Bally, Bobby, Martin, Roger. My ten teammates. My old friends. They’ve now all gone. Heroes from an era that is slipping into sepia.'But it isn't all over. Not yet. One of them is still here, and before he goes, Geoff wanted to get down his final thoughts about 1966. He talks about Alf Ramsay - his vision, his drive, his loyalty. Also his shyness, even awkwardness. About his teammates, about Jimmy Greaves - hard workers, cool heads, dedicated pros. Geoff tells their collective story, digging below the surface, reflecting on their victory, its impact on their lives. It was a bittersweet onward journey for the Boys of '66. Their legacy was squandered and their team uncelebrated. But the eleven of them shared something that no other Englishman has ever experienced. Here Geoff brings them all together, one last time, to see them make history.
Discover the incredible and revelatory autobiography from one of the most iconic actors in the history of film.  His youth was grim, his money troubles serious, his fame unlikely. Al Pacino’s friends all died in poverty. How did he survive? To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies - The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon - that were not just successes, but landmarks in the history of film. In reality, Pacino was in his mid-thirties by then, and had already lived several lives. Growing up in New York City’s South Bronx and raised by a loving but mentally unwell mother, Pacino worked odd jobs to support himself. But, in good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe. Exploring his iconic roles, essential collaborations, and important relationships, as well as the ever-present struggle between creativity and commerce, Sonny Boy is the revelatory account of an incredible life. This is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide.
Chris Hoy knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye. In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count. Last year, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer. He will be living with this disease for the rest of his life. In this memoir, Chris shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Most people think I save dogs, but really they saved me. Niall Harbison is a dog hero based in Thailand. He spends his days feeding, caring for and rescuing the many street dogs he comes across. With every rescue there’s a story. Like the sweet gentle McMuffin who was found with many tumours and hours from death, only to be nursed back to health. She now lives with Niall and is a popular member of the pack. Then there is King Whacker – who escaped a vicious attack and is now ruling the nest living up to his name as the king of the all good dogs. And who could resist the puppy eyes of little Rodney, the beautiful dog with big paws who is melting millions of hearts around the world. Originally from Dublin, Niall was the owner of a successful advertising company. After selling it, he moved to Thailand where his addictions – drugs and alcohol – almost got the better of him. One day he woke up in hospital, close to death, and realised that something had to change. And that was what spurred him on to start saving and helping street dogs. His aim is to help 10,000 street dogs. This is his story.
Nicolas Roche has a famous surname to all fans of cycling. The son of legendary Irish and World Champion Stephen Roche, Nicolas had to fight to make it as a professional and even harder to make his mark as his own man in this toughest of competitive sports. His rise up the ranks has been meteoric, with top 15 finishes in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, but his attitude to his chosen profession has remained undimmed. Honest, eloquent and passionate about the cycling world, Nicolas gained acclaim and a devoted fan following for his Tour diaries serialised in the Irish Independent. Now a major contender for a podium finish in a grand tour, in the award-winning Inside the Peloton Nicolas tells in full the story of life as a professional cyclist and of the remarkable events that have brought him this far. From furious spats with teammates and exhilarating races against the world's best, this is a gripping cycling adventure and tale of a fiercely competitive sportsman.
From bestselling author and British astronaut Tim Peake, an inspirational human history of space travel, from the Apollo missions to our future forays to Mars. The Right Stuff for a new generation.  Only 656 people in human history have left Earth. In Space: The Human Story, astronaut Tim Peake traces the lives of these remarkable men and women who have forged the way, from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong, from Valentina Tereshkova to Peggy Whitson. Full of exclusive new stories, and astonishing detail only an astronaut would know, the book conveys what space exploration is really like: the wondrous view of Earth, the surreal weightlessness, the extraordinary danger, the surprising humdrum, the unexpected humour, the newfound perspective, the years of training, the psychological pressures, the gruelling physical toll, the thrill of launch and the trepidation of re-entry. The book also examines the surprising, shocking and often poignant stories of astronauts back on Earth, whose lives are forever changed as they readjust to terra firma. Publication of the book comes on the eve of NASA's plans to return to the moon, fifty years after an astronaut last walked on the lunar surface. In 2024 the Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to orbit the moon. In 2025 Artemis III will send the first woman and the first person of colour to step on the lunar surface. What will separate these upcoming moonwalkers from the legendary Apollo crews? Does it still take a daring-do attitude, super-human fitness, intelligence, plus the 'Right-stuff' - a fabled grace under pressure? And how will astronauts travel even further - to Mars and beyond? Space: The Human Story reveals all.
