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[[Category:Reference|*]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Andrew Dickson1394159544|title= Worlds ElsewhereRecycling for Dummies|author=Sarah Winkler|rating= 45|genre= ReferenceLifestyle|summary=From the sixteenth-century Baltic ''Recycling one ton of plastic can save up to 16.3 barrels of oil.'' ''Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees from being cut down.'' If you send an apple core to the American Revolutionlandfill, from colonial India it will take between 6 months and 2 years to decompose. A glass bottle will take up to 1 million years. As a just-post-WWII baby, I faced a dilemma: reducing, reusing and recycling is part of my DNA. NEVER throw away anything that might ''possibly'' come in handy now or in the future. NEVER buy anything if you can cobble together something that would serve the purpose. Almost everything can be used one more time and any purchase must pass the skyscrapers test of modern'Is this absolutely essential?' On the other hand, I suspected I was guilty of wishcycling: assuming that something must be recyclable (toothpaste tubes -day Shanghai, ShakespeareI's plays appear m looking at the most fascinating of times you) and dropping it in the most unexpected of placeskerbside bin. But Yes, I could go searching on the internet - and get conflicting advice - but what is it about Shakespeare – I needed was a man who never once left Englandrecycling bible.s}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1913750353|title=Britannica's Word of the Day|author=Patrick Kelly, which Renee Kelly and Sue Macy|rating=5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=''Britannica's Word of the Day'' has made him an icon across the globe? Travelling across four continents, six countries a sub-title: ''366 Elevating Utterances to Stretch Your Cranium and 400 yearsTickle Your Humerus'' which probably tells you all that you need to know about this brilliant book. It starts on January 1st with ''Razzmatazz'', tells you how to pronounce it (''Worlds Elsewhereraz-muh-TAZ'' attempts to understand Shakespeare ), gives you a definition and then includes the word in his role as a sentence so that you know how it should be used. You also get an international phenomenonengaging and frequently amusing illustration too.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099578956</amazonuk> I don't think I've ever encountered a word which uses the letter Z four times before!

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Graeme Donaldsuppl_stafl|title=Words of a FeatherSupply Chain 20/20: A Clear View on the Local Multiplier Effect for Book Lovers|author=Kim Staflund|rating=4.5

|summary= Words of a Feather. The title alone suggests an engaging read about languageSo, you've finished writing your book and you think the book certainly delivers. It pairs seemingly unrelated words, digs up their etymological roots hard work is all done? You're convinced that all you need to do now is get it published and the money will start rolling in? Wrong and reveals their common ancestrywrong again. The English language, of course, provides rich pickings indeed for a You presumably wrote the book of this type because you wanted to - and it is fascinating you had a talent for delivering the written word. You knew your subject back to see the hidden meaning behind common and not-so-common wordsfront. Some connections are fairly obvious once Now you read them. For example're going to have to get to grips with the book supply chain, which even parts of the link between ''grotto'publishing industry believe to be wrong but it' s too difficult to change and ''grotesque'' is easy no one wants to grasp: be the word first to try. Then, when you ''grotesquefinally'' derives from unpleasant figures depicted in murals have a copy of the book in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''. Other connections are just extraordinaryyour hands, like the so-crazy-you-couldn't-makere going to have to work out how to sell it -because it-up connection between ''furnaceis'' and ''fornicate''. These two words date back going to be down to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took over the city's abandoned baking domesyou. And some connections are more than a little tenuous, seemingly just a collection }} {{Frontpage|author=Frederic Gros|title=A Philosophy of words banded together, as is Walking|rating=5|genre= Politics and Society|summary= I confess I picked this one up from the case with the ''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairinglibrary in my pre-lockdown forage of random stuff. One of Now I have to go out an buy my personal favourites: own copy so that I can turn down the Italian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used pages I have marked and return to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted its varying wisdom when I need to . Some books draw you in slowly. This one had me in the first two pages, wherein Gros explains why ''ciao'', walking is not a word the more well-heeled among us use instead of ''goodbyesport''.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>178418814X</amazonuk>1781688370

