Want to impress your friends and family with both useful, worthless but undeniably interesting facts?Then Interesting Facts For Curious Minds: 1572 Random But Mind Blowing Facts About History, Science, Pop Culture and Everything in Between is the book for you!In this book you’ll find the answers to questions such as:When did zero become a number?Who was the inventor of Bitcoin?What did the Big Bang sound like?How have sports changed around the world?What’s a malapropism?Interesting Facts For Curious Minds gives you the answer to all these and many, many more questions that I know have crossed your mind from time to time. This book is divided into 63 chapters by topic for your convenience, bringing you a nice mix of science, history, pop culture, and all sorts of stuff in between. Each chapter contains 25 concise yet engaging factoids that are sure to make you think and at times laugh.How you read this book is entirely up to you. I’m sure most of you will read it cover to cover at some point, but when you’re with friends and family you can pick the chapters out that most appeal to all of you.However you read this book, I guarantee you’ll find it one of the best tools to pass some time, relax alone, or connect with others. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn some truly interesting facts! Read more

Bursting with fascinating facts for impressing friends, parents, grandparents and teachers – perfect for curious children everywhere!Wow your friends! Amaze your teachers! Astonish your family!Find over a HUNDRED mind-boggling facts and sensational stats in this fun-packed and hilarious book, perfect for 8+ readers.Whether you love animals or adventure, science or sport, inspiring people or incredible places, you’ll find ALL the weird and wonderful facts you’ll ever need in the pages of this book. You won’t want to put it down!The perfect beginner’s book for STEAM related topics.Look out for more amazing fact books:Amazing Facts Every 6 Year Old Need to KnowAmazing Facts Every 7 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 9 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 10 Year Old Needs to Know Read more

The original and bestselling almanacReconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us - including tide tables, sunrises and moon phases; wildlife and folklore; seasonal recipes and more.The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. And it's the ideal gift!You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.PRAISE FOR THE ALMANAC:'Lia Leendertz's classic almanac never fails to delight' - The Herald'It's a perfect Christmas present' - Allan Jenkins, The Observer'The perfect companion to the seasons' - India Knight'Indispensable' - Sir Bob Geldof'This book is your bible' - The Independent'I love this gem of a book' - Cerys MatthewsThe Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 was a Sunday Times bestseller in January 2025 Read more

'The fascinating story of ancient words … new revelations await' The Guardian'A magisterial feat' New Scientist________________________________One ancient language transformed our world. This is its story.Star. Stjarna. Stare. Thousands of miles apart, people look up at the night sky and use the same word to describe what they see.Listen to these English, Icelandic and Iranic words and you can hear echoes of one of the most extraordinary journeys in humanity’s past. All three of these languages – and hundreds more – share a single ancient ancestor.Five millennia ago, in a mysterious Big Bang of its own, this proto tongue exploded, forming new worlds as it spread east and west. Today, nearly half of humanity speaks an Indo-European language. How did this happen?In Proto, acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney sets off to find out. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the Silk Roads and the Hindu Kush. We follow in the footsteps of nomads and monks, Amazon warriors and lion kings – the ancient peoples who spread these tongues far and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists racing to recover this lost world. What they have discovered has vital lessons for our modern age, as people and their languages are on the move again.Proto is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words.________________________________'Lively and fascinating. I loved it' David Bellos, author of Is That a Fish in your Ear?'A truly extraordinary detective story' Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything Read more

'Interesting and provocative... It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack ObamaWhat makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?One of the world's preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human.Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we're going.**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY**PRAISE FOR SAPIENS:'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last... It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans'Startling... It changes the way you look at the world' Simon Mayo'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species' Bill GatesOver 2 million copies sold since publication [Nielsen BookScan UK, Circana BookScan US, April 2024] Read more

If you enjoyed A Minecraft Movie, you’ll love this book! Written by expert guides who specialise in studying mobs and biomes, the Minecraft Mob Encyclopedia is an adventure to discover every Mob in the game.The Overworld is an enormous land full of beautiful biomes and teeming with life, so much so that it can be a challenge to witness all it has to offer. The Minecraft Mob Encyclopedia is brought to you by experts who specialise in exploring biomes and love sharing their experiences of mob spotting.Cross plains and jungles, oceans and caves as you go on an exciting journey to discover every single mob in the game!It’s time for adventure! Minecraft is a multi-platform block-based gaming sensation. Whether you're in Creative, Survival or Hardcore mode, the Minecraft books contain all the advice you need to survive and thrive! Read more

