World's Ultimate Cycling Races – Wonderful World of Two Wheels

Compiled by Ellis Bacon, one of the sport’s premier journalists, with the foreword by world-renowned cycling commentator Phil Liggett. World’s Ultimate Cycling Races contains everything you need to know about all the best cycling events across the globe.  It has races on every variety of terrain – from cyclo-cross, mountain bike, long distance and night races, to pro one day, pro stage, road and track events – in over 50 countries. 




We all know about the gruelling weeks of the Tour de France, thanks to British champion Bradley Wiggins’ storming ride into Paris, but what about the many other exciting races and participation events across the world? Packed full of 300 of the greatest biking events, for competitors and spectators alike, this book is the essential guide to the exhilarating world of life on two wheels. 

World’s Ultimate Cycling Races contains facts and statistics for novice through to professional cyclists, and for spectators, who want to learn about the most brilliant races; as well as stunning photographs that illustrate the incredible – and sometimes treacherous – locations and scenery. A comprehensive history of each event is included, along with field size, entry standard, and terrain information, all arranged by the month the race takes place. Contributions from some of the world’s leading cyclists and journalists provide gripping accounts of what each race is really like, building a fascinating picture of the atmosphere surrounding each event. 

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World's Ultimate Cycling Races: 300 of the greatest cycling events
ISBN: 978-0-00-748281-8
Size: 210x160
Published: 27 September 2012
Price: £20
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Win a copy via The Tour of Britain website
See our Facebook page to get 40% off at Waterstones.com

Extreme Survivors 60 of the World’s Most Extreme Survival Stories

Extreme Survivors tells the illustrated story of some of the most daring escapes, famous shipwrecks, and ultimate survival stories. With a foreword by survival expert Bear Grylls, this book features astonishing stories of human endurance and endeavour.

Extreme Survivors is packed full of tales from all over the world, such as German soldier Cornelius Rost’s escape from a Siberian labour camp and subsequent three year trek to Iran, the infamous story of a rugby team’s plane crash in the Andes and admissions to canibalism, and Aron Ralston severing his own arm after being trapped in the rocks of Canyonlands National Park for several days.


The statistics, descriptions, archive photographs and illustrative maps give the reader a full understanding the fortitude and determination humans are capable of when it comes to survival.





Extreme Survivors: 60 of the World’s Most Extreme Survival Stories
ISBN: 978-0-00-748277-1
Size: 210x161 mm
Published: 27 Sep 2012
Price: £12.99
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Collins World Watch: A Visual Guide to the current State of the World

This new edition, published 27th September, contains 16 brand new infographic spreads drawn from the authoritative statistics of the World Bank's World Development Indicators. A dynamic visual guide packed with fascinating facts about the world, including information on climate change, population growth, health and education, and natural resources.





Get to grips with geography through more than 100 easy-to-read visualizations of world issues, each presented using maps, tables, graphs, fact boxes and photographs that illustrate the stories behind the statistics and create an engaging dialogue. Compatible with the National Curriculum, Collins World Watch is perfect for students in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. 


Colourful, informative and fun to use, Collins World Watch will help you understand all the major issues from around the globe at a glance, without the need to read through long texts or analyse statistics.





Collins World Watch: A Visual Guide to the current State of the World
ISBN: 978-0-00-748822-3
Size: 246x189 mm
Published: 27 September 2012
Price: £12.99
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Further details and ordering at Collins Education

Fragile Earth – Spectacular Scenes of Global Change

Immense forces of nature and the side-effects of human progress are changing the face of the planet at a staggering rate.

Documenting these changes is Fragile Earth, an eye-opening anthology which shows just how dramatically, and how fast, the planet is changing. This second edition, published on 27th September, has two-thirds new content compared to the first edition published in 2006. 

Fragile Earth shows the changes the planet is going through, grouping the examples and images into distinctive themes, such as Natural Phenomena, Extreme Weather, and Building and Development. The events depicted in this book highlight how human impact and natural disasters have disturbed the lives of individuals and whole communities, as well as vital ecosystems. 

Shifts in the landscapes pictured involve changes over decades as well as those occurring in only a matter of days or months. In addition to the dramatic photography, Fragile Earth contains satellite images, maps, graphs, statistics, and contributions from world-leading authorities on the environmental issues discussed, making it unique in the quality and extent of its content.

Fragile Earth conveys the delicate intricacies of the planet and the global shifts that are constantly altering its landscape. It is a fascinating insight into the events which change the earth and its inhabitants, impacting on thousands of lives every year, making it invaluable to anyone with an interest in the world around them.  

 

Fragile Earth: Dramatic images of our changing planet
ISBN: 978-0-00-745523-2
Size: 265x221 mm
Published: 27 September 2012
Price: £25
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The Times Britain’s Scenic Railways

Cornwood Viaduct, South Devon

With all eyes on Britain for the Olympics and the Royal Jubilee, and the recent surge in interest for rail travel and history, this new book Britain’s Scenic Railways, is the essential armchair guide to Britain’s most beautiful railway lines.  Published on 27 September 2012.