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Stephen Hickman1788037812|title= The Art Fraternity of Stephen Hickmanthe Estranged: The Fight for Homosexual Rights in England, 1891-1908|author=Brian Anderson|rating= 45|genre= FantasyBiography|summary= Stephen Hickman has been Originally passed in 1885, the law that had made homosexual relations a well known artist crime remained in the Fantasy and Science Fiction worlds place for a number of 82 years now. But during this time, having created covers for authors such as Harlan Ellisonrestrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and 1908, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffreythree books on the nature of homosexuality appeared. They were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds, as well as the heterosexual Havelock Ellis. Exploring the margins of society and Larry Niven. His paintings are vibrantstudying homosexuality was common on the European Continent, kineticbut barely talked about in the UK, sometimes scary, often sensual, traditional, and yet modern. ''The Art so the publications of Stephen Hickman'' collects hundreds these men were hugely significant – contributing to the scientific understanding of these paintingshomosexuality, and beginning the artist himself provides an intriguing commentary alongside which offers a fascinating glimpse into struggle for recognition and equality, leading to the artistic processmilestone legalisation of same-sex relationships in 1967. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783298456</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Sutherland1912242052|title=How Good is Your Grammar?O Joy for me!|author=Keir Davidson

|genre=ReferenceArt|summary=In the preface of ''How Good is Your Grammar?Oh Joy for me!'' gives Coleridge credit for being '', John Sutherland suggests that the abolition of grammar schools in the 1960s coincided with a general decline in grammatical standards in first person to walk the decades that followed. In our modern age of 'text-speak' and emoticonsmountains alone, the need not because he had to for grammatical correctness seems to be rather low on our agendawork, maybe even regarded as irrelevant by some. Is this gradual erosion an inevitable part of the evolution of communicationa miner, quarryman, shepherd or will certain rules always remain an intrinsic part of the fabric of language? Only time will tellpack-horse driver, but because he wanted to for those wishing to brush up on pleasure and adventure. His rapturous encounters with their grammar skillsnatural beauty, and its literary consequences, Sutherland has compiled 100 quiz questions that he claims are changed our view of the world''ultimate test'' for his readers.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722575</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Lucy Adlington1072549271|title= Stitches in Time: The Story Simple Act of the Clothes We Wear Self-Publishing With Amazon: A Simple Step by Step Guide|author=Georgianne Landy-Kordis|rating=4.5|genre= HistoryBusiness and Finance|summary=I frequently meet authors who are struggling to be published by the traditional houses, but when I suggest self-publishing they explain that they don't have the big bucks required to go down that road with Author Solutions or Matador or their like. I then ask if they'Stitches in Time'' ve considered Kindle and the answer is a lively history of clothing. Riffling through the wardrobes of years gone by, costume historian Lucy Adlington reveals the stories underneath the clothes we wear in this tour of the history of fashioninevitably, ranging from ancient times that they wouldn't know where to the present daystart. I can empathise with that. With beautiful illustrations and full colour photographs Despite having used a computer for about thirty years, running most of my life ''Stitches in Timeand'' is a reminder of how the way we dress is inextricably bound up with considerations of aestheticswebsite online, sex, gender, class and lifestyle – and offers the reader the chance I'm still nervous when it comes to starting something new. I like someone to appreciate hold my hand as I go through it for the extraordinary qualities first time. That was why I was very interested when ''The Simple Act of the clothing we wear, and the rich history it has ledSelf Publishing With Amazon'' came across my desk... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847947263</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Jody RevensonHigashida_Fall|title= Harry PotterFall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight: The Character VaultA Young Man's Voice From the Silence of Autism|author=Naoki Higashida and David Mitchell|rating= 45|genre= EntertainmentHome and Family|summary= Unlock new information about your favourite characters from Naoki Higashida was only 13 years old when he wrote the Harry Potter film seriesinternational best-seller ''The Reason I Jump''. This coffeetable The book profiles was popular because it gave a rare glimpse into the workings of the goodautistic mind, badas told from the unique perspective of a teenager with non-verbal autism. Naoki communicates by using an alphabet grid, or by tracing letters on the palm of a transcriber. Despite this slow and everything laborious method of writing, he has published several books in between – from Harry his native Japan and Ron manages to give public presentations to Voldemort and Umbridgeraise awareness of his condition. Hugely detailed and filled with beautiful illustrations, images, Fall Down 7 Times Get up 8 reintroduces us to Naoki as a young adult in his 20s and never before seen glimpses into the design process – this explains how his perspectives on life have changed since writing his first book will answer your questions about character design in the Harry Potter series.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0062407449</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Steve SilbermanJenkins_100|title=Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter about People Who Think DifferentlyBritain's 100 Best Railway Stations|author=Simon Jenkins

