A Piece Of String Is A Wonderful Thing

Relates in verse the origin and uses of string.

Relates in verse the origin and uses of string.

Relates in verse the origin and uses of string.

A mind-bending journey through some of the most weird and wonderful facts about our universe, vividly illuminating the hidden truths that govern our everyday lives. Fact: You could fit the whole human race in the volume of a sugar cube. Fact: The electrical energy in a single mosquito is enough to cause a global mass extinction. Fact: You age more quickly on the top floor than on the ground floor. So much of our world seems to make perfect sense, and scientific breakthroughs have helped us understand ourselves, our planet, and our place in the universe in fascinating detail. But our adventures in space, our deepening understanding of the quantum world, and our leaps in technology have also revealed a universe far stranger than we ever imagined. With brilliant clarity and wit, bestselling author Marcus Chown examines the profound science behind fifty remarkable scientific facts that help explain the vast complexities of our existence. “The tone is consistently light and breezy...An addictive, intriguing, and entertaining read...A handy guide for anyone yearning to spice up their conversational skills.”—Booklist “Heavy stuff lightly spun―just the thing for the science buff in the house.”―Kirkus Review

Are you scared? Are you afraid of public speaking, heights, flying, change, or any number of inexplicable things? You're not alone. The level of fear in this country has never been higher than it is right now. But it isn't run-through-the-streets-screaming fear. It's not terror. Rather, this new fear is quiet and relentless. It's 3:00-a.m. fear—a strange sound from who knows where, a shadow, a feeling, a dread that has you pinned to the bed, waiting, praying, wondering what's out there and whether you're next. It's as pervasive as night itself. It's the futile struggle against the unidentifiable that causes helplessness. Indeed, the majority of those with fear will never try to confront or conquer it. Instead, they'll make excuses and apologies, and just learn to live with it. Joe Kita was like that. He was functional, successful, for all intents and purposes normal. But the older he got, the more he felt plagued by worries and fears and doubts, some of which he could barely admit to himself. He saw his future contracting instead of expanding. And he finally decided to do something about it. He gave himself one year and set out to face his 12 biggest fears—not from the safety of some psychiatrist's couch but out in the real world. His goal was to discover, once and for all, what he was so damn afraid of—the mother of all fears. Here's a sampling of what he did: Drove a beat-up wreck in a demolition derby. Engaged in an airborne dogfight. Chased twisters in Tornado Alley. Served as a target for an aging knife thrower. Performed a stand-up-comedy routine before a raucous audience. Spent the night with Lizzie Borden. Went into solitary confinement at an abandoned prison. From the fear of ghosts to the fear of death, from the fear of flying to the fear of being alone, from the fear of public speaking to the fear of car accidents and even the fear of God, Joe Kita faced it all. His is a journey of humiliation and heroism, of embarrassment and enlightenment, of absurdity and, ultimately, appreciation. It is a tale that is as full of wisdom as of wit, as profound as it is, at times, pathetic. You will be fascinated, and at the same time, you will find inspiration, laughter, and courage.

Maitre Hauchecome spots a piece of string on the ground during his walk into town. As he bends down to pick it up, he could never have imagined the chaos that would soon ensue. His arch-nemesis Maitre Malandain is laying in wait. Hauchecome has walked straight into a trap intended to demolish his reputation in one blow. "The Piece of String" is an atmospheric revenge tale that portrays human nature, human cruelty, and malice that knows no limits. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer. Famed for being a master of the short story, he also wrote travel books and occasionally dabbled in poetry. His stories mainly focus on the relationships between men and women sitting at crossroads in their lives - whether personal or professional. His dramatic flair is largely influenced by French novelist Gustave Flaubert and is perfect for fans of Anton Chekhov's short stories. The most notable of the 300 short stories that he wrote include 'Bel Ami', 'Une Vie', and 'The Dumpling'.

The perfect gift for fans of All Creatures Great and Small, this is a charming collection of classic stories from James Herriot’s much-loved books, with insights into his life and work from his children Rosie and Jim. With astute observations and boundless humour, country vet Herriot captures the spirit of the Yorkshire Dales and of rural communities on the cusp of change, before tractors and machines had taken over and modern medicines and antibiotics transformed veterinary work. Along the way a beloved cast of characters emerges, from the squabbling brothers Tristan and Siegfried to Herriot’s hapless courtship and eventual family life with Helen Anderson. But it’s the animals which are at the heart of Herriot’s stories. Whether he’s dodging a raging bull on a risky artificial insemination assignment, becoming pen pals with Tricki Woo the spoilt Pekingese pooch, or the inevitable trials and tribulations of lambing season, there’s never a dull moment in Herriot’s company. At times moving and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Wonderful World of James Herriot will delight fans old and new.