Authors Julian Holland and David Spaven explore the hidden treasures of Britain’s rail network, from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands and everywhere in between, delving into the network’s rich and fascinating past.

Railway enthusiasts, historians and all those interested in Great Britain can discover over fifty of the greatest scenic railway routes - including secret spots on modern lines and fascinating heritage railway gems. The Times Britain’s Scenic Railways includes spectacular views from selected routes along the main rail network, as well as stunning sights along narrow-gauge and miniature lines (which were often built for industrial use, but now make popular attractions).



Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Class 170 over the Forth Bridge

This book contains information on the notable historical and geographical features of the railway network and operations past and present. These features and points of interest are illustrated using Bartholomew’s famous Half-Inch mapping, gradient profiles and track diagrams. The maps and images highlight detail of the network, and contrast modern and historical landscapes. Stunning, high-quality photographs show steam locomotives, diesel traction and the latest electric powered rolling stock against the incredible beauty of the British countryside.Discover and enjoy Britain’s Scenic Railways.

Co-author Julian Holland's guide to Britain's Scenic Railways

The Times Britain’s Scenic Railways, Exploring the country by rail from Cornwall to the Highlands
Authors: Julian Holland and David Spaven
ISBN: 978-0-00-747879-8
Size: 276x213 mm
Published: 27 September 2012
Price: £30
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By Melissa Klitzka

See also:
Teaser video with co-author Julian Holland, via YouTube

Astronomy Photographer of the Year Book

Greatest Glimpses of the Galaxy

For the past four years, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich has partnered with Sky at Night Magazine to hold the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition to honour outstanding photographers, from all over the world.

Showcasing a breathtaking collection of over 150 images from this competition, Astronomy Photographer of the Year contains some of the most exceptional pictures taken of space and the night sky.
This book, published on Thursday 25^th October 2012, incorporates an outstanding selection of winners and finalists from the first four years of the competition along with background information on the science behind the images.Astronomy Photographer of the Year also includes information about the history of the competition, as well as an easy-to-follow beginner’s guide to taking astronomy photographs yourself. The foreword is by competition judge, Sir Patrick Moore, the renowned broadcaster and astronomy expert.

The incredible imagery contained within the pages creates a humbling sense of perspective, showing how small humankind truly is. Astronomy Photographer of the Year is an essential addition to any astronomy library and will appeal to anyone with an interest in astronomy photography or a sense of wonder and curiosity about the wider universe around them.

To coincide with the publication of this book, Collins is also publishing the Astronomy Photographer of the Year app, allowing users to browse 90 amazing images of space on their iPad or iPhone. This app is perfect for astronomy and photography enthusiasts, providing inspirational images while on the go.

Book Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Author Royal Observatory Greenwich

Foreword by Sir Patrick Moore

ISBN 978-0-00-748280-1 260x260 mm

Published 25 Oct 2012 by Collins Geo

£25 Order from Amazon

Apple App Astronomy Photographer of the Year

ISBN 978-0-00-749706-5

Published 27 Sep 2012 by Collins Geo

Order from Apple App store

BBC One Show item on iPlayer

BBC News Science and Environment: Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2012

By Melissa Klitzka

Bartholomew Archive Exhibition at the NLS

Material from the Bartholomew Archive Collection will feature in a major exhibition at the National Library of Scotland.

Putting Scotland on the Map: The World of John Bartholomew and Son will explore the techniques and processes by which Bartholomew brought their maps to life. From 7 December 2012 to 7 May 2013 the exhibition of Bartholomew Archive material will be on display in the NLS George IV Bridge building.  It will showcase items from the remarkable record of the Edinburgh-based firm of map engravers, printers and publishers.

Karla Baker, Bartholomew Archive Curator writes: “The exhibition will focus on map production techniques at Bartholomew as seen through the eyes of its highly skilled staff and directed by its colourful managers. The exhibition will follow the life story of Bartholomew maps from the compilation of source material, to hand-made ‘graving tools, to the noise of the printing room floor. Visitors will have the chance to meet one of Bartholomew’s most influential characters, John George Bartholomew; to enter the upside down and back to front world of the copperplate engravers before reflecting on the ways in which modern technology may have altered our relationship with maps”.

Further details

NLS blog post 1: Countdown to Bartholomew Archive exhibition – Park Road premises

NLS blog post 2: The Building of an Institution – Duncan Street

NLS blog post 3: John Bartholomew Junior in the USA
NLS blog post 4: Map compilation at Bartholomew

Bartholomew Archive website at the NLS

CAIRT Newsletter of the Scottish Maps Forum Issue 21 July 2012

John George Bartholomew - Discover the man and his maps