|genre=ReferenceArt|summary=''Neurotribes'' is is an ambitious book. It aims to challenge In the widelymid-held perception that autism is a disabilitytwentieth century, or a developmental delay. One of my favourite quotes from the book is this: ''One way railway was something which harked back to understand neurodiversity is to think the Victorian age with trains being supplanted by cars and planes, but steam was being replaced by oil, even then and in terms of 'human operating systems' instead of diagnostic labels... Just because a computer is not running Windows doesn't mean that it's broken.'' This refreshing approach underpins the whole of this groundtwenty-first-breaking work, which century oil is essentially a potted-history of autism from the distant past giving way to the present dayelectricity. It will fascinate 's cleaner, more environmentally friendly and enlighten anyone with an interest in the subjectstations which we'd all rushed through as quickly as possible, or who is affected, directly or indirectly, by the condition. For autistic people, this book represents their roots; keen to escape their cultural historygrime, were restored and illustrates how far the autistic community have come over the past few decades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1760113638</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Mary McDonagh Murphy|title= Scoutbecame places to be admired, Atticus and Boo|rating= 4.5|genre= Reference|summary= First published in 1960, ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’’ is not only a beloved classic, but a touchstone possibly even lingered in literary and social history. ‘’Scout, Atticus & Boo’’ commorates the fifty years plus since ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’’ was published, and discusses its impact with contributions from Oprah Winfrey, James Patterson, Adriana Trigiani and Wally Lamb amongst others – particularly Alice Finch Lee, Harper Lee’s older sister who passed away last yearSimon Jenkins has chosen his hundred best railway stations. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>178475305X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stanley GibbonsTaylor_Owls|title=Great Britain Concise Stamp Catalogue 2015Owls: A Guide to Every Species|author=Marianne Taylor

|genre=ReferenceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=The thirtieth edition I feel like I am being watched. A huge pair of the Stanley Gibbons Concise Stamp catalogue lives up to expectations once againpiercing orange eyes are staring right at me, locking me into their gaze. It's been extensively updated and prices have been revised in line In contrast with the current market, leading to thousands hardness of price increases (particularly in varietiesthe deep-amber eyes, errorssoft grey feathers fan out into the surrounding area, Machinsintricate, Post & Go stamps detailed and booklets), which will please you - or not - depending on whether you're a seller or a buyerbeautiful. It's pitched An enigma; harsh and gentle at that sector of the market which has outgrown ''Collect British Stamps''same time, but not yet graduated to the [[Stamps of owl is beckoning the World 2011 by Stanley Gibbons|Stamps of reader to turn the World series]]pages and take a closer look inside. The cover price of £34.95 is reasonable when you see the amount of work - and technology - which has gone into the creation of the book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852599447</amazonuk>

