{"title":"Bob Whittington","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"money-talks-book-bob-whittington-9781849953160","title":"Money Talks","description":"Money Talks is a fast-paced history of the humble British coin, the events which at times literally shaped it and the stories reflected in its creation. It has been used to barter and to bribe, to hold a cloak in place and to pay a king's ransom, been an object of pride and a symbol of courage. The coin has witnessed the great events in history - about kings and queens and the transfer of power - and it speaks to us of generations passed, of battles and heroic deeds, of countries and empires as well as of moments we would rather forget. Money Talks is about how such a small object of desire has been regarded as a symbol of power and authority for more than 2,500 years. It traces British history through the one thing that has come to dominate our lives - hard cash - and it demonstrates how monarchs down the centuries have used it to fund their wars, maintain their lifestyles and portray their image to prove their position or legitimatise dubious claims to the throne. From time to time the coin has slipped out of use altogether as bartering goods was preferred to poor quality coinage for day-to-day business. It has been hoarded for safer times and simply used as adornment. But even as the modern world turns increasingly to electronic transactions moving billions around the world at the touch of a button, the coin retains its place at the heart of everyday life.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49562582941969,"sku":"GOR009601632","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1849953163.jpg?v=1764239420"},{"product_id":"in-the-shadow-of-power-book-bob-whittington-9781849950480","title":"In the Shadow of Power","description":"From Alexander the Great to Saddam Hussein, from Cardinal Richelieu and Howard Hughes to Martin Luther King and Pope Benedict, emperors and tycoons, presidents and popes, they have all had a right hand man - or woman - at their side advising, sometimes influencing and occasionally manipulating. The operating style of the 'fixer' or eminence grise has changed throughout history from one of absolute discretion as adviser to overt spinning with even a desire to share in some of the 'fame', but their presence has always been a constant theme. In The Shadow of Power throws a brief spotlight on some of the people who practised these dark arts hovering on the edges of history, lurking in the background, occasionally rising to positions of absolute authority while managing to remain behind the scenes. This selection reveals certain common traits - a devotion to their master, a ruthless determination to protect and serve regardless of the price, an ability to survive. Many of the individuals will be unknown to some readers although the masters they served will all be household names. Not all are men, of course, the strong woman behind the successful man is commonplace.   They have worked for good and ill, some moving from the bedchamber to positions of absolute power; many just like their male counterparts seem to have been driven by their lowly backgrounds with their intelligence simply proving too much for their well-born masters. They come in all guises: diplomats and courtesans, concubines and clerics, politicians and journalists, and from many different countries in Europe and India, China, France and USA, but the role of the eminence grise is often a dangerous one and getting too close to the powerful can prove fatal.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49649897931025,"sku":"GOR009395427","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53545705603345,"sku":"GOR009382037","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1849950482.jpg?v=1761391108"},{"product_id":"off-duty-book-bob-whittington-9781434374769","title":"Off Duty","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51289211175185,"sku":"NIN9781434374769","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52121914507537,"sku":"NLS9781434374769","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1434374769.jpg?v=1751147071"},{"product_id":"why-britain-needs-our-monarchy-book-bob-whittington-9781916540750","title":"Why Britain Needs Our Monarchy","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhy Britain Needs our Monarchy is a challenge to so many who are too quick to moan, too ready to demonstrate their anger at the slightest offence and an unwillingness to recognise that, without the solid foundations which the United Kingdom has built up over the centuries, life could be very different. It has become a land of rights triumphing over responsibilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe key foundation is our Monarchy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors focus on the treasures of our institutions, the positives, while acknowledging the flaws of the present, the economic tensions, the dangers of war, the social unrest. They urge us to take a leaf out of the example set so long ago by Her Majesty Elizabeth II when she vowed to dedicate her life to serving her people which she did for decades without so much as a murmur of complaint.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBob Whittington is a former journalist in newspapers, BBC Radio and Television, and ITN. He is an author and ghost writer. His books include: In the Shadow of Power and Money Talks (Whittles Publishing).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr Kartar Lalvani OBE is the founder and chairman of the British nutraceutical company, Vitabiotics Ltd, and author of The Making of India (Bloomsbury Publishing)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book deserves to be widely read for shaking the tree of complacency.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Michael Cole, former BBC Royal Correspondent and Director of Public Affairs for the Harrods Group of Companies\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhoto Credits: King Charles III: Dan Marsh Queen Camilla: Carfax2\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQueen Elizabeth II: NASA\/Bill Ingalls\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52901239357713,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52901239816465,"sku":"GOR014655505","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781916540750.jpg?v=1765554363"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-bob-whittington.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}