Books Monthly April 2024
New Nonfiction Books for 2024
BOOKS MONTHLY PICK OF THE MONTH
Professor Alice Roberts: Crypt
Published 29th February 2024
The new book by Sunday Times bestselling author of Ancestors and Buried - the final instalment in Professor Alice Roberts' acclaimed trilogy.
We can unlock secrets from bones preserved for centuries in tombs, graves and crypts.
The history of the Middle Ages is typically the story of the rich and powerful, there’s barely a written note for most people’s lives. Archaeology represents another way of interrogating our history. By using cutting-edge science to examine human remains and burials, it is possible to unearth details about how individuals lived and died that give us a new understanding of the past – one that is more intimate and inclusive than ever before.
The seven stories in Crypt are not comforting tales. We meet the patients at one of the earliest hospitals in England and the victims of the St Brice’s Day Massacre. We see a society struggling to make sense of disease, disability and death, as incurable epidemics sweep through medieval Europe. We learn of a protracted battle between Church and State that led to the murder of Thomas Becket and the destruction of the most famous tomb in England. And we come face to face with the archers who went down with Henry VIII’s favourite ship, the Mary Rose.
Beautifully written and expertly researched by Professor Alice Roberts, Crypt is packed with thrilling discoveries that will make you see the history of Britain afresh.
I am familiar with three professors who are seen regularly on British TV - two more so than the others; They are Professor Alice Roberts, Professor Brian Cox, and Professor Sir John Curtice, who handles elections and politics. The other two present documentaries and series which popularise science and, in the case of Alice Roberts, archaeology, which has been a staple of British documentary TV since the very early days, when Sir Mortimer Wheeler commented on the latest archaeological finds, in the kinds of programmes British TV was originally meant for. Alice has taken archaeology and its many technological branches of investigatory tools into the realms of super-popular science, and made it fascinating in a "rock star" kind of way. Similarly, with popular science literature, her books transcend the ordinary and are written in a way that simply unlock the secrets of the universe in which we live. This is the third book in a brilliant, top flight best-selling series that is fascinating in a way that Time Team and Digging for Britain are fascinating. I don't want this to sound like a hero-worshipping review, I need to explain why I found CRYPT so amazingly good, because words unlock worlds, words inspire and kick-start the imagination - they are the most brilliant and effective way of communicating, and Alice Roberts is quite simply one of the best communicators, one of the best authors of popular science we have ever had. CRYPT is a series of archaeological case studies which, each in its own way, explains the power of new investigative techniques to unlock past archaeological discoveries in ways that a few decades ago had not even been dreamed of. Alice specialises in bones and anatomy, and although the examination of bones can enhance our knowledge of, for example, those mysterious Dark Ages, there are now new techniques, new ways of studying bones that allow us to fill in all kinds of gaps in our historical knowledge. Alice looks at, in these case studies, victims of the St Brice's Day massacre from the Dark Ages, the murder of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral (hands up those of you who knew that the "Cant" in Canterbury came from the Latin name for Kent), the Bubonic Plague, and the Longbowmen who drowned with the Mary Rose (its sister ship was originally named the Peter Pomegranate!). In each case study new archaeological techniques and tools are explained and laid out in laymen's language, the very epitome of popular science for the masses; the findings explained, the consequences of extending the use of such new ground-breaking techniques to other unexplained mysteries from our past. This book is sensationally good - I missed out on the sciences at Grammar School60-odd years ago, having chosen the modern languages (and Latin and Greek) path; now I wish I had studied the sciences as well, thanks to presenters and authors such as Alice Roberts. Had she been a teacher at my school back then, I would have been first in the queue for the sciences. How I wish I could go back and start over; but I am as fascinated now by archaeology (Time Team, Meet The Ancestors, Digging for Britain are among my favourite real life TV programmes) as I have ever been, and the new discoveries, especially when they're explained by someone llike Alice, or preferably by Alice herself. Learning is so much better when it's explained by someone with buckets of charisma and an outstanding personality like Alice's. CRYPT is a triumph of popular science. It's utterly fascinating, easily readable, easily understood, and it immediately broadens our knowledge and interest. Thanks Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy. It's a book I shall always treasure...
