Product Description

A contemporary new treasury of verse for every age of life. Use this book as a recipe book for life: turn to it when you need some advice on how everything from growing up to getting old; look to it for consolation when the phone doesn't ring or for inspiration when you are trying to do the right thing; consult it for words that set the mood for weddings and funerals; keep it to hand in dealing with life's emergencies or reach for it for reassurance when you find a new wrinkle or an extra pound; or have it handy simply to read some of the finest poems in the English language. The poems within, old and new, chart every trajectory of human experience and emotion. Start with childhood, move on through the traumas of adolescence, and arrive at the serial destinations of love, marriage, parenthood, the loss of love, ageing, bereavement, with detours into work, dieting, infidelity and bad hair days. Whatever life has to throw at you there will be words here to make sense of it. Destined to be stained with wine, tears and marmite sandwiches in years to come, these are the poems to last you a lifetime.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #236271 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
Praise for 101 POEMS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND MEN (AND WOMEN): 'This is a sometimes witty...always thought-provoking guide ...a portable gathering of wise advice for every readership.' Time Out For ESSENTIAL POEMS FOR BRITAIN: 'Packed with verse both witty and apposite, musing on everything from our weather to our countryside' Daily Mail 'Goodwin is as influential in selecting literary goodies as Delia converting the nation to cranberries.' Sunday Times

About the Author
Daisy Goodwin, a televisions producer and writer, is married with two children and lives in London. She is the editor of several bestselling poetry anthologies, including 101 Poems to Keep You Sane, Essential Poems to Fall in Love With and Essential Poems for Britain (and the way we live now). She writes the 'Poem for Life' column in You magazine and has presented the BBC2 series, Essential Poems.

Customer Reviews

A must read
This book provides a wonderful collection of poetry by various poets. There is something for everyone providing a variety of poems that focus on different experiences endured in a lifetime â€"provoking many memorable emotions.

If you only buy one poetry book - make it this one!
I love poetry but this book is also ideal for people who think they don't like it. Poems are arranged one to a page, so you have time to savour them, with often some background information about the poet or the reason the poem was written. I have already given two copies as presents.

The perfect tonic when life isn't straighforwards
They say never judge a book by its cover, but I say make the exception in this case. I initially picked if for its serene and stylish appearence; thinking it would make the perfect coffee table book, but this book is made to be read over and over again. I don't usually read poetry, but this anthology is perfect to flick through on a cold day, because the words within will provide warmth and wisdom. Familiar classics such as "If" and "How do I love thee" are skillfully blended with unknown gems, that provoke thought and delight the reader. The poems are categorised by life events, eg school, work, first love, parenthood and politics; and they offer guidance and inspiration if you are unsure in a situation, they provide words when there are none or they simply help reinforce your positive emotions. My personal favourite is "You Wake Up In The Morning", which provides a helpful boost at the end of the day. This book is truly a lifetime investment; buy it, so you can grow old and dog-eared together.