Matt Ridley, acclaimed author of the classics Genome and Nature via Nurture, turns from investigating human nature to investigating human progress. In The Rational Optimist Ridley offers a counterblast to the prevailing pessimism of our age, and proves, however much we like to think to the contrary, that things are getting better. Over 10,000 years ago there were fewer than 10 million people on the planet. Today there are more than 6 billion, 99 per cent of whom are better fed, better sheltered, better entertained and better prote... read more
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This title looks in-depth at significant figures, aircraft and events in the history of aviation by placing them in a historical context which is easily understood. Clearly labelled illustrations to accompany the text make this an ideal learning resource. Hot-air balloons, bird-men, flying boats, helicopters, jet-fighters, passenger airliners, record-breakers and even space travel are all covered in this book. A complete glossary and index make this title ideal for use both at home and at school. It is an ideal text for shared and ... read more
From ancient Sumeria to the concept cars of tomorrow, this title provides a perfect introduction to the vehicles and journeys that have shaped history. The book features a clear, concise text, full colour illustrations and humorous drawings, which will help to engage even the most reluctant of readers. A complete glossary and index make this title ideal for both use at home and at school. It is an ideal text for shared and guided reading for Key Stage 2 pupils. It helps to achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14
'Downsize', 'Rightsize', 'Smartsize', 'Workforce Reduction', 'Displacement', 'Outplacement','Redundancy', 'Restructuring', 'Layoffs'. No matter what you call it, the end result is the same - the loss of a job. With the world plunged into economic turmoil and uncertainty, New Zealanders are bracing themselves for the fallout. Employers and employees are anxious about predictions of multiple job losses in 2009, and this timely, up-to-the-minute, and practical workbook charts a course through the unknown. In a clearly written style, ... read more
A funky and fascinating book about contemporary architecture for children. Have you ever seen a house without walls? Is it possible to pack a house into a suitcase? Can a house behave like a turtle? What kind of house can homeless people have? Would you prefer to live in a moon, in a nut...or inside a sewage pipe? Architecture is amazing! HOUSE demonstrates that the space we live in doesn't have to be a dull cube. While it should meet the needs of its inhabitants and surroundings, it can also be distinctive, and sometimes utterly surprising.
Do women have different financial goals from men? Generally speaking the answer is no. However, women do have different life patterns and these greatly affect our ability to save or invest and, importantly, our ability to take risks.Sheryl Sutherland has been a financial advisor for New Zealand women for over twenty years. In Girls just want to have Fund$, she helps the reader move towards creating a financial plan for life. Her style is relaxed and pitched at 'every woman'. Working through 'money myths', the author helps the reade... read more
220 colour images, including aerial shots, of all the major heritage and significant sites are photographed from Kaiapoi to Darefield. Includes a foreword by John Key, an introduction about earthquakes in New Zealand, and how this one played out.About the author:Ian Stuart is the NZPA Bureau Chief and the author of four previous books. Photographer Dave Wethey has had 30 years in the newspaper industry, has worked as chief photographer for two major metropolitan newspapers, and was a judge for the 2010 Qantas Media Awards. He is ba... read more
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Learn all about the swashbuckling adventures of the Barbarossa Brothers and the pirates of the Mediterrean as you ride along on a galley as a mighty sea captain or a slave, chained to the oars; wield a deadly weapon, attack the enemy stronghold and capture an enemy's ship loaded with gold and silver. Plunder this 'ere treasure trove of stunning artwork, fantastic photographs and amazing facts and find out what a pirate's life was like.
Your hard work is paying off. You are doing well in your field. But there is something standing between you and the next level of achievement. That something may just be one of your own annoying habits.Perhaps one small flaw - a behaviour you barely even recognize - is the only thing that's keeping you from where you want to be. It may be that the very characteristic that you believe got you where you are - like the drive to win at all costs - is what's holding you back. As this book explains, people often do well in spite of certa... read more
Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot: Call it what you like, it matters. To Christians, love of it is the root of all evil. To generals, it's the sinews of war. To revolutionaries, it's the chains of labour. But in The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress. What's more, he reveals financial history as the essential back-story behind all history. With the clarity and verve for which he is famed, Niall Ferguson explains why the origins of the French Revolution lie in a stock marke... read more
This definitive guide presents the very best of Paula Pryke's innovative ideas for creating stunning floral displays. Where do Paula's ideas come from? This is the most frequently asked question, and in the opening section Paula shares her artistic vision and explains her use of colour, shape, and style to set the mood for any occasion. She also looks at the unique demands of fulfiling a client's briefer responding to seasonal restrictions. Over 80 arrangements are illustrated, each with instructions on how to re-create them. 65 of... read more
Helen Brown wasn't a cat person, but her nine-year-old son Sam was. Helen's heart melted as Sam held one of the kittens in his and the deal was done - the kitten would be delivered when she was big enough to leave her mother. A week later, Sam was dead. Not long after, a little black kitten was delivered to the grieving family. This is the story of how a small black feline helped mend a family's broken hearts by sheer force of her cat personality. It is a warm and often funny book about love, loss and redemption.
NZ author Financial expert Martin Hawes realised at the age of 50 that he needed to make his next twenty summers really count if he was going to achieve all the things he wanted to in life. In this book he shows you how to invest your money in order to fund the lifestyle you want when you retire.Most books on investment are about how to build up wealth. This book is different - it gives practical advice on how to use your investment capital to give you the income that you need when you are no longer dependent on work.Investing for... read more
What are the 100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet? THis book is about what to do if it happens to you. Learn how to face and survive the most disastrous things that could possibly happen! From terrifying natural disasters to dangerous weather, or getting lost in the wild to fighting off ferocious animal attacks, this is your ultimate survival guide to avalanches, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, bushfires and much more!
Covers various aspects of designing a garden - from walls, floors, and lights, to furnishings and water-features - accompanied by more than 200 full-colour photographs.
Packed with amazing facts about sport, this is the twenty-fourth title in the fantastic non-fiction series, It's True!Find out why tennis players have to be mind readers, what happened in the weirdest Olympic marathon, and how to bend it like Beckham. Do you have what it takes to run, jump, swim, throw, dive or cycle like a champion?Score with your mates when you have all the facts on sport! First published 2006.
Warning! Fashion can give you blisters and break your ribs, it might even be the death of you. Which dancer was strangled by her own scarf and what do you do with a codpiece? Read this book to find out about the victims of fashion crazes through the ages - the silly, the scary and the suffocated.
Highlights sustainable travel options, from sea kayaks to ecolodges. Contains more regional coverage than any other guide.
