{"title":"Microhistories - Niche Books about Fascinating Topics","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhether it's learning more about paper, sheep, the humble feijoa, or the history of female pleasure - we've rounded up the most niche books about fascinatingly specific categories. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"at-home","title":"At Home","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAt Home\u003c\/em\u003e by Bill Bryson is an ingenious exploration of the mundane, yet fascinating world of domestic life. What begins as an innocent walk through the rooms of his Victorian rectory in Norfolk, England, turns into an extraordinary journey through history. Using his renowned wit, insatiable curiosity, and masterful storytelling, Bryson delves into how our homes evolved into the modern sanctuaries they are today. This charming narrative is as enlightening as it is entertaining, revealing the profound histories behind everyday objects and domestic spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith each chapter dedicated to a different room or area, Bryson uncovers the surprising origins and historical developments of various aspects of our homes. From the architectural innovations of the hallways to the introduction of plumbing and sanitation that revolutionised the bathroom, his research spans centuries and continents. The kitchen becomes a portal to the history of food preservation and culinary customs, while the study leads to tales of innovation and technological advancement. Each room becomes a gateway to broader topics, such as the spices that once sparked wars and the diseases that shaped human habitation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBill Bryson was inspired to write this book when he realised how much more attention is given to dramatic historical events like battles and wars, than to the quieter, everyday activities that form the backbone of our history. Bryson brings to light the ingenuity and inventiveness that have quietly shaped our domestic lives, from the construction methods and materials that build our homes, to the social and cultural shifts that dictate how we use these spaces. He intricately weaves together stories of the inventive, often eccentric minds behind these developments, offering readers a comprehensive and delightful lens through which to view the evolution of the modern home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn true Bryson style, \u003cem\u003eAt Home\u003c\/em\u003e is brimming with surprising facts and humorous anecdotes. The book covers a diverse array of topics, touching on everything from the history of electricity and the complexities of architectural design to the intricate developments in interior decoration and the everyday innovations that we often take for granted. Bryson effortlessly makes connections between seemingly unrelated topics, making even the most ordinary subjects fascinating and engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're passionate about history, intrigued by architecture, or simply enjoy a well-told story, \u003cem\u003eAt Home\u003c\/em\u003e offers a captivating look at the overlooked aspects of our existence. By illuminating the stories hidden in the walls and everyday objects of our homes, Bryson not only educates but also deeply entertains. It’s a testament to his ability to find wonder in the mundane and showcase the richness and complexity of our domestic lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45657807683820,"sku":"9781784161873","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781784161873.jpg?v=1724845008"},{"product_id":"the-price-of-time","title":"The Price of Time","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA history of interest rates and the first book of the next financial crisis, shortlisted for the 2023 Hayek Book Prize.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll economic and financial activities take place across time. Interest coordinates these activities. The story of capitalism is thus the story of interest— the price that individuals, companies, and nations pay to borrow money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Price of Time\u003c\/em\u003e, Edward Chancellor traces the history of interest from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, through debates about usury in Restoration Britain and John Law's ill-fated Mississippi scheme, to the global credit booms of the twenty-first century. We generally assume that high interest rates are harmful, but Chancellor argues that, whenever money is too easy, financial markets become unstable. He takes the story to the present day, when interest rates have sunk lower than at any time in the five millennia since they were first recorded— including the extraordinary appearance of negative rates in Europe and Japan— and highlights how this has contributed to profound economic insecurity and financial fragility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChancellor reveals how extremely low interest rates not only create asset price inflation but are also largely responsible for weak economic growth, rising inequality, zombie companies, elevated debt levels, and the pensions crises that have afflicted the West in recent years— conditions under which economies cannot possibly thrive. At the same time, easy money in China has inflated an epic real estate bubble, accompanied by the greatest credit and investment boom in history. As the global financial system edges closer to yet another crisis, Chancellor shows that only by understanding interest can we hope to face the challenges ahead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45658269352172,"sku":"9781802060157","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781802060157.jpg?v=1724851146"},{"product_id":"butts","title":"Butts","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Winning, cheeky, and illuminating….What appears initially as a folly with a look-at-this cover and title becomes, thanks to Radke’s intelligence and curiosity, something much meatier, entertaining, and wise.