The perfect introduction to birdwatching for children! Calling all budding birdwatchers - this captivating pocket size book is the perfect gateway to the world of feathered friends. It's the perfect companion for kids eager to explore the wonders of birdwatching in the great outdoors. Key Highlights:Encouraging Exploration: Designed to inspire children to venture outside and embark on their birdwatching journeys. This book ignites the spirit of adventure and discovery. Getting Started: Packed with valuable information, it provides the essential knowledge needed to begin the birdwatching journey, making it accessible and enjoyable for kids. Field Guide Expertise: Inside, you'll discover a comprehensive field guide section, brimming with expert insights on species identification, ensuring that young birdwatchers are well-equipped for their outdoor excursions. Illustrated Wonder: The book features stunning illustrations by the renowned ornithological artist, Mike Langman, whose work is frequently published by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).For more adventures, don't miss other titles in the series: National Trust: Out and About Minibeast Explorer, National Trust: Out and About Night Explorer and National Trust: Out and About Sky Explorer. Read more

Bursting with fascinating facts for impressing friends, parents, grandparents and teachers – perfect for curious children everywhere!Wow your friends! Amaze your teachers! Astonish your family!Find over 130 mind-boggling facts and sensational stats in this fun-packed and hilarious book, perfect for 9+ readers.Whether you love animals or adventure, science or sport, inspiring people or incredible places, you’ll find ALL the weird and wonderful facts you’ll ever need in the pages of this book. You won’t want to put it down!The perfect beginner’s book for STEAM related topics.Look out for more amazing fact books:Amazing Facts Every 6 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 7 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 8 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 10 Year Old Needs to Know Read more

After is a ground-breaking book for anyone curious about the scope of the human mind, the nature of consciousness, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.'Absorbing and convincing' Daily MailAn Independent book of the month___What happens when we die?Ten per cent of people whose hearts stop, and then restart, report near-death experiences. Stories of lights, tunnels and reunion with late loved ones have been relayed - and dismissed - since ancient times. But when Dr Bruce Greyson's patients started describing events that he simply could not dismiss, he began to investigate.In After, he shares the scientific revelations of four decades of research into the dying process. He has become increasingly convinced that dying is less an ending than a transition, the threshold between one form of consciousness and another. Dr Greyson challenges us to consider what these lessons can teach us about the relationship between our brain and our mind, expanding our understanding of consciousness and of what it means to be human.___'A book that will challenge your understanding about how the world works' The Independent'[Dr Greyson is] a dominant force at the frontier of this intriguing field' The Times'A major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies.' Raymond Moody, author of Life After Life Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*An Economist, Financial Times, Times and New Statesman Book of the Year*Shortlisted for the FT Business Book of the Year Award and the British Academy Book Prize, Longlisted for the Wainwright Conservation Writing Prize'Compelling' TIM MARSHALL'Lively, rich and exciting' PETER FRANKOPAN'Vitally important' TIM HARFORD_____________Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. They built our world, and they will transform our future.They took us from the Dark Ages to the present day. They power our computers and phones, build our homes and offices, and create life-saving medicines. But most of us take these six crucial materials completely for granted.In Material World, Ed Conway travels the globe to uncover a secret world we rarely see. As we wrestle with climate change, energy crises and the threat of new global conflict, Conway shows why these substances matter more than ever before, and how the hidden battle to control them will shape our geopolitical future. Read more

