From the author of that classic of modern science writing, A Short History of Nearly Everything, comes a work of what you might call domestic science: our homes, how they work, and the fascinating history of how they got that way.

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as found in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to "write a history of the world without leaving home." The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has figured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demostrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture.


From the Hardcover edition.

Artists looking to build up their skills and produce accomplished artworks will find this comprehensive drawing reference invaluable. Barrington Barber looks at the key areas - still life, figures, landscape and portraits - and demonstrates the specific skills needed for each type of subject matter. His easy-to-follow approach makes him an ideal tutor for beginners as well as those who can already draw competently.
Starting with the basics of drawing, the book moves on to deal with more challenging areas such as figures in action, symbolism in portraits and imaginary landscapes. Artists will learn how to:
- Portray the tactile qualities of objects,
- Capture dynamic figure poses,
- Frame a landscape to best effect,
- Create a portrait step by step.

21 cm x 29 cm 352 page softcover.

More than 40 Paper Creations to fold and cut!
Kirigami is the ancient Japanese art of making decorative paper objects using simple folding and cutting techniques. Practiced in one form or another in countless different cultures, kirigami is one of the most beautiful and ubiquitous paper crafts in the world. This wonderful introduction to the timeless art of folding and cutting paper includes:
A 112 page, full-color book featuring more than 40 unique kirigami projects and precies step-by-step diagrmas that clearly illustrate each fold and cut.
30 sheets of richly colored kirigami paper.
Once you master such basic projects as snowflakes and garlands, you can more onto more intricate 3-D projects like pop-ups, cutaways, and origamic architecture. All you need are a pair of scissors and an X-Acto knife and you can begin creating these amazing projects right away.
27 cm 22 cm x 3 cm boxed set.

An artist's guide to the human figure.
Dynamic and engaging, the human figure is an enduringly popular subject for artists, presenting constant challenges and many rewards. This comprehensive anatomy book covers everything you need to know to make accurate, convincing drawings of the figure. It shows the bone structure, muscle layers, and surface views of every part of the human body, as well as looking at how master artists have approached figures of all types. Topics include life drawing, the body in movement and clothing figures, and step-by-step projects show how you can apply anatomical knowlege to create successful drawings. Learn how to:
- Portray muscle and bone structures that show at the skin's surface.
- Identify the muscles behind facial expressions.
- Draw a portrait step by step.
- Make convincing drawings of the body in movement.
- Create successful figure compositions.

21 cm x 30 cm 352 page softcover.

The Artist''s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist''s life. Still as vital today-or perhaps even more so-than it was when it was first published one decade ago, it is a powerfully provocative and inspiring work. In a new introduction to the book, Julia Cameron reflects upon the impact of The Artist''s Way and describes the work she has done during the last decade and the new insights into the creative process that she has gained. Updated and expanded, this anniversary edition reframes The Artist''s Way for a new century.

In one of the most unique memoirs of addiction ever published, MÖtley CrÜe''s Nikki Sixx shares mesmerizing diary entries from the year he spiraled out of control in a haze of heroin and cocaine, presented alongside riveting commentary from people who were there at the time, and from Nikki himself.

When MÖtley CrÜe was at the height of its fame, there wasn''t any drug Nikki Sixx wouldn''t do. He spent days -- sometimes alone, sometimes with other addicts, friends, and lovers -- in a coke and heroin-fueled daze. The highs were high, and Nikki''s journal entries reveal some euphoria and joy. But the lows were lower, often ending with Nikki in his closet, surrounded by drug paraphernalia and wrapped in paranoid delusions.

Here, Nikki shares those diary entries -- some poetic, some scatterbrained, some bizarre -- and reflects on that time. Joining him are Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Slash, Rick Nielsen, Bob Rock, and a host of ex-managers, ex-lovers, and more.

Brutally honest, utterly riveting, and shockingly moving, The Heroin Diaries follows Nikki during the year he plunged to rock bottom -- and his courageous decision to pick himself up and start living again.

Discover the artist within you…
Artist Philip Berrill takes you through the creative process in step-by-step, easy to follow demonstrations. Learn how to draw portraits, still-life, landscapes, and much more. This Sketching kit provides you with alll of the basic art materials and knowledge needed to get you started on your way to discovering the joy that art can bring.
This kit includes:
-64-page full color instruction book
-30-sheet sketch pad
-6 artist pencils
-art eraser
-pencil sharpener.
26 cm x 28 cm x 3 cm kit.