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Live large, do tough stuff and give back.FIRE UP! shares some of the lessons I’ve learned from the first twenty-five years of my life, from growing up in the bush to running across Australia. This is what fires me up every single day. I’m aware I’m just one person among billions, many of whom are far wiser than I am. While this is what works for me, by no means am I suggesting it’s some sort of guaranteed formula for success. You may read something that sparks a fire in your belly (as it does in mine), but ultimately it comes down to you having a red-hot crack. I hope that, among these insights and stories, you’ll find some words of inspiration that encourage you to chase your dreams and give you the self-belief to back yourself along the way.

A stunning memoir of a year in South Korea, one of the most exciting travel destinations on the planet.

From the author of the million-copy selling Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation and the bestselling John Lennon: The Life comes a revealing portrait of George Harrison, the most undervalued and mysterious Beatle. Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote. Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun’, and his solo debut album ‘All Things Must Pass’ achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the pantheon of Sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and Jimmy Page. Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as sacrilegious, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton fell in love with Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even closer after Clapton walked away with her. Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous colour photos, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most multi-faceted: devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar-player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.

'Intensely readable, poetic, truthful, wise and wonderful.' STEPHEN FRY'An extraordinary book.' SUNDAY TIMESStruggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to rewild his farm.In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris's death left her family reeling. Grasping for answers, Ben threw himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about rewilding his farm, nature became a vital source of meaning and hope. This book is the story of a year of soul-searching that followed a terrible loss. In an instant, Ben's world had turned dark. Yet, unbelievably to him, the seasons kept on turning, and as he immersed himself in the dramatic restoration of nature in the place where it happened, he found healing. In God is an Octopus, Ben tells a powerful, immersive and inspiring story of finding comfort and strength in nature after suffering loss and despair.

From the outside, Seana Smith lived an enviable life. An Oxford graduate, a successful career with the BBC and Sydney’s Channel 9, a bestselling author, happily married. But behind this perfect life she had a secret: Seana was a drinker, and alcohol was slowly taking away her life, destroying her health, her emotional well-being, her world. With engaging style and wit, Going Under reveals the true story behind Seana’s lifelong battle with drink. It lays bare a confusing childhood of Scottish sailing adventures and also brutal violence from her bullying, alcoholic father; where punches were thrown, broken bones hidden and her family lived in fear. Learning from the best, Seana drank her way through tutorials at Oxford University (which were held in the pub), through the sexual misadventures of her twenties and through the intensity and mundanity of motherhood. It took the death of her parents and a tree-change to Orange in regional NSW for Seana to find the courage to break free; a new life in a new world. She had finally left the past behind. <ul><li> Growing up with an abusive alcoholic father and finding the courage to escape. </li> <li> Crosses between Edinburgh, Oxford University, Sydney and Orange, NSW. Compelling combination of women’s quit lit and memoir. </li> <li> The intensity and loneliness of motherhood laid bare. </li> <li> Explores the pain of emigration and finding belonging in a new world. </li> <li> This is a memoir long in the making and is a powerful testament to resilience, acceptance and ultimately love. </li> <li> A story of recovery and sobriety for fans of The Sober Diaries, Beyond Booze and A Thousand Wasted Sundays. </li> <li> LARGE SCALE PR CAMPAIGN BY PITCH PROJECTS </li> </ul> "Going Under is funny, insightful and inspiring. This is like hanging out with a really brilliant friend who, you know, will make you a better person. Seana Smith is the real deal - a truth-teller and a writer of immense integrity." Kathryn Heyman Author of Fury "With a tender touch, Smith contemplates the two truths of her childhood: the wild island adventures and the brutal eruptions behind closed doors. Standing on the precipice of her own alcoholism, she realizes that reckoning with the past is the only way to shape the future." Jenny Valentish Author of Woman of Substances "With sparkling, musical prose and unflinching generosity of spirit, Seana Smith lays bare the facts of a life stalked by alcohol. A life that ricochets ‘between privilege and terror, between adventure and fear. So much more than a book about the booze, Going Under is an intricate, often beautiful mosaic of family, the individuals caught inside its sharp-edged cracks, and the self-yearning to make sense of all it all. The story of a woman emerging from the brokenness of the past and the never-ending pressures of the present to reclaim joy. Honest. Tender. Laugh-cry funny. Walking with Seana through her year of Going Under is to make a new and wise friend." Kim Kelly, author of Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room

The groundbreaking, intimate and inspiring memoir from Pope Francis.The wish of Pope Francis was for HOPE, on which he has been working for six years, to be published posthumously. However, with the Jubilee Year of Hope coming in 2025 and the pressing needs of our times have urged Pope Francis to share this personal legacy now.HOPE is the revelatory first-ever autobiography to be published by a sitting Pope. Beginning in the early years of the twentieth century, Pope Francis tells the story of his life from his childhood in Buenos Aires to his calling and the whole of his papacy to the present day, while reflecting on controversial questions from global conflicts to the future of the Church, and discussing his personal passions from football to tango.HOPE is both powerful and intimate, inspiring and full of stories never told before. It is the story of a life and, at the same time, a touching moral and spiritual testament that will fascinate readers throughout the world and will represent his legacy of hope for future generations.

