Biography & Memoir Sale

Sometimes the only way to be right is to get comfortable with being wrong. Most startup advice is dangerously misguided. The mythology of the lone genius founder, the obsession with capital raising, and the theatre of startup ecosystems lead countless ventures astray. Drawing on two decades at the heart of New Zealand's most successful technology companies – Trade Me, Xero,...

The much-anticipated memoir by media personality Alison Mau In my family, we never talked about the past... Since the age of twelve, Alison Mau wanted to be a journalist just like her dad. A beer-swilling, straight-talking man who was rough around the edges but could quote passages of Hamlet at will, he taught Ali everything from rabbit-hunting to throwing a...

The inside story of Ian Foster's All Blacks 'A stunningly honest and insightful account of what it takes to coach the All Blacks.' - Gregor Paul Appointed as head coach in 2019, Ian Foster led the All Blacks through one of the most tumultuous periods of the team's 120-year history. Leading Under Pressure is a fascinating look into the pressure...

The CEO of The Walt Disney Company shares the ideas and values he has used to reinvent one of the most beloved companies in the world, and inspire the people who bring the magic to life. 'One of the best business books I've read in years.' BILL GATES THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE...

Jeremy Clarkson takes us into the pitfalls (and pratfalls) of his new life as a gentleman farmer in this thigh-slapping collection of stories from a year on Clarkson's Farm. Welcome to Clarkson's farm. It's an idyllic spot, offering picturesque views across the Cotswolds, bustling hedgerows, woodlands, and natural springs. Jeremy always liked the idea of being a farmer. But, while...

The Bookseller at the End of the World described the first part of Ruth Shaw's tumultuous life, touching readers in powerful ways. It became an international bestseller, translated into eleven languages. Three Wee Bookshops at the End of the World picks up Ruth's story with more charming, heartbreaking, brave and funny tales. Having found the love of her life, Lance,...

The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a monumental work that provides a harrowing account of the Soviet Union's labour camp system. Set against a vast canvas of camps, prisons, transit centres, and secret police, the narrative unfolds the grim realities of informers, spies, and interrogators while simultaneously celebrating instances of everyday heroism. This literary masterpiece, based on the testimony...

The incredible first memoir from the Booker-winning radical icon Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things. Arundhati Roy's first work of memoir, this is a soaring account, both intimate and inspiring, of how the author became the person and the writer she is, shaped by circumstance, but above all by her relationship to her extraordinary, singular mother Mary,...

An inspirational guide to achieving fulfilment and finding purpose from Social Media's fastest growing angel investor. Simon loves dreams and he wants you to live yours. This book will stop you from giving up on your goals and start building the life you want. Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author and host of the On...

Join Johnny Wray in the enduring New Zealand classic that has inspired adventurers for generations, as South Sea Vagabonds embarks on its 75th anniversary edition. A tale of resilience, daring, and the pursuit of dreams, this narrative follows Johnny's journey from the bustling shores of Auckland to the serene, untouched beauty of the South Pacific's azure waters and palm-fringed atolls....

A smart, funny, and refreshing memoir from Mark Hoppus, the vocalist, bassist, and founding member of pop-punk band blink-182. This is a story of what happens when an angst-ridden kid who grew up in the desert experiences his parents' bitter divorce, moves around the country, switches identities from dork to goth to skate punk, and eventually meets his best friend...

One child. Two years in hiding. Three lives in mortal danger. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl is hidden. Her name is Elli. Her father has been executed at Mauthausen concentration camp. Her mother is fleeing for her life. Elli is next. To save her, resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens must risk everything, concealing her...

The Mushroom Tapes brings together three renowned writers of true crime: Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein. For this extraordinary book, the lone wolves became a team. Garner, Hooper and Krasnostein tracked Erin Patterson’s preliminary hearings and trial, joined the media scrum at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts, slept over in Morwell and spent countless hours in fervent discussion of...

This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay takes you on an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and often hysterical journey through the gruelling life of a junior doctor working in the NHS. The book is based on Kay's private diaries, penned during endless shifts, sleepless nights, and missed weekends, revealing the raw realities of a profession that is both incredibly demanding and...

The number one bestseller and Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year by national treasure Bob Mortimer. ‘The most life-affirming, joyful read of the year’ - Sunday Times ‘Winningly heartfelt’ – The Guardian ‘A triumph’ – Daily Mail Bob Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery...