Big, tiny, crawling or trundling, shiny or fuzzy - explore the wonderful world of creepy crawlies! Is your child at that age where they are starting to ask "why?" This charming board book for kids is for little ones who are just beginning to read. It's packed with fascinating facts about bugs - perfect for encouraging first interests! Inside of the pages of this insect book for kids, you'll find: - Uncomplicated designs and eye-catching images that are easy for young children to absorb- The simple text combines healthy essential learning with genuinely exciting facts that will excite and delight- First Facts are small springboards that visually spark an interest in young children, stimulating their curiosity to encourage early reading skills development How many legs does a millipede have? What do dung beetles eat? Why do spiders build webs? Find the answers to all these questions and more. This educational book is ideal for children interested in bugs - it makes learning fun by introducing concepts with short text and engaging photos to inspire curiosity and encourage early learning. During storytime, parents and little ones can discover why bees make honey, how ants work as a team, and how some beetles glow in the dark! First Facts Bugs is perfect for home reading and is a great way to introduce young readers to the exciting world around them!Look out for other titles in DK's First Fact series. Encourage a lifetime of learning with our range of educational books for kids age 3-5. This series includes First Facts: Farm, First Facts: Dinosaurs, and First Facts: Seasons. Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*Now with a fun pub quiz*'An idiosyncratic ride through history' Independent 'Holland and Sandbrook have pretty much reinvented popular history for the modern age' The TimesThe nation's favourite historians, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, take on the most curious moments in history, answering the questions we didn't even think to ask . . .- What was the most disastrous party in history?- How did a hair appointment almost blow Churchill's cover?- Why did the Nazis believe they were descended from the people of Atlantis?- What made Alfred the Great so great?From a British political leader who allegedly plotted to feed his lover to alligators, to a Brazilian emperor whose subjects mistook him for a banana, there is nothing too big or too small for Tom and Dominic to unpick. Read more

The hilarious history book for kids, all about the human body, from bestselling, record-breaking author and illustrator Adam Kay and Henry Paker.The olden days were pretty fun if you liked wearing chainmail or chopping people's heads off.But there was one TINY LITTLE problem back then . . . doctors didn't have the slightest clue about how our bodies worked.It's time to delve into history and get some answers to some big questions, like:Why did patients gargle with wee?Why did people used to get paid for farting? (Unfortunately that’s no longer a thing – sorry.)How did a doctor save people's lives using a washing machine, a can of beans and some old sausages?What was the great stink? (No, it's not what doctors call your bum.)If you're sure you're ready, then pop a peg on your nose (there was a lot of stinky pus back then), pull on your wellies (there was a lot of poo there too), wash your hands (because they certainly didn't) and explore this gross and gruesome history of the human body!Praise for Kay's Anatomy:'An enjoyably gross look at the human body. Hours of gruesome fun guaranteed' - i'Like listening to a teacher who makes pupils fall about' - Sunday Times'Totally brilliant!' - Jacqueline Wilson'Fun and informative' - Malorie Blackman'Very funny - this exciting book is bound to inspire the next generation of medics' -Sunday Express Read more

**THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER**'Rattling. Heartbreaking. Beautiful,' Atul Gawande, bestselling author of Being MortalWhat makes life worth living in the face of death?At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity - the brain - and finally into a patient and a new father.Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.'A vital book about dying. Awe-inspiring and exquisite. Obligatory reading for the living' Nigella Lawson Read more

Want to impress your buddies at the bar? Need to think of something interesting to do at the next family gathering? Want to learn a bunch of random facts about history, science, true crime, and the paranormal?Pick up Interesting Stories for Curious People, the ultimate guidebook for a plethora of interesting facts about a whole bunch of several different topics. A quick read packed with information from cover to cover.Here you will find out:How did a Frenchman successfully use a spontaneous combustion defense during a murder trial?How did a German teenager help end the Cold War?Why did some really smart guys think foam houses would be the wave of the future?What is a chupacabra and why are there two of them?Did Cleopatra really die from a snake bite?You’ll be glued to the pages of this book reading interesting fact after interesting fact as Interesting Stories for Curious People brings you the in-depth knowledge of some things you may have heard about and always wondered, but now will learn the truth. You’ll finally be able to separate fact from fiction and will be surprised to learn that some of the things you’ve been told, even by your teachers, was just plain wrong!Whether you are a trivia maven or just a person who likes to learn new things, you’ll learn something new and find yourself entertained as you discover some of the most fascination criminals, ghost stories, strange habits of historical figures, and just weird things that are a part of our world. So open this book and your mind and see another side of things that you may not know existed. Read more

