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Book Reviews
The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
 by Alain De Botton Hamish Hamilton HB, $50 The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work is an exploration of the joys and perils of the modern workplace, beautifully evoking what other people get up to all day - and all night - to make this frenzied contemporary world function. With a philosophical eye and his characteristic combination of wit and wisdom, Alain de Botton leads us on a journey around a deliberately eclectic range of occupations, from rocket science to biscuit manufacturing, and accountancy to art - in the name of exploring what makes our jobs either fulfilling or soul-destroying. Wages Don’t Work  by John Wills Custom Residential Ltd, $39 Perfect for anyone serious about being successful in business. Full of valuable advice and strategies Wages Don’t Work is sub-titled ‘Earn up to $400,000 per year as an apprentice real estate agent’, but it is just as applicable to other industries. Johnny Wills is a 35-year-old former policeman who has been a highly successful sales agent, recently launching a new real estate agency, Custom Residential. Sincerity and honesty in business is the driving message of this book, which will make an ideal gift for an ambitious person in your life.  Weathered Bonesby Powles Michele Penguin, $28 Weathered Bones tells the story of Antoinette, a widowed grandmother, Grace, an emotional young wife, and Eliza, a lighthouse keeper from another century. It’s a book of dark water, flowers and midnight paintings. Inspired by the real-life character of New Zealand's first permanent keeper of the light, Eliza becomes a presence in Grace’s and Antoinette's lives, demanding an audience, a voice and perhaps even a life of her own in the present day What Would Audrey Do?  by Pamela Keogh, Aurum Press, $32.99 The author of the bestselling Audrey Style and Jackie Style books brings a charming dose of Audrey Hepburn into our everyday lives, with wisdom on relationships, fashion, home, travel and other opportunities for sophisticated living. Drawing on examples from Audrey's extraordinary life, this hugely enjoyable, beautifully designed book offers advice on dating, marriage and seduction, style, home and family, kindness and giving, and tranquillity; in fact everything one might need for surviving the modern world. Alchemy of Loss  by Abigail Carter Hachette, $39.99 ‘The phone rang. It was my husband Arron telling me that he was at Windows of the World in the World Trade Center. ‘There's been a bomb!’ he said. I had been preparing my six-year-old daughter for her second day of first grade, balancing my two-year-old son on my hip, and I was distracted. ‘OK,’ I managed to say back. It was 8.49 a.m. on September 11, 2001. He never came home.’ Veering away from trite and pat grief books, which offer one-size-fits-all solutions to this most deeply personal and unique experience, Abigail Carter realises that each person must forge their own path through grief. The Little Dictionary of Fashion  by Christian Dior V&A Publishing, AUD: $24.95 Christian Dior reveals the secrets of style in this charming handbook that no lady should be without. An indispensable guide that covers everything from what to wear to a wedding and how to tie a scarf, to how to walk with grace, The Little Dictionary of Fashion is full of timeless tips. From afternoon frocks and accessories to travelling and tweed, Dior’s expertise ensures every girl will know the three fundamentals of fashion: simplicity, grooming and good taste. This new special edition of the handbag-sized classic, bound in cloth and illustrated with delightful photographs and drawings, is the perfect gift for style-conscious girls. Secrets of Gorgeous  Hundreds of Ways to Live Well While Living It Up by Esther Blum, MS, RD, CDN, CNS Chronicle Books, $29.99 Offering over 200 quick tips, Secrets of Gorgeous: Hundreds of Ways to Live Well While Living it Up shows women how to eat and drink what they love yet maintain their youthful beauty. No diets, no gimmicks, just real solutions for gorgeous girls on the go. 500 Of The Most Important Health Tips You’ll Ever Need  by Hazel Courtney with Stephen Langley and Gareth Zeal Cico Books, $39.99 500 of the Most Important Health Tips You’ll Ever Need is the leading manual in modern alternative healthcare. Covering a wide range of both common and little-known health ailments and problems, this easy-to-use A-Z guide helps you treat more than 200 conditions quickly and naturally. From acne to arthritis, backache to jetlag and Parkinsons to psoriasis, Hazel Courteney reveals the most up-to-date solutions to minor and major health problems alike. Jams & Chutneys: Preserving the Harvest  by Thane Prince Dorling Kindersley, $40 Return to the good life! This book provides all you need to know to make sweet and savoury preserves, all in an irresistible package. Preserve your harvest and create amazing jams, chutneys or preserves out of fruit, vegetables and even flowers from your garden. There are over 150 easy-to-follow recipes for making long-lasting sweet and savoury preserves to enjoy or give as a welcome present. Give The Bitch Her Chocolate  by Ed Polish and Darren Wotz Ten Speed Press, $29.99 Give The Bitch Her Chocolate brings an imperiousness to the table, serving up a feast of edible quotes from diva-licious dames. These hedonistic heroines bring haute cuisine to a whole new level that's at least as high as their hairdos. Give The Bitch Her Chocolate is the ultimate validation for a favourite foodie, churlish chocoholic, or domestic dominatrix because bitchiness isn't just an attitude - it's a lifestyle. The Art of Conversation®  by Keith Lamb and Louise Howland TOAC, $19.99 TAOC® - The Art of Conversation®, is a fun game for all ages from different walks of life, where friends, family and couples can chat, talk, discuss and role play in a social setting, party, function, on holiday or at home. It's a game of general knowledge where the limit is your imagination. You may have a different interest from those playing but share your ideas for a funny outcome. |