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Lively and thorough, \u003ci\u003eButts\u003c\/i\u003e is the best kind of nonfiction.” —\u003ci\u003eEsquire\u003c\/i\u003e, Best Books of 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA “carefully researched and reported work of cultural history” (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e) that explores how one body part has influenced the female—and human—experience for centuries, and what that obsession reveals about our lives today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether we love them or hate them, think they’re sexy, think they’re strange, consider them too big, too small, or anywhere in between, humans have a complicated relationship with butts. It is a body part unique to humans, critical to our evolution and survival, and yet it has come to signify so much more: sex, desire, comedy, shame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA woman’s butt, in particular, is forever being assessed, criticised, and objectified, from anxious self-examinations trying on jeans in department store dressing rooms to enduring crass remarks while walking down a street or high school hallways. But why? In \u003ci\u003eButts: A Backstory\u003c\/i\u003e, reporter, essayist, and \u003ci\u003eRadioLab\u003c\/i\u003e contributing editor Heather Radke is determined to find out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpanning nearly two centuries, this “whip-smart” (\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review) cultural history takes us from the performance halls of 19th-century London to the aerobics studios of the 1980s, the music video set of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” and the mountains of Arizona, where every year humans and horses race in a feat of gluteal endurance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, she meets evolutionary biologists who study how butts first developed; models whose measurements have defined jean sizing for millions of women; and the fitness gurus who created fads like “Buns of Steel.” She also examines the central importance of race through figures like Sarah Bartmann, once known as the “Venus Hottentot,” Josephine Baker, Jennifer Lopez, and other women of colour whose butts have been idolised, envied, and despised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart deep dive reportage, part personal journey, part cabinet of curiosities, \u003ci\u003eButts\u003c\/i\u003e is an entertaining, illuminating, and thoughtful examination of why certain silhouettes come in and out of fashion—and how larger ideas about race, control, liberation, and power affect our most private feelings about ourselves and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45685826453740,"sku":"9781982135492","price":52.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781982135492.jpg?v=1725456864"},{"product_id":"exactly","title":"Exactly","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, \u003cem\u003eExactly\u003c\/em\u003e by bestselling author Simon Winchester offers an engrossing historical narrative that delves into the extraordinary achievements of the pioneering engineers and scientists who revolutionised our world through the development of precision machinery. With his trademark eloquence and keen insight, Winchester traces the origins and evolution of precision, from its nascent stages in the Industrial Age to its paramount role in contemporary society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe story begins in Britain, where the Industrial Revolution's seismic shifts gave rise to trailblazing figures like John ‘Iron-Mad’ Wilkinson, Henry Maudslay, Joseph Bramah, Jesse Ramsden, and Joseph Whitworth. These inventors and their meticulous work laid the groundwork for modern manufacturing processes. Moving across the Atlantic, Winchester examines how figures such as Thomas Jefferson helped transfer these innovations to the United States, spurring a new era of mass production epitomised by Henry Ford’s assembly lines and Henry Royce’s meticulous craftsmanship behind Rolls-Royce automobiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative doesn’t stop at the borders of the United Kingdom and the United States. It extends to global advancements, highlighting the revolutionary contributions of Japan’s Seiko in precision timekeeping and Germany’s Leica in optics, ultimately steering towards today's cutting-edge technological developments that span Europe, Asia, and North America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWinchester's exploration is not just about the evolution of mechanical ingenuity; it is an investigation into the very essence of precision—its fundamental importance and the instruments we use to measure it. He introduces readers to the unsung heroes who have perfected the art of precision and ponders its broader implications. Why is exactness held in such high esteem? Are we sacrificing the appreciation of traditional craftsmanship, art, and high culture in our relentless pursuit of the ultra-precise? Can elements of precision and natural artistry coexist harmoniously within society?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eExactly\u003c\/em\u003e is more than just a historical recount; it is an intellectual journey that poses thought-provoking questions about the values and priorities of our modern world. It challenges readers to reflect on how precision shapes our daily lives, from the gadgets we use to the greater scientific discoveries that broaden our understanding of the universe, such as exploring as far as the moon or as close as the Higgs boson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Winchester offers both an enlightening history and a contemplation of the state of modernity, making \u003cem\u003eExactly\u003c\/em\u003e an essential read for anyone curious about the intricate workings behind the mechanical marvels that define our everyday existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45685967159532,"sku":"9780008241780","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780008241780.jpg?v=1725459083"},{"product_id":"land","title":"Land","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the bestselling author Simon Winchester, a human history of land around the world: who mapped it, owned it, stole it, cared for it, fought for it and gave it back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1889, thousands of hopeful people raced southward from the Kansas state line and westward from the Arkansas boundary to stake claims on the thousands of acres of unclaimed pastures and meadows. Across the twentieth century, water was dammed and drained in Holland so that a new province, Flevoland, rose up, unchartered and requiring new thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1850, California legislated the theft of land from Native Americans. An apology came in 2019 from the governor, but what of the call for reparations or return? What of government confiscation of land in India, or questions of fairness when it comes to New Zealand’s Maori population and the legacy of settlers?