Dear Village
Swellbeing
$34.99
SwellbeingBlake 'Blakey' Johnston is a surfer. So was his dad. And his brothers. For Blake, growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, life was good and surfing was everything. At sixteen, he turned pro and took off around the world, chasing his dream to become the world's best. The thing about dreams, though, is that they change - sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. For some people, that change can be too much. Too often, people stay silent about their struggles; too often, they can't see a way back.Nine Australians commit suicide every day. Blake's dad was one of them. Ever since, Blake has made it his mission to help people find the tools they need to stay alive. In his own struggles with mental health, they are the tools he's used to find the joys in nature, family, human connection, and himself. These tools even enabled him to unite a community, spend forty gruelling hours in the water, catch 707 waves, and claim the world record for longest surf. And then the world's biggest paddle-out.Now, in Swellbeing, his powerful and inspiring memoir, Blake outlines what he drew on to overcome his challenges with mental illness and shares the lessons he's learned to help others make it through the tough times to live their best lives. He's hoping his experience can ripple out and help others. Because . . . everyone deserves to feel awesome.
Dear Village
Taboo
$34.99
The no-bullshit, no-frills guide to your twenties, from Cheek Media Co. Founder and Bite Back author, Hannah Ferguson. Weaving deeply personal stories with spot-on opinions and advice about sex, friendship, family, career and beyond, this is Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love meets Clare Bowditch's Your Own Kind of Girl for the next generation.
Dear Village
Taylor Swift
$39.99
Your wildest dreams have come true. Get an insider's look at Taylor Swift's life and achievements in this pocket-sized collectible hardcover book for Swifties of all ages. Are you ready for it?Your wildest dreams have come true. Get an insider's look at Taylor Swift's life and achievements in this pocket-sized collectible hardcover book for Swifties of all ages. Are you ready for it?100+ stunning photos and clued-in commentary from top music and culture writers explore the power of Taylor's music and influence-and why she'll never go out of style.Taylor Swift is so much more than a pop star- she has more number one albums than any other female performer in history and The Eras Tour has filled stadiums across the world. Her influence on our culture seems to know no bounds.With more than 100 amazing photos, this luxe gift book immerses you in Taylor's world with smart, insightful text and celebrates the global superstar as a prolific songwriter, powerful storyteller and champion of her empowerment. Inside you'll find- <ul><li>Taylor's many performances from singing the national anthem at local sporting events to selling out worldwide blockbuster tours</li><li>The chart-topping launch of her 24 albums, including Taylor's Versions, her latest release, The Tortured Poets Department and what makes her personal yet relatable music so inspiring</li><li>Her stunning red carpet appearances at the Grammys, the Met Gala and more!</li></ul>Throughout the photo-packed pages, Swifties will follow Taylor's rise to pop icon status through all her eras with interviews from the vault of Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Seventeen along with original essays from noted contributors.We know all too well you will love this gift book! Get one (or more!) for you and your bestie.
Dear Village
The Anthony Bourdain Reader: New, Classic And Rediscovered Writing
$34.99
The Anthony Bourdain Reader: New, Classic And Rediscovered WritingThe definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, including unpublished and never-before-seen material, with an Introduction by Patrick Radden Keefe.Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him than that of a writer; it was one of the central ways he saw himself. Revealing Anthony Bourdain's observant, curious and hungry mind, The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of Bourdain's best writing and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the 'low life', from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris and Shanghai.With pointed opinions on the specific use of brioche buns, the devastation of Western foreign policy and the pain and pleasure of hot pot, this new collection encapsulates the unique brilliance of a once-in-a-generation mind and one of our most distinctive writers. After Bourdain's years of travelling the globe in search of the very best of cuisine and culture, The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a testament to the enduring and singular voice he crafted, with eclectic and curated chapters, including visceral graphic novel excerpts, some of his most well-loved recipes and never-before-published pieces.Edited by Bourdain's long-time agent and friend Kimberly Witherspoon, and with a new Foreword by Patrick Radden Keefe, this is an essential reader for any Bourdain fan as well as a vivid and moving recollection of his life and legacy.
