Most Popular Books by Richard Hammond

Gripping account by Richard Hammond of life before and after his terrifying high-speed car crash. Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. In September 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash. ON THE EDGE is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his recovery, full of drama and incident. An adrenalin junkie long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous, make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear that Richard was involved in a high speed crash, driving a jet-powered dragster. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.

More antics from the much-loved TOP GEAR presenter, and the No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE. "There is, I discovered, a technique to performing a low-rent, comedy motorcycle jump with a bad hip joint following a low-speed fall off a horse on to your wife''s Land Rover keys..." More of the wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of Richard Hammond - TV presenter, adventurer and general drawer of the Short Straw. Continuing where AS YOU DO left off, OR IS THAT JUST ME? focuses on just a few of the many hair-raising stunts, expeditions and encounters experienced by Richard Hammond over the last eventful year.

ON THE ROAD: GROWING UP IN EIGHT JOURNEYS - MY EARLY YEARS is a new form of autobiography, in which TOP GEAR presenter Richard Hammond tells the story of his early life through a series of significant driving episodes. He''s a child in the back seat of Dad''s car on the way to the seaside in Weston-Super-Mare. He''s on his first bike, a red one, in Solihull, then on his first motorcycle, a Honda MTX50. He''s at the wheel of his first car (and in the back with his first girlfriend). He is driving a furniture delivery van as part of his first job in and around Ripon. Now he is showing off with a friend, risking everything. ON THE ROAD is an emotional road map in which each chapter has its own registration number, and its own distinctive interior. Most importantly, each chapter sets off and arrives. ON THE ROAD surges on to its destination, reversing or moving quickly through the gears, reliving the central episodes and conflicts of Richard''s life. Every chapter is a stage in a longer journey. Although there are precious few road-rage monologues against four-wheel drivers and men in vests in white vans, Richard Hammond''s readers will quickly recognise the funny self-deprecating and balanced ease that has made him one of Britain''s best-loved writers and television presenters.

The life and times of the No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE. The wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of a very brave and clever TV presenter, Arctic Explorer and general drawer of the Short Straw. As one third of the BBC''s Top Gear team, Richard Hammond''s year since his near-fatal accident has been full of stunts and drama. From a race to the North Pole (with skis and dog-sled) to a journey through Botswana in a car named Oliver, and a seventeen-mile run through floods to his Gloucestershire home, in order to get to his daughter''s birthday party, the year has been eventful, to say the least . . .With his boundless optimism in the face of certain failure, Richard Hammond has become one of our funniest writers about a life (and a job) which constantly present a challenge.

The much-loved TOP GEAR host, and No.1 bestselling author of ON THE EDGE, on learning to love your caravan - includes advice on how to blow it up when you have finished with it. This is the essential guide for any owner or prospective owner, or indeed anyone with even a passing interest in caravans, of whatever sex, age, race or inclination. Or anyone with an interest in seeing them blown to bits on the telly. From the history of the caravan and their role in preventing World War Three to caravan racing and what the future might hold for the mobile home we all love (or love to hate), Richard Hammond leaves no stone unturned in this comprehensive account of the enduring appeal of a road pest ... I mean, motoring icon.

What is it about bikes that leaves so many of us powerless to resist? This entertaining guide charts the history of the bike from its origin as a cheap means of transport to its modern incarnations: a symbol of rebellion, a high-tech racing machine and the rich kid''s plaything. Richard Hammond, passionate biker and collector of bikes, looks at the machines that have propelled people across the world to work, to school - and occasionally to their doom. With his trademark expertise and wit, Hammond examines bikers of every type, from the happy farmer trundling through fields on his Honda Cub to the Hells Angel terrorising towns on their hog.