A powerful call to action to think deeply about what lights you up’ TIM COOK, CEO of Apple ‘Full of great storytelling, great takeaways, and great wisdom’ SUSAN CAIN ‘An important clarifying force in anyone’s search to make the best possible choices for their life’ ANDREW HUBERMAN Throughout your life, you’ve been slowly indoctrinated to believe that money is the...

Sea People by Christina Thompson is a riveting historical exploration that delves into the mysterious origins and epic journeys of the Polynesians—one of the world's most enigmatic and adventurous seafaring peoples. The narrative unfolds over a thousand years ago, focussing on how these master navigators discovered and colonised the far-flung islands within a vast triangle from Hawaii to New Zealand...

From the beloved, bestselling, Oscar-nominated author of Taste - What I Ate in One Year is a funny, poignant, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals, and an irresistible celebration of the profound role that food plays in all our lives. 'Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.' Food has always been an integral part of...

Steph Curry has had a dream career. He's a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a two-time NBA scoring champion, a ten-time NBA All-Star, and an Olympic gold medallist. Widely recognized as the greatest shooter in history, he has revolutionized the sport of basketball and will leave behind a legacy as perhaps the greatest Golden State Warrior player of...

A radiant new memoir from beloved artist and writer Patti Smith, author of the National Book Award Winner Just Kids. ‘God whispers through a crease in the wallpaper’, writes Patti Smith in this indelible account of her life as an artist. A post-Second World War childhood unfolds in a condemned housing complex described in Dickensian detail: consumptive children, vanishing neighbours,...

"If being a war correspondent can be addictive, this book might just leave you hooked. From brushes with landmines to Ukrainian hotdogs, Lisette's celebrated storytelling vividly brings to life the powerful stories behind her reports." - Mike McRoberts 'I woke up every day expecting to fall asleep in a different country. A blur of breaking news, airports, body armour, border...

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - MILLIONS OF COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE Gloriously bonkers - Guardian, Best Autobiographies and Memoirs of 2020 A rollicking, contemplative trip - Financial Times From the Academy Award-winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction. I've been in this life for fifty years, been...

An inspiring and revealing memoir about the relentless pursuit of dreams, and the highs and lows along the way, from one of the Black Caps' finest test cricketers. All Out by Neil Wagner is a captivating account of one of the greatest bowlers ever to play test cricket for New Zealand. His unique style and passion for the game made...

Packed with hard-won wisdoms and gentle truths, this is Miranda's honest exploration of the lessons she has learned on her journey from illness to recovery. Hello to you, I am with news. I have a new book. Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade - there have been surprising joys, but also challenging lows. I shall be honest about...

Be Brave

THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL TO WILD SWANS, THE MULTI-MILLION COPY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING SENSATION Jung Chang’s Wild Swans was a book that defined a generation, an epic personal history of Jung, her mother and grandmother – ‘three daughters of China’. The book opens with her grandmother’s birth – and foot binding – in 1909, when China was under the last emperor, through...

A gripping memoir by a former NZSAS commander on serving in Afghanistan over four deployments and operating at the edge of his limits. 'Frighteningly, devastatingly real.' - The Post In 2011, following the Taliban siege on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an SAS soldier identified only as Serviceman J was awarded New Zealand's second highest military honour by showing outstanding gallantry in...

Crying in H Mart 'fking destroyed me,' - Olivia Rodrigo 'Michelle Zauner explores what it means to cook your feelings... she uses the lens of food and cooking to explore her Korean identity after she loses her mother to cancer.' - Jungkook of BTS From the indie rockstar Japanese Breakfast, this is an unflinching, powerful, deeply moving memoir about growing...

Jeremy takes us back to another year of life as a gentleman farmer at Diddly Squat - what could possibly go wrong this time? Welcome back to Clarkson's farm. At the end of Jeremy's first year, Diddly Squat farm rewarded him with profits of €144. And while he's mastered the art of moaning, challenges still abound. Who knew loading a...

The story of a remarkable friendship between two people whose creative chemistry ignited the perfect storm of drama, comedy and heart. It explores how the characters and storylines came into being, with anecdotes from the making of all episodes of the show. Gavin & Stacey is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators James...

Eben Etzebeth is the most-capped player in South African Rugby history. A towering lock, whose intelligence, energy and aggression on the pitch is feared, respected and often imitated but never matched, he is the heart and soul of the Springbok team, a key part of their astonishingly successful run that encompasses two consecutive World Cups and a current two-year-stint at...

Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman is a delightful collection of anecdotes and mind-bending adventures of the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman. This book offers readers an intimate glimpse into the life of a man whose curiosity knew no bounds. Over the course of these anecdotes, Feynman takes us through his childhood, his education at MIT and Princeton, and his...

