Most of us live in cities, and there is a rich tradition of poems about their tireless hustle and bustle. In Jessica Mookherjee’s lively selection, we find poems that explore the hectic rhythms of day-to-day life in a city, as well as the rather more mysterious character of a city at night – a place where streetlights and “drunken rooftops” create a dreamscape in which anything might happen. Ever present is the sense that a city never stops: "All afternoon labouring geese fly over the city. Cars hoot, sirens fugue. Beneath bank towers, a statue shifts. A man, blue clown, blows two-note whistles for a living.” from ‘Commerce, Madrid, 2012’ by Carola Luther This mini-anthology transports us to cities real and imagined in a delightful kaleidoscope that shimmers and shifts at each rereading. Poems by Suzannah Evans, Andrew Fusek-Peters, Kapka Kassabova, Carola Luther, John McCullough, Jessica Mookherjee, Meryl Pugh, Roger Robinson, James Tate and Sara Teasdale.

Bind: stationery

Pages: 20

Dimensions: 137 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 29-03-2024

From Russia to The Democratic Republic of Congo to Myanmar, Chris Stephen ponders the future of prosecuting war criminals who think themselves untouchable in this timely new book, part of Melville House FUTURES series. We are all too familiar with the horrors of war. Throughout history, rules have been laid down to govern the conduct of war, with varying success. Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands is the world's first permanent war crimes court, but since it opened in 2002, it has jailed just 4 people. So what has gone wrong? Journalist and ex war-correspondent Chris Stephen takes a look at the colorful history of how war law was devised, asking complicated and important questions such as: What constitutes a war crime? How and when can the law step into prosecute? Today, membership of the ICC is voluntary. Of the UN’s 193 member states, 123 are in the ICC. But most of the world’s war crimes are committed by the other 70. Simply put, governments that commit war crimes don’t join the ICC – like Russia, for example. How then, do we go after war criminals? Follow the money, argues Stephen, and go after the banks and corporations that enable warlords. It worked for Al Capone, who, famously, was jailed not for his many killings, but for not paying his taxes. It was the same for Milosevic: years were spent gathering records, so judges could be shown he pulled the financial strings. Corporations and banks, span the world. Democracies and dictators both rely on them. The future of war crime courts demand they hit all the enablers, whether they wear battle fatigues or three-piece suits.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 114 x 178 mm

Publication Date: 22-02-2024

A revealing exploration into how trust defines our lives, how it can be won and lost, and what its future might look like, in this fascinating title in the Melville House's FUTURES series. In a society battered by economic, political, cultural and ecological collapse, where do we place our trust, now that it is more vital than ever for our survival? How has that trust – in our laws, our media, our governments – been lost, and how can it be won back? Examining the police, the rule of law, artificial intelligence, the 21st century city and social media, Ros Taylor imagines what life might be like in years to come if trust continues to erode. Have conspiracy theories permanently damaged our society? Will technological advances, which require more and more of our human selves, ultimately be rejected by future generations? And in a world fast approaching irreversible levels of ecological damage, how can we trust the custodians of these institutions to do the right thing – even as humanity faces catastrophe?

Bind: paperback

Pages: 160

Dimensions: 114 x 178 mm

Publication Date: 22-02-2024

Over a long, hot Christmas in Australia, Throwing Muses frontwoman and critically acclaimed solo artist Kristin Hersh considers her future as a songwriter, asking herself questions such as, is it possible to create music and not show off about it? How can artists establish and refine a following without becoming part of the commercial problem? And just how many times is it healthy to watch It's a Wonderful Life in three weeks? In The Future of Songwriting, Hersh chooses to interrogate these questions through dialogue. From in-depth conversations with a comedian friend about the similarities between songs and jokes, via fruitful visit to Sydney's 'bone museums', to a revelation from a herbal healer in New Orleans, she delivers a fierce, funny and existential meditation on the art of the song - and its future.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 114 x 178 mm