{{newreviewplainFrontpage|isbn=JVDK_ELO|title=National Geographic Kids Infopedia 2016Electric Light Orchestra: Song by Song|author=John Van der Kiste

|genre=ReferenceEntertainment|summary=Annuals. They are not what they used to be. As a childMy memories of pop music in the early sixties revolve around guitars and drums, I remember snuggling sometimes the piano with only occasional excursions into a chair with my 1983 “Crackerjack” annual strings and brass. Pop music rarely stands still and being completely immersed by it wasn't long before the factsbasic instruments were seen as constraints and The Beatles, storiesThe Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys began to experiment, jokes with other groups following where they led. Amongst these groups was The Move and their lead guitarist and activities insidesongwriter, Roy Wood. Maybe I'm getting old, but many of todayWood wanted to develop the group's annuals seem to be little sound by adding more than a few flimsy sheets instruments but was prevented from achieving what he wanted by cost limitations and because the rest of colouring paper and posters sandwiched inside a hard cover. If, as a parent, you are aching to buy your children something with a little more substance and quality, then the National Geographic Infopedia 2016 may be just what you are looking forgroup didn't really share his enthusiasm.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1426322445</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Hendrix_PBHell|title= David Paperbacks from Hell: A History of Horror Fiction from the '70s and Ben Crystal'80s|titleauthor= Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare DictionaryGrady Hendrix

|genre=ReferenceHorror|summary= David CrystalDemonic possession, renowned linguistmurderous babies, writer, editorman-eating moths… for these books, lecturer and broadcaster has collaborated with his son Benno plot was too ludicrous, Shakespearean actorno cover art too appalling, no evil too despicable. Now horror author, director Grady Hendrix risks his soul and producer his sanity (not to mention the reader's!) to create an eye catching, exquisitely detailed, carefully colour coded and incisive reference guide. It is extensive and meticulously researched- a fusion of relate the Crystals’ Shakespearean knowledgetrue, linguistic skill and theatrical enthusiasm. Lavishly illustrated by Kate Bellamy, who favours a bright, attractive primary colour palette, this dictionary is a treasure trove for any student untold story of Shakespeare. This would be a five star review but for a minor quibble- it is missing an index of characters which would have been useful for pupils assigned character studies as they could have cross referenced the explanatory entries with quotes or themes. It also only concentrates on Shakespeare’s twelve most performed plays so it is not an exhaustive treatment of his workfascinating and often forgotten era in publishing.|amazonuk=Read the synapse-shattering story summaries!<amazonukbr>0192737503See the horrific hand-painted cover imagery!</amazonukbr>}}{{newreviewplain|title=The Economist Style Guide: 11th Edition|rating=4And learn the true-life tales of the writers, artists, and publishers who gleefully violated every literary law but one – never be boring.5|genre=Reference|summary=If you don't ''write'' what you mean, how will people ''know'' what you mean?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781253129</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jen Green and Wesley RobinsBrowne_Many|title=Oceans in 30 SecondsThe Many Faces of Coincidence|author=Laurence Browne|rating=3.5

|summary=Oceans in 30 Seconds is the latest book in the innovative series from Ivy Press, which aims to give an informative and entertaining overview of a given subject in bite-sized chunks. Each given subject has its own two-page spread, Browne does not mislead with a concise description on the left, covering all this choice of the main points, and title; he does without a colourful illustration on doubt explore the right hand page, complete with extra snippets many faces of information. Each chapter also has a handy 3-second sum up, which further condenses the main idea of the chapter into a single sentencecoincidence.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178240239X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Daniel Hahn1903385679|title=The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature100 Best Novels in Translation|author=Boyd Tonkin|rating=3.5

|summary=When I Consider, if you will, translated fiction. Some say it's impossible – that if a book was a child, some sixty so good in one tongue it could never survive being put into another. Samuel Beckett must have laboured over ever syllable and more years ago''Breath'', there were not many books for children orbut he could translate his own works, indeed, much money to buy what was availableand other equally complex pieces can cross borders. Forty years ago, when my daughter was It's a child there were more market that has actually doubled in sales volume between 2000 and the libraries were relatively well stocked2016 (thanks, ''Millennium Trilogy''). But Novels, in particular, in translation, are – as the last thirty years childrenintroduction here so smartly puts it – 's books have flourished. I'm no great fan a privileged means of passing border posts, a sort of [[J K Rowling's Harry Potter Books in Chronological Order|Harry Potter]] but even the most hardened cynic would have to admit universal passport issued by that Utopian state, the wizard has brought a lot Republic of children to reading - Letters''. We here at the 'Bag regularly try and give equal credit to enjoying it too. In the same period translator, without whom wewouldn've seen t be reading what we have in our hands. But all that said, do we really need one of those list books tackling ''difficult'' subjects become mainstream about the subject? I got given a book the other year detailing 1001 places to go to before I die, and the rise of young adult fictionI might even then have missed out a zero. From near-famine weIt would take as long as a fortnight've moved s holiday to feastwade through, but what we need now and even though this is guidancenot as long as your typical Bolano housebrick, it's not a short thing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199695148</amazonuk>Should it take our time?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Philip W ErringtonFry_Mythos|title=J.K. RowlingMythos: A Bibliography 1997 - 2013Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece|author=Stephen Fry

