Tag: Nonfiction

The Poop Diaries, by Abby Ross: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review

237 pages Nonfiction This book is about plumbers and their experiences in the world of pipes, sewers, toilets, poo, and everything that impacts on their lives in that role. I’ll try to avoid scatological humour in this review, but I’m not promising anything! If you’ve ever had to invite or beg a plumber to unblock …

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What If?, by Randall Munroe: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review2 Comments

304 pages Comic Strips/Physical Chemistry/Web Graphics and Animation Subtitled ‘Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions’, this book is as entertaining as it is informative. The author is at pains to inform readers that, although he has a degree in physics, he works as the owner/creator of a webcomic, XKCD, he also warns that he …

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Too Much, Not Enough, by Tara Sanderson PsyD, MBA: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review

127 pages Exercise & Fitness/Mind, Body & Spirit Self Help/Counselling I rarely read self-help books, but this one popped up via a particularly supportive Twitter group I belong to and, as it was free for a few days, I thought I’d give it a look. It attracted my attention due to its subtitle ‘A guide …

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Preparing for Higher Education Study, by Dr Penny Grubb: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review2 Comments

160 pages Student Life/Test Preparation for Young Adults/Study & Learning Skills for Educational Students This book does precisely what it states on the cover. It’s a manual for learning the specific skills, attitudes and strategies a student needs on beginning the academic life that is Higher Education. If you’re going to university, at whatever age, …

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Defy Death Now (Live to Die Another Day), by Dr Joseph S Maresca : #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Reading, Review

21 pages Medical advice This is an unusual little book with a fairly simple but important message about illness. It’s much more appropriate in certain ways to readers in America, but has lessons for the world. Here, in UK, we have a free National Health Service, once the envy of the world but currently in …

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The QI Book of General Ignorance, by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review

393 pps Humour/Puzzles & Games/ Subtitled ‘The Noticeably Stouter Edition’, this book of humorously presented erudition is a gem. Clearly, a book to be dipped into, rather than read at one sitting, it is nevertheless addictive. Those who know the TV show, first hosted by the inimitable Stephen Fry and latterly by the equally unique …

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Illinois Native Americans, by In60Learning: #BookReview.

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Subtitled ‘A 9,000 Year Civilisation’, this little book is part of a project aimed at providing readers with concise histories that can be enjoyed as text or is an audiobook version. The idea is sensible and welcome. I know absolutely nothing about American Native Indians, other than the terribly distorted view that TV’s cowboy programmes …

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1788, by David Hill, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Reading, Review7 Comments

This book was recommended to me by a friend in Australia; I doubt I’d have come across it otherwise. Full of detail on the personalities involved in setting up and running the first colony in Australia, the book chronicles events leading up to the decision to transport convicts from England, and describes life for those …

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Collins Complete Guide to British Birds, by Paul Sterry, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review2 Comments

Regular visitors to the blog will know I usually review works of fiction. But I also do this for nonfiction, when I think it'll be useful for readers. My recent move to the Forest of Dean has meant I've discovered species of bird unknown to me, so I bought this book to help my wife …

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