Butlers and receptionists on the payroll, the infiltration of high society soirees, international connections, patience, skill, stealth and the ability to think on his feet. No, this is no spy or international man of mystery, though his knowledge of various languages and cultures did get him ahead. He's no detective or P.I. either, but he spent decades flushing out people who did not want to be found.  This is the story of the first paparazzi outside of Italy, when cameras still had some respect for the intimacy of those they shot, and stayed out of their faces, out f their days off and relaxation, and simply snapped them from afar. This is the story of Juan Carlos Teuma, Gibraltarian Paparazzi. Brought up in Tetuan, Morocco, as well as the tiny British colony of Gibraltar, Juan Carlos settled in Marbella during the early seventies, just as things were starting to warm up. The sleepy fishing town of the Costa del Sol had for years been a staple resort o Spanish celebrities, but as the Spanish economy started opening itself up to tourism, a whole new wave of international jet-setters began to arrive . . . and party. The Spanish press at the time was still very much under the control of the dictatorship. Personalities were photographed at events or parties, but always under protocol, with formality and of course, permission. However, as the economy and the country opened up to the outside world, the scene began to change, things began to lighten and while the press of old still wriggled in the same stuffy suits that old men wore in the high offices of Madrid, Juan Carlos from the Rock, where Beatles could blast and people could vote, had just the right amount of audicity to break in and do what nobody else was doing. That was half a life ago, since then he's been everywhere from Miami to Moscow and snapped some if the most iconic shots of everyone from Liz Taylor to Brad Pitt. He has smuggled negatives, sneaked past international borders on speedboats, crossed jungles and found friendship galore in colleagues and targets alike. These are his pictures made word.
Explore the incredible life of Novak Djokovic – from his boyhood in war-torn Serbia to his 24th Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. Find out more about the world’s #1 male tennis player in this stunningly illustrated biography. Join expert tennis journalist Dominic Bliss, for an up-close look at the unbelievable talent of a player destined for greatness. Djokovic’s extraordinary achievements include iconic moments such as becoming the first man in the Open Era to achieve a double Career Grand Slam in singles, and the only man in tennis history to be the reigning champion of the four majors at once across three different surfaces. Novak Djokovic: The greatest of all time recounts the tennis legend’s remarkable ascent to sporting glory with:   A riveting account of Djokovic’s life and career, from his childhood in Serbia, when his unparalleled talent was recognized, to being the biggest name in tennis with a fan base of over 10 million. Large, full-colour photographs from past and present illuminating his astonishing record-breaking career. Clear and insightful infographics analysing Djokovic’s playing style, and retellings of his top 10 best matches so you can recreate the most important moments of tennis history.  With this captivating biography, find inspiration in the exceptional spirit and determination that led Djokovic to go on to win 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles, 96 ATP singles titles and a record breaking 390+ weeks ranking as No.1. Complete your collection of all-time greats with Rafa Nadal: The King of the Court, and Fedegraphica which follow the incredible life and career of Djokovic’s ultimate rivals.
He's climbed Everest not long after a heart bypass operation, he's run seven marathons on seven continents, he's hauled loaded sledges across both polar ice caps and he's circumnavigated the earth... Ran Fiennes truly is the world's greatest explorer, and this book celebrates his 80th birthday by showcasing his greatest achievements in his own words. Featuring interviews and tributes from his friends, colleagues and admirers, Around the World in 80 Years celebrates the incredible life of a legendary explorer.
Reuben, aged 38, was living in a home for adults with learning disabilities. He hadn't established an independent life in the care system and was still struggling to accept that he had Down's syndrome. Depressed and in a fog of anti-depressants, he hadn't spoken for over a year. The only way he expressed himself was by writing poems or drawing felt-tip scenes from his favourite West End musicals and Hollywood films. Increasingly isolated, cut off from everyone and everything he loved, Reuben sent a text message: 'brother. do. you. love. me.' When Manni received this desperate message from his youngest brother, he knew everything had to change. He immediately left his life in Spain and returned to England, moving Reuben out of the care home and into an old farm cottage in the countryside. In the stillness of winter, they began an extraordinary journey of repair, rediscovering the depths of their brotherhood, one gradual step at a time. Combining Manni's tender words with Reuben's powerful illustrations, their story of hope and resilience questions how we care for those we love, and demands that, through troubled times, we learn how to take better care of each other.
Dr John Cooper Clarke's dazzling, scabrous voice has reverberated through pop culture for decades, his influence on generations of performance poets and musicians plain for all to see. In WHAT, the original 'People's Poet' comes storming out of the gate with an uproarious new collection, reminding us why he is one of Britain's most beloved writers and performers. James Brown, John F.  Kennedy, Jesus Christ: nobody is safe from the punk rocker's acerbic pen – and that's just the first poem. Hot on the heels of The Luckiest Guy Alive and his sprawling, encyclopaediac memoir I Wanna Be Yours, the good Doctor returns with his most trenchant collection of poems yet. Vivid and alive, with a sensitivity only a writer with a life as varied and extraordinary as Cooper Clarke's could summon, WHAT is an exceptional collection from one of our foremost satirists.
As a Bolton teenager with a paper round, Clive Myrie read all the newspapers he delivered from cover to cover and dreamed of becoming a journalist. In this deeply personal memoir, he tells how his family history has influenced his view of the world, introducing us to his Windrush generation parents, a great grandfather who helped build the Panama Canal, and a great uncle who fought in the First World War, later to become a prominent police detective in Jamaica. He reflects on how being black has affected his perspective on issues he's encountered in thirty years reporting some of the biggest stories of our time (most recently from Ukraine and Israel), showing us how those experiences gave him a better idea of what it means to be an outsider. He tells of his pride in his roots, but his determination not to be defined by his background in dealing with the challenges of race and class to succeed at the highest level. Moving, engaging, revealing, Everything is Everything is a story of love and hate - but also hope.
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