Dear Village
The Art Of Risk
$35.99
Diving doctor on the Thai Cave Rescue (now a Netflix series) and former joint Australian of the Year explores the stories of other people who regularly risk their lives and what we can learn from their expertise. Are free-solo climbers, underwater cave explorers and big-wave surfers crazy ... or cautious? How do soldiers and fighter pilots manage risk? What can we learn from how BASE jumpers and drag racers prepare that we can take into our own lives? ‘Harry’ Harris – Thai Cave Rescuer, joint Australian of the Year – has an unusual idea of fun: he crawls though pitch-black, confined caves, deep underground and usually underwater. To most, that’s a nightmare. To him, it’s recreation. He’s prepared for all conceivable risks, he’s completely focused. And the discipline and danger involved leave him better prepared for everyday life. In this ultimate armchair adventure, Harry takes us into the lives of other ‘risk-takers’, to find out why they do what they do. We meet people adventuring from the highest skies to the deepest oceans – BASE jumpers, drag racers, snipers and surfers – including climber Alex Honnold (from the movie Free Solo), sailor Jessica Watson, film director and deep-sea diver James Cameron. Each gripping story is a masterclass in risk from the experts: when to go, when to say no, how to prepare and above all, how pushing ourselves a little further helps us become more courageous and resilient in all of our challenges. Heart-pounding and eye-opening, you’ll never look at risk the same way again. ‘Richard “Harry” Harris peels back the mindset that shapes the line between recklessness and courage.’ Hugh Riminton
Dear Village
The Bank Robber's Boy
$34.99
The Bank Robber'S Boy This is the against-all-odds story of Peter Norris, the son of one of Australia’s most wanted criminals, and his struggle to escape his father’s shadow. Born into a life of crime, Peter’s earliest memories are shaped by the chaos of his father’s criminal exploits. Torn from home to home and running from heist to heist, his childhood was marked by violence, betrayal, and upheaval. In this compelling memoir, Peter exposes the truth of his turbulent upbringing. As the youngest son of Clarence “Clarry” Norris, a notorious fugitive, Peter recounts the powerful love and loyalty that bound him to his father, creating a profound inner struggle between the allure of the underworld and the desire for normalcy. Faced with a heart-wrenching decision at just 12 years old, Peter had to choose between following his father's criminal path or seizing a lifeline. The memoir moves from the underbelly of 1970s Sydney to the outskirts of Melbourne, highlighting a troubling chapter in Australian history when Peter and other innocent children were sent to abusive institutions. Ultimately, Peter rises from the ruins of his troubled past, embarking on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth. He defies the odds to become a successful CEO, world-class athlete, and motivational speaker. The Bank Robber’s Boy is the unfiltered account of innocence on the edge of law and one young boy’s unyielding determination to overcome his past. ‘Extraordinary, shows how one man can defy his destiny – not despite the odds, but because of them.' ‘A powerful testament to resilience, hope, and one man’s determination to break free from the shadows of his past.’
Dear Village
The Book Of Sheen
$49.99
The Book Of Sheen "We can live the stories or hear about them later from others. I choose the former."Charlie Sheen should not be alive to tell these stories.But in The Book of Sheen, the star who has defied all odds – decades of addiction (to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and more), an HIV diagnosis, three divorces, a dust-up with the Sinaloan cartel, and other challenges that will leave readers stunned – finally presents the truth... or, at least his version. ("The facts are the facts; how I choose to interpret or deconstruct them falls squarely on me," Sheen writes.)From his childhood spent on movie sets for blockbusters like Apocalypse Now; to the golden days of 1980s Hollywood, filled with heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and Sean Penn; to the humid jungles of the Philippines and mock-army training that crossed dangerously into life-threatening for the filming of Platoon; to the early aughts' sitcom dominance, every Sheen anecdote drips with shocking lucidity, humor, and self-deprecation.Sheen deftly leads readers through his childhood as the son of award-winning actor Martin Sheen (a "Cathoholic"), which took the family from New York to Mexico to Italy and beyond; his competitive brotherhood against fellow teen heartthrob and Brat Pack member Emilio Estevez; his debilitating stutter that continued into adulthood and which he attempted to hide from producers and directors; his friendships with Chris and Sean Penn, Rob Lowe, Nic Cage, Matthew Perry, and other troubled stars of the era; his adventures on and off camera for films like Platoon and Wall Street and shows like Spin City and Two and a Half Men; his challenges in fatherhood and the kids that ultimately got him sober; and more. Woven throughout is a constant: addiction, and Sheen's perpetual battle with it.Riddled with regrets, filled with humor, and finally candid, Sheen delivers a truly hilarious no-holds-barred memoir, one fitting for a star of his caliber and controversy.
