Allen Unwin Publishing

A Long Stride: The Story of the World's No.1 Scotch Whisky

When it comes to Scotch, Johnnie Walker must be one of the most known brands on the planet and while it is omnipresent in mainstream establishments, the story of the man who started it all is widely unknown.

A Long Stride chronicles the story of an empire that started with a small grocery shop in Kilmarnock and sheds light on the trials and tribulations of a man that did things in his own idiosyncratic ways with the comm

n denominator being a commitment to quality and the unwavering will and ability to move forward against all odds.
No matter if you are a whisky aficionado or interested in entrepreneurship, the book reveals fascinating insights into the building of a brand, building  distribution deals and sales campaigns, whose significance and iconicity looms into not only the worlds of libations but Scottish identity at large.

Comprised of ten chapters and accompanied by illustrations and photos along with footnotes, the well-researched approach of author Nicholas Morgan – which should not come as a surprise given that he has had access to the original records of John Walker & Sons - results in a compelling account of a topic that clearly, he has had a lifelong personal interest in.

A must read for anyone remotely into whisky history.

The Art of Science 

Heather Barnett, Nathan Cohen and Adrian Holme

One could make a case that art and science have never not been interwoven, however, specifically with the advent of the twenty-first century, things have taken on a new dimension with new technologies creating the foundation for the making of exciting, new and never realized before artistic endeavours.

In turn, art offers the opportunity to question and reflect on scientific advancements and their implications for humanity at large.
The Art of Science zeroes in on this interesting dynamic by examining the oeuvres of forty artists from different time periods and epochs to where we are now and highlight the commonalities in terms of both art and sciences serving as vehicles to venture and explore our collective raison d’etre.

Not limited to genres , media or specific disciplines, the tome distils its conclusions and insights into the intersections of art and science and the way the convergences have cross pollinated and inspired new developments.

Centred around five broad themes, i.e. location and intention; alchemy and cosmos with a focus on light and spheres; being human putting the focus on the body; ecology and environment; machines and systems looking questioning the ordering of space and media and finally nature and its role.

Needless to say, the terrain is vast in every aspect and there is no claim to The Art of Science being comprehensive, however, the aim is achieved in that remarkable artistic works are exhibited that aid in providing a deeper understanding of our existence and reason for being.

A Runner's High: My Life in Motion

Dean Karnazes

I started running fifteen years ago and hardly a day goes by where I do not go for a jog and feeling better afterwards for many reasons. The act of running has invigorated my love of life and carried me through good and bad times wherever I roamed.

While I have managed to completed a couple of half-marathons, I have never tackled a full marathon, let alone extremer forms of long distance running, which is the metier of Dean Karnazes. 

A Runner’s High sheds light not only on the nature of running ultramarathons, but underlying motivations for a seasoned runner to still expose himself to such taxing physical and mental challenges despite being middle-aged and the toll it takes.

Chronicling his path to his tenth Western State 100 miles event, Karnazes takes us through his preparation, the ebbs and flows of his day-to-day and the details of the implications of his undertakings in an engaging manner with self-deprecating humour.

A highly entertaining and well-pieced together account that conveys his enthusiasm for a life of running, reflections on how he pushes beyond what he himself thinks possible and recaps of his races that with their intricate details make one feel present with him on the course.

Despite being a bit overly self-referential at times, a fun read and a compellingly inspirational book that sheds light on the magic of running with all its highs and lows.