Top Gear''s Richard Hammond is in the driving seat for this turbo-charged tour through the nuts and bolts of car technology. Underneath the hood of every car there''s a lot of fast, furious, and spectacular science going on. G-force, combustion, power: you name it, a car''s got it. Help your child discover all about the science of cars with this explosive tour of automobiles in Car Science. Find out how cars revolutionized the world and see how a car functions with jaw-dropping diagrams, cutaway drawings and cool graphics. Steer to the fundamental science behind the mechanics and then sit back for an exciting look into the future of minimal emissions, maximum fun.

One positive if belated aspect of ''Cool Britannia'' is that British-originated cars have become (again?) among the coolest on the planet. Range Rover, Mini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin - especially the Aston Martin - these are names not only of historic significance but have a new resonance in the contemporary world too. But what of the not so cool cars, the cars you shouldn''t opt to buy - and those you shouldn''t even be seen in or alongside? No, not the Skoda or station wagon, which have a heroic anti-car coolness of their own, but the Golf or Astra or professional footballer''s Ferrari.This is a book that jumps from an enormous height on personalised number plates, but celebrates Jarvis Cocker''s decision to drive a station wagon and Roger Moore a Renault 5. It questions what happens to the status of your car after you have seen Bernard Manning or Jade Goodie posing next to a model of it in the newspaper.So there is a ''Showroom Questionnaire'' for car manufacturers to check out their customers before they deign to sell them a car that might become irrevocably uncool as a result. As funny as it is cool and aspirational, WHAT NOT TO DRIVE will entertain all who love the information, banter and humour of BBC TV''s Top Gear.

Physics doesn''t just happen in a lab - it happens in the kitchen, in your bath, in a car! This award-winning title by television presenter and writer Richard Hammond shows you how. From explanations of phenomena like electricity to details about the composition of atoms and their charge, Can You Feel The Force? is crammed with interesting facts and fascinating experiments. Join a thrilling high-energy journey through space, time, and beyond and find out about the forces that make our world what it is. Experience some "light" reading about waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, get stuck into friction and feel the heat with temperature. You can also find out the answers to age-old scientific questions such as why the sky is blue, and more obscure conundrums like why golf balls have dimples. With rich illustrations, concise and simple text, and a glossary of the most common terms, Can You Feel The Force? takes you on a fun journey while you learn about the invisible, the unexplained, and the downright weird!

Richard Hammond - TV presenter and self-confessed mystery addict - invites you to journey with him to the planet''s most puzzling places . . . Explore the ancient pyramids, Stonehenge and the Bermuda Triangle. Hunt for werewolves, vampires, aliens and the Abominable Snowman. You can gather clues, facts and interesting tales as you go (just try not to get too distracted by Richard''s unbelievable jokes). Then it''s up to you decide what''s really going on. Don''t miss this incredible, fully illustrated gift book from Britain''s best-loved TV personality. Explore the world''s greatest mysteries - all from the comfort of your armchair!

Physics doesn''t just happen in a lab - it happens in the kitchen, in your bath, in a car! This award-winning title by television presenter and writer Richard Hammond shows you how. From explanations of phenomena like electricity to details about composition of atoms and their charge, All About Physics is crammed with interesting facts and fascinating experiments. Join a thrilling high-energy journey through space, time, and beyond and find out about the forces that make our world what it is. Experience some "light" reading about waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, get stuck into friction, and feel the heat with temperature. You can also find out the answers to age-old scientific questions such why the sky is blue, and more obscure conundrums like why golf balls have dimples. With rich illustrations, concise and simple text, and a glossary of the most common terms, All About Physics takes you on a fun journey while you learn about the invisible, the unexplained, and the downright weird!

RICHARD HAMMOND''S CAR CONFIDENTIAL, packed with information and wit, is a must for anyone even remotely interested in cars. It includes an enormous variety of hints and tips: car and traffic etiquette; how to buy a car; the seven ages of the motorist from learning how to drive when you are 18 to driving the wrong way down motorways when you are 80; a spotter''s guide to motorists in the style of a WW2 manual; customizing - what is OK and what isn''t; cool hearses to be buried in; and the alternative guide to road rage. There are also lots of lists of everything - such as the top noble failures: did you know that Chrysler put out a car aimed at women called the ''Femme'' which came in one colour, pink, with matching pink handbag and lipstick? Or the top mad moments in motorsport history,dubious highway codes, most amazing roads... The odd, the mad, the bad, the curious or ridiculous are all here in this wonderful, witty and incredibly useful compendium of everything to do with cars and their drivers - all we ever needed to know about the modern world of motoring.

