Virgin Publishing

Henry Chinaski is a lowlife loser with a hand-to-mouth existence. His menial post office day job supports a life of beer, one-night stands and racetracks. Lurid, uncompromising and hilarious, «Post Office» is a landmark in American literature. The new edition is augmented with an anecdotal introduction by the modern Welsh cult-literary author, Niall Griffiths — a writer who was working in a British post office when he first read Bukowski's «Post Office».

Low life writer and alcoholic Henry Chinaski was born to survive. Now, at the age of fifty, he is living the life of a rock star, running three hundred hangovers a year and a sex life that would cripple Casanova. Women is a riotous and uncompromisingly vivid account of life on the edge.

From its creation as a mail-order record company to the literal launch of Virgin Galactic, today Virgin is one of the premier 'way-of-life' brands in the world, trusted and enjoyed by many millions of people. In «Business Stripped Bare», Sir Richard Branson shares the inside track on his life in business and reveals the incredible truth about his most risky, brilliant and audacious deals. In this work, discover why Virgin tried to take on one of the world's biggest superbrands, how Virgin Mobile USA holds the record as the fastest company in history to generate revenues of over one billion dollars (faster than Microsoft, Google and Amazon) and how Richard is the only person in the world to have built eight billion-dollar companies from scratch in eight different sectors. What qualities does Richard look for in the people he hires? How does he manage a crisis? Who are the entrepreneurs he most admires? Find out the true story behind Virgin Blue's success in Australia, what really happened when Virgin bid for Northern Rock and why Richard believes all businesses must work with governments to tackle climate change and invest in the future of our planet. Combining invaluable advice with the remarkable and candid inside stories of Virgin's greatest achievements, as well as some of its setbacks, «Business Stripped Bare» is a dynamic, inspirational and truly original guide to success in business and in life. Whether you are an executive, an entrepreneur or are just starting out, Richard strips business down to show how you can succeed and make a difference.

Surfacing from the literary underground, Bukowski's wild and immortal stories have become cult favourites. This collection of anecdotal short stories demonstrates Bukowski's compelling semi-autobiographical style and his mastery of visceral language and the depiction of seamy underworlds. Focusing on themes that recur throughout his work, from Los Angeles and bar culture to alcoholism, gambling, sex and violence, these pieces also introduce unexpected elements of fantasy and surrealism.

With a foreword by Melvyn Bragg, an afterword by David Crystal, and contributions from Philip Pullman, Meera Syal and Benjamin Zephaniah, all life is here. Become part of the Kitchen Table Lingo community and write your words in now. 'Seen the bloke with the bedooftey bum?' 'More testiculating on «Newsnight»...' Does it sometimes seem like your family speaks its own language? Families up and down the UK have their own special vocabularies. Discover tinsellitis sufferers in Tunbridge Wells, elephant users in Edinburgh and chobblers in Cardiff. Whether it's a slip of the tongue that becomes a permanent part of the family vernacular or a word invented when all others fail, «Kitchen Table Lingo» is part of what makes our language so rich and creative.This collection of hundreds of words from English speakers around the world — complete with space and an invitation to add your own — is a wonderfully entertaining celebration of the spoken word and the people who take pleasure in it. After all, what other language has fifty-seven words for the TV remote control?

Beginning in 1967, Bukowski wrote the column «Notes of A Dirty Old Man» for the underground newspaper «Open City». Perennially drunk, broke and in search of a woman, Bukowski takes on the guise of a wise fool as he ventures through America's seedy lowlife. Peopled by Kerouac, Burroughs and other much less salubrious characters, his exploits provoke humour and despair, whilst highlighting the inherent beauty and futility of life.

Inspired by DH Lawrence, Chekhov and Hemingway, Bukowski's writing is passionate, extreme and has attracted a cult following, while his life was as weird and wild as the tales he wrote. This collection of short stories gives an insight into the dark, dangerous lowlife of Los Angeles that Bukowski inhabited. From prostitutes to classical music, Bukowski ingeniously mixes high and low culture in his 'tales of ordinary madness'. These are angry yet tender, humorous and haunting portrayals of life in the underbelly of Los Angeles.

Have you ever wondered why there is a light in your fridge but not in your freezer? Or why 24-hour shops bother having locks on their doors? Or why soft drink cans are cylindrical, but milk cartons are square? The answer is simple: economics. For years, economist Robert Frank has been encouraging his students to ask questions about the conundrums and strange occurrences they encounter in everyday life and to try to explain them using economics. Now he shares the most intriguing — and bizarre — questions and the economic principles that answer them to reveal why many of the most puzzling parts of everyday life actually make perfect (economic) sense.

Looks to areas of the world that are unoccupied and speaks to experts in fields ranging from nuclear physics to archaeology. This book reveals how the natural world would react to our disappearance and wrestles with some of the key concerns of our time to offer a glimpse of the legacy of our existence on the planet.

Was Diana murdered? Was the British Royal family involved? Was she pregnant and engaged to Dodi? Did the paparazzi or 'a blinding white flash' cause the crash? Was driver Henri Paul really drunk or were his blood tests switched? Since Princess Diana died in Paris on 31 August 1997 there have been more questions than answers about the crash that killed her, despite lengthy official French and British investigations. This is the authoritative and up-to-date study into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, which includes unique access to Diana's close friends and bodyguards, French and British detectives who probed the crash, and the official French investigation's dossier into the crash.

