Narrative non-fiction

Everyday Emotions

Carina Carl / Rebekka Egeland

Many people suffer in today's highachievement society. Very many of us will experience depression and/or stress in the course of our lives. Everyday Emotions gives us answers and help us meet and cope with the challenges we face in life. The book is about how we can have fewer negative thoughts and less worry, and instead experience more joy and increase our self­confidence. The author combines theory and case studies in a practical and accessible way to show how we can appropriately and effectively deal with problems such as anxiety, depression, stress and low selfesteem. ‘This is important and well written! Recommended!’ TV2

THE ORIENT EXPRESS. A Spring Journey from London to Samarkand

Torbjørn Færøvik

Norway's leading travel writer has followed the world's most famous railway journey – from London to Istanbul and on to Samarkand – and woven it into his most sparkling book so far.For more than 100 years the legendary Orient Express ruled the tracks between Paris and Istanbul. With the backdrop of history, Torbjørn Færøvik embarks on his longest railway journey ever - from London to Samarkand. The adventurous journey takes him through twelve countries and twenty-two cities, stretching a distance of 4,700 miles and including crossing the Caspian Sea. Thorbjørn Færøvik is the only writer who has been awarded the Brage Prize three times. As an author he is known to be knowledgeable, open and curious - and humoristic. In this, his 10th book, he gives us a rich gallery of people and destinies, culture, tradition and drama throughout history. "Samarkand was the natural place to end the journey." says the writer. "The pearl of the Silk Road, the goal of all dreamers."Close the doors, take a seat. Come on a journey you will never forget! 'An informative and interesting travel book from Norway’s most successful travel writer.'VG 'Fans of old-fashioned travel writing will love the fruits in this cornucopia.'DAGBLADET

The history of immortality

Dag Øistein Endsjø

‘Do you really want to live forever?’ With this immortal lyric from the 1980’s as his soundtrack, religious historian Dag Øistein Endsjø goes in search of eternal life.The dream of immortality is possibly as old as humanity itself. One of the few things we all have in common, is the knowledge that we shall all die. The alternative appears as simple as it is unachievable. Is it possible to stop our bodies from changing and to preserve them forever? What would happen if time lost its power over us? What really distinguishes Jesus’ from vampires, or the zombies who come back to life in The Walking Dead? The History of Immortality will not give you the recipe for eternal life. Nor does it contain any irrefutable evidence that immortality is possible. What it does offer, however, is a wide-ranging, informative and entertaining account of humanity’s engagement with life’s most central question: What happens to us when we die, and what we might be able to do to avoid it? The story about immortality goes all the way back to how the Mesopotamians and ancient Greeks held that the gods made certain men and women physically immortal, by way of the breakthrough of Christianity, sex with gods, animals resurrected from skin and bones, almost invulnerable saints, incorruptible corpses, the most miraculous healings, revenants, cyborgs, people condemned to wander forever, and today’s experiments in genetics, nutrition and medicine.

Cutting Wood

Svein Arne Strømsodd / Jon Erik Solberg

Cutting wood is great for both body and soul. It is an exciting, varied and relaxing activity which appeals to many.This book is a complete presentation of the art of cutting wood, with chainsaw use as the main theme. There are beautifully illustrated directions for correct and safe use of a chainsaw, with useful information about the various techniques and about sharpening the chain with a file and all the other maintenance.The chainsaw is used to fell and trim trees and cut the stems into logs. Then it is time to split the logs – either by muscle or machine power – before the wood can be stacked and dried. Enjoy! 'The illustrations in this book are good and plentiful, and the text informative and concise. Good inspiration for enthusiastic wood-cutters.'GAa, Skog

MITTENS

Nina Granlund Sæther

Nordic knitting has already charmed the knitting world. Author Nina Granlund Sæther has now researched traditional mitten patterns from all over Norway and brought them together in one book.In this book you will find old-style mitten patterns from different parts of Norway, patterns adapted to today's yarn and equipment, plus exciting stories of the origin and use of the mittens. It contains more than 40 patterns for mittens for women, men and children, with big, useful diagrams and beautiful illustrations.

