charlie bears

A mysterious portrait ignites an antiquarian bookseller's search through time and the works of Shakespeare for his lost love. Charlie Lovett's new book, The Lost Book of the Grail, is now available. Guaranteed to capture the hearts of everyone who truly loves books, The Bookman's Tale is a former bookseller's sparkling novel and a delightful exploration of one of literature's most tantalizing mysteries with echoes of Shadow of the Wind and A.S. Byatt's Possession. Nine months after the death of his beloved wife Amanda left him shattered, Peter Byerly, a young antiquarian bookseller, relocates from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to outrun his grief and rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, he discovers a Victorian watercolor of a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Amanda. Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture's origins and braves a host of dangers to follow a trail of clues back across the centuries-all the way to Shakespeare's time and a priceless literary artifact that could prove, once and for all, the truth about the Bard's real identity.

"One of the most intriguing future cities in years." -Charlie Jane Anders "Simmers with menace and heartache, suspense and wonder." -Ann Leckie A Best Book of the Month in Entertainment Weekly The Washington Post B&N Sci-Fi Fantasy Blog Amazon After the climate wars, a floating city is constructed in the Arctic Circle, a remarkable feat of mechanical and social engineering, complete with geothermal heating and sustainable energy. The city's denizens have become accustomed to a roughshod new way of living, however, the city is starting to fray along the edges-crime and corruption have set in, the contradictions of incredible wealth alongside direst poverty are spawning unrest, and a new disease called "the breaks" is ravaging the population. When a strange new visitor arrives-a woman riding an orca, with a polar bear at her side-the city is entranced. The "orcamancer," as she's known, very subtly brings together four people-each living on the periphery-to stage unprecedented acts of resistance. By banding together to save their city before it crumbles under the weight of its own decay, they will learn shocking truths about themselves. Blackfish City is a remarkably urgent-and ultimately very hopeful-novel about political corruption, organized crime, technology run amok, the consequences of climate change, gender identity, and the unifying power of human connection.

"An outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation.” - Warren Buffett #1 on Warren Buffett's Recommended Reading List, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Letter, 2012 Named one of "19 Books Billionaire Charlie Munger Thinks You Should Read” in Business Insider. "A book that details the extraordinary success of CEOs who took a radically different approach to corporate management.” - Charlie Munger, Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation "Thorndike explores the importance of thoughtful capital allocation through the stories of eight successful CEOs. A good read for any business leader but especially those willing to chart their own course.” - Michael Dell, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Dell What makes a successful CEO? Most people call to mind a familiar definition: "a seasoned manager with deep industry expertise.” Others might point to the qualities of today's so-called celebrity CEOs-charisma, virtuoso communication skills, and a confident management style. But what really matters when you run an organization? What is the hallmark of exceptional CEO performance? Quite simply, it is the returns for the shareholders of that company over the long term. In this refreshing, counterintuitive book, author Will Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet eight individualistic CEOs whose firms' average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of twenty-in other words, an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million twenty-five years later. You may not know all their names, but you will recognize their companies: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne. In The Outsiders, you'll learn the traits and methods-striking for their consistency and relentless rationality-that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance. Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these "outsiders” shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company's long-term value. Drawing on years of research and experience, Thorndike tells eye-opening stories, extracting lessons and revealing a compelling alternative model for anyone interested in leading a company or investing in one-and reaping extraordinary returns.

The brilliant new post-apocalyptic collection by master anthologist John Joseph Adams, for the first time including new stories by the edgiest modern writers. The new post-apocalyptic collection by master anthologist John Joseph Adams, featuring never-before-published stories and curated reprints by some of the genre's most popular and critically-acclaimed authors. In WASTELANDS: THE NEW APOCALYPSE, veteran anthology editor John Joseph Adams is once again our guide through the wastelands using his genre and editorial expertise to curate his finest collection of post-apocalyptic short fiction yet. Whether the end comes via nuclear war, pandemic, climate change, or cosmological disaster, these stories explore the extraordinary trials and tribulations of those who survive. Featuring never-before-published tales by: Veronica Roth, Hugh Howey, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Tananarive Due, Richard Kadrey, Scott Sigler, Elizabeth Bear, Tobias S. Buckell, Meg Elison, Greg van Eekhout, Wendy N. Wagner, Jeremiah Tolbert, and Violet Allen-plus, recent reprints by: Carmen Maria Machado, Carrie Vaughn, Ken Liu, Paolo Bacigalupi, Kami Garcia, Charlie Jane Anders, Catherynne M. Valente, Jack Skillingstead, Sofia Samatar, Maureen F. McHugh, Nisi Shawl, Adam-Troy Castro, Dale Bailey, Susan Jane Bigelow, Corinne Duyvis, Shaenon K. Garrity, Nicole Kornher-Stace, Darcie Little Badger, Timothy Mudie, and Emma Osborne. Continuing in the tradition of WASTELANDS: STORIES OF THE APOCALYPSE, these 34 stories ask: What would life be like after the end of the world as we know it?