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe ownership of land has always been complicated, opaque, and more than a little anarchic when viewed from the outside. In \u003cem\u003eLand\u003c\/em\u003e, Simon Winchester explores the stewardship of land, the ways it is delineated and changes hands, the great disputes, and the questions of restoration - particularly in the light of climate change and colonialist reparation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA global study, this is an exquisite exploration of what the ownership of land might really mean - not in dry-as-dust legal terms, but for the people who live on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686133588204,"sku":"9780008359157","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780008359157.jpg?v=1725462499"},{"product_id":"spitfire","title":"Spitfire","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE SUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e NON-FICTION BESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e WHSmith NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The best book you will ever read about Britain's greatest warplane' – Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eFighter Boys\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British machine' – Rowland White, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eVulcan 607\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'As the RAF marks its centenary, Nichol has created a thrilling and often moving tribute to some of its greatest heroes' – \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe iconic Spitfire found fame during the darkest early days of World War II. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews \u003ci\u003ebeyond\u003c\/i\u003e the Battle of Britain, and why is it still so loved today?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn late spring 1940, Nazi Germany’s domination of Europe had looked unstoppable. With the British Isles in easy reach since the fall of France, \u003cb\u003eAdolf Hitler\u003c\/b\u003e was convinced that Great Britain would be defeated in the skies over her southern coast, confident his \u003cb\u003eMesserschmitts\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eHeinkels\u003c\/b\u003e would outclass anything the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Air Force\u003c\/b\u003e threw at them. What Hitler hadn’t planned for was the agility and resilience of a marvel of British engineering that would quickly pass into legend – the \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBestselling author \u003cb\u003eJohn Nichol\u003c\/b\u003e's passionate portrait of this magnificent fighter aircraft, its many innovations and updates, and the people who flew and loved them, carries the reader beyond the dogfights over Kent and Sussex. Spanning the full global reach of the \u003ci\u003eSpitfire’s\u003c\/i\u003e deployment during WWII, from \u003cb\u003eMalta\u003c\/b\u003e to \u003cb\u003eNorth Africa\u003c\/b\u003e and the \u003cb\u003eFar East\u003c\/b\u003e, then over the \u003cb\u003eD-Day\u003c\/b\u003e beaches, it is always accessible, effortlessly entertaining, and full of extraordinary spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHere are \u003cb\u003eedge-of-the-seat stories and heart-stopping first-hand accounts\u003c\/b\u003e of battling pilots forced to bail out over occupied territory; of sacrifice and wartime love; of aristocratic female flyers, and of the mechanics who braved the Nazi onslaught to keep the aircraft in battle-ready condition. Nichol takes the reader on a hair-raising, nail-biting, and moving wartime history of the iconic \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e populated by a cast of redoubtable, heroic characters that make you want to stand up and cheer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith meticulously researched insights and personal anecdotes, \u003ci\u003eSpitfire\u003c\/i\u003e offers an immersive journey into the heart of an era where heroism and fortitude were the order of the day. It is not just a book about an aircraft, but a tribute to the indefatigable spirit of those who took to the skies and the ground crew who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. This compelling narrative is an essential read for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone who relishes tales of bravery and resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45686533390572,"sku":"9781471159237","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781471159237.jpg?v=1725467511"},{"product_id":"cod","title":"Cod","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World\u003c\/em\u003e by Mark Kurlansky is a fascinating deep dive into the history of a fish that has had an outsized impact on world events. This seemingly simple fish has been at the heart of wars, driven economic booms, and shaped the very diets of nations. Kurlansky’s narrative spans over a thousand years and stretches across four continents, illustrating the cod's profound influence from the time of the Vikings to modern-day environmental issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this epic tale, Kurlansky takes readers through the ages, beginning with the Nordic seafarers who discovered the abundant cod-fishing grounds off the North American coast. He introduces a captivating array of characters, from ambitious explorers and cunning merchants to innovative chefs and enduring fishermen, each playing their part in the cod saga. As Kurlansky weaves through history, he brings to life the cod wars of the 16th and 20th centuries, conflicts spurred by the immense value and diminishing availability of this key resource.