Author and travel writer Dixe Wills likes to champion the underdog. In this new book, he celebrates 70 living things from the world of nature that are unfairly maligned by humans and yet manage to beat the odds in some inspiring or uplifting way. From bacteria and bluebottles, to puddles and wasps, there's so much we can learn from the curious creatures and the natural world around us. Take the slug, for example: "Slugs, like us, yearn to be the object of a little human love and sympathy. Unlike slugs, you have a chance of this dream coming true. Also, beer will not kill you. Not immediately, anyway." Written in Dixe's inimitable style, this charming book is sure to delight his many fans and gain him new readers with an interest in the natural world.
Take a tour of the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and learn much more about every nation state with Dixe Wills witty guide. Find out what is traditionally made there, a brief history of the country and it's population and currency along with less known, more bizarre facts. For example did you know Buzz Aldrin's mother's maiden name was Moon?
Tiny Histories is a fond, fun and informative look at the seemingly insignificant coincidences, decisions and tiny moments that triggered major events and changed the course of British history. It might be difficult to believe when watching the news but the world we live in is often shaped not by the whim of governments and the decisions of world leaders but by tiny, apparently trivial events. In many cases, they can have enormous repercussions that mould both the society we live in today and the people we are. From the innocent wrong turn by a chauffeur driving Archduke Ferdinand in June 1914 that led to World War I, to the Saxon leader, Byrhtnoth’s act of chivalry in 991 that paved the way for British comedy as we know it today, this brilliant new addition to Dixe Will's bestselling books Tiny Churches, Tiny Islands and Tiny Stations looks behind the scenes of wars, politics, the arts, food, science, and even health and safety. Perfect for history buffs and pub-quiz fans, this brilliant book also serves to make us all more aware that in an age of so many dramatic changes, challenges and unknowns, it is not always what makes the headlines that shapes the future for generations to come.
Small in stature but very big on charm, Britain's tiniest treasures have always been worth celebrating, but it takes a trained eye to track them down throughout the length and breadth of the country. Step forward Dixe Wills, champion of all things tiny. Taking us on a miniature odyssey traversing the smallest counties in the land, jumping aboard the tiniest ferry and crossing the shortest river, he seeks out these Lilliputian treasures, examines their best features under the magnifying glass and bigs them up for our benefit. Undaunted in his search for the diminutive and bold in his quest for the bijou, he presents his findings here - the tiniest bits of Britain writ large, for all to see.
Tiny Histories is a fond, fun and informative look at the seemingly insignificant coincidences, decisions and tiny moments that triggered major events and changed the course of British history. It might be difficult to believe when watching the news but the world we live in is often shaped not by the whim of governments and the decisions of world leaders but by tiny, apparently trivial events. In many cases, they can have enormous repercussions that mould both the society we live in today and the people we are. This is the fourth book in Dixe's bestselling Tiny series and it makes the perfect gift or self-purchase for history buffs, pub-quiz fans, and trivia-loving mums and dads.
From Zawn Organ, Cornwall to Zoar in Shetland via Zion Place in Somerset and Zulu Farm, Oxfordshire, The Z-Z of Great Britain provides an essential profile on each and every zed locale in the land and, thoughtfully, instructions on how to get there. Visit, perhaps, the hamlet of Zabulon in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Meet Gareth, Val, one dog that's called Tim, another that isn't, and have a go on the sit-on lawnmower. Z-Z also includes detailed maps and a unique rating system to cut the hassle of planning your next zedventure. And, for when you're enjoying a pint at the end of the day in the The Half Moon, Zig Zag Hill's local, Z-Z features a dazzling introduction to the tempestuous and often distasteful history of the letter at the very extremity of the English language .
From the tiny island that shaped the entire English language, to the island that terrified Dylan Thomas, there's more to Britain's tiny islands than you might think! Have your own tiny adventure by visiting any of the 60 remarkable little islands around Britain featured here. Although Britain boasts hundreds of tiny islands, Dixe Wills has selected only the very best of them for this book. Found around the coast, in lakes, in lochs, and on rivers, these little worlds are waiting for you to discover them—whether you swim to them, walk to them at low tide, row to them, or catch a dinky little ferry.
** THE ONLY BOOK MORE RIDICULOUS THAN 2020 ** 'It's BUCKETLICIOUS! I command you to enjoy this book' Lord Buckethead The Battle of Hastings, where Harold's penchant for wearing on his head an upturned bucket rather than the standard issue helmet was to prove his undoing; the invention of the wheel, which occurred when a gentleman in Mesopotamia stumbled upon a bucket and watched transfixed as it rolled across the floor; the foundation of Rome: Romulus, Remus and a bucket - the rest is history. Unchanged in design over millennia, the humble bucket possesses a versatility unmatched in the history of human invention. It is the unobtrusive onlooker, the fly on the wall sat in quiet contemplation at all great turning points in world history. Detailing 50 buckets that were present at great moments in history, Guardian travel writer and author of Tiny Castles and Tiny Histories, Dixe Wills, describes each event through their sage and unblinking gaze. It's time to start ticking some buckets off your list.
Revealing the 75 best small campsites the UK has to offer, this book is also packed with useful tips on how to deal with common camping issues, including repelling midges and pitching your tent.
Walking is one of Britain's favorite leisure activities, and this guide features a variety of mapped walks to suit all abilities. The book features all of the practical detail you need, accompanied by fascinating background reading on the history and wildlife of South Wales, and clear mapping for ease of use. Every route has been color-coded according to difficulty, and walks are annotated with local points of interest and places to stop for refreshments. Every walk is given a summary of distance, time, gradient, level of difficulty, type of surface, and access, landscape, dog friendliness, parking, and public toilets.
** THE ONLY BOOK MORE RIDICULOUS THAN 2020 ** 'It's BUCKETLICIOUS! I command you to enjoy this book' Lord Buckethead The Battle of Hastings, where Harold's penchant for wearing on his head an upturned bucket rather than the standard issue helmet was to prove his undoing; the invention of the wheel, which occurred when a gentleman in Mesopotamia stumbled upon a bucket and watched transfixed as it rolled across the floor; the foundation of Rome: Romulus, Remus and a bucket - the rest is history. Unchanged in design over millennia, the humble bucket possesses a versatility unmatched in the history of human invention. It is the unobtrusive onlooker, the fly on the wall sat in quiet contemplation at all great turning points in world history. Detailing 50 buckets that were present at great moments in history, Guardian travel writer and author of Tiny Castles and Tiny Histories, Dixe Wills, describes each event through their sage and unblinking gaze. It's time to start ticking some buckets off your list.
Take a tour of the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and learn much more about every nation state with Dixe Wills witty guide. Find out what is traditionally made there, a brief history of the country and it's population and currency along with less known, more bizarre facts. For example did you know Buzz Aldrin's mother's maiden name was Moon?
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