Si King and Dave Myers: The Hairy Dieters Fast Food
Published 25th April 2024
THE HAIRY DIETERS' FAST & FRESH is the brand-new collection of tasty, easy-to-prep, low-calorie dishes from the nation's favourite cooking duo, The Hairy Bikers.
Inspired by the ingredients of the Mediterranean, Si King and Dave Myers have developed over 80 delicious and nutritious recipes to help you move away from processed foods and ready meals to make the most of the fresh ingredients available throughout the year.
With dishes including red pepper salad with feta, black bean soup, pulled chicken tacos, spinach & halloumi curry, beef ragù with mushrooms, chocolate & rye cookies and blueberry cheesecake, whether you're looking for quick midweek meals, recipes with minimal prep or sweet treats, Si and Dave have it covered.
Triple-tested, calorie-counted and packed full of flavour, FAST & FRESH is sure to become your go-to for healthy inspiration every day.
Graham Dench: Horses in Training 2024
Published 1st April 2024
Horses in Training is an institution in racing - an indispensable tool for every racing enthusiast.
Written in an easy-to-follow style, it is an encyclopaedia of invaluable information on the horses each trainer has in their care, with almost 20,000 horses and around 550 trainers. The book lists alphabetically the British, Irish and French trainers, their horses, the owner and breeder of every horse, foaling dates of two-year-olds and the trainer's address and phone numbers.
Fully indexed and numbering 720 pages, it includes more than 150 pages of key statistics, covering everything from big-race winners to trainer tables, fixtures and racecourse information. The book is expertly edited by Graham Dench, a Racing Post senior reporter and former form book editor.
Ethan Mollick: Co-intelligence - Living and Working with AI
Published 4th April 2024
Co-Intelligence is the very best book I know about the ins, outs, and ethics of generative AI. Drop everything and read it cover to cover NOW' Angela Duckworth
Consumer AI has arrived. And with it, inescapable upheaval as we grapple with what it means for our jobs, lives and the future of humanity.
Cutting through the noise of AI evangelists and AI doom-mongers, Wharton professor Ethan Mollick has become one of the most prominent and provocative explainers of AI, focusing on the practical aspects of how these new tools for thought can transform our world. In Co-Intelligence, he urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher and coach. Wide ranging, hugely thought-provoking and optimistic, Co-Intelligence reveals the promise and power of this new era.
Ben Newell: Hello Tiny World
Published 2 May 2024
Venture into the tiny worlds of terrariums and discover how to create a universe of your own.
Like an artist, you’ll learn how to use planting and hardscaping to make stunning terrarium compositions. Plus, master the fundamentals of successful growing – soil, water, and light – so your plants thrive.
Put theory into practice with step-by-step projects of 13 terrariums:
- Repurpose a spice jar to create a stunning yet small terrarium on a budget
- Replicate natural environments in your home with planting and hardscaping choices, such as the fallen branch terrarium
- Express yourself by including playful figurines to create fun imaginary worlds
- Try a bioactive terrarium, adding custodians to thrive in these mini ecosystems
With a combination of projects and deep dives into plant groups and care advice, you’ll be well on your way to curating your own terrarium wonderland with Hello Tiny World.
Harriet Baker: Rural Hours
Published 4th April 2024
In Rural Hours, Harriet Baker tells the story of three very different women, each of whom moved to the countryside and was forever changed by it. We encounter them at quiet moments – pausing to look at an insect on the windowsill; jotting down a recipe; or digging for potatoes, dirt beneath their nails. Slowly, we start to see transformations unfold: Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and Rosamond Lehmann emerge before us as the passionate, visionary writers we know them to be.
Following long periods of creative uncertainty and private disappointment, each of Baker's subjects is invigorated by new landscapes, and the daily trials and small pleasures of making a home; slowly, they embark on new experiments in form, in feeling and in living that would resonate throughout the rest of their lives. In the country, each woman finds her path: to convalescence and recovery; to sexual and political awakening; and, above all, to personal freedom and creative flourishing.