“An outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation." — Warren Buffett #1 on Warren Buffett's Recommended Reading List, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Letter, 2012 Named one of “19 Books Billionaire Charlie Munger Thinks You Should Read" in Business Insider. “A book that details the extraordinary success of CEOs who took a radically different approach to corporate management." — Charlie Munger, Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation “Thorndike explores the importance of thoughtful capital allocation through the stories of eight successful CEOs. A good read for any business leader but especially those willing to chart their own course." — Michael Dell, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Dell What makes a successful CEO? Most people call to mind a familiar definition: “a seasoned manager with deep industry expertise." Others might point to the qualities of today's so-called celebrity CEOs—charisma, virtuoso communication skills, and a confident management style. But what really matters when you run an organization? What is the hallmark of exceptional CEO performance? Quite simply, it is the returns for the shareholders of that company over the long term. In this refreshing, counterintuitive book, author Will Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet eight individualistic CEOs whose firms' average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of twenty—in other words, an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million twenty-five years later. You may not know all their names, but you will recognize their companies: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne. In The Outsiders, you'll learn the traits and methods—striking for their consistency and relentless rationality—that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance. Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these “outsiders" shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company's long-term value. Drawing on years of research and experience, Thorndike tells eye-opening stories, extracting lessons and revealing a compelling alternative model for anyone interested in leading a company or investing in one—and reaping extraordinary returns.

Shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize and the Dublin Literary Award " An absolute masterpiece. Packed with understated emotion, stunning from beginning to end" Courttia Newland, author of A River Called Time " A masterful and moving work of literature" Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies "Easily among the best books I have ever read" Eileen Battersby, Irish Times "A beautifully crafted novel . . . Quite simply a brilliant piece of work" Charlie Connolly, New European "A blunt, brilliant book" Tom Graham, Financial Times Nobody can leave an island. An island is a cosmos in a nutshell, where the stars slumber in the grass beneath the snow. But occasionally someone tries . . . Ingrid Barrøy is born on an island that bears her name - a holdfast for a single family, their livestock, their crops, their hopes and dreams. Her father dreams of building a quay that will connect them to the mainland, but closer ties to the wider world come at a price. Her mother has her own dreams - more children, a smaller island, a different life - and there is one question Ingrid must never ask her. Island life is hard, a living scratched from the dirt or trawled from the sea, so when Ingrid comes of age, she is sent to the mainland to work for one of the wealthy families on the coast. But Norway too is waking up to a wider world, a modern world that is capricious and can be cruel. Tragedy strikes, and Ingrid must fight to protect the home she thought she had left behind. Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw

Pre-order the all-new collection of hair-raising missteps and hilarious antics on Diddly Squat Farm, from gentleman farmer and two-time Sexiest Man Alive winner, Jeremy Clarkson. 'Fans of Prime TV series Clarkson's Farm will enjoy this companion' IRISH TIMES Uncooperative animals, underperforming crops, and rather less than best-laid plans pursued with unbridled enthusiasm. Clarkson's farm is the gift that keeps on giving. But, as one overseas visitor* admitted, he only came to Diddly Squat because he just didn't believe that Jeremy could be so incompetent. Not one to be discouraged, however, our hero decides to bring his misunderstood entrepreneurial flair to bear on a new venture: a pub. And just a few short weeks later, the doors open on The Farmer's Dog. All British produce, Hawkstone beer on tap, a private bar for farmers and a vintage tractor hanging from the ceiling. The perfect country pub. A welcome distraction from sustainable farming initiatives, psychedelic wheat, angry protests in central London and a headbutting goat. What, you may be asking, could possibly go wrong? On top of the lavatories packing up and the electricity running out, you mean? As the Cotwolds' newest publican quickly discovers, there's a lot more to landlording than pulling pints. Just as well, then, that he still has Lisa, Kaleb, Cheerful Charlie and Gerald to help him through. Especially now his doctor's told him he's got to become a vegetablist ... *along with the whole of the rest of China, apparently ___________ Praise for Clarkson's Farm: 'The best thing Clarkson's done . . . It pains me to say this' GUARDIAN 'Shockingly hopeful' INDEPENDENT 'Even the most committed Clarkson haters will find him likeable here' TELEGRAPH 'Quite lovely' THE TIMES