A deeply personal exploration of love in all its forms from a feminist icon and bestselling author of Fight Like a Girl and Boys Will Be Boys.

An astonishingly brave and moving book from Caroline Darian, daughter of infamous Dominique Pelicot, detailing how her mother rebuilt her life as the world follows a trial that will go down in history.

In Gad We Trust is a heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays, pairing scenes from Josh’s life and career in the entertainment industry with “pontifications” on evergreen yet topical issues (putting his master’s degree from his The Daily Show days to good use), delivering a wholly original take on the genre of the comedic essay. For the first time, Josh dives into a wide array of personal topics: the lasting impact of his parents' divorce; how he struggled with weight and self-image; how Robin Williams mentored him early in his career; his perspective on fatherhood; his first big break; how everyone was sure his most successful ventures (both on the big screen and the stage) would bomb; and so much more. Perhaps most importantly, this trip down the rabbit hole of overly personal stories will distract readers from climate change and the downward descent of democracy in Western civilization—with never-before-seen photos and few-to-no spelling errors. Whether you know him from Disney or Broadway, YouTube or the silver screen, one fact remains: Josh's work never fails to bring people together. His delightful debut, written in the tradition of Amy Poehler, Jim Gaffigan, and Mindy Kaling, is sure to charm skeptics and fans alike, and reminds us to keep going, even when everyone thinks you're going to bomb.

A gripping look at teaching in the volatile world of juvenile detention.Inside Juvie plunges readers into the eye-opening journey of Tommy, a former state schoolteacher now navigating the tumultuous world of juvenile detention. Transitioning from teaching adults in prisons to stepping into classrooms within youth incarceration facilities is a far cry from the predictability and safety of traditional education.Amidst the chaos, violence, and fleeting moments of connection, Tommy rides a gritty roller-coaster, encountering unexpected breakthroughs amidst the turmoil. The stories are both heartbreaking and compelling: a 12-year-old who has never known the security of three meals a day, a young detainee who waits in vain for a mother’s visit that never comes, and the frightening escalations of violence that trigger duress alarms, security guards and devastating consequences.With a candid blend of darkness, hope, and humour, Inside Juvie explores the intricacies of the youth justice system. It sheds light on the harsh realities, diverse backgrounds, and daunting challenges faced by incarcerated youth, as well as the teachers who strive to reach them. This book promises readers a compelling journey through the often overlooked and misunderstood realm of juvenile detention.Inside Juvie is a rare, first-hand perspective on the contentious world of youth detention.PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR – THE CRIMINAL CLASSYou Need To Read This Book! As a fan of TV crime shows, and with a career in crime reporting, I thought nothing could shock or surprise me about the prison system. Then I read The Criminal Class! I found myself gasping, shaking my head, feeling infuriated, and laughing out loud in disbelief. Paul is a brilliant storyteller, and I could definitely see this as a gripping TV series. Would make an excellent Book Club choice. Teeps GCA weirdly enjoyable experience. A well-crafted, insightful, thought provoking, authentic and, dare I say, a weirdly enjoyable experience. Highlights the narrow approach to the criminal justice system and the absurdities of the public service. An honest and valuable comment in a bigger conversation of how society deals with offenders, but also the offending behaviour of those on the right side of the law. David BMore than a novel. Brilliant. I really enjoyed the book as a novel, but when I finished reading (listening) I was left with so many questions and a little despair about the effectiveness of incarceration as punishment. I laughed, cried, let out audible gasps. Everything you expect from a great read. Anne MA riveting read! This well-constructed memoir delves into a serious subject with compassion and a wry sense of humour. It is both enlightening and very entertaining. Sue CA page turner!It’s no surprise that an experienced teacher of English and writing writes so well. Apart from a well-crafted and very easy to read book, in fact I found it to be a page turner, the author takes the reader into the different and colliding worlds of the byzantine NSW criminal justice system. The author narrates and avoids judgement yet displays compassion without pollyannaism whilst he continues to do what he can to help the lives of his students. Peter RA great mix of entertainment and unique insight. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone – you don’t need to be a true crime fan. – TamaraLoved it from start to finish! You’ll want to read it cover to cover and then start all over again. – Emma BDo yourself a favour…. read this book! Funny, depressing and simultaneously compelling! – Dinga

'The best saga of pastoral Australia ever published... hard to describe without superlatives... in a hundred years the book will still be a classic.' Meanjin'... far better than any novel; an incomparable record of a great family and of a series of great actions.' The Bulletin When Patrick Durack left Western Ireland for Australia in 1853, he was to found a pioneering dynasty and build a cattle empire across the great stretches of Australia. With a profound sense of family history, his grand-daughter, Mary Durack reconstructed the Durack saga - a story of intrepid men and ground-breaking adventure. This sweeping tale of Australia and Australians remains a classic nearly fifty years on.