Biographies & True Stories Books

SS-Obergruppenfhrer Reinhard Heydrich rose through the ranks from relative obscurity in the 1920s to the pinnacle of power in the Third Reich by 1936. He was considered the most dangerous man in Nazi Germany after Hitler himself. He was Himmler's deputy,...

This collection of mystery and horror stories is regarded as Japan's answer to Edgar Allan Poe.Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination, the first volume of its kind translated into English, is written with the quick tempo of the West but rich with...

A finalist for the 36th annual Amazon.ca First Novel Award!Five siblings, all haunted by the death of a brother in their youth. One winter day, when another of them will be taken by cancer.Guddy is struggling to fly across the continent in a snowstorm to...

In Paris and London, the crowds hailed him as the man who had conquered Napoleon, as the liberator of Europe, and as a benevolent, enlightened monarch. At home he came to be feared as a reactionary, oppressive autocrat in a country where millions of...

These mad immortal stories, now surfaced from the literary underground, have addicted legions of American readers, even though the high literary establishment continues to ignore them. In Europe, however (particularly in Germany, Italy, and France where...

Japan in the 10th century stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Inside this bubble, a subtle and beautiful world was in operation, and its inhabitants were tied to the moment, having no interest in the future and disdain...

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the top-ranked tennis players today, with multiple Grand Slams to their credit. But how do today's champions compare with those of earlier eras? From William Renshaw and the Doherty brothers to big Bill...

In 1965, Graham Greene joined journalist Bernard Diederich in the Dominican Republic to embark on a tour of its border with Haiti, then ruled by 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. They were accompanied by an activist priest, Jean-Claude Bajeux...

The traditional stories of a country are invaluable at providing insight into understanding the culture, history and language of a people. The sixty-six stories found in Arabic Stories for Language Learners present the vocabulary and grammar used...

After immersing himself in the culture of a remote Australian Indigenous community for close to a year, the young Japanese scholar Minoru Hokari emerged with a new world view. Gurindji Journey tells of Hokari's experience living with the...

In the baking heat of February 1973, wearing a purple nylon bodyshirt and an expression of confidence that belied his nerves, Ned Manning faced down a classroom full of kids in Tenterfield in remote NSW. It was the start of many years of teaching, by...

In 1948 a man was found dead on an Adelaide beach. Well-dressed and unmarked, he had a half-smoked cigarette by his side, but no identity documents. Six decades on we don't know who he was, how he got there or how he died. Somerton Man remains one of...

Well-known Australians mavericks, activists, movers and shakers reflect on their own ASIO files.In this moving, funny and sometimes chilling book, leading Australians open their ASIO files and read what the state's security apparatus said about them...

Centuries before Shakespeare, Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji" was already acknowledged as a classic of Japanese literature and the past century has seen this book gain worldwide acceptance as not only the...

'I put some rissoles in sandwiches for you two. Dig in.' Lynchy grabbed two and handed me one. We bit into them while sipping our SodaStream-manufactured soft drink. A rush came over me as I tasted the spice-free rissole bursting across my taste buds. It...

A thrilling story of the Monkey King & his epic quest - to redeem himself. He & his trusted friends face fantastic foes, demons & monsters during their amazing adventures travelling to the Western paradise. No matter what obstacle was put...

Japanese Proverbs is filled with universal truths ('Fall down seven times, get up eight') as well as uniquely Japanese sayings and folk wisdom ('Even a one-inch insect has a half-inch soul') which may seem cryptic and difficult to understand until you...

The first compilation of Bruce Lee photographs published in association with the Bruce Lee estate. This book reveals the full range of Lee's talents. It includes rare photos spanning from his early stage career in Hong Kong to his...

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is Lo Kuan-chung's retelling of the events attending the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220 A.D., one of the most tumultuous and fascinating periods in Chinese history. It is an epic saga of brotherhood and rivalry, of...

This is the intimate and revealing autobiography of Margaret Rhodes, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Margaret was born into the Scottish aristocracy, her home frequently visited by royalty. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin,...

Cross Words refers to cultural hybrids, trans-cultural alliances, and associations. This fascinating compendium documents-in essays, conversations, and socratic raps-the vital work poets perform when they write across borders.Anne Waldman is the author...

Marosa di Giorgio has one of the most distinct and recognizable voices in Latin American poetry. Her surreal and fable-like prose poems invite comparison to Franz Kafka, Julio Cortzar, or even contemporary American poets Russell Edson and Charles Simic...

The Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro is one of the most written-about men in the world today. Most approaches to his life are either hagiographies in which he can do no wrong, or rants in which he is the dictator who has kept the island of Cuba under his...

In My Favourite Teacher high-profile Australians including children's author Mem Fox, comedian Anh Do, retired Chief Justice Michael Kirby, broadcaster Alan Jones and The Chaser's Julian Morrow, along with contributors from all walks of life, share very...