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book also doubles as a culinary journey, blending in historical recipes and cooking traditions from the Middle Ages to the present. Kurlansky enriches his narrative with snippets of lore and cultural insights, emphasizing the cod’s significance as a culinary treasure. This intersection of history and food creates a vivid picture of how cod has nourished nations and cultures over centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMoreover, \u003cem\u003eCod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World\u003c\/em\u003e addresses contemporary issues of sustainability and conservation. Kurlansky highlights how overfishing and environmental changes have pushed this once plentiful species to the brink of extinction. This dire scenario serves as a call to action for readers, making the book not only a historical account but also a message about the importance of ecological stewardship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the \u003cem\u003eExpress on Sunday\u003c\/em\u003e aptly notes, ‘Who would ever think that a book on cod would make a compulsive read? And yet this is precisely what Kurlansky has done.’ With his engaging prose and detailed research, Kurlansky has crafted a compelling and thought-provoking narrative that transforms a small subject into an epic masterpiece. \u003cem\u003eCod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World\u003c\/em\u003e is a testament to the profound impacts that seemingly ordinary things can have on human history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45691673149676,"sku":"9780099268703","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780099268703.jpg?v=1725547476"},{"product_id":"madhouse-at-the-end-of-the-earth-by-julian-sancton-9780753553466","title":"Madhouse at the End of the Earth","description":"A new classic of extreme endurance - Into Thin Air meets The Perfect Storm in 19th century Antarctica\n\n**A Times Best Book of 2021**\nThe harrowing, survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly wrong, with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter\n\nAugust 1897: The Belgica set sail, eager to become the first scientific expedition to reach the white wilderness of the South Pole. But the ship soon became stuck fast in the ice of the Bellinghausen sea, condemning the ship's crew to overwintering in Antarctica and months of endless polar night. In the darkness, plagued by a mysterious illness, their minds ravaged by the sound of dozens of rats teeming in the hold, they descended into madness.\n\nIn this epic tale, Julian Sancton unfolds a story of adventure gone horribly awry. As the crew teetered on the brink, the Captain increasingly relied on two young officers whose friendship had blossomed in captivity - Dr. Frederick Cook, the wild American whose later infamy would overshadow his brilliance on the Belgica; and the ship's first mate, soon-to-be legendary Roald Amundsen, who later raced Captain Scott to the South Pole. Together, Cook and Amundsen would plan a last-ditch, desperate escape from the ice-one that would either etch their names into history or doom them to a terrible fate in the frozen ocean.\n\nDrawing on first-hand crew diaries and journals, and exclusive access to the ship's logbook, the result is equal parts maritime thriller and gothic horror. This is an unforgettable journey into the deep.","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695487017196,"sku":"9780753553466","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780753553466_91807422-5e43-457c-adb7-505e4a77a3ae.jpg?v=1787792001"},{"product_id":"salt-by-mark-kurlansky-9780099281993","title":"Salt","description":"Homer called it a divine substance. Plato described it as especially dear to the gods. As Mark Kurlansky so brilliantly relates here, salt has shaped civilisation from the beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of mankind. Wars have been fought over salt and, while salt taxes secured empires across Europe and Asia, they have also inspired revolution - Gandhi's salt march in 1930 began the overthrow of British rule in India. From the rural Sichuan province where the last home-made soya sauce is made to the Cheshire brine springs that supplied salt around the globe, Mark Kurlansky has produced a kaleidoscope of world history, a multilayered masterpiece that blends political, commercial, scientific, religious and culinary records into a rich and memorable tale","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695626019052,"sku":"9780099281993","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780099281993.jpg?v=1725635994"},{"product_id":"a-short-history-of-the-world-according-to-sheep","title":"A Short History of the World According to Sheep","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the enthralling story of one of mankind's most overlooked but impactful creatures in \u003ci\u003eA Short History of the World According to Sheep\u003c\/i\u003e by Sally Coulthard. Spanning millennia and continents, this remarkable book delves into how sheep have shaped human history, transforming societies, economies, and cultures from the dawn of civilisation to the modern era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the fertile crescent of ancient Mesopotamia, where early shepherds initiated the domestication of sheep around 11,000 years ago, to the sprawling sheep farms of present-day Australia, Coulthard expertly traces the journey of these extraordinary animals. Throughout, she paints a vibrant and engaging portrait of sheep as indispensable contributors to our diet, clothing, language, and even territorial conquests. As the reader is guided through centuries of sheep’s influence, the narrative reveals surprising and delightful anecdotes that celebrate their central role in human evolution and development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a tapestry of historical insights and compelling ovine facts, Coulthard eloquently highlights how sheep have not merely been passive bystanders in our story but active participants in shaping our world. 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This compelling book takes readers on a vibrant journey through the history and significance of 75 unique shades, dyes, and hues, revealing how each colour has influenced various facets of human civilisation, from art and fashion to politics and war.\n\nAlong this chromatic voyage, discover how the subtle hue of blonde hair has been perceived through the ages, how the fiery tone of ginger hair sparked myths and legends, and how the utilitarian brown altered the course of battles. Uncover the stark white that provided protection during the plague, delve into Picasso's melancholic blue period, and trace the poignant charcoal drawings on the ancient cave walls of Lascaux. 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