Top 10 bestselling New Zealand books: June 28
1. (1) A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin)
The former PM's memoir, the first such account since Jim Bolger, tops the bestsellers for a second week, and is unlikely to be dislodged for some time. It also made the top five on Amazon and Audible,
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The Spinoff
3 hours ago
- The Spinoff
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending August 1
The top 10 sales lists recorded every week at Unity Books' stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND Highly educated Professor Ings hated school. He was always put in the problem class and was eventually kicked out of high school. His latest book looks at the problematic ways in which we define intelligence and how that leads to kids being labelled 'dumb' when they're not. 2 Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, $35) Books are better value for money than butter. 3 Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Canongate, $28) A beautiful, and bestselling memoir about Dalton's relationship with a rescue baby hare and how the long-eared creature changed her life. 4 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $60) New Zealand's most successful political memoir? At least in terms of sales? 5 When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Rizden (Doubleday, $38) Fresh fiction! Here's the blurb: 'Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he's got left; his body is failing him and his quiet existence is only broken up by the daily visits from his home care team. His hands soon too weak to open the precious jar housing the scarf of his Alzheimer-stricken wife Frederika, which still bears her scent. Fortunately he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten for company, only now his son insists upon taking the dog away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions that make him look back at his life, his fatherhood and the way he expresses his love.' 6 The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin, $26) Exquisitely wrought historical fiction that brings the past to life. 7 The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (Arrow Books, $26) A killer classic. 8 Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn (Viking Penguin, $26) A collection of conversations with people named Candice and Dolly and Alain and Esther on the various states of love. 9 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $27) The Huck Finn retelling that's taken over the world. 10 A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan (Allen & Unwin, $37) The kind of novel you need on a long haul flight: absorbing. Read a review on The Spinoff, right here. WELLINGTON 1 M ātauranga Māori by Hirini Moko Mead (Huia Publishers, $45) Mead's earlier book, Tikanga Māori, was a bestseller and now, too, is this latest one. 2 Invisible Intelligence: Why Your Child Might Not Be Failing by Welby Ings (Otago University Press, $45) 3 Secret Art Powers by Jo Randerson (Barbarian Productions, $35) One of Aotearoa's most interesting and acclaimed theatre makers and writers, Jo Randerson, has created an absolute asset for anyone interested in creative thinking. Secret Art Powers draws on Randerson's extensive experience in art for social change to reveal what