The life and times of one of the most important writers of our time, from her peripatetic childhood in the Canadian far north, through the writing of The Handmaid's Tale, to her position today as a revered truth-teller and literary icon. How does the greatest writer of our time tell her own story? Immerse yourself in the creative universe of...

The long-awaited memoir by Cameron Crowe—one of America’s most iconic journalists and filmmakers—revealing his formative years in rock and roll and bringing to life stories that shaped a generation, in the bestselling tradition of Patti Smith’s Just Kids. Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house,...

The groundbreaking oral history on one of the most legendary musicians of all time: Paul Weller. Across musical history, certain artists have transcended their craft to become cultural icons, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sound and style. Paul Weller, the legendary British musician, singer, and songwriter, stands among the select few whose influence spans generations. His enduring...

A seriously FUNNY, seriously CLEVER history of our early kings and queens by one of our favourite comedians and cultural commentators. This will be the most refreshing, entertaining history of England you'll have ever read. Certainly, the funniest. Because David Mitchell will explain how it is not all names, dates or ungraspable historical headwinds, but instead show how it's really...

In this illuminating and beautifully written book, Grant Robertson reflects on the major events in his life, from growing up in a loving but complex family, to his highly successful career as a Labour politician and becoming Finance Minister in the Ardern government during one of New Zealand history's most tumultuous times. A natural storyteller, Robertson writes memorably about his...

How connection and courage teach us to win - an NRL leadership story, from the history-making coach who pulled off the impossible to inspire, mentor and lead a grassroots club to the pinnacle of performance and become the undisputed champions of the league. It's described as the greatest achievement the modern game has seen, and Ivan Cleary is the man...

Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience – classics which will endure for generations to come. A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty. John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion saw their daughter fall ill. At first,...

The Sunday Times #1 Bestseller A Book of the Year in The Times and Financial Times ‘This isn’t a book; it’s a case for revolution’ — Camilla Long, Sunday Times ‘A damning cannonball of truth through the York ramparts’ — Mail on Sunday ‘Surely has a claim to the title of book of the year, for its seismic impact’ —...

A wild, whip-smart and hilarious memoir confessing the highs, lows and sexploits of viral sensation, Only Fans star, porn creator, podcaster, entrepreneur and call girl Blue-Eyed Kayla Jade. Honest, unflinchingly raw and wickedly amusing, Call Girl Confidential reveals the truth behind being a full-service sex worker in Australia today. Australia's most sex-positive influencer reveals the truth behind being an international...

I stumble across a photo of me, aged ten. My immediate thought is: 'Who is that girl?' I remember her but I don't recognise myself in her. She was so determined. Once she knew what she wanted, she'd just head straight for it. From a childhood in rural Piopio, Jenny-May Coffin grew up to achieve international success as a Silver...

Formula 1 sensation Guenther Steiner, author of the number one bestseller Surviving to Drive, takes readers into the heart of his ten years running Team Haas, packed with hilarious stories and unprecedented insight into the world of elite motorsport. THE INSTANT TOP 10 BESTSELLER. THE UNMISSABLE NEW BOOK FROM GUENTHER STEINER, AUTHOR OF THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, SURVIVING TO...

The story of a wanderer, long-distance tramper, and hut-bagging legend. Paul Kilgour was bitten by the tramping bug early. He began going on epic trips as a young boy, beyond the farm and along the coast. During these wanderings, he met old folk living simply in tiny huts out the back of farms and on clifftops, and swaggers walking in...

In her first non-fiction book in a decade, the no. 1 bestselling writer who taught millions of readers to live authentically (Eat Pray Love) and creatively (Big Magic) shows how to break free. In 2000, Elizabeth Gilbert met Rayya. They became friends, then best friends, then inseparable. When tragedy entered their lives, the truth was finally laid bare: the two...

Part sports memoir, part New Age spirit quest, part pseudo-management tract ... But the primary thing with Jackson - as with all the old bards, who were also known for repeating themselves - is the voice. - The New York Times For fans of the hit Netflix docuseries The Last Dance. During his storied career as head coach of the...

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell is a gripping and meticulously researched biography that unveils the untold story of Virginia Hall, an American woman who became one of the most formidable spies of World War II. In September 1941, Virginia Hall, disguised as a journalist, arrived in Lyon, Vichy France. Despite the wooden leg she acquired from a...

Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...

An electrifying re-examination of one of the twentieth century's greatest unsung power players, from the bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance. Named a Best Book of the Year by the Telegraph, Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, Times Literary Supplement, Spectator, Irish Examiner, London Standard, New Yorker, Politico, Apple Books, Town & Country and Oldie....

