Our everyday lives are continually influenced by inventors whose ideas have led to commercial products available in most high streets across the civilised world. For the most part, these creative individuals have remained relatively unknown. Yet some of the companies set up by the successful inventors survive to this day, albeit with company names no longer associated with the original idea. Volume 1 of this two-volume set documents some of the key inventions from the Spinning Jenny invented by Hargraves in the late 18th century, to some of the most commercially successful ideas of the early 20th century.

We, four suburban 40-somethings, had all but ignored live music – proper live music – for 20 years. The Banshees, Buzzcocks, and The Smiths happened so long ago that they might have been in a different life. Live music now was a mum from Doncaster pretending to be the blonde one from Abba, and we needed help. Thankfully, it came when our children found indie rock, and demanded to see it up close. A night at Wembley with The Killers kick-started a five-year odyssey of 70 nights, 100 bands, and all of this: Superheroes in spandex, Viking Metallers in a …

Millions of us take package holidays for granted every year but did you ever wonder how it all began? Thanks to Vincent Cobb's 35 years of experience working in the travel industry culminating in his position as managing director of Thomson Holidays, we can learn all about the tricks that formed the basis of the business at its outset. This fascinating book allows us to observe the industry's steep learning curve from its infancy in the late '50s to the present day, using you as guinea pigs. You will find this a gripping yet refreshingly humorous account. The author tells …

This is a tale of a cat called Hyam, a very special cat. In fact he is a theatrical cat, a fastidious cat, a funny cat, but most of all an adored cat. He is most famous for talking himself out of a part at an audition for a West End production, for he is an actor. Here he tells his own story in a series of delightfully readable poems that are a pleasure for all age groups. Follow his adventures as he takes us on his travels through the ups and downs of theatre life and his many escapades …