Dear Village
The Boy From Boomerang Crescent
$36.99
It’s a long, hard road from the Nullarbor to the MCG. Winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards, Social Impact Book of the Year Longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards Sydney Morning Herald Best Reads of the Year for 2023 How does a self-described ‘skinny Aboriginal kid’ overcome a legacy of family tragedy to become an AFL legend? One thing’s for sure: it’s not easy. But then, there’s always been something special about Eddie Betts. Betts grew up in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie, in environments where the destructive legacies of colonialism – racism, police targeting of Aboriginal people, drug and alcohol misuse, family violence – were sadly normalised. His childhood was defined by family closeness as well as family strife, plus a wonderful freedom that he and his cousins exploited to the full – for better and for worse. When he made the decision to take his talents across the Nullarbor to Melbourne to chase his footballing dreams – homesickness be damned – everything changed. Over the ensuing years, Betts became a true giant of the sport: 350-plus games, 600-plus goals, multiple All-Australian nods and Goal of the Year awards, and a league-wide popularity rarely seen in the hyper-tribal AFL. Along the way, he battled his demons before his turbulent youth settled into responsible maturity. Today, the man the Melbourne tabloids once dubbed ‘bad boy Betts’ is a dedicated husband and father, a respected community leader and an increasingly outspoken social activist. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and always honest – often laceratingly so – The Boy from Boomerang Crescent is the inspirational life story of a champion, in his own words. Whether he’s narrating one of his trademark gravity-defying goals from the pocket, the discrimination he’s faced as an Aboriginal person or the birth of his first child, Betts’s voice – intelligent, soulful, unpretentious – rings through on every page. The very human story behind the plaudits is one that will surprise, move and inspire. Cover image © Kristina Wild
Dear Village
The Escape From Kabul
$26.99
The extraordinary, moving story of the Afghan women judges who fought for their careers and their lives, and the international network of women who helped them escape the Taliban.
Dear Village
The House Of My Mother
$34.99
THE HOUSE OF MY MOTHER From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface – Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: 'Finally'.For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, 'ConneXions'. No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.
Dear Village
The Last Battle
$36.99
The Last BattleAaron Patrick is a highly experienced journalist and chief writer at The Nightly, a Seven West Media publication. He was senior correspondent and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of four previous books on Australian politics. The Last Battle reflects his lifelong interest in military history and the personal experience of warfare. He lives in Sydney.
Dear Village
The Last Days Of Zane Grey
$34.99
The untold story of Hollywood legend Zane Grey's Australian adventures.
Dear Village
The Legend Of Albert Jacka
$49.99
Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia's bestselling non-fiction writer, and for the past 38 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD and the SUN-HERALD.He is the author of a number of highly successful books, including BREAKER MORANT, BURKE AND WILLS, MONASH'S MASTERPIECE, KOKODA, NED KELLY and GALLIPOLI, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories, our own stories: of great men and women, of stirring events in our history. <p></p><p></p>Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife, Lisa Wilkinson AM - journalist, magazine editor and television presenter - have three children; they live in Sydney.
Dear Village
The Little Book Of Miriam
$34.99
The Little Book Of MiriamFrom ARNIE to DOLLY, BLACKADDER to SCORSESE; GRAHAM NORTON to HARRY POTTER; the VAGINA MONOLOGUES to ZOOM, welcome back to the irrepressible and unstoppable world of Miriam Margolyes.Packed with her wit, wisdom and unfiltered stories, The Little Book of Miriam is a memory palace of Miriam's extraordinary life's standout moments, opinions and conclusions. Never forget that this is a woman who knocked back WARREN BEATTY, played to an audience of TWO THOUSAND NAKED LESBIANS, injected sex into the CADBURY'S CARAMEL BUNNY and was VOGUE'S COVER STAR AGED 83. Miriam is always full of surprises and this book is too.Deliciously dip-in-able, thought-provoking and mirth-inducing, elegantly designed and always interesting -- whether sharing daring declarations, behind-the-scenes antics or talking about the indignities of ageing, this is a book as unique and extraordinary as Miriam herself.
Dear Village
The Most Dangerous Man In The World
$34.99
In June 2024, after fourteen years of house arrest and incarceration, Julian Assange, the Australian journalist the CIA had planned to kidnap or kill, was finally released from the UK’s top security Belmarsh prison. Years of campaigning by his family and Australian politicians from across the political spectrum had finally paid off: Assange’s plea bargain with the US Department of Justice produced the legal deal of the century. Instead of serving a possible 175-year jail sentence, Assange walked free. What changed former US President Joe Biden’s mind after years of appeals and hearings? When WikiLeaks revealed evidence of American war crimes in Iraq, Biden had called Assange a ‘high tech terrorist’. Why did Biden now believe the time was right to end the pursuit and to cut a deal? Andrew Fowler takes us inside the negotiations with the White House, revealing a startling story of false hope, courage, resolve and the extraordinary resilience of the person Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg called the Most Dangerous Man in the World.