Well-known journalist and presenter Mike McRoberts opens up about his experiences of reconnection to te ao Māori and learning te reo, and encourages others to do the same. For much of his life, Mike McRoberts felt burdened by not knowing his own language - te reo Māori. Growing up at a time when te reo was scarcely spoken in daily...

Tall tales and fishing lore from Kiwi fishing personality Cliff Barnes. As he looks back over his adventurous life, Cliff Barnes muses that he must have used up eight of his nine lives while fishing along the Northland coast but, on a recount, concedes he has used up the lot. Among his many scrapes with death was the time his...

Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy delves into the riveting narrative of one of history's most influential figures, Gaius Julius Caesar. From the outset, Caesar's life is coloured with episodes of near-death experiences, tremendous achievements, and a relentless ambition that shaped the future of Rome. As a teenager, Caesar narrowly escaped execution under the repressive rule of the dictator Sulla, an early...

The most capped All Black in history speaks for the record about his storied career, spanning four World Cups, nine Super Rugby finals and 153 appearances in the black jersey. THE NO. 1 NEW ZEALAND BESTSELLER 'A modern-day Colin Meads' - Steve Hansen 'The ultimate winner' - Scott Robertson 'A legend of the game' - Richie McCaw After making his...

What Have I Done? For the first—and only—time, Ben tackles this question head-on in his frank, forthright, and entertaining autobiography. Taking a deep dive into his life and times, both private and public, he reveals the true stories behind iconic hits such as The Young Ones, Blackadder, and We Will Rock You. He discusses his pioneering routines hosting Saturday Live,...

Red Notice by Bill Browder is a harrowing account of one man's fight against the corruption and brutality embedded within the highest echelons of Russian power. Blending personal memoir, geopolitical intrigue, and a true-crime narrative, this book takes the reader on an electrifying journey from the flourishing financial markets of New York and London in the 1990s to the lethal...

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion is a profoundly moving and unflinchingly honest memoir that delves deep into the heart of grief and mourning. This poignant narrative recounts Didion's life-altering year following the sudden death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and the severe illness of their only daughter, Quintana Roo. In the days leading up to Christmas...

Discover the turbulent journey of one of tennis's most celebrated athletes in Open, the stunning and candid autobiography of Andre Agassi. From his early years, Agassi was groomed to be a tennis prodigy, a journey marked by both triumph and torment. Starting from the tender age when he could barely stand, Agassi was pushed by his father to hit tennis...

Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts offers an unparalleled insight into the life and times of one of history's most remarkable figures. Spanning the crucial twenty years from 1795 to 1815, this definitive modern biography chronicles how Napoleon Bonaparte rose from relative obscurity to become the master of Europe. As he catapulted from a Corsican military officer to the Emperor...

Elie Wiesel's Night is a harrowing autobiographical account that follows his experiences as a young Jewish boy during one of history's most brutal chapters. Transported from a Jewish ghetto in Hungary to the unforgiving confines of Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Wiesel's narrative is filled with the escalating horrors he faced. The book captures his profound loss of...

Discover the exhilarating world behind the scenes of Formula One racing in The Mechanic by Marc 'Elvis' Priestley. This compelling memoir takes readers on a thrilling tour through the high-octane atmosphere of the F1 pit lane, where the true unsung heroes of racing reside—the mechanics. Priestley, McLaren's former number-one mechanic, offers an insider's look at the intense pressure, technical mastery,...

The story of one young woman's survival against the odds, and how the love of her mother saved her. When the White Island volcano erupted in New Zealand in 2019, it shattered the lives of Stephanie and Marie Browitt. Stephanie, just 23 years old, suffered horrific burns to 70 per cent of her body and lost her younger sister, Krystal...

In early 1985, Michael J. Fox was one of the biggest stars on television. His world was about to get even bigger, but only if he could survive the kind of double duty unheard of in Hollywood. Fox's days were already dedicated to rehearsing and taping the hit sitcom Family Ties, but then the chance of a lifetime came his...

Seven lessons from the international icon on how to live a meaningful, purposeful life, for fans of Atomic Habits and Wim Hof. Featuring new bonus material: Arnold Schwarzenegger's 77 Lessons at 77 The seven rules to follow to realise your true purpose in life are distilled by Arnold Schwarzenegger from his own journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievement, and...

