After penning books on everything from proverbs to music, Max Cryer has now turned his attention to man’s best friend. Cryer is a bloke who knows a lot of things about a lot of things, and in Every Dog Has Its Day he comes up with (more or less) 1000 interesting and often odd facts […]
■ REVIEW: Every Dog Has Its Day
Sniffing out dog facts Read Post »
The subject of this biography is an important figure in the settlement of Canterbury. He was the province’s first superintendent, a politician, a watercolourist and founder of the Christchurch Press. He was ahead of his time with such forward thinking ideas as plans to help the famine sufferers in Ireland, ideas for successful colonization, and
Seven years after first being published, this expanded and revised edition was back in the bookstores just in time for an appearance under last year’s Christmas tree, and this year it’s still a fine option for anyone on your pressie list who appreciates the beauty of our little piece of paradise. There are plenty of
This is a New Zealand environmental thriller with a message or two. Set in the Waikato, Sam Miro is a young, highly regarded researcher working on environment monitoring. When some of his study farms start to show odd results, further investigation uncovers sinister forces at work. Someone has deliberately created an environmental disaster in order
■ REVIEW: Unearthed
Kiwi angle helps lift tone of novel Read Post »
It’s getting to that time of the year when you are perhaps thinking about Christmas gifts for family and friends overseas, and you’d be hard pressed to find something that represents better value that this book. Published last year but still every bit as relevant, and subtitled “a Celebration of our National Treasures & Pleasures”,
■ REVIEW: Our New Zealand
Taste of what makes New Zealand great Read Post »
Anyone attending Anzac Day services will be left in no doubt that there is growing interest among younger Kiwis in our military history. Each year, it seems there are more and more families at these services and there is a new-found appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many all those years ago. Two books
■ REVIEWS: Images of War
Soldiers’ snaps bring war home Read Post »
Advertising plays a big role in our memories of growing up and this book looks at how New Zealand’s advertising industry has grown up with us. Subtitled “tall tales from the legends of New Zealand advertising”, this is a look back at the history of advertising in New Zealand and the often larger-than-life characters who
■ REVIEW: Sell
Fascinating trip down memory lane of advertising Read Post »
Being a relatively young nation, our history is naturally a tad shorter that that of some of the other countries on this planet but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a story worth telling. In this new edition of the best-selling Short History of New Zealand, journalist, author and social commentator Gordon McLauchlan adds a few
■ REVIEW: A Short History of New Zealand
Short, but perfectly formed Read Post »
This little book offers a fascinating trip down the memory lane of pills, potions and, in some cases I am sure, snake-oil treatments. We would all like to think we are a pretty enlightened bunch, and that we can easily separate the dodgy from the useful. However, a quick flick through this book shows that
■ REVIEW: Pills & Potions
A little something to cure what ails you Read Post »
The preservation of our historic buildings is often a topic of debate in this country, with passionate arguments for (it’s our history) and against (usually the cost). We haven’t always had a great record when it comes to keeping our bricks and mortar – or indeed weatherboard – history in tact, and in this book