Best known as the third presenter in the unholy trinity that is Clarkson, Hammond and May on Top Gear, James has lived, breathed and dreamt about cars his entire life. There is something about cars that stirs up intense feelings in people — how it makes them look to the outside world, how it makes them feel about themselves, how it looks to their girlfriends or their mates, or their neighbours. These feelings are humorously described in «May on Motors», as James takes us on the road and looks at the cars that have shaped him, his world and the ordinary people of Britain. In «May on Motors», James has brought together his most controversial and amusing pieces to make a brilliant collection that will amuse and inspire all car enthusiasts.

Top Gear presenter and columnist for the «Daily Telegraph» James May brings together another brilliant collection of his most controversial and humorous writing. From tales of motoring adventures through India, Russia and Iceland, to classic articles on essential subjects such as driving songs and haunted car parks, these gems from the number one car connoisseur will take readers on a motoring journey that will amuse and entertain in equal measure.

What makes a good scandal? Money, politics and power, and a huge dose of media interest. Scandal reigns in the world of politics, celebrity, business, religion, royalty and art, and this book covers it all — from Watergate to Michael Jackson, Diana to Oscar Wilde. Distinguished writer, Colin Wilson delves into the murky intrigues of British and American life to bring the most scandalous secrets to light. Containing brand new chapters on Michael Jackson, ENRON, the death of David Kelly, the Catholic Church sex scandals and the cash-for-honours scandal, and an updated chapter on OJ Simpson, here are the embarrassing true stories the rich and famous tried but failed to hide.

From the team who brought you «The Empire Film Guide», here are all the obscure, indecent and downright bizarre facts and figures that were not considered sensible for a practical film guide. Discover which country translated «GI Jane» as Satan Female Soldier, which Hollywood heartthrob is the lead singer of 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, and which country takes a bag of toasted leaf cutter ants to the cinema instead of popcorn! The Schott's Miscellany of movies, packed full of facts, figures and lists, as well as explanations of filmmaking terminology and a «shot miscellany» — a list of all the various camera shots. You will soon know your Oscar Hosts from your Monty Python French insults, and never be short of small talk again!

No other city in the world is as well known or loved for its vibrant and definitive musical history as Liverpool. In «2002, Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles» voted Liverpool 'World Capital of Pop' recognising that Liverpool's homegrown talent has produced more number one hit singles per capita than anywhere else in the world. In 2008, Liverpool will celebrate its crown as European Capital of Culture. Paul Du Noyer's acclaimed book takes us on a tour of the rich musical history of his hometown, from the world-famous Cavern Club in Mathew Street, host to the Beatles' debut performance in 1961, to the city's musical future with contemporary bands like The Zutons. Featuring interviews with key figures of the music scene, this book reveals the creative impulse behind Britain's most musical city. Find out why Liverpool is not just a place where music happens. The city is the reason music happens.

Throughout my life I have achieved many remarkable things. Now, I will share with you my ideas and the secrets of my success, but not simply because I hope they'll help you achieve your individual goals. Today, we are increasingly aware of the effects of our actions on the environment, and I strongly believe that we each have a responsibility, as individuals and organisations, to do no harm. I will draw on Gaia Capitalism to explain why we need to take stock of how we may be damaging the environment, and why it is up to big companies like Virgin to lead the way in a more holistic approach to business. In Screw It, Let's Do It, I'll be looking forwards to the future. A lot has changed since I founded Virgin in 1968, and I'll explain how I intend to take my business and my ideas to the next level and the new and exciting areas — such as launching Virgin Fuels — into which Virgin is currently moving. But I have also brought together all the important lessons, good advice and inspirational adages that have helped me along the road to success. Ironically, I have never been one to do things by the book, but I have been inspired and influenced by many remarkable people. I hope that you too might find a little inspiration between these pages.

Charles Bukowski chronicled the seedy underside of the city in which he spent most of his life, Los Angeles. His heores were the panhandlers and hustlers, the drunks and the hookers, his beat the racetracks and strip joints and his inspiration a series of dead-end jobs in warehouses, offices and factories. It was in the evenings that he would put on a classical record, open a beer and begin to type... Brought up by a violent father, Bukowski suffered childhood beatings before developing horrific acne and withdrawing into a moody adolescence. Much of his young life epitomised the style of the Beat generation — riding Greyhound buses, bumming around and drinking himself into a stupor. He was 24 and his first poetry when he was 35. his novels sold millions of copies worldwide in dozens of languages. In this difinitive biography Barry Miles, celebrated author of Jack Kerouac: King of the Beats, turns his attention to the exploits of this hard-drinking, belligerent wild man of literature. This is an essential addition to every Bukowski fan's collection.

A new book of unpublished poems from one of America's best-known contemporary writers and its most influential and imitated poet. Although he published over 45 volumes of poetry during his lifetime, Charles Bukowski and his publisher put aside hundreds of his best poems to be published after his death. Now available for the first time in the UK, this new book represents the fourth in a series of new volumes to be released over coming years.