Category Archives: Non-Fiction

Non-Fiction

A Holmwood Station Scrapbook
Julian Womersley

9781911175681 Like all good scrapbooks, this is a serendipitous collection of snippets from the past: photographs, press cuttings and other ephemera are brought together to tell the saga of Holmwood railway station and its role in the social history of a developing community in deepest rural Surrey. Holmwood station has witnessed astonishing events since it first opened in 1867.
Published: Sept 2017
Paperback: 150 pages
Price: £12.50
ISBN: 9-781911-175681

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Extraordinary people have trodden its platforms – ranging from a Royal Prince about to be proclaimed King to pauper children sent from a London workhouse. Others included a Crimean War hero; self-made millionaires; gallant officers returning from the Boer War and, during the Great War, wounded officers delivered by ambulance trains. Even the German Kaiser, His Imperial Highness, Emperor Wilhelm II, once alighted at Holmwood.
Special trains came and went - bringing London society people to glittering parties in the country; taking outings to the seaside and visitors to the Crystal Palace or transporting troops to military manoeuvres on Holmwood Common. Suffragettes frequently used the station, as did the Surrey Union Hunt, who unloaded hounds and horses directly onto the platform. Although aimed at the general reader, the fresh research and new material in this book will appeal to those with more specialist railway or historical interests.
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Chris Hewitt

A Holmwood Station Scrapbook is a multi-faceted gem which has been lovingly polished by its author, Julian Womersley, and sparkles with wit and wisdom. At its simplest level this is the saga of a railway station, but don’t be misled into thinking it’s a book for trainspotters; all human life is played out in these pages. There are tales of tragedy, triumph, paupers, politicians and parties which have been painstakingly collected from photographs, archive documents, press cuttings and other material and brought together in one delightful and thoroughly entertaining book. It’s an enchanting read and one I’d highly recommend.

“We love the book and it has also been very well received by our neighbours to whom I gave a copy. Charles commutes from Holmwood and is very intrigued.”

“A fascinating collection of information - it will take hours of study to absorb it. I have found that once opened, it is difficult to put down!”

“Just the Ticket!”

Front Page, Non-Fiction

Consciousness Matters – An Enquiry into the Origin of Consciousness
Oliver Leech

9781911175827 Consciousness Matters addresses the age-old problem of the relationship between consciousness and the material world. In the course of exploring some of the history of this major philosophical subject it looks at a range of materialist responses, such as mind-brain identity theory, behaviourism, functionalism and supervenience, as explanations for consciousness.
Set against these positions is the view, first, that consciousness is neither material nor reducible to material and, second, that consciousness is a prerequisite for our knowledge of the material world. If the latter view is the case, the terms of the debate are shifted fundamentally.
The theories of idealism and dualism of the material and the conscious are considered.
Published: Sept 2017
Paperback: 154 pages
Price: £6.90
ISBN: 9-781911-175827

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In contrast to the dualism made famous by Descartes, according to which there is two-way causal interaction, the long-neglected theory of occasionalism is introduced and explained with reference to two significant philosophers associated with it. A case is made for a revival of occasionalism that takes into account a more modern perspective. The book ends with an acknowledgement that it has only scratched the surface of this vast and very challenging topic.
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Non-Fiction

Secrets of the Human Brain
Robert Pullen

534175 Dr Bob Pullen shines a spotlight on the human brain, which is so central to what we humans are. He explains how our brains are made up of nerve cells or neurons, which behave rather like batteries producing a small voltage which becomes the language of the nervous system, a bit like Morse code. Our neurons can also behave like computer-chips processing electronic data. He looks at the brains of other animals and explains how different parts of the human brain perform different tasks, some areas performing movement, others giving us our five senses. He describes the fascinating ways our brains can create visual illusions, how we produce language and speech, how we feel pain and what happens when we sleep and dream. The book also touches on the nature of consciousness itself.
Published:May 2017
Paperback:122 pages
Price:£7.00
ISBN:9-781911-175650
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The book looks at the physical division of the brain into left and right cerebral hemispheres and describes how these differ between men and women. And what happens when the brain goes wrong; how can it be examined? A damaged brain can cause difficulties, illness and disorder. Remarkable modern methods of examination such as measuring brain waves and magnetic resonance imaging are simply and clearly explained. The brain is more than a normal organ. It governs how we think and makes us self-aware. Bob Pullen considers the mind, life and death, as well as our place in the universe.
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Front Page, Non-Fiction, Reference

Impact of natural factors on vegetation dynamics
Open University

9781911175353 Long-term monitoring of vegetation on Zalidovskie Luga meadow situated alongside the Ugra river in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, has been carried out from 1965 to 2012. Since 1997 the meadow has been part of the “Ugra” National Park, which was assigned the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2002. During the forty-eight years of monitoring, annual surveys on permanent plots were combined with surveys of haystack locations and adjacent control plots, with detailed observations of populations of particular plant species. A large amount of data has been collated allowing the impact of environmental factors to be assessed.
Published:Jan 2017
Paperback:204 pages
Price:£15.00
ISBN:9781911175353



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Over the observation period, agricultural management altered more than once, ranging from single hay cut, hay cut followed by aftermath grazing, double hay cut, extensive grazing, and no management at all in recent years. The data illustrate the reaction of plant communities to these changes. The appendix contains data from 504 relevés recorded on twenty-two permanent observation plots over forty-eight years.

This book will be of interest of vegetation ecologists, conservationists and anyone involved in the management of European floodplain meadows.


