Mark Mason

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The Book of Seconds reveals the exciting, intriguing and heroic runners-up who until now have been kept in the shadow of the firsts. Did you know that the winner of the second Tour de France rode 25 miles on two flat tyres? Or that the second crew to land on the Moon danced to a pop song in zero gravity? Step forward all the nearly-men and nearly-women, the nearly skyscrapers, nearly-LPs and nearly deserts. Your time in the spotlight has come at last.

Never again confuse SMERSH with SPECTRE, Oddjob with Onatopp, or Plenty O’Toole with Pussy Galore. A quick read of The Bluffer’s Guide to Bond and you will be able to pronounce confidently on the finer points of the books, the films, and the character of the deadly assassin himself.

Which major UK retailer has the same name as Odysseus's dog in Greek mythology? In the original version of the Band Aid hit 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', who sang the opening line? Which is the only US state whose name can be typed on a single row of a QWERTY keyboard? Travel writer and quiz fan Mark Mason decided to combine two of his greatest loves by setting off on a tour of Britain's quizzes. From a pub quiz in Edinburgh to a charity quiz in Hampshire, from a corporate quiz in Birmingham to a journalists' quiz in Parliament, he finds answers aplenty while asking some questions of his own. Just what is it that attracts us to these tests of our knowledge? What are the ingredients of the perfect quiz question? And which is the only English city whose official name begins with H? The only travel book ever to discuss Winston Churchill's use of language and reveal Donald Duck's middle name, QUESTION TIME is an affectionate tribute to Britain and one of its most cherished institutions - the quiz.'A must-have book for any quiz lover' THE TIMES

'FASCINATING' Daily Mail'FULL OF AMAZING FACTS' The QI ElvesEach of the United Kingdom's 124 postcode areas has a story to tell, an unexpected nugget to dust off and treasure. Mark Mason has embarked on a tour of the country, immersing himself in Britain's history on a roundabout journey from AB to ZE. On the lookout for interesting place names and unusual monuments, along the way he discovers what the Queen keeps in her handbag, why the Jack Russell has a white coat and how Jimi Hendrix got confused by the M1. At the same time Mason paints an affectionate portrait of Britain in the 21st century, from aggressive seagulls in Blackpool to 'seasoned' drinkers in Surrey. And his travels offer the perfect opportunity to delve into the history of the Royal Mail, complete with pillar boxes, posties and Penny Reds - plus Oscar Wilde's unconventional method of posting a letter. A playful mix of fact, anecdote and overheard conversation, MAIL OBSESSION pays homage to Britain's wonderful past and its curious present.

At 10.41am on a Tuesday morning in September, the author boards the number 1A bus at Land's End in Cornwall. Forty-six buses and eleven days later he disembarks at John O'Groats in Scotland. This title presents an account of that gruelling 1100-mile odyssey; a paint-by-bus-numbers portrait of Britain.

The only way to truly discover a city, they say, is on foot. Taking this to extremes, the author sets out to walk the entire length of the London Underground - overground - passing every station on the way. This title celebrates the sights, sounds and soul of the greatest city on earth.

If you're intrigued by the fact that Jack the Ripper was left-handed, or that Heinz ketchup flows at 0.7 miles per day - and, more importantly, intrigued by why you're intrigued - then this book is required reading.

The 'Starbucks Generation' is our generation. A people steeped in idolatry and materialism yet suffering from epic levels of depression and low self esteem; a generation starving for the supernatural and searching for truth. Drawing from the Apostle Paul's effectiveness on Mars Hill, this book will help pastors, church leaders and all Christians take the fear and complexity out of "witnessing" our faith. Many more lives can be changed if we will follow the Holy Spirit and stop trying to legislate morality. It is time to quit spending kingdom dollars litigating over crosses standing in public parks when we should be wearing them on our backs. It is time to 'challenge the system on every front' and return to true Christianity- loving God, loving people and loving life.

Japanese foreign direct investment surged into Western markets in the late 1980s provoking intense policy debates in Europe and America. How did the European authorities respond to this 'Japanese Challenge'? How did their response compare to the US policy record? Does this international business activity give any insights into the idea of increasing convergence of behaviour of the world's capitalist economies? To answer these questions, Mark Mason investigates European policies towards the Japanese Challenge in cross-national and historical perspectives. He compares the policy response of European governments with that of the US government by contrasting case studies in three key sectorsthe automobile industry, consumer electronics, and banking. The case studies are then examined in the context of wider policy patterns and models across the entire Triad throughout the postwar period. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in international business history, Japanese investment policies, international trade, corporate strategy, and government-industry relations.