Go wild with this brand new collection of adorable knitted wild animal toys and their clothes and accessories by best-selling author Louise Crowther. After the success of Knitted Animal Friends, Louise has created knitting patterns for 12 new, wild animals in their own wonderful wardrobes. This collection includes a zebra in dungarees, an elephant in a tutu, a lion in jeans, a tiger in a party dress, a chimpanzee in a rainbow cardigan, a sloth in pyjamas (of course!), a koala in a furry gilet, a bear in a fair isle sweater, a hippo in overalls, a panda in a duffle coat, a giraffe in a pinafore and a rhinoceros in a day dress - all with their own distinct personal style!Whether you love Charlie the Chimpanzee's casual outfit of rainbow striped cardigan, shorts and sneakers, or Sophie the Tiger's more formal pink ruffle dress which is perfect for a birthday celebration, there is a something for everyone. Edward the Sloth likes to take it easy and relaxes in comfy pyjamas a fluffy robe and slippers when he's kicking back (which is always!), whereas Hugo the Zebra is always up for an adventure and enjoys wearing his red and white dungarees so he's ready for anything.Louise's attention to detail means that every outfit fits perfectly and you will enjoy creating all the details that make each one so distinctive. There are instructions for how to construct the animal dolls and outfits as well as step-by-step photography for the techniques. Louise also explains how to follow charts for the colour work details in the outfits, as well as step-by-step tutorials for any special stitches.The animal dolls have the same basic body shape and are the same size so that all of the outfits are interchangeable (they also work for the dolls in Knitted Animal Friends too), so you can mix and match your favourites. Or you can just make the animals: the animal patterns and a lot of the clothes are knitted flat and then sewn together but some of the clothing is knitted in the round. All of the techniques for making up the animals include step-by-step instructions and photography.There are so many possibilities for animal and outfit changes so that you can make the perfect doll for the cheeky monkeys in your life.

Native American Healing: A Lakota Ceremony illuminates the world of Native American healing by describing the elements of healing ceremonies conducted by one traditional Lakota spiritual leader, commonly described in English as a medicine man. Howard Bad Hand, a widely known and respected Lakota singer and ceremonial leader, was blessed with the rare opportunity of a formative education in the highest expressions of both his native Lakota culture and of the dominant Anglo culture. Born into the fourth generation of the Bad Hand family of traditional song keepers for the Sicangu band of the Teton Lakota on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, he was immersed in music and ceremony from the cradle onwards. As a young man, he attended prep school at The Lenox School in Lenox, Massachusetts, followed by university education at both Dartmouth College and Harvard University. Prohibited by the tenets of his training in the spiritual traditions of the Lakota people from discussing/revealing the traditional knowledge of the internal mechanics of the ceremonies he conducts, Howard writes instead of the aspects that are uniquely his ....... the personal experiences which evolved into his ability to conduct the ceremonies he performs. That many of these experiences were seemingly mundane encounters with elder Lakota friends and relatives is testimony to the intensely practical nature of Lakota spiritual tradition. The opening chapter, titled Ritual and Ceremony, introduces the reader the conversational story-telling style of Lakota discourse. Contexts are created from Howard's personal experience and populated by stories that penetrate one's understanding. The physical and imaginal framework in which Lakota ceremonies are conducted is likewise developed through storytelling and enhanced by three illustrated diagrams of the sacred space Howard creates for the ceremonies he performs. The chapter closes with a written replication of the opening moments of the ceremony the reader is about to enter. The Lakota world view is animated and punctuated by music. Virtually every ceremony, secular or sacred, conducted in traditional Lakota society is grounded in music .... to the Lakota, music is the language of creation. The stories in Chapter 2, The Music and Its Role, recount the author's early childhood immersion in music and its ceremonial function. His inherent singing talent and gift of musical memory were recognized and encouraged by accomplished elder Lakota singers and spiritual leaders, including, among others, John Fire, Ben Black Bear, Sievert Young Bear, Dawson No Horse and Charlie Kills Enemy. Until recent times the performance and uses of Lakota secular and sacred music were kept strictly separate. Sacred concepts were not incorporated into secular music. Howard discusses the relaxation of that taboo, occasioned by the appearance of younger song-makers, including himself, who created new songs incorporating the innate appeal of the sacred into popular secular music bringing hearts and minds together in a flowering of the sentiments of joyous living and community. Chapter 2 closes with a list of the different categories of songs used in the ceremony the reader is about to enter: Pipe-Filling Song; Pipe-Offering Song; Four Directions Song; Great Spirit Song; Personal (to the medicine man) Scared Song; Spirit Calling Songs; Spirit Entrance Songs; Spirit Dancing Songs; Spirit Talking Songs; Spirit Responding Song; Spirit Departure Song; Offering Song; Protection Song; Ceremony Completion Song. Lyrics of each song are presented in Lakota, with English translations. Having thus entered the context of a ritual format grounded in music, the reader is led though 17 additional chapters, each introduced by the song whose order of succession is found above. Individual chapter contents recount the experiences that evolved into Howard's ability to perform the part of the ceremony addressed by that chapter's introductory song.