In graceful, fluid prose, Baker vividly recreates these overlooked episodes, revealing how ‘rural hours’ defined the lives of three pioneering writers. In the end, she shows, their example is an invitation to us all: to recognize the radical and creative potential of rural places, and find new enchantment in the rituals of each day.
Suzi Ponson: Me and Mr Jones
Published 4th April 2024
Suzi Ronson was working in a Beckenham hair salon in the early seventies when Mrs Jones came in for her weekly shampoo and set. After being introduced to her son David and his wife Angie, Suzi finds herself at the Bowies' bohemian apartment and is soon embroiled in their raucous world.
Having crafted his iconic Ziggy Stardust hairstyle, Suzi becomes the only working woman in David's touring party and joins the Spiders from Mars as they perform around the globe. Amid the costume blunders, parties and groupies she meets her husband-to-be, Mick Ronson, and together they traverse the absurdities of life in show business, falling in with the likes of Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed along the way.
Dazzling and intimate, Me and Mr Jones provides not only a unique perspective on one of the most beguiling stars of our time but also a world on the cusp of cultural transformation, charting the highs and lows of life as one of the only women in the room as it happened.
Natasha Swingler: Creating Effective Spaces
Published 4th April 2024
An effective space is one that works for you, liberating you to live the life you want.
Natasha takes you around the home and shares her hacks from the kitchen to the bedroom via the bathroom and entranceway. Never again will you need to step over your "floordrobe", rifle through the shoe rack, or spend ten minutes searching for keys.
Applying Natasha's "house rules" to every room, drawer and cupboard, you'll learn to ditch the complex systems, keep things where you use them and set all-important boundaries throughout your home.
Taking the questionnaire at the start of the book will reveal the priorities for your living space. Then, by implementing daily routines, simple systems and practical processes tailored to your needs, you will create an ideal stress-free environment that looks good, too.
With beautiful photography throughout, and step-by-step diagrams of folds for everything from towels and T-shirts to gift-wrap, Natasha's system for creating a serene home can be applied to any space, large or small.
Professor Alice Roberts: CryptPublished 29th February 2024
The new book by Sunday Times bestselling author of Ancestors and Buried - the final instalment in Professor Alice Roberts' acclaimed trilogy.
We can unlock secrets from bones preserved for centuries in tombs, graves and crypts.
The history of the Middle Ages is typically the story of the rich and powerful, there’s barely a written note for most people’s lives. Archaeology represents another way of interrogating our history. By using cutting-edge science to examine human remains and burials, it is possible to unearth details about how individuals lived and died that give us a new understanding of the past – one that is more intimate and inclusive than ever before.
The seven stories in Crypt are not comforting tales. We meet the patients at one of the earliest hospitals in England and the victims of the St Brice’s Day Massacre. We see a society struggling to make sense of disease, disability and death, as incurable epidemics sweep through medieval Europe. We learn of a protracted battle between Church and State that led to the murder of Thomas Becket and the destruction of the most famous tomb in England. And we come face to face with the archers who went down with Henry VIII’s favourite ship, the Mary Rose.
Beautifully written and expertly researched by Professor Alice Roberts, Crypt is packed with thrilling discoveries that will make you see the history of Britain afresh.
