The Damned UTD - David Peace

David Peace

About the Book
In 1974 the brilliant and controversial Brian Clough made perhaps his most eccentric decision: he accepted the Leeds United Manager’s job. As successor to Don Revie, his bitter adversary, he was to last only forty-four days. David Peace takes us into the mind and thoughts of Ol’ Big ‘Ead himself, and brings vividly to life one of post-war Britain’s most complex and fascinating characters.

What we think:'It is a rare thing to capture the beautiful game so brilliantly on paper as Peace has done. Perfectly demonstrating that truth is stranger than fiction, Peace's take on Clough's 44 days is mesmerising an unputdownable as you follow the rise and fall of his tragic anti-hero.'

World Book Night 2012

 

 

About World Book Night

World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift books in their communities to share their love of reading.

In 2012 World Book Night will be celebrated in the UK, Ireland, Germany and USA on April 23.

In the UK, 20,000 passionate readers will gift 24 copies of one of their favourite books to encourage those who don't regularly read to fall in love with reading. In addition World Book Night will be giving a further 620,000 books over the course of the year directly to the hardest to reach readers through prisons, care homes, hospitals, sheltered housing, homeless shelters, libraries and through other partner charities.

Why World Book Night
Take a minute to remember what it was that made you first fall in love with reading: the incredible passion you felt, and still feel, for books, for stories; the excited feeling you still get when you pick up a book that you just can’t wait to read and think about the places it will take you, the people you’ll meet and the joy you’ll get from reading it.

Now think about the millions of people who have never been on that journey or who, somewhere along the way, have forgotten how incredible it can be. Think about the power of putting a book in to their hands and saying ‘this one’s amazing, you have to read it’.

World Book Night reaches out to those who don’t regularly read by using passionate book lovers around the country to become reading ambassadors and to do just that within their communities, book by book, reader by reader, hand to hand, getting the whole country reading.

How does World Book Night work?
25 titles are specially chosen and printed in World Book Night editions. Givers apply for a particular book (they get a first, second and third choice) which they must commit to gift to those who don't regularly read, to share and spread their love of reading. Givers collect their books from their local bookshops and libraries, putting the very heart of our reading communities at the very heart of World Book Night...

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The Doner Company - Concrete

Concrete created a complete new identity for interior and graphic appearance of The Doner Company. An innovative concept to attract new costumers, who find an enjoyable atmosphere as crucial as the quality of the food itself. The Doner Company is an authentic taste experience, offering high quality products and service for the people passing by. Saying good-bye to the snack-bar-feel and environment, show the authentic heritage of the product and improving the workflow behind the counters.

The eye catcher of the dönerbar is a circular wall with a random patchwork of custom-made cement tiles. The diversity of the tiles refers to a Turkish market and creates a lively atmosphere. Various functions are integrated in this wall in functional stainless steel niches. There is one niche for toasting the bread, one for the kebab in the middle and one for preparing the side dishes. The menu and the door to ‘back of the house’ are placed within the wall as well. Two freestanding counters made of stainless steel complement the interior.

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Harney and Sons - Fine Teas

This week marks the grand opening of the Harney & Sons flagship store in Soho, NYC. The dominating feature of the large space is a tasting bar which will allow visitors to sample some of the over 250 varieties of teas offered for sale. The teas are prepared and served by master brewers. Water for brewing is carefully boiled in special units which can be calibrated to the exact degree necessary for each type of tea. The experience is set up very much like tastings at a winery. Behind the bar is a floor to ceiling shelving unit containing all of the varieties of teas offered by Harney & Sons. The teas are sourced from across the globe and include special blends developed by Harney & Sons.

Adjacent to the tasting bar is a retail area where packaged teas can be purchased as well as specialty tea kettles and drinkware. In the back of the space is a cafe and kitchen. A menu for the kitchen is still in the works but will eventually feature items to compliment the teas offered. For now the kitchen is providing samples of roasted nuts which are traditionally paired with Chinese tea and a sampling of baked goods...

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Comme - Hecker Guthrie

A popular bistro, Comme Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner and offers a range of exciting French Bistro style dishes prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Southern.

Comme Bar features large communal tables and luxurious shared ottomans, a dedicated focus on premium wines from around the world and a delicious bar menu. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a relaxed drink with friends.

Upstairs at Comme, two separate and flexible rooms provide an elegant space for private dinners, cocktail parties, weddings and other special celebrations.

Comme – the bar, the events space, the kitchen – is nothing if not a statement of outrageously good taste on every level, complimented by its staff who deliver wonderful personalised service, of the highest standards.

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Birdnest Bed - O*GE

The “Giant Birdsnest for creating new ideas” was conceived and created by O*GE as a prototype for new and inspiring socializing space, which can be seen as a morph of furniture and playground. Its powerful, yet simple concept and intriguing character needs no explanation or user manual: Ready to to be used, to be played in, and be worked in. With its 4.50 m diameter the big version can host up to 16 people at once, offering a comfortable and sensual soft space, various siting positions, configurations for informal meetings and social exchange.
Up to now three different sizes have been developed and can be ordered at demand.
Simply jump in and enjoy.

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Grow Bottles - Potting Shed Creations

Our Grow Bottles are hand-crafted from recycled wine bottles, they combine smart design and functionality with a clean aesthetic that is respectful of the earth's resources. Using simple hydroponics, these durable glass vessels grow fresh culinary herbs indoors year-round. Intended to be enjoyed again and again, once the growing cycle is complete, simply wash your bottle, rinse the clay pebbels and replant with another variety of herb

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Laputa By Outofstock

Singapore and Barcelona designers Outofstock presented floating islands made of crumpled copper and moss during the International Furniture Fair Singapore this month. 

Inspired by the fictional floating island of Laputa featured in Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, the installation for their own showcase called The Workshop Gallery hung inside a Tyvek tent on a city-centre street.

The moss was harvested from unnoticed nooks and crannies in the city like tree trunks and drains.”The intention was to let visitors view the moss up close, appreciating the nature that thrives unseen around us,” says Gabriel Tan from Outofstock.

The moss was harvested from unnoticed nooks and crannies in the city like tree trunks and drains.”The intention was to let visitors view the moss up close, appreciating the nature that thrives unseen around us,” says Gabriel Tan from Outofstock.

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Nannini Compact Glasses

Giorgio Nannini of Modena, Italy is a clear example of how creativity and brilliant invention with an italian label may be profitably marketed, earning recognition even on an international level.
Giorgio Nannini, the ideator of increasingly numerous eyewear lines, whether ophthalmic, sunglasses, sports or protection, has deservedly won an award, in recognition of his research and continuous updating. In September 1995 in Tokyo, from the hands of the Japanese Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, Ryutaro Hashimoto, Giorgio Nannini received the first 'Good Design Award' for his reading lorgnettes " Compact, mini reading glasses".

The award was set up by the Japanese government in 1957, with the aim of improving the quality of life, selecting products on an international level, subdivided into fourteen categories, with outstanding innovative features. Particular attention has been given over the years io high level design. Over 21,000 objects have been assessed, sifted and selected. In 1995 there were about one thousand chosen candidates competing for the award and the names of the producers included Philips, Gillette, Canon, Opel, Bosch. Though competing with worthy rivals, Giorgio Nannini deservedly won the award.

His Compact reading glasses, with an international patent, were awarded because they were chosen as the most innovative product in the field. We are printing below the reasons, which conclude:
'For the last forty years, faced with the need for a product for elderly people, Compact reading eyewear may be considered a historical turníng point...

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