The legendary seven-time CrossFit Games champion and Olympic athlete shares lessons from her inspiring story of levelling up her performance, embracing failure, and fiercely taking on impossible goals. Tia Toomey, the world's fittest woman, has won seven CrossFit Games (six of those years consecutively) and is undeniably a true warrior. She has also trained for the Winter Olympics in bobsleighing,...

What made Jacinda Ardern such an incredibly popular New Zealand prime minister? And why did her popularity then fall so dramatically? What happened during her leadership, and how did the unprecedented events of her tenure eventually lead to her resignation? This in-depth analysis of Jacinda Ardern's extraordinary leadership from award-winning journalist Michelle Duff examines these questions, and much more. Substantially...

Einstein by Walter Isaacson offers a gripping and insightful portrayal of one of history's most esteemed scientists. Delving into the complexities of Albert Einstein's life, Isaacson masterfully chronicles the journey of a man whose ideas shattered centuries of scientific tradition and reshaped our understanding of the universe. From his curious and inquisitive youth, through his personal and professional trials, to...

It is never too late to build the life you’re seeking.Cynthia Erivo learned the music to Wicked a decade before she needed it, not knowing that those same lyrics would change her life. Ten years later, she has the chance to perform those songs on a world stage, showing us that there is always time to keep discovering ourselves, that the journey...

The definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, including unpublished and never-before-seen material, with an Introduction by Patrick Radden Keefe. Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people – and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him than that of a writer; it was one of the central ways he saw...

'I'm not going to tell you that everything happens for a reason. Those words are cold comfort in any traumatic moment. This is what I will say, though: I see you. I hear you. I am with you.' Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Chloe Chapman thought her life would unfold close to home, surrounded by childhood friends...

The incredible true story of the boy from Blacktown who became a Bathurst king. Mark Winterbottom's story is unlike any other in motorsport. It's not about privilege or million-dollar sponsors - it's the tale of a working-class kid with a dream so big it defied the odds. Mark's family couldn't afford to buy him the motorcycle he needed to kick-start his...

Now in one volume, both parts of Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi's brilliant memoir-in-comic-strips about growing up in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. The brilliant graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. Marjane Satrapi lived through the Iranian Revolution as a little girl. This is her classic memoir-in-comic-strips, the story of a child entangled...

The origin story of one of the most influential and transformative business leaders and philanthropists of the modern age. Bill Gates is one of the most transformative figures of our age. In Source Code, he takes us back to his beginnings. He describes with candour his childhood in Seattle, the centrality of family—his close relationship with his card-playing grandmother and...

Hine Toa is an incredible memoir by a trailblazing voice in women's, queer, and Māori liberation movements. 'Remarkable. At once heartbreaking and triumphant' – Patricia Grace In the 1950s, a young Ngahuia is fostered by a family who believe in hard work and community. Although close to her kuia, she craves more: she wants higher education and refined living. But...

How does a plane stay up in the air? Does the Mile-High Club actually exist? When you flush the toilet, where does it all go? Buckle up for some turbulence because nothing flies under the radar for Captain Jeremy Burfoot. With more than 35 years of airline experience, the former Qantas pilot presents an Airbus-load of stories about unruly passengers...

Mark of the Lion: the Story of Charles Upham VC & Bar is an engrossing biography that explores the life of Charles Upham, one of the most astonishing war heroes of New Zealand. Authored by Kenneth Sandford, this monumental work delves into the extraordinary narrative of a man who displayed unparalleled bravery and strategic genius during World War II. Charles...

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion is a seminal collection of essays that offers an incisive look into the 1960s America. Published in 1968, this work captures the tumultuous spirit of the era, delving into the cultural and political upheavals that defined the decade. With an unparalleled reportorial voice, Didion chronicles her experiences and observations, shedding light on the rapid...

All Blacks coaching legend and mentor Mike Cron on what coaching rugby can teach us about life, leadership, and team-building. For the first time, All Blacks coaching great Mike Cron shares stories and rugby philosophy from his incredible coaching career. Mike Cron was an All Blacks coach from 2004 to 2019 over 217 games, more than any other coach or...

Thoroughly updated and revised for 2024, Jerusalem: The Biography is the history of the Middle East through the lens of the Holy City and the Holy Land, from King David to the wars and chaos of today. The history of Jerusalem is the story of the world: Jerusalem is the universal city, the capital of two peoples, the shrine of...

At the pinnacle of motorsports, a humble young man from Stevenage, England has risen to become the most dominant and influential Formula One driver of his time. This authoritative biography follows Hamilton's pathway from his early days karting on local tracks to the glitz and pressure of the Formula One circuit. Along the way, we witness Hamilton's single-minded determination to...