|summary=Just occasionally it's necessary to begin by saying what The Greek Myths are, arguably, the greatest stories ever told. So old and influential they cast a book ''isn't'': ''J.K. Rowling: A Bibliography 1997 - 2013'' isn't the latest book ''by'' J K Rowling - she had no part in the writing of the book shadow over western tales and doesn't profit from it financially. It isn'ttraditions, actually, ''about'' J K Rowling other than indirectlyyet remain relatable and readable millennia later. It ''is'' a book about her writingsHere comedian, bibliographic details of each edition of ALL her booksactor, pamphletstelevision presenter, actor and contributions author Stephen Fry brings his considerable talent to published works. It is ''not'' these special stories and recreates them with a book for the reader who loved the [[J K Rowling's Harry Potter Books in Chronological Order|Harry Potter books]] wit, warmth and wishes humanity that Rowling had written many more, but rather brings them into the definitive text about modern age whilst still giving the books which will be consulted by scholars, book dealers honour and collectors, auction houses respect that such ancient and researchers. The most obvious comparison for me is [[Stamps of the World 2013 by Stanley Gibbons|Stamps of the World by Stanley Gibbons]]. It is of that classinfluential stories deserve.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849669740</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kjartan PoskittMahnke_Lore|title=Everyday Maths for Grown-Ups: Getting to Grips with the Basics|rating=5|genre=Reference|summary=We all need maths - or so it says on the back The World of ''Everyday Maths for Grown Ups'' and whilst you could ''exist'' without a basic knowledgeLore, life is going to be so much easier if you can check receipts, do the calculations for that spot of DIY or work out if the 'bargain' you've been offered really is one. Kjartan Poskitt reckons that very few people are really confident with figures, but hopes that he can offer some help.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178243335X</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewVolume 1: Monstrous Creatures|author=Michelle Finlay|title=Everyday English for Grown-Ups: Getting to Grips with the BasicsAaron Mahnke|rating=4.5

|summary=It can seem Every country, every town, every village has a long time since we learned folktale – a story passed down through generations that often focuses on the nuts dark and bolts of the English language when we were at schoolunexplained. At No matter how the time the niceties modern world moves on, there's a still a part of colons and intricacies of apostrophes weren't really everyone that relevant is vulnerable to our lives and it's only when we miss out on a good job because our English isn't up tale. From ghosts to scratch or someone makes a scathing remark about our abuse werewolves, by way of wendigos and elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the language that we realise that we could do with an urgent and discreet brushup. Step forward reader legends from all over the world, whilst examining how they''Everyday English for Grown-ups'' - and it's aimed at native and non-native English speakersve become part of our collective imaginations, still striking fear into the hearts of many of us today.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782433341</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=June AndrewsFowler_Forgotten|title=Dementia: The One-Stop Guide: Practical advice for families, professionals, and people living with dementia and Alzheimer's DiseaseBook of Forgotten Authors|author=Christopher Fowler

