"From a Nottingham alleyway to a global empire, Threads is the story of a truly unique British fashion icon. This audiobook is read by Bill Nighy and features an exclusive interview between Sir Paul Smith and Bill Nighy.
'I always say that you can find inspiration in everything. And if you can't, look again' - Sir Paul Smith
Sir Paul's journey has been anything but conventional: from leaving school at fifteen with a dream of being a professional racing cyclist to a life-altering accident that would change everything. After meeting the love of his life and immersing himself in the exciting new world of the 1960s London art and fashion scene, he would go on to build a global fashion empire that started off as a tiny shop tucked behind a dark, damp corridor in Nottingham.
For the first time, and with his signature wit, Paul shares candid memories of a life in style, including what it was like to dress legends including David Bowie, Daniel Day-Lewis, Giorgio Armani and Sir Alex Ferguson; how he fought to keep his brand independent in a world of globalized homogeneity; and why, after five decades of success, you can still find him on the shopfloor every Saturday meeting his customers.
Guided by his father's advice of working hard and repairing everything by hand, Threads is more than a fashion memoir. It is a masterclass in how to stay curious, stay independent and always look for the extraordinary in the everyday.
'Paul is a Great British Icon and this is an iconic book. I devoured every page' - Dylan Jones
'Paul Smith is a brilliant storyteller. He has been everywhere, and he knows everyone, but he has never lost the sense of wonder that fills every page of this book' - Deyan Sudjic
'The Paul Smith story is as fascinating a read as it is a simple one' - Suzy Menkes
'One of the pillars of great English design' - Manolo Blahnik"
"In the harsh confines of Ravensbrück, the infamous Nazi concentration camp for women, Sarah Rothstein a Jewish book keeper, Marie Laurent a French resistance fighter, Zofia Nowicki a Polish nurse, are thrown together in a crucible of suffering.
Yet in the face of unimaginable cruelty, they forge an unbreakable sisterhood. With grit, cunning, and quiet defiance, they wield their unique skills to sabotage their captors from within, daring to reclaim their humanity in a place designed to destroy it.
Their determined unity and the secret network of information they construct, reflect the real-life acts of resistance carried out by women during history’s darkest chapters – resonating deeply with readers drawn to true stories of female courage, resilience, and solidarity under Nazi oppression."
"Read by the author.
LEADERSHIP STARTS WITH STORYTELLING
With clarity around your message, you will energize those you lead and create a vision they can buy into. But first, you must first write the story that will get them excited and ready to execute.
Clarity is key for any successful leader, so much so that top corporations, such as Micorsoft. Nike, Proctor and Gamble, Kimberly Clark, and many more, have incorporated storytelling into their leadership training programs. These companies know that before you can become a strong leader, you must first master the art of storytelling so you can communicate your vision to your team and inspire them to execute on objectives.
The power of storytelling will allow you to:
- Envision Success- lead change by identifying goals in your story and building team commitment.
- Create an Environment for Winning- create a team culture and identify values that encourage collaboration and value diversity.
- Energize Your Team- use your story to help others find passion for their work by building courage, inspiration, and motivation.
- Inspire and Educate- teach your employees key lessons and provide coaching and actionable feedback.
- Empower Others- use storytelling to delegate authority and encourage targeted innovation that supports your vision.
If you want to be a leader others want to follow, you must master storytelling and use that skill to communicate a vision that your team can support.
Accompanying graphics and appendix are included in the audiobook companion PDF download."
"Analyzing the meanings of masculinity in contemporary culture, this book examines specific cultural male icons like Mohammad Ali, Harvey Keitel, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dan Quayle, and Newt Gingrich and explodes the male stereotypes such as the cowboy, the father, the homosexual, and the Black terror. Written by cultural studies scholars from departments of film, media studies, English, women's studies, and sociology, the discussions touch on almost every conceivable issue concerning the complex meanings of masculinity and contemporary society.
The contributors do not offer simple answers to the dilemmas they uncover; rather, they explore the ways different forms of masculinity cut through and invalidate generally accepted monoliths of masculinity. These writers argue that it is inappropriate to ask, 'What is masculinity?' Instead, they focus on what masculinity isn't, demonstrating that there are only masculinities in the plural, defined by differences and contradictions. Boys reveals the depth and breadth of these complexities, offering listeners a far more satisfying definition of what it means to be male in our current culture."
"NOW AN OWL (Outstanding Work of Literature) Leadership Award Winner!
Every great leader is a great storyteller.
As a manager, CEO, or team leader, how can you innovatively engage your employees so that they understand where your organization came from, where it's going, and how you're going to get there? How can you connect with your customers in a way that makes them believe in your company as passionately as you do?
Paul Smith is one of the world's leading experts in business storytelling. He teaches people how to be more effective leaders by communicating their company's important mission, inspiring creativity, and earning the trust of valued stakeholders.
The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell explores the journey behind success, and breaks down not just the importance of your company's story but how to craft compelling ones of your own."
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