The prequel to Bob Stanley's universally acclaimed Yeah Yeah Yeah, Let's Do It is the only book that brings together all genres to tell the definitive story of the birth of Pop, from 1900 to the mid-fifties. 'An absolute landmark/joy/gossip-fest/door to Narnia: the history of pop music before rock'n'roll. Fascinating. I can't recommend it enough.' CAITLIN MORAN 'An encyclopaedic introduction to the fascinating and often forgotten creators of Anglo-American hit music in the first half of the Twentieth Century.' NEIL TENNANT 'A perfect guidebook, filled with smart thinking and the kind of communicable enthusiasm that sends you rushing to the nearest streaming service, eager to hear what all the fuss was about.' ALEXIS PETRIDIS, GUARDIAN Pop music didn't begin with the Beatles in 1963, or with Elvis in 1956, or even with the first seven-inch singles in 1949. There was a pre-history that went back to the first recorded music, right back to the turn of the century . . . Who were the earliest record stars, and were they in any meaningful way 'pop stars'? Who were the likes of George Gershwin writing songs for? Why did swing, the hit sound for a decade or more, become almost invisible after the Second World War? The prequel to Bob Stanley's Yeah Yeah Yeah, Let's Do It is the first book to tell the definitive story of the birth of pop, from the invention of the 78 rpm record at the end of the nineteenth century to the beginnings of rock and the modern pop age. Taking in superstars such as Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra alongside the unheralded songwriters and arrangers behind some of our most enduring songs, Stanley paints an aural portrait of pop music's formative years in stunning clarity, uncovering the silver threads and golden needles that bind the form together. Bringing the eclectic, evolving world of early pop to life - from ragtime, blues and jazz to Broadway, country, crooning and beyond - Let's Do It is essential reading for all music lovers. 'Stanley has provided something invaluable to the growing numbers who get their music via streaming services: a guide to pop's back pages, where artists mostly remembered in sepia tones are brought into vivid colour by the author's enthusiastic sense of discovery.' BILLY BRAGG, NEW STATESMAN 'Inspired.' THE TIMES 'Remarkable.' CLASSIC ROCK 'Exhilarating.' CAUGHT BY THE RIVER 'Essential.' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'A joyous read.' THE ECONOMIST 'Wholly entertaining.' MOJO 'Enthralling.' DAILY MAIL 'Great fun.' LITERARY REVIEW 'Colossal.' UNCUT 'A joy.' RECORD COLLECTOR 'A triumph.' LOUD & QUIET

If you want to get something done, this is where to start.

Find your motivation, change your life. Let's Do This! is the motivation playbook for any type of personal change, from losing 10lbs to stepping up in your career to running a half-marathon. The difference between giving up and succeeding comes down to your motivation to take control of your life. Forget worrying about your willpower (which drains your energy and zaps your confidence) and join Andy Ramage's 28-day Motivation Masterclass to enjoy totally new levels of success. Tap into the 'Six Streams of Positivity' that will keep you on the straight and narrow, refine your resolution and master your mornings through simple daily rituals. The key to any successful behaviour change is the motivation to keep going once you've started. In this unapologetically positive book, Andy Ramage, who transformed his own life step by step, explains the theory and the practice of motivation so that you can make any change in your life, and make it last.

“A hilarious debut told mainly through the zany artwork. . . . The pictures capture the universality of the moment.” — School Library Journal (starred review) Frankie and Sal have already played every sport and board game invented, baked and eaten batches of cookies, and painted a zillion pictures. What’s left to do? Nothing! Ten seconds of nothing! Can they do it? With a wink to the reader and a command of visual humor, feature-film animator Tony Fucile demonstrates the Zen-like art of doing nothing . . . oops! Couldn’t do it!

Let's Do Everything and Nothing is a lush and lyrical picture book from Julia Kuo celebrating special moments—big and small—shared with a child. Will you climb a hill with me? Dive into a lake with me? Reach the starry sky with me, and watch the clouds parade? Love can feel as vast as a sky full of breathtaking clouds or as gentle as a sparkling, starlit night. It can scale the tallest mountains and reach the deepest depths of the sea. Standing side by side with someone you love, the unimaginable can seem achievable. But not every magical moment is extraordinary. Simply being together is the best journey of all.

Throughout my life I have achieved many remarkable things. In Screw It, Let's Do It, I will share with you my ideas and the secrets of my success, but not simply because I hope they'll help you achieve your individual goals. Today we are increasingly aware of the effects of our actions on the environment, and I strongly believe that we each have a responsibility, as individuals and organisations, to do no harm. I will draw on Gaia Capitalism to explain why we need to take stock of how we may be damaging the environment, and why it is up to big companies like Virgin to lead the way in a more holistic approach to business. In Screw It, Let's Do It I'll be looking forwards to the future. A lot has changed since I founded Virgin in 1968, and I'll explain how I intend to take my business and my ideas to the next level and the new and exciting areas - such as launching Virgin Fuels - into which Virgin is currently moving. But I have also brought together all the important lessons, good advice and inspirational adages that have helped me along the road to success. Ironically, I have never been one to do things by the book, but I have been inspired and influenced by many remarkable people. I hope that you too might find a little inspiration between these pages.