|summary=Haynes starts with the positive statement that we shouldn't throw the subject of ancient history straight in the bin, so to speak. We should instead embrace it. It has lots to tell us if only we would listen. Chapter 1 entitled ''Old World Order'' certainly grabbed my attention with the line ... 'Can politicians really make a positive difference to our lives ...' In 2010 when the role of politicians is at an all-time low in the eyes of the voters, this is an excellent question to kick off with. We zoom right back in time and explore how the Athenians lived. Apparently they were rather forward-thinking and progressive people with ideas which could easily be put into use today. They also enjoyed true democracy. When Haynes was talking about politics generally I liked another sweeping statement of hers where she says ' ... that history teaches us we could offer our politicians a hefty pay cut and still get plenty of perfectly competent candidates.' My inner voice was shouting out - make an immediate start on that one please. I won't spoil all the delicious details which led up to this attention-grabbing statement but it really is food for thought.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683238</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Jacques Bonnet, James Salter and Sian Reynolds
|title=Phantoms on the Bookshelves
|rating=3.5
|genre=Lifestyle
|summary=Translated from French this beautifully presented little book takes the reader into homes boasting book collections, large and small. Studded with succinct and appropriate quotations such as 'there is no better reason for not reading a book than having it' by Anthony Burgess.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906694583</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Darren Shan
|title=Birth of a Killer (The Saga of Larten Crepsley)
|rating=4.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Larten Crepsley leads a hard, hard life. One child amongst many, born during an industrial revolution, he works horrendously long and dangerous hours in a silk factory even though he's yet to see his teens. If the family is to eat, there is little choice. The foreman is a violent bully, issuing regular beatings, and nobody dares challenge him and if it wasn't for his orphan cousin, Vur, Larten's life would be grim indeed. But things never seem quite so dark when you have a true friend, do they?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007315856</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Jack Everett and David Coles
|title=Last Mission: the last hours of the Third Reich
|rating=3.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=We first meet a couple of characters living in the United States. A husband and wife and a relation of theirs called Paul. On the surface, they appear to be enjoying happy, normal lives. But all is not what is seems. We soon find out that the husband, Carl has some secrets. Pretty big ones. He keeps a picture of Adolph Hitler on display - somewhere - in his home, for example. Links with Germany and his past life are often talked about, or rather whispered about, with a handful of trusted 'acquaintances' over a beer or two.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>095653421X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski
|title=Meg and Mog: Meg Goes to Bed
|rating=4.5
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Meg is a witch who lives with her cat, Mog, and Owl. This is the latest in a lovely series of picture books by Helen Nicoll and illustrator Jan Pienkowski. In other books in the series they travel around the world and beyond, but Meg Goes to Bed describes an evening/night at home.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141331232</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Sandy Donaghy
|title=The Longest Journey: Nine Keys to Health, Wealth and Happiness
|rating=4.5
|genre=Lifestyle
|summary=How many self-help books have you read where the ideas all seem very good, but they've not been tested in the fire, so to speak? The end result seems good, but you suspect that the starting point wasn't ''all'' that disadvantageous and more to the point, the cynic inside you wonders if the motivation for writing the book was financial gain. Has it made you shy away from such books? Now, I want you to drop the cynicism, because what we have here is a book that's written from the heart and not the wallet and the only motivation in writing it was to help people. Unusual? Yup; it is.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1425161065</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=John Mortimer
|title=Rumpole at Christmas
|rating=4
|genre=Short Stories
|summary=This book is as slim as one of Rumpole's beloved packets of cigars and it can also be read in the time it takes an average turkey to cook in the oven on Christmas Day. A handful of festive, short stories is covered in this book with its appealing front cover. Most of the stories have been previously published elsewhere, mainly in 'The Strand Magazine' but also in some of the national newspapers.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141039779</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Bob Hartman and Krisztina Kallai Nagy
|title=The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book
|rating=4
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Christmas is such a magical time of year especially for children. Sometimes though, with all the excitement of presents, decorations and parties, they can forget what Christmas is really about. The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book is perfect for sharing wonderful tales and legends from around the world that help to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074596916X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Matthew Stewart
|title=The Management Myth: Debunking Modern Business Philosophy
|rating=4
|genre=Business and Finance
|summary=Stewart's book is subtitled "Debunking Modern Business Philosophy". It is a criticism (and I mean criticism not critique) of the management consultancy business since its inception to the close of the first decade of the 21st century.
Matthew Stewart is a former management consultant, so he should know what he's talking about.
On the other hand, by his own admission he made a more than reasonable profit out of management consulting, and he is now doing likewise out of showing what a sham it all is. Make of that what you will.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393338525</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Mary E Martin
|title=The Drawing Lesson: The First in the Trilogy of Remembrance
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Alexander Wainwright is the UK's premier artist. He's just won the Turner with ''The Hay Wagon'' – a painting with a luminous, moonlit landscape. He should be at the peak of his powers, but he's about to lose his muse and, more worryingly, there seems to be something wrong with his sight and the year to come is going to be traumatic. The story of it is told by his friend, art dealer Jamie Helmsworth, who has pieced together what he knows, what he's heard – and used a little artistic licence to fill in the gaps. It's a most unusual story which will take you deep into the world of artists and writers.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1450229360</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Beate Teresa Hanika
|title=Learning to Scream
|rating=5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Malvina is thirteen years old, the youngest of three children in a dysfunctional family. Her father is a very grumpy teacher, with little understanding of children, whilst her mother seems to suffer permanently from migraine. She has a good friend, Lizzy, and they play together as much as they can, united in their dislike of the 'boys from the estate'. Her grandmother died last year, leaving her granddad on his own and it's Malvina's job to go and visit him and take him his meals. The family think this is a great arrangement because they know how much Granddad loves Malvina and looks forward to her visits. There's a problem though. Malvina doesn't like going, particularly on her own. Granddad kisses her on the mouth.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849390606</amazonuk>
}}