|summary=Worldwide there are probably as many as 44''Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder''.4 million It makes people who suffer from dementia and many times that number of family, friends, carers and relatives who are affected by what is happening to the suffererthink you're dead.  There's no curetruth in that statement, you know, but there's a conundrum when it's not terminal and the symptoms (memory loss would seem applied to be the most commonauthors. Shakespeare is dead: Dickens is dead, but in some cases there are hallucinations, sexual or verbal disinhibition, not being able to work things out, difficulty in learning something new, finding your way about, or coping with the normal symptoms of aging) affect everyone involved. If you talk to people who are aging then itwe haven's not uncommon for them to say that t buried what they'd rather have cancer than dementia as you're unlikely to be an endless burden ve written: that lives on other peopleuntil.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781251711</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Dee Blick|title=The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book - on a Shoestring Budget|rating=5|genre=Reference|summary=I've always thought that [http://nanowrimo.org/ NANOWRIMO] is a brilliant idea. The nights are longer, the weather uninspiring: what better time to get the first draft of your novel written with support from a lot of other people who are all trying to do the same thingwhen? There is a downside for reviewers though: far too many people think Is it until fashion decrees that this they should be no more? Or is it, as in the end case of their labours and the fledgling manuscript is uploaded onto Kindle and theresome children's disappointment when the book is either not well received or doesn't sell - or sometimes both. Knowing which book it is authors that you have in you is a great start they are on life support through licensing deals and astute marketing? Christopher Fowler has unearthed (exhumed?) ninety- nine authors who were once hugely popular, but after that you need a structured plan of action and sound advice as to what you need to do to turn your work into a bestsellerwhose works have disappeared, sometimes quite literally.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910125040</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Julia Cresswell (Editor)Angell_Triang|title=Little Oxford Dictionary of Word OriginsTri-ang Collectables|author=Dave Angell|rating=43.5

|summary=Derived from the ''Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins'', the Little Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins tells A guide to the stories behind a thousand words, divided into a hundred themes from ''Adventure'' through to ''Writing'' trains produced by way of the rest of the alphabet. For each word within a theme we're told in which language the it originated and its original meaning Tri- thus for ''Infant'' we find that it comes ang company from its inception until the Latin ''in'' meaning ''not'' and ''fari'' for ''speaking''company became Hornby. The two parts put together tell of someone who has not yet reached legal majority rather than a child who has not yet learned A very personal guide to the value collecting of the word 'Why?' In Italian ''infante'' means ''youth'' as well as ''foot soldier''. From this came ''infanteria'', which English adopted as ''infantry'' in the sixteenth centurymodel trains.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199683638</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elizabeth Knowles (Editor)Chase_Orchids|title=Oxford Dictionary The Book of QuotationsOrchids: A life-size guide to six hundred species from around the world|author=Mark Chase, Maarten Christenhusz and Tom Mirenda

|summary=I have known people to be just a little snooty about One in seven flowering plants on earth is an orchid: there are 26,000 species in 749 genera. They flourish in remarkable habitats such as deserts and the Arctic circle, in fact that I have had , all areas but the most inhospitable. There's a copy of the current edition wide range of the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations on my bookshelf for over forty yearscolours, suggesting that it was a book for people who hadnshapes and scents: they't read re dramatic, delicate and ingenious in the original books. I long ago accepted ways that I would never have the time they've developed not just to read all the books I (might) want - or feel I ought - survive but to read and Ithrive. Tom Mirenda describes them as ''ve found the dictionary an invaluable work masters of reference manipulation'' and source of inspiration ''famous for half a century. Where else would you find over 20,000 quotations, covering centuries, every subject, with wit, wisdom lying and food for thought? Yes - I know theycheating their way to their many evolutionary successes''re probably all there on the internet - somewhere, but I've got yet his love of them in one volume on is as obvious as his respect for the insight they give us into the shelf in front of meprocesses which shaped our world. He hopes that understanding how that has come about will inspire us to conserve what we have.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199668701</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Patrick ScrivenorEdwards_Story|title=I Used to Know That: EnglishThe Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books (British Library Crime Classics)|author=Martin Edwards