This book may be unpopular in some circles. The exposure of the truth usually is when it has been hidden or distorted (particularly by those who would profit most by its absence or continued distortion). Yet, are we not our brothers keeper? Are we not to assist or enlighten our kinsmen...our fellow human, if we can? Frequently, throughout these essays will be found references to the mystical forces that are indeed a part of our every day existence. I speak of the essence of fair play, charity, right...justice. These forces are more than just charming concepts or notions. They are forces that shape every living souls destiny...forces that we sometimes foolishly play with every day, often with terrible consequences. There are bogus philosophies being practiced that have been and are rapidly and steadily spelling the decline of humankind. I seek, with the readers indulgence and patience, to expose or illuminate our long practiced folly. I expect there to be great opposition, particularly from many of the Black segment of Christendom. For oftentimes, concepts and ideals are attacked and/or ostracized by the masses while being led by profiteers with selfish interests, especially if those ideals are not embraced by the masses. But, are the masses always right? What about a mob? The focal point of these essays is not to lament the plight of the so-called African American. Any number of American minorities (Native American, Hispanics, Oriental, et al) can be exemplary of the casualties of the American (European) encounter, though not necessarily to the same degree. I use the African American to illustrate what has happened to a segment of humanity (many of whom I believe to be descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, the Chosen Ones) whose ancestors dared to violate the laws and hold with contempt those forces which govern our daily existence and bring affront to the Great Spirit, The Mighty One. And if the Chosen of the Most High can receive such a fall from grace, then none are above or beyond reproach. Perhaps now is the time for other considerations...other possibilities.

Richard Hammond has had a longstanding love affair, bordering on the obsessive some might say, with caravans. He has researched their origins and history, celebrity owners, the uses to which they have been put, their place in history, names, jargon, games with, things to do in, recipes to cook in and future of. He also gives sound practical advice on how to use them to best advantage, race them (ensuring first they are of the non-static variety), and how to destroy them in interesting ways (of which he has much experience - 80 or so at the last count). An essential guide for any owner or prospective owner or indeed anyone with even a passing interest in caravans, of whatever sex or age, or race, or inclination. Or even perhaps someone with apparently no interest in caravans who might have a previously latent interest aroused. Some even talk in hushed tones of a parallel universe, though he has no personal experience of this, yet. Anything is possible.

Examines the make-up of the universe in relation to gravity, the creation of stars, the concept of the new string theory, cosmic rays, black holes, and other scientific discoveries.

Blast Lab Activity Book catapults young readers into the role of scientists, explorers, and inventors. Packed with easy-to-follow yet spectacular experiments, as well as sticker sheets, quizzes, and astonishing extra information, the book will keep curious kids occupied for hours. By following the step-by-step instructions, young inventors can create their own fantastic flying machines from household objects, fool their brains with mind-bending illusions, and learn about physics, chemistry, psychology, and more along the way.

Fantastic experiments, thrilling things to make and do from Richard Hammond''s TV series Blast Lab Introduce your child to Blast Lab Bright Ideas and they''ll discover all sorts of things to do with light and electricity! Exciting experiments from making a glowing ball of ice, to building a torch, to seeing how jelly bends light. Just like Richard Hammond''s, Blast Lab, there are lots of fun experiments to try out using everyday objects from around the house, but LEDs and copper wires are included to get you started. It''s a fun-filled blast from first page to last!

Super Science Lab: Bright Ideas introduces budding scientists to the world of light and electricity with exciting do-it-yourself experiments. Using the materials included in the kit, kids can make a lava lamp, light up their fridge with illuminated magnets, build an electric motor, and see how Jell-o makes light bend.

