1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die pays homage to the forces that have shaped rock and pop - but also dips into dance, jazz, funk, punk, disco, soul, hip-hop, world music and the avant-garde. Fascinating insights and trivia accompany detailed reviews of each album. What did Time magazine consider the twentieth century's greatest album? Which anthem by Prince was an attempt to emulate Bob Seger? And what links Count Basie and Batman? With inside knowledge and incisive criticism from 90 internationally acclaimed music journalists, this updated edition provides an indispensable companion to the music itself. Illustrated with more than 900 iconic images of album covers, bands and artists, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a must-have for the musically inspired.

From the 1980s real ale revival in Britain to the explosion of microbreweries in the United States, there has never been a better time to discover, and enjoy, the astounding variety of beers available. Many beers are undoubtedly more complex than some wines, both in their taste and in the method of their manufacture. A tribute to the burgeoning number of specialist and craft beers from around the world, this stunning book from the acclaimed 1001 series is illustrated with more than 800 photographs of beer bottles, glasses, labels, posters and breweries. Written in an informative and entertaining style by an international panel of experts, 1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die also features critical tasting notes that will help you to match the right beer to the right food. Each description includes notes on the flavour and body of the beer, explains why it tastes the way it does and describes its strength and ideal serving temperature.

Offering concise critical insight to the novels and the writers that have fired imaginations and influenced cultures around the world, this newly updated edition runs the gamut from the first Latin novel to survive in its entirety to Dave Egger's highly topical novel about an all-seeing, all-knowing technology company, The Circle. Organized chronologically and covering the whole range of literary styles, this indispensable reference traces the history of world fiction. Discover the stories behind the adjectives Dickensian, Kafkaesque, Rabelaisian . . . and the writers behind the stories. From the dark recesses of the Marquis de Sade's jail cell to Aldous Huxley's brave new world, and from the society of Barbara Pym's excellent women to Don DeLillo's falling man, you'll find critiques of the most important and bestselling fiction ever written.

This remarkable book presents enthralling accounts of 1001 life-changing events that have taken place around the world since the Big Bang. From the foundation of Rome on 21 April 753 BCE to the execution of Saddam Hussein on 30 December 2006, and from the Battle of Marathon on 21 September 490 BCE to the accord in Northern Ireland in 2007, 1001 Days That Shaped the World tells the history of the world through extraordinary moments, decisive encounters, memorable incidents and natural disasters.Compiled by historian Peter Furtado, and written by an international team of historians, journalists and scientists, 1001 Days That Shaped the World features a detailed and informative account of every event, together with an assessment of the longer-term physical, cultural, social or economic impact. Evocative paintings and dramatic photographs complement the incisive text to make this book the one essential guide you’ll need to understand just why the world is what it is today.

From Ancient Egyptian wall paintings to contemporary Western canvases, this book is truly comprehensive in scope and beautiful to leaf through.Within its pages you will see displayed 1001 of the most memorable, haunting, powerful, important, controversial and visually arresting paintings that have ever been created. More than 400 twentieth- and twenty-first-century paintings are reproduced in these pages, including new works from contemporary galleries. Entertaining and informative text written by an international team of artists, curators, art critics and art collectors illuminates both the paintings and the people who painted them. An insightful review accompanies a beautiful reproduction of every painting - an enviable art collection to dip into whenever you please. The book is organized chronologically, so you will discover fascinating and surprising juxtapositions as well as pleasing similarities as you turn the sumptuous pages. The paintings are also listed by artist and by title, making it easy to find a specific painting or trace the development of one painter's work.

From 'Eight Miles High 'to 'Empire State of Mind', from Mississippi to Mali and from Ella Fitzgerald to Elton John, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die picks through nearly a century of music to bring you an inspiring selection ofsome of the greatest recordings ever made.Each entry in this wonderfully browsable book tells the story of a great song. Find out what inspired the songwriter, what makes the track so enduring, which songs it influenced in turn and which cover version to listen out for. You will also pick up a wealth of fascinating trivia along the way. What links Lead Belly, Lonnie Donegan and 'Black Betty'? Whose gravestone inspired Phil Spector's first hit? And for which song did Johnny Rotten replace the singer from Def Leppard? Read on and find out.

Time-honoured, luxurious and naturally made, whisky has a noble heritage unparalleled by any other spirit. 1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before You Die takes youon a fascinating global whisky tour – from Scotland and Ireland throughNorth America, Japan, India and the rest of the world, providing insight into the 1001 best and most exciting whiskies ever made – from the established classics, such as Scotland’s Springbank, to emerging greats from Japan. Each evocative review traces the heritage of the single malt, grain, blend or bourbon selected, and reveals the particular production methods used in its formation. Detailed and tantalizing tasting notes complete the text – whether tempting your palate with light citrusy flavours, warm, spicy overtones, or hints of everything from earthy peat and bitter chocolate to sweet syrup. An invaluable resource for whisky afficionados everywhere, 1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before You Die explores the traditional tipple’s incredible diversity, introduces you to a host of often new, and sometimes rare, finds, and is sure to enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of the drink in all its forms.

Among the thousands of great wines on the market, which should you try at least once in your lifetime? 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die ensures that you make the right decision every time. This evocative and informative guide identifies the wines and vintages most likely to please the palate, explains what makes them so special and suggests when best to drink them. Some of the 1001 wines selected are old and rare, most are readily available and many represent spectacular value; a few are controversial, a few are curiosities, but all are worthy of their place. Together they reflect the variety that is part of the enduring fascination of fine wine. Neil Beckett and his team of wine connoisseurs and writers recommend a huge variety of wines in 1001 factfilled and entertaining reviews packed with history, anecdote, facts and opinion. They share their experience and expertise through evocative and seductive tasting notes, and give guidelines on cost. Photographs of the wine labels and bottles as well as stunning photographs of the vineyards, wineries and winemakers supplement the text.