It has been called the most dangerous gang in American history. In Los Angeles alone it is responsible for over 100 homicides per year. Although it has fewer than 300 members, it controls a 40,000-strong street army that is eager to advance its agenda...

The Voice Inside by John Farnham is an extraordinary journey into the life of one of Australia’s most beloved singers. Known affectionately as "The Voice," Farnham’s story is one of resilience, inspiration, and a voice that has left an...

Gripping, authentic and inspiring, Rebekah Campbell's quest to find love and happiness is packed with hilarious mistakes and insights that can help us all become better at relationships. What will it take to follow your dream? On the outside, Rebekah...

Connection to creativity, self-reflection and developing mindfulness are all sparked by the practice of journalling. When you give words to what you are thinking, feeling and dreaming up you develop a process for self-awareness. Journalling provides an...

Everywhere I Look is a collection of essays, diary entries and true stories spanning more than fifteen years of the work of one of Australia's greatest writers. 'A rich, beautiful book by a poet of the everyday, a sheer master of prose. Give it to your...

2016 ABIA (Australian Book Industry Awards) Book of the Year Winner 2016 ABIA (Australian Book Industry Awards) Biography of the Year Winner 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction Winner Heartbreaking, joyous,...

When he died in 1992 Brett Whiteley left behind decades of ceaseless activity-some works bound to a particular place or time, others that are masterpieces of light and line. Whiteley had arrived in Europe in 1960 determined to make an impression. Before...

‘Two young brown chicks walking around Doncaster Shoppingtown dressed like they were about to go and tend to goats in the Swiss Alps must have been quite the sight …’ While most music careers stalled during the pandemic, Vika and Linda Bull soared with...

In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world's most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum...

'When I was 10 years old, I was given Gurawul's story by my grandfather Muns...in the dirt...they made me promise to go to the southern land and search for the whale dreaming. I had no idea what it meant or that it would take me 70 years to keep it.' -...

Unlock the secrets of the mystical art of card reading and record your insights with this beautiful journal! Keep this gorgeous journal alongside your collection of tarot and oracle card decks to unlock the secrets of your readings and awaken your...

A deeply moving and uplifting exploration of the power of nature - even urban nature - to heal the deepest hurts. For fans of Julia Baird's Phosphorescence, Sarah Wilson's This One Wild and Precious Life or Leigh Sales' Any Ordinary Day comes an...

In his widely anticipated memoir, Ai Weiwei - one of the world's most famous artists and activists - tells a century-long epic tale of China through the story of his own extraordinary life and the legacy of his father, Ai Qing, the nation's most...

Kate Bowler used to accept the modern idea that life is an endless horizon of possibilities, a series of choices which if made correctly, would lead us to a place just out of our reach. A beach body by summer. A trip to Disneyland around the corner.  But...

***NOW A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD FILM DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN*** WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR NONFICTION 'Reads like a thriller, gripping and terrifying' - Sunday Times Physicist and polymath, as familiar with Hindu scriptures as he was with quantum...

Roar is a celebration of the bold and fearless - the women empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps - but it is also an inspiring look at how sport can change lives and challenge society. From the tennis court to the boxing ring, the...

A deeply intimate and inspiring memoir about walking the 1,000 kilometre route of World War I's Western Front, by a leading historian. In August 2021, Anthony Seldon set out on a gruelling 35-day pilgrimage from the Swiss border to the English Channel,...

A landmark personal development and business memoir by highly decorated Special Forces operative and recent star of TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins. This is not a straightforward memoir. Instead it is a book that distils the processes and tactics Anthony...

The Sunday Times bestseller and Waterstones Book of the Year, now in paperback 'Paul McCartney says this is as close as he will get to an autobiography and no wonder - his life is in every line of these songs ... pure joy' Sunday Times, Book of the Year...

Packed with quotes and insights The Little Book of Shane Warne explores the man who, by unanimous consent, pitched the ball of the century, and earned his place in the pantheon of exceptional players. Widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in...

The biography of the record-breaking multi-world champion - and the most dominant British sportsman of all time. After equalling Michael Schumacher's records in both race wins, and world titles, in 2020, Lewis Hamilton became the joint-most successful...

This is a story of speed, love and loss - the definitive biography of the most world's most legendary motorsports racer.  'AN EXCEPTIONAL READ' - Motor Cycle News 'STUART BARKER IS TO WRITING WHAT VALENTINO ROSSI IS TO RIDING [...] A MUST-READ FOR ALL...

'The Beauty Myth' for the Instagram generation. "Florence has a way of effortlessly reminding you of who you were before the world barged in." - Chidera Eggerue, bestselling author of What a Time to be Alone  WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY will tell you...

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Irreverently funny ... kept me giggling all week.' Scotland on Sunday "Do you have a list of your books, or do I just have to stare at them?" Shaun Bythell is the owner of The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. With more than a...