Adventures in Memory

Ylva Berger / Hilde Østby

Take a plunge into the science of memory, together with sisters Hilde and Ylva Østby, in Diving for Seahorses.The writers explore the many facets of memory and how it influences our lives, both from a neuroscience perspective and through conversations with some of the most influential memory researchers of our time. They meet people with a special kind of memory – at both ends of the memory spectrum from mnemonists, actors and taxi drivers, to amnesiacs – and discover that most memories are transformed and some are best forgotten. In the middle of winter, they send divers deep into the Oslo fjord in search of where our memories are stored. They wonder if what lies at the heart of memory is what will change our future.Diving for Seahorses explains memory through personal and vivid tale telling, combining the best of two craftsmanships: Hilde is a novelist, and Ylva is a neuropsychologist.‘… readable and interesting. … Reading this book will leave you baffled about how complex memory is.’ FÆDRELANDSVENNEN‘Diving for seahorses is a unique book about memory … science and research presented with wit and energy.’ BOKSTAVER.NO

C - Carbon

Dag O. Hessen

There are good reasons for writing this book with the simple title of C, which is the first and unauthorised biography of carbon, life's central element.Most of the life processes within and around us involve carbon in one form or another. Carbon in pure form can be both graphite in a pencil, and diamond. It is also the starting point for most of the synthetic materials which pervade modern life. However, the essence of Dag O. Hessen's story is the lifecycle of carbon, the important balance between photosynthesis and cellular respiration, between building and burning. This book gives us the basis we need for that understanding. It is an informal, well-informed book written with strong personal commitment by one of Norway's best presenters of research and science.‘This is a brilliant and deep journey into the science, history, and indeed the morality of the Periodic Table's sixth element, carbon. An accomplished scientist and a masterful storyteller, Dag Hessen takes us from the elegance of the Kohi-Noor diamond to the putrescence of cow flatulence, explaining the science behind carbon's connection to our bodies and to our future given it's ongoing impact on global climate. Readers will enjoy the journey while also gaining some philosophical and ethical perspective on the tradeoffs and complexities that are involved as humanity struggles to decarbonize. Carbon – you thought you knew it? Think again and read this book.’ JIM ELSER, BIERMAN PROFESSOR OF ECOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA‘The literary technique is distinctly original. Dag O. Hessen succeeds in creating a piece of accessible literature on the border between science and politics.’ KLASSEKAMPEN

THE JOY OF BIRDS

Anne Havåg Holter-Hovind

How to get your gardens and balconies twittering This book teaches you everything you need to know to ensure a happy life for the birds in your garden or on your balcony. You’ll get tips about the right plants, the best bird boxes and much more besides. The book is illustrated throughout with masses of beautiful photographs of birds in Norwegian settings. Anne’s garden is teeming with songbirds that eat, drink, play, bathe, flirt and sleep. Her twittering garden guests are a source of great life and joy, and complete the garden with their colours, movements, sounds and personalities. They also combat pests and contribute to biological diversity. Anne Havåg Holter-Hovind isn’t just a gardening enthusiast and bird lover. She is also an architect and the brains behind Norway’s biggest garden blog, Moseplassen. In this richly illustrated brook, she takes you right up close to the different birds and their idiosyncrasies, telling you in an inspiring way about the best ways to create a bird-friendly outdoor space. Her charming, instructive and beautiful book is this year’s perfect gift for bird lovers.

Harvest Outdoor Handbook

This book is about enjoying the outdoors with children and all the enjoyable, exciting and educational activities you can find there. It comes to us from the editors who publish the magazine Harvest on the internet: Torbjørn Ekelund, Simen Tveitereid, Kjetil Østli and Anders Aakre. Like many others, they have learned by experience that it is often better to be outdoors than in. All age-groups find that crossing the threshold is the longest mile, but once the bags are packed and the troops assembled and the whole family is trotting into the woods, along the shore or up into the mountains, a type of calm settles. Everybody suddenly feels content to be there, and it seems that the children have long forgotten that just a short time ago they were insisting on staying indoors. The aim of this book is to inspire families with small children to go out more – or at least give it a try.