The world''s #1 guide to retail success, complete with crucial, up-to-date insights--including new case studies, ideas, strategies, and tactics from today''s best retailers, like TopShop, IKEA, and Best Buy. Smart Retail incorporates several valuable chapters, including: Opportunities to learn from past retail pioneers: simple yet effective strategies your competitors have forgotten. How to use data to drive profit and growth. How to do more with less, and maximize the value each team member brings to the table. How to use new technology to develop highly productive, innovative "Remote Teams". Covering everything from creating the ultimate retail experience to understanding the customer and the importance of motivated workers, this is the book that will equip managers, team-workers, retail entrepreneurs and indeed anybody who sells direct to customers, with practical winning ideas and strategies.

Travel is an intrinsic part of many of our lives. The places we visit and the experiences we have become part of our identity.

A brand new collection of powerful insights into building outstanding customer relationships… 4 pioneering books, now in a convenient e-format, at a great price! 4 remarkable eBooks help you develop rock-solid, high-value long-term customer relationships: levels of loyalty you thought were impossible Today, rock-solid long-term customer relationships are the holy grail of every business -- and they seem just as elusive. But such relationships are possible: great businesses are proving it every day, and reaping the rewards. In this extraordinary 4 eBook set, you''ll learn how they do it -- and how you can, too, no matter what you sell or who your customers are. First, in Managing Customers for Profit: Strategies to Increase Profits and Build Loyalty, internationally respected marketing expert V. Kumar presents a complete framework for linking your investments to business value - and maximizing the lifetime value of every customer. Learn how to use Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) to target customers with higher profit potential…manage and reward existing customers based on their profitability…and invest in high-profit customers to prevent attrition and ensure future profitability. Kumar introduces customer-centric approaches to allocating marketing resources…pitching the right products to the right customers at the right time…determining when a customer is likely to leave, and whether to intervene…managing multichannel shopping… even calculating referral value. Next, in Smart Retail: Practical Winning Ideas and Strategies from the Most Successful Retailers in the World, Richard Hammond presents remarkable new case studies, ideas, strategies, and tactics from great retailers worldwide. Discover new ways to use data to drive profit and growth… do more with less… leverage technology to develop highly productive and innovative remote teams… create your ultimate retail experience! In Inside the Mind of the Shopper: The Science of Retailing, the legendary Herb Sorensen reveals what customers really do when they shop, ripping away myths and mistakes that lead retailers to miss huge opportunities. Sorensen identifies simple interventions that can have dramatic sales effects, shows why many common strategies don''t work, and offers specific solutions for serving quick-trip shoppers, optimizing in-store migration patterns, improving manufacturer-retailer collaboration, even retailing to multicultural communities. Finally, in The Truth About What Customers Want, Michael R. Solomon demystifies today''s consumers, revealing what they want, think, and feel. Then, based on his deep truths about consumer behavior, he presents 50 bite-size, easy-to-use techniques for finding and keeping highly profitable customers! From world-renowned experts in customer behavior and retail performance V. Kumar, Richard Hammond, Herb Sorensen, and Michael R. Solomon

