Your Joking, by Mary Mountier (Grantham House Publishing, RRP $19.99): Did you spot the error in the title? If not, the tagline beneath the heading on the book’s cover might give you a hint: “including how to know the difference…
Category: Advice, guides & self-help
Planting a seed of knowledge
All About New Zealand Plants, by Dave Gunson (New Holland Publishers, RRP $24.99): If, like me, you’re not particularly good at identifying plants, this is the book for you. Artist-writer Dave Gunson has a nice touch with the illustrations, giving…
Expert shares his knowledge
Save Money on your Mortgage, by Martin Hawes (Penguin, RRP $30): What Martin Hawes doesn’t know about handling your finances isn’t worth knowing. This time around, he’s tackling what is most likely our biggest financial outlay, and our biggest debt:…
Good advice for gardeners
The New Zealand Plant Doctor, by Andrew Maloy (New Holland Publishers, RRP $24.99): My gardening talents (or lack of them) are legendary but I think I’ve found the perfect book to give any plant that has the misfortune of meeting…
Must-read titles on must-see movies
101 Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die & 101 Sci-Fi Movies You Must See Before You Die, both by Steven Jay Schneider (Quintessence, RRP $30 each): Are you a bit of a movie buff? Do you want to…
A colourful history lesson on Kiwi culture
Kiwiosities, by Gordon El (New Holland Publishers): Here it is: everything you could ever want to know about New Zealand’s traditions, ideas, folklore and history. And perhaps a few things you didn’t realise you needed to know. Kiwiosities: An A-Z…
Importance of people skills recognised
Pressing the Right Buttons, by Allison Mooney (Random House NZ, RRP $29.99): Author Allison Mooney believes that even though we live in a wired world, having people skills is an absolute requirement for business success. I’m inclined to agree with…
Help with choosing the right career path
The Career Maze, by Heather Carpenter PhD (New Holland Publishers, RRP $24.99): If you’re a parent, chances are you have on occasions worried about just what the future holds for junior. Every year thousands of youngsters get lost in the…
Inspiration for success
Lead to Succeed, by Craig Lewis (Harper, $29.99): When it comes to self-motivation, elite athletes have the market cornered. These guys (and gals) have the drive and stamina to push themselves to their limits, constantly striving for excellence. This book…
Hope for me yet
A Perfect Mess, by Eric Abrahamson and David H Freedman (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, RRP $35.99): So, we’ve had the self-help books that tell us how to organise our lives and have everything running like a well-oiled machine. It’s big business, this organising…