NEW BOOK - The perfect companion to Fart's Aren't Invisible! Read the newest fun and interesting fact book from Mick O'Hare, Yawns Freeze Your Brain. Includes quick fire fact sections designed to astound, enlighten and make you laugh. OUT NOWA mind-bending, brain-expanding cornucopia of facts for curious minds from the bestselling author of Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? and Does Anything Eat Wasps?Own the room with this hilarious collection of fact-tastic myth-busters and jaw-dropping trivia exploring science, history, sport and lesser-known facts from across the universe.Did you know that the Moon has a Bishop?That ostriches DON'T bury their heads in the sand?And that powdered rice was used as cement in the Great Wall of China?What do souls weigh?What can't 60% of the human population smell?And what on earth is rhinotillexomania?And the big one...are farts actually invisible?The answers to these questions are all here.Challenge your brain, turn your world upside down and relish the irresistible mix of wit and wisdom.It's also a perfect gift for the brainiac in your life. Read more

“A fascinating story” of the railways that linked America from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (The Washington Post).  Hear that Lonesome Whistle Blow unspools the history of the beginnings of the American railroad system. By the mid-nineteenth century, settlers in Missouri and California were separated by a vast landscape that dwarfed and isolated them, conquerable only by “the demonic power of the Iron Horse and its bands of iron track.” Although the building of the great railroad is commonly known as a story of romance, adventure, and progress, it also has a dark side, as profiteers decimated American Indian tribes, exploited workers, and destroyed ecosystems. Despite this, by the turn of the twentieth century, five major railroads would span the continent. This account vividly illustrates the railroad builders’ breathtaking skill, ambition, and ingenuity. . Brown compellingly tells a high-stakes tale, an exhilarating history that still holds lessons for today. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dee Brown including rare photos from the author’s personal collection. Read more

#1 Bestseller in both hardback and paperback: SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 ROYAL SOCIETY INSIGHT INVESTMENT SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE _______'A directory of wonders.' - The Guardian'Jaw-dropping.' - The Times'Classic, wry, gleeful Bryson...an entertaining and absolutely fact-rammed book.' - The Sunday Times'It is a feat of narrative skill to bake so many facts into an entertaining and nutritious book.'- The Daily Telegraph_______'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.' Bill Bryson sets off to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up. A wonderful successor to A Short History of Nearly Everything, this new book is an instant classic. It will have you marvelling at the form you occupy, and celebrating the genius of your existence, time and time again.'What I learned is that we are infinitely more complex and wondrous, and often more mysterious, than I had ever suspected. There really is no story more amazing than the story of us.' Bill Bryson Read more

Bursting with fascinating facts for impressing friends, parents, grandparents and teachers – perfect for curious children everywhere!Wow your friends! Amaze your teachers! Astonish your family!Find over 130 mind-boggling facts and sensational stats in this fun-packed and hilarious book, perfect for 6+ readers.Whether you love animals or adventure, science or sport, inspiring people or incredible places, you’ll find ALL the weird and wonderful facts you need in the pages of this book. You won’t want to put it down!The perfect beginner’s book for STEAM related topics.Look out for more amazing fact books:Amazing Facts Every 7 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 8 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 9 Year Old Needs to KnowAmazing Facts Every 10 Year Old Needs to Know Read more

*AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK* SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2024LONGLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2023A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR'A parable for our times' FINANCIAL TIMES, Best Books of 2023'Gripping' THE TIMES, Best Technology Books of 2023 ______________________________________________________________________What if you could be identified by anyone with just a blurry photo? When Kashmir Hill stumbled upon Clearview AI in 2019, a facial recognition platform with an alleged 98.6% accuracy rate, the implications were terrifying.   But that was just the beginning.   Clearview AI would quickly rise to the top, sharing its app with billionaires, law enforcement and even Hollywood actors. In this gripping true story, Hill dives deep into its shadowy journey, and explores how facial recognition technology is already a part of our everyday lives – and where it’s going next. ______________________________________________________________________‘The dystopian future portrayed in some science-fiction movies is already upon us. Kashmir Hill’s fascinating book brings home the scary implications of this new reality’ JOHN CARREYROU, author of Bad Blood'I loved this. A dark and gripping story, meticulously researched and stylishly told' JENNY KLEEMAN, author of Sex Robots & Vegan Meat'A walk down the street will not quite feel the same again' THE ECONOMIST Read more