I am familiar with three professors who are seen regularly on British TV - two more so than the others; They are Professor Alice Roberts, Professor Brian Cox, and Professor Sir John Curtice, who handles elections and politics. The other two present documentaries and series which popularise science and, in the case of Alice Roberts, archaeology, which has been a staple of British documentary TV since the very early days, when Sir Mortimer Wheeler commented on the latest archaeological finds, in the kinds of programmes British TV was originally meant for. Alice has taken archaeology and its many technological branches of investigatory tools into the realms of super-popular science, and made it fascinating in a "rock star" kind of way. Similarly, with popular science literature, her books transcend the ordinary and are written in a way that simply unlock the secrets of the universe in which we live. This is the third book in a brilliant, top flight best-selling series that is fascinating in a way that Time Team and Digging for Britain are fascinating. I don't want this to sound like a hero-worshipping review, I need to explain why I found CRYPT so amazingly good, because words unlock worlds, words inspire and kick-start the imagination - they are the most brilliant and effective way of communicating, and Alice Roberts is quite simply one of the best communicators, one of the best authors of popular science we have ever had. CRYPT is a series of archaeological case studies which, each in its own way, explains the power of new investigative techniques to unlock past archaeological discoveries in ways that a few decades ago had not even been dreamed of. Alice specialises in bones and anatomy, and although the examination of bones can enhance our knowledge of, for example, those mysterious Dark Ages, there are now new techniques, new ways of studying bones that allow us to fill in all kinds of gaps in our historical knowledge. Alice looks at, in these case studies, victims of the St Brice's Day massacre from the Dark Ages, the murder of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral (hands up those of you who knew that the "Cant" in Canterbury came from the Latin name for Kent), the Bubonic Plague, and the Longbowmen who drowned with the Mary Rose (its sister ship was originally named the Peter Pomegranate!). In each case study new archaeological techniques and tools are explained and laid out in laymen's language, the very epitome of popular science for the masses; the findings explained, the consequences of extending the use of such new ground-breaking techniques to other unexplained mysteries from our past. This book is sensationally good - I missed out on the sciences at Grammar School60-odd years ago, having chosen the modern languages (and Latin and Greek) path; now I wish I had studied the sciences as well, thanks to presenters and authors such as Alice Roberts. Had she been a teacher at my school back then, I would have been first in the queue for the sciences. How I wish I could go back and start over; but I am as fascinated now by archaeology (Time Team, Meet The Ancestors, Digging for Britain are among my favourite real life TV programmes) as I have ever been, and the new discoveries, especially when they're explained by someone llike Alice, or preferably by Alice herself. Learning is so much better when it's explained by someone with buckets of charisma and an outstanding personality like Alice's. CRYPT is a triumph of popular science. It's utterly fascinating, easily readable, easily understood, and it immediately broadens our knowledge and interest. Thanks Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy. It's a book I shall always treasure...
Si King and Dave Myers: The Hairy Dieters Fast Food
Published 25th April 2024
THE HAIRY DIETERS' FAST & FRESH is the brand-new collection of tasty, easy-to-prep, low-calorie dishes from the nation's favourite cooking duo, The Hairy Bikers.
Inspired by the ingredients of the Mediterranean, Si King and Dave Myers have developed over 80 delicious and nutritious recipes to help you move away from processed foods and ready meals to make the most of the fresh ingredients available throughout the year.
With dishes including red pepper salad with feta, black bean soup, pulled chicken tacos, spinach & halloumi curry, beef ragù with mushrooms, chocolate & rye cookies and blueberry cheesecake, whether you're looking for quick midweek meals, recipes with minimal prep or sweet treats, Si and Dave have it covered.
Triple-tested, calorie-counted and packed full of flavour, FAST & FRESH is sure to become your go-to for healthy inspiration every day.
Graham Dench: Horses in Training 2024
Published 1st April 2024
Horses in Training is an institution in racing - an indispensable tool for every racing enthusiast.
Written in an easy-to-follow style, it is an encyclopaedia of invaluable information on the horses each trainer has in their care, with almost 20,000 horses and around 550 trainers. The book lists alphabetically the British, Irish and French trainers, their horses, the owner and breeder of every horse, foaling dates of two-year-olds and the trainer's address and phone numbers.
Fully indexed and numbering 720 pages, it includes more than 150 pages of key statistics, covering everything from big-race winners to trainer tables, fixtures and racecourse information. The book is expertly edited by Graham Dench, a Racing Post senior reporter and former form book editor.
Ethan Mollick: Co-intelligence - Living and Working with AI
Published 4th April 2024
Co-Intelligence is the very best book I know about the ins, outs, and ethics of generative AI. Drop everything and read it cover to cover NOW' Angela Duckworth
Consumer AI has arrived. And with it, inescapable upheaval as we grapple with what it means for our jobs, lives and the future of humanity.