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Front Page, history, Non-Fiction

From its infancy in the 1980s to its vibrancy today
Asia’s Financial Industry

9781911175414 The development of the financial industry in Asia has been a history of boom and bust. Over the past four decades, it has transformed from its infancy during the 1980s to the vibrancy today. Looking back at his career from a new joiner in the industry to regional executive with several custodian banks during this period, the author has captured in this book many interesting stories, episodes and events in this fascinating process of development, from the perspective of a custodian, to add some colourful dimensions to the financial history of the region.
Published:July 2016
Paperback:246 pages
Price:$16.5
ISBN:9-781911-175414
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Based in Hong Kong, Lawrence Au is a seasoned professional who has been at the forefront of Asia’s financial industry for more than thirty years. A pioneer and thought leader in the securities services area, he has been instrumental in building several custodian banks' businesses in the region. Under his stewardship as the Asia Pacific head with BNP Paribas Securities Services and Northern Trust, he took the custody franchise of the two banks off the ground to become a leading service provider in the market. Lawrence frequently speaks at conferences and features in industry publications, and was named Custodian Leader of the Year 2012 by Asia Asset Management and Custodian Banker of the Year 2013 by The Asset. Lawrence was presented Lifetime Achievement Award by Asia Asset Management in 2016.
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Non-Fiction

Did the Right Sperm Win?
Vinette Hoffman-Jackson

9781911175124 You were born a winner! Over one million sperms had to race against many obstacles just to create you. Simply put, it means that out of these millions of possible choices, you were created and it must be for a reason. You must have a purpose and you should be working towards fulfilling that purpose. However, if you have decided to just waste your time and do nothing then you really need to ask yourself ‘Did the right sperm win?’ or would it be better had another sperm won and you never existed? There are no accidents or coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason although sometimes we tend remain on the lowest level, the literal level of life. This book includes thirty, short, inspiring stories, anecdotes, poems and reflections, designed to motivate you to think and find messages in everyday occurrences. You were born a winner; now start acting like a winner!
Published:May 2016
Paperback:152 pages
Price:£6.99
ISBN:9-781911-175124
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V F Hoffman was born in Jamaica but she has lived in the UK for the past twelve years. She has worked in the educational sector for over twenty years in various leadership roles and has been consistently judged as an outstanding classroom practitioner. She enjoys reading, writing and the occasional game of chess. Vinette is a multi-award-winning motivational speaker and regularly writes motivational articles published in magazines such as Blackbright News. She is the single mother of three boys and considers her role as mom the most important thing in life. Vinette worships at Miracle COGIC in Bedford.
Reader Reviews...

Bradley Henry, Missuagua, CANADA

I think this is awesome. I've only got positive praise!!

Katherine Anderson. Luton, ENGLAND

Simply amazing. Really gave me some food for thought.

Nicola Llewellyn. Ocho Rios, JAMAICA

Gave me a whole new perspective on how to look on things

Front Page, Non-Fiction

Why the orthodox approach to smoking cessation is flawed
Dr Gabriel Symonds

gs front cover In spite of knowing the risks, why do smokers keep smoking? They feel compelled to do it because of mild anxiety and nervousness – produced by the smoking itself. The long lists of awful withdrawal symptoms trotted out by orthodox smoking-cessation counsellors are largely untrue; most smokers when they quit do not experience such symptoms – unless they think they will! Understanding this is the key to successful quitting. In this ground-breaking book Dr Symonds exposes how the current approach of governments to the smoking problem is wrong-headed. It’s based on the idea that the way to reduce smoking prevalence is by so-called ‘tobacco control’ – strong health warnings and horrible pictures on cigarette packs, plain packaging, restrictions on where you’re allowed to smoke, increased cigarette taxation, etc.
Published:July 2016
Paperback:148 pages
Price:£11.95
ISBN:9-781911-175209
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Though this has some effect, it doesn’t get to the heart of the problem. Tobacco doesn’t need to be ‘controlled’; it needs to be abolished. Further, for smoking-cessation the emphasis should shift away from nicotine products and drugs to being nicotine- and drug-free. More attention should be paid to evidence which shows the best way to stop smoking is – just stop. Many smokers achieve this on their own, and for those who need help, the Symonds Method is simple, quick and gimmick-free.
Gabriel Symonds is a British general practitioner working in Tokyo for more than thirty years. Now retired from full-time practice, he specialises in smoking cessation counselling using a unique simple method which has successfully helped hundreds of smokers to quit.
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Non-Fiction

The author looks at principled Gandhian nonviolence
George Paxton

9781911175186 War is an extremely costly means of responding to conflict and yet nonviolent defence of a country is normally considered unrealistic because it is considered ineffectual against a ruthless opponent. This book tries to demonstrate otherwise by looking at historical facts focusing on the Nazi tyranny as a specific case. In reality, nonviolent resistance to the Third Reich took place in the occupied countries as well as in Germany itself. While not on a scale to bring down the regime its potential to do so is clearly demonstrated in in this well-argued account. More speculatively, the author looks at principled Gandhian nonviolence and asks if this approach would have affected the nature of the resistance.
Published:5th April 2016
Paperback:252 pages
Price:£10.00
ISBN:9-781911-175186

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George Paxton is the editor of The Gandhi Way, the quarterly journal of the Gandhi Foundation which is based in the UK.
He is the author of Sonja Schlesin: Gandhi’s South African Secretary (Pax Books 2006).
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