From the legendary producer of Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals and Pink Floyd comes a riveting, world-spanning tour de force illuminating the artists, histories, controversies, and collaborations that shaped global music.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOWFrom the author of Klopp, a funny and insightful look at one of Britain's greatest and strangest football greats. He was stranger than he knew - than any of us knew. Liverpool legend.

There are tales of footballing bees and Viking mice, the beginning of the thesaurus and the end of the library of Alexandria. Spend just two minutes a day with this glorious almanac of curious treasure and you'll end your year full of wonder and just that little bit wiser.

What a great, shaking, grieving party this book is - the best.' Eileen Myles'I read with the aching intensity of a person possessed ...