This business book is great for leaders, middle managers and entrepreneurs interested in the following categories; Small Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Strategy Branding Customer Experience Make it easy for customers to choose you; whatever your business, product or service. With customers now subconsciously weighing up their massively expanded options in terms of purchase friction (how easy it is to spend) and shopping reward (the extras inherent to the buying experience); your job is to make it easy for them to choose you. When is high friction bad? Friction includes frustrations like putting a coin in a supermarket trolley lock, too many clicks, and hidden frictions from awkward presentation, process and offer. Reward includes quality of business support, amazing retail environments, even emotional issues such as trust and belonging. When is high friction good? What value do different customers place on friction and reward across different buying scenarios? How can I benchmark against competitors? And, where are the big opportunities and where should we focus effort and resource? How do I market improved experiences to win customers? Friction Reward teaches you how to understand, measure and improve every single possible customer interaction by applying techniques outlined in the book to your customer experiences and organisations. Readers will: Create easier, faster and improved customer experiences by reducing friction and increasing reward. Discover how reducing friction attracts new customers, increases spend from existing ones and gives you a competitive advantage. Understand how the world''s leading retailers, B2B sellers and public service providers are winning using these insights. Learn how to apply practical tools and technologies to their own customer and user scenarios both online and in the physical world. The full text downloaded to your computer With eBooks you can: search for key concepts, words and phrases make highlights and notes as you study share your notes with friends eBooks are downloaded to your computer and accessible either offline through the Bookshelf (available as a free download), available online and also via the iPad and Android apps. Upon purchase, you''ll gain instant access to this eBook. Time limit The eBooks products do not have an expiry date. You will continue to access your digital ebook products whilst you have your Bookshelf installed.

Richard Hammond offers a major reassessment of the role of the war at sea in Allied victory in the Mediterranean region.

A new collection filled with winning ideas and strategies for improving¿ your sucess in the retail business... 2¿authoritative books, now in a convenient e-format, at a great price! Smart Retail, the world''s #1 guide to retail success, complete with crucial, up-to-date insights--including new case studies, ideas, strategies, and tactics from today''s best retailers, like TopShop, IKEA, and Best Buy. Covering everything from creating the ultimate retail experience to understanding the customer and the importance of motivated workers, this is the book that will equip managers, team-workers, retail entrepreneurs and indeed anybody who sells direct to customers, with practical winning ideas and strategies.¿ Competing in Tough Times brings together the powerful new strategies that world-class retailers, like Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Nordstrom, are using today to survive--and thrive--in a brutally unforgiving retail environment. Internationally respected retail management expert Barry Berman shows retailers and their suppliers exactly how to build effective strategies based on cost and differentiation, plan and implement those strategies, and measure the results.¿Berman offers detailed coverage of implementing strategies based on becoming the low-cost provider and minimizing product proliferation; enhancing the service experience; developing and maintaining a strong private label program; and more. From world-renowned experts Richard Hammond and Barry Berman.

Born in China in 1912, Chien-shiung Wu came to the United States to study physics at the University of California at Berkeley. Madame Wu, as she was called, was one of the most distinguished women physicists of her time, and served as the first female president of the American Physical Society in the 1970s.

Clean Breaks- 500 new ways to see the world from Rough Guides. 500 fantastic experiences that will inspire you to see the world in a new light - unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel that make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet. Unique accommodation- bothies and barns in Britain; houseboats in Kerala; mud huts and treehouses in Jamaica; ecolodges in Ecuador. Amazing wildlife- go whale-watching off Ireland; spot pink dolphins in Hong Kong; track wolves and bears in Poland; witness the zebra migration in Botswana. Climate-friendly travel- the train-hotel from Paris to Madrid; ferry-hopping across the Mediterranean; horse-riding on the Silk Route; cargo-boat travel around the world. Live with the Locals- camp with the Bedouin; stay in tipis with Native American Indians; trek with nomads in Mongolia; Aboriginal bush tours in the Australian outback. Extraordinary experiences- kayak around the Scottish Isles; reindeer-sledding in Norway; ride with cowboys in Venezuela; hear the music of the desert in Mali.

Do you learn faster by seeing and doing than by wading through tedious instructions? Then pick up a bass guitar and start plucking! With Teach Yourself VISUALLY Bass Guitar, you''ll quickly progress from playing notes to experimenting with plucking and slap-and-pop techniques. You''ll learn about tuning, fretboard fingerings, alternate fingerings, down picking, palm muting, and more. The bass usually sets the tempo, so you''ll learn basic note values plus common popular rhythms from straight rock to syncopated reggae. Downloadable MP3 files on wiley.com complement the book and let you hear exactly how things are supposed to sound as you play. Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review Each skill or technique is defined and described Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo Detailed color photos demonstrate each step Helpful tips provide additional guidance