Hamsun and Hitler

Tore Rem

WINNER OF THE NORWEGIAN CRITICS AWARD FOR BEST NON-FICTION 2014On Saturday 26th June 1943, Hitler granted one of his rare audiences to a writer, the Norwegian Knut Hamsun, then generally hailed as the greatest living writer of the Germanic peoples, a contemporary Goethe. The meeting started jovially, but ended in disaster. While Hamsun insisted on his loyalty to the Führer, he also spoke out against him, interrupting a man who was not used to being interrupted. A furious Hitler ended the conversation after 45 minutes – and Hamsun and his entourage left in disappointment.This is the first time this spectacular event in Norwegian and European cultural history has been used as the basis for an entire book. Knut Hamsun – Reisen til Hitler explores the trappings of literary genius and authority, as well as the uses of culture in Nazi Germany.The book's main narrative, the seven-day journey to and from the meeting, ends with an epilogue which includes Hamsun's obituary for Hitler, published on 7th May 1945.After a teaser which takes the reader straight into the journey, the book – in order to establish the premises of what took place – considers a few episodes from Hamsun's life up until 1943. These include his attempt at doing away with the father figure Ibsen, his Nobel Prize and rise to fame, how he became the favourite of the German far right, his interventions on behalf of Nazi Germany during the war, his antisemitism and his allegiance to the idea of the Germanic peoples, as well as Goebbels' glowing reception of his favourite writer in May 1943. A month later Knut Hamsun sets off to Vienna as the star attraction of a big Nazi propaganda show, a congress of Nazi journalists. It is after having been celebrated as a great success in the second capital of the Reich, Hamsun is flown on to Berghof, Hitler's mountain residence in Southern Bavaria. Samples from what the press has said about KNUT HAMSUN – REISEN TIL HITLER:‘ ... an audience hit, suitable for a tabloid audience, a literary audience, Second World War nerds and anyone looking for a Christmas present for Dad. This story has something in it to fascinate everyone ... Tore Rem is a skilled storyteller ... a lively mediator who will be met with interest and curiosity.’ AFTENPOSTEN‘The book is a biographical masterpiece.’ DEMOKRATEN‘It takes a skilled wordsmith to write well about Hamsun, the man who despite his political views was a wizard with words and whose books still hold readers spellbound all over the world. Tore Rem is up to the job. It is a joy to read Reisen til Hitler. Rem brings recent history to life in tremendously exciting ways, with a burning passion .’ VG‘ ... a liberating book. Liberating because Rem approaches the difficult Hamsun debate in a wise, open and thorough manner ... relates to the material in a non-judgmental way.’ KLASSEKAMPEN‘Tore Rem’s compelling and important book ... He is sensitive in his demonstration of Hamsun’s transformation from anti-authoritarian individualist to rigid, leading literary figure ... Rem ... empowers the author in an exemplary manner.’ MORGENBLADET‘Meticulous, exciting and overwhelmingly well documented ... Tore Rem’s work on Knut Hamsun's meeting with Hitler has become a full-bodied, often very exciting and insightful piece of work ...’ DAGSAVISEN‘ ... adds energy and topicality to one of the nation's biggest cultural debates over the past 70 years ... Well composed, fresh and innovative ... a reading experience.’ NRK‘ ... told in a flexible language and with a firm narrative technique ... sensational new material ... not just a pleasure to read, but also an exceptionally beautiful book.’ FÆDRELANDSVENNEN‘Rem presents a wealth of new material, a superb storyteller.’ DAGBLADET‘Rem’s excellent Hamsun biography … documents … once and for all that Hamsun was a convinced Nazi from the 1930s until the end of his life.’ BERGENS TIDENDE‘ … a very competent storyteller … The language is extremely precise, and yet comes across as free and easy … the build-up creates excitement and takes well care of the dramatic components in this highly spectactular story.’ HAMAR ARBEIDERBLAD‘ … a harrowing presentation of Knut Hamsun’s Nazism. This is tortuous reading … succeeds fully in its narrative strategy; the book stands triumphant in its choice of genre.’ PROSA‘ … probes deeper than anyone before him … in all sorts of ways a remarkable story. Rem has dug up a great number of new details.’ INFORMATION (Denmark)Selected among the critics’ ‘Book of the Year’ in Dagbladet, Morgenbladet, Vårt Land, Klassekampen, Adresseavisa and Fædrelandsvennen

Survival Techniques for the Young Elderly

Klara Bøe / Petter Henriksen

The sixty-something year-old is approaching the quiet life of a pensioner. It's time to reap the harvest of all these years of fulfilling duties, surrender to old age and relax. That's what you think! Instead you realise that new expectations have grown up: the joyous ambitions for a rich life. Welcome to the hard world of the young elderly!There are lots of new things you have to master – or steel yourself against. This book shows you how. With a combination of friendly concern and biting ruthlessness, the authors describe the wide choice of roles which the young elderly are expected to master: Style icon (stay elegant); Globetrotter (see the world) Kitchen god or goddess (please your family and friends); Tough guy (control the physical decline); Intellectual (control the mental decline); Proprietor (manage property); Social animal (cultivate relationships with a growing circle of friends); Culture buff (keep up-to-date with cultural life); Play leader (spoil the grandchildren); Senior consultant (stay in the management network); Carer (give your own parents a dignified old age).A humorous slant at the many challenges of being a pensioner and how best to tackle them.