Publication Date: 22-02-2024

Fresh summer air, leaves rustling at the backdrop of beautiful sunset, subtle wind caressing your skin as you quietly meditate -- if this feels anything like a perfect vacation, Mindful Places to Stay is just the book for you. Through captivating photography and easy reads, the visual pages unveil the most astonishing yoga and meditation retreats and stories behind them. Join Mindful Places to Stay in the discovery of peace and quiet in breathtaking spots scattered across the world.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 210 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 22-03-2024

Preserving nature's wonders for future generations. UNESCO and gestalten collaborate on a book about the planet’s spectacular landscapes, allowing readers to discover, enjoy, and learn more about the planet’s natural wonders. Encompassing sites across 46 countries, UNESCO Global Geoparks feature extraordinary geology and landscapes. Featuring world-class images, the title highlights the stunning beauty of these geoparks while taking the reader on an entertaining and insightful journey that unravels the mystique behind each site. What makes it special? Why is it worth preserving? How might it look in 100 years? We impart knowledge through detailed texts that are both authoritative and digestible for the layman. Fun facts, dos and don'ts, and geotourism guides ensure the content remains agile and engaging throughout, helping lay bare the jaw-dropping scale of each bucket-list destination. This book showcases nature in its rawest, most glorious form, doing so in an aesthetically wondrous way.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 225 x 290 mm

Publication Date: 22-03-2024

This book takes you on a guided tour of 20 leading interior designers’ homes with tips and insights for creating spaces that work and look great. Learn how interior designing is as much about problem-solving as it is about inspiration, aesthetic, and function as leading interior designers share the challenges they faced and the rewards they received when creating their own homes. As their own clients, these designers can afford to be considerably braver, breaking rules in favor of experimenting with materials and spaces and showcasing personal items like art or mementos from travels to tell a story. This intimate understanding of their process is inspirational, especially when coupled with practical tips from each. Includes homes of leading designers like Kate Challis, Gabriela Gargano, Andrew Parr, Carole Whiting, Wesley Moon, Dorothy Measer, Vicente Wolf, Sally Mackereth, Tim Van Steenbergen, and Andrew Sheinman. Profiles are curated and presented with great detail by author Stephen Crafti, who has 40 books to his name and has been writing on architecture and design for 30 years. The designers' homes represent a variety of spaces from different eras, sizes, and locations and include urban apartments, row homes, single-family detached, and a mountain lodge. The book features designers’ homes in six different countries: Germany, Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Organized by inspiration, aestethic, and function, the homes show a range of styles from minimalist to maximalist. From finding art nouveau–era doors buried in wall cavities, to making an apartment feel like a house, to bringing a rural vibe to an urban setting, each designer's story is an adventure into the depths of how to create a spectacular space that works.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 228 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 28-03-2024

Embrace the world of innovative opportunities provided by prefabrication and modular construction, billed by many as the future of modern architecture. Step into the new era of architecture and design with Prefab and Modular, a well–curated collection of prefabricated and modular housing as well as cultural and office buildings. This book explores the unlimited possibilities of prefabricated and modular construction, looks at its various applications, and locks into how these technologies have been used throughout the history of design. Whether a design professional, a homeowner, or an architecture lover, Prefab and Modular inspires the reader to improve their practice through innovative solutions, and find a perfect house to be constructed in just a few days.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 240 x 300 mm

Publication Date: 22-03-2024

In a world that is increasingly aware of environmental challenges, architecture is presented as a powerful tool to address the preservation of the natural environment. The projects presented in this book show recent examples of the different ways in which architecture can contribute to meeting the challenge of preserving the natural environment. Through diverse strategies based on the promotion of energy efficiency, rationalisation in the use of natural resources, improvement of construction systems or respectful integration into the natural environment, this selection of projects reaffirms that architecture and sustainability are now indissoluble terms.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 170 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 05-01-2024

This book explores the fascinating and eminently necessary world of narrow dwellings worldwide. A careful selection of international projects shows how architects and designers have faced the challenge of creating functional and aesthetically pleasing homes in limited spaces. Each project includes high-quality photographs, plans, and detailed descriptions that enable the reader to understand the design decisions and practical considerations behind each home. In addition, the advantages of this type of building, such as energy efficiency and adaptability to different environments and needs, are discussed.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 170 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 05-01-2024