Cutting through the noise of AI evangelists and AI doom-mongers, Wharton professor Ethan Mollick has become one of the most prominent and provocative explainers of AI, focusing on the practical aspects of how these new tools for thought can transform our world. In Co-Intelligence, he urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher and coach. Wide ranging, hugely thought-provoking and optimistic, Co-Intelligence reveals the promise and power of this new era.
Ben Newell: Hello Tiny World
Published 2 May 2024
Venture into the tiny worlds of terrariums and discover how to create a universe of your own.
Like an artist, you’ll learn how to use planting and hardscaping to make stunning terrarium compositions. Plus, master the fundamentals of successful growing – soil, water, and light – so your plants thrive.
Put theory into practice with step-by-step projects of 13 terrariums:
- Repurpose a spice jar to create a stunning yet small terrarium on a budget
- Replicate natural environments in your home with planting and hardscaping choices, such as the fallen branch terrarium
- Express yourself by including playful figurines to create fun imaginary worlds
- Try a bioactive terrarium, adding custodians to thrive in these mini ecosystems
With a combination of projects and deep dives into plant groups and care advice, you’ll be well on your way to curating your own terrarium wonderland with Hello Tiny World.
Harriet Baker: Rural HoursPublished 4th April 2024
In Rural Hours, Harriet Baker tells the story of three very different women, each of whom moved to the countryside and was forever changed by it. We encounter them at quiet moments – pausing to look at an insect on the windowsill; jotting down a recipe; or digging for potatoes, dirt beneath their nails. Slowly, we start to see transformations unfold: Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and Rosamond Lehmann emerge before us as the passionate, visionary writers we know them to be.
Following long periods of creative uncertainty and private disappointment, each of Baker's subjects is invigorated by new landscapes, and the daily trials and small pleasures of making a home; slowly, they embark on new experiments in form, in feeling and in living that would resonate throughout the rest of their lives. In the country, each woman finds her path: to convalescence and recovery; to sexual and political awakening; and, above all, to personal freedom and creative flourishing.
In graceful, fluid prose, Baker vividly recreates these overlooked episodes, revealing how ‘rural hours’ defined the lives of three pioneering writers. In the end, she shows, their example is an invitation to us all: to recognize the radical and creative potential of rural places, and find new enchantment in the rituals of each day.
Suzi Ponson: Me and Mr Jones
Published 4th April 2024Suzi Ronson was working in a Beckenham hair salon in the early seventies when Mrs Jones came in for her weekly shampoo and set. After being introduced to her son David and his wife Angie, Suzi finds herself at the Bowies' bohemian apartment and is soon embroiled in their raucous world.
Having crafted his iconic Ziggy Stardust hairstyle, Suzi becomes the only working woman in David's touring party and joins the Spiders from Mars as they perform around the globe. Amid the costume blunders, parties and groupies she meets her husband-to-be, Mick Ronson, and together they traverse the absurdities of life in show business, falling in with the likes of Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed along the way.
Dazzling and intimate, Me and Mr Jones provides not only a unique perspective on one of the most beguiling stars of our time but also a world on the cusp of cultural transformation, charting the highs and lows of life as one of the only women in the room as it happened.
Natasha Swingler: Creating Effective SpacesPublished 4th April 2024
An effective space is one that works for you, liberating you to live the life you want.
Natasha takes you around the home and shares her hacks from the kitchen to the bedroom via the bathroom and entranceway. Never again will you need to step over your "floordrobe", rifle through the shoe rack, or spend ten minutes searching for keys.
Applying Natasha's "house rules" to every room, drawer and cupboard, you'll learn to ditch the complex systems, keep things where you use them and set all-important boundaries throughout your home.
Taking the questionnaire at the start of the book will reveal the priorities for your living space. Then, by implementing daily routines, simple systems and practical processes tailored to your needs, you will create an ideal stress-free environment that looks good, too.
With beautiful photography throughout, and step-by-step diagrams of folds for everything from towels and T-shirts to gift-wrap, Natasha's system for creating a serene home can be applied to any space, large or small.