In his first graphic novel, It's a Good Life, if You Don't Weaken–one of the best-selling D+Q titles ever--Seth pays homage to the wit and sophistication of the old-fashioned magazine cartoon. While trying to understand his dissatisfaction with the present, Seth discovers the life and work of Kalo, a forgotten New Yorker cartoonist from the 1940s. But his obsession blinds him to the needs of his lover and the quiet desperation of his family. Wry self-reflection and moody colours characterize Seth's style in this tale about learning lessons from nostalgia. His playful and sophisticated experiment with memoir provoked a furious debate among cartoon historians and archivists about the existence of Kalo, and prompted a Details feature about Seth's "hoax".

While many self-help books encourage introspection, It's A Great Life If You Don't Weaken goes beyond the self and dives into the art of how to deal with the distressing predicaments and people that we encounter all too often in our lives. Brian Hampton shares a treasure trove of tried and tested techniques, honed through personal experience and a successful career spanning many fields, that empower readers to triumph in the realm of office politics and handle encounters with anyone, from plumbers, veterinarians, lawyers, and doctors, to dentists, insurance companies, bad drivers, and even discourteous customer service representatives. The practical transactional techniques within are particularly appealing to men between the ages of 30 and 60, a demographic that has been traditionally underserved in the realm of non-fiction literature. However, women will also discover its relevance to the obstacles they have long faced. Additionally, the concise chapter index caters to the shorter attention spans of younger generations, offering them quick answers to their immediate concerns. It's A Great Life If You Don't Weaken stands out not only for its invaluable content but also for its reader-friendly format. Hampton's compelling techniques for a better life are delivered in an engaging and often amusing fashion, captivating readers from start to finish. This guidebook is a must-have addition to the toolkit of anyone seeking practical strategies to conquer life's challenges, triumph over difficult people, and find success in both personal and professional spheres. It offers a refreshing perspective and addresses a crucial interest of the audience—how to navigate the world outside themselves with confidence and resilience.

Life in the 1950s and 60s sometimes appears to have been lived by people from another planet. Such is the difference in lifestyle between now and then. Computers, social media, and all the problems that come with living in the 21st century were a distant dream (or nightmare). Life was lived at a slower pace, and people had more time for one another. This is not to say that times couldn't be hard, and life certainly wasn’t always a ‘bed of roses’. Through it all, there was always a shoulder to lean on, or a nice cup of tea made by a friend or neighbour, who would listen patiently to your troubles or triumphs (counsellors extraordinaire!) There appeared to be no shortage of characters, and everyone had a tale to tell. ‘A peck of dirt won’t kill you,’ was a well-used adage, and from childhood to old age, people were less fearful than today, thus allowing them to live their lives to the full. This book is about the people who lived through those times, their quirks and habits, their generosity and good humour. Humour plays a big part in this book, with a sprinkling of every other human emotion. The author sincerely hopes that young and old will enjoy looking back at a bygone time which was only 60 short years ago.

Nine classic short stories portraying the isolation, criminality, morality, and rebellion of the working class from award-winning, bestselling author Alan Sillitoe The titular story follows the internal decisions and external oppressions of a seventeen-year-old inmate in a juvenile detention center who is known only by his surname, Smith. The wardens have given the boy a light workload because he shows talent as a runner. But if he wins the national long-distance running competition as everyone is counting on him to do, Smith will only vindicate the very system and society that has locked him up. “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner” has long been considered a masterpiece on both the page and the silver screen. Adapted for film by Sillitoe himself in 1962, it became an instant classic of British New Wave cinema. In “Uncle Ernest,” a middle-aged furniture upholsterer traumatized in World War II, now leads a lonely life. His wife has left him, his brothers have moved away, and the townsfolk treat him as if he were a ghost. When the old man finally finds companionship with two young girls whom he enjoys buying pastries for at a café, the local authorities find his behavior morally suspect. “Mr. Raynor the School Teacher” delves into a different kind of isolation—that of a voyeuristic teacher who fantasizes constantly about the women who work in a draper’s shop across the street. When his students distract him from his lustful daydreams, Mr. Raynor becomes violent. The six stories that follow in this iconic collection continue to cement Alan Sillitoe’s reputation as one of Britain’s foremost storytellers, and a champion of the condemned, the oppressed, and the overlooked. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alan Sillitoe including rare images from the author’s estate.

Soon to be a major motion picture from Academy Award–winning director Guillermo del Toro and starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Toni Collette. Nightmare Alley begins with an extraordinary description of a carnival-show geek—alcoholic and abject and the object of the voyeuristic crowd’s gleeful disgust and derision—going about his work at a county fair. Young Stan Carlisle is working as a carny, and he wonders how a man could fall so low. There’s no way in hell, he vows, that anything like that will ever happen to him. And since Stan is clever and ambitious and not without a useful streak of ruthlessness, soon enough he’s going places. Onstage he plays the mentalist with a cute assistant (before long his harried wife), then he graduates to full-blown spiritualist, catering to the needs of the rich and gullible in their well-upholstered homes. It looks like the world is Stan’s for the taking. At least for now.

Presents a series of short science-fiction stories that tells of encounters between humans and the intelligent, self-aware death machines known as the Berserkers.