|summary=I doubt that there can It's easy to be anything more unnerving than reviewing a book written confused by someone who is the various 'ages' of crime writing: if you have an expert interest in written English. Ithe genre you've even worried about that ll almost certainly have heard of the Golden Age of Crime, generally acknowledged as being the period between the first sentenceand second world wars. But 'Classic Crime' on the other hand extends the time frame at school I loved English Grammar either end and a good deal covers books published in the first half of it has stuckthe twentieth century. IThroughout my adult life, there'm conscious s been just one genre of being pedantic about mistakes other people make - but increasingly aware books which has fascinated me, and that there are gaps in my own knowledge which should be plugged. This book seemed like the ideal opportunity's crime, but so Icould hardly resist the chance of reading 'll confess that the subtitle 'Stuff You Forgot From SchoolThe Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books'' made me nervous I was going to be back to reading a school textbookparticularly as the author, Martin Edwards is an accomplished author within the crime genre and an acknowledged expert on the subject.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782432566</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Chris WaringDK_Childrens|title=I Used to Know That: MathsChildren's Illustrated Thesaurus|author=DK

|summary=Maths teacher Chris Waring starts this book with the basics and gradually works his (and our) way through to about the level One of GCSE. It's only 192 pages, so you can't expect it to be exhaustive but the great thing is that it isn't ''exhausting''. Waring explains concepts clearly and with humour but most importantly he shows why the subject valuable literary skills which children can learn is important and how it can be applied to life, covering such subjects as winning - or failing to win - the lottery and the chances of being dealt a royal flush at pokeruse reference books. It's not just the examples As a child every question which are new - itI began with 's a major improvement on the 'how do you will learn this because I'm telling you that you have to' approach which blighted the subject for so many of usspell...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782432558</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Orin Hargraves|title=It?'s Been Said Before: A Guide to the Use and Abuse of Cliches|rating=4|genre=Reference|summary=I don't usually start a review by telling you what a book would be answered with ''isn't'', but in this case EXACTLY as it's important. This isn't a light-hearted look at the subject, such as we found says in [[Cliches: Avoid Them Like the Plague by Nigel Fountain]] and which - laughing and blushing in equal measure - we shelved under dictionary'trivia'. This book will be shelved under 'reference': it's a rigorous look at the problem with the clichés divided not by subject matterwas fine, but grammatically and with an introduction to each section which gives all the information you need to help in making judgements about your own writing. This isnfamily's Collins Little Gem Dictionary didn't a book to ''amuse'' youencourage exploration, but to help you to improve your use of words.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199315736</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=William Poundstone|title=How to Predict the Unpredictable: The Art of Outsmarting Almost Everyone|rating=4|genre=Reference|summary=William Poundstone believes that we are all in the business of predicting, whether it be something as minor as playing rock, paper, scissors to pay a bar bill though to anticipating how the housing or stock markets are going to move. Now, I'm not particularly competitive - if whatever it is means ''that'' much to someone else then I'd rather let them have it - so this book didn't appeal to me on least because the basis of doing better than someone else, but I font was interested in how it might be possible to predict what is going small and difficult to happenread. SoFortunately, care to predict how it stacked up?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780744072</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=The Economist|title=Pocket World in Figures 2015|rating=4.5|genre=Reference|summary=There those times have now changed and reference book for children are people who don't understand the joy of raw data: no accompanying analysis (or spin) - just a collection of figures relevant to a particular circumstancenow much more inviting. If you're one of those people then this Not every book will mean little to you, but if you want comes with a pocket (well, certainly handbag or briefcase) work set of reference then this book will be a treasure. I once gave a copy to a diplomat and he kept his wife awake until instructions but it's worth studying the early hours as he came across another gem which she had ''How to know without delay. The 2015 edition is the twenty fourth in the series - and diplomatic (and similar) spouses everywhere should prepare themselves for the onslaught.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781252734</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=The Bee: A Natural History |author=Noah Wilson-Rich|rating=5|genre=Animals and Wildlife|summary=Bees have been making a bit of a media splash of late, due to heightened concern about their declining numbers and general welfare. Governments have been urged to do more to protect these important creatures, with a recent EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides hailed as a 'victory for bees'. There is no doubt that these prolific pollinators section, not least because similar systems are a vital part of our ecosystem, and the human fascination with bees goes back to our ancient historyused in other reference books. But just why do we find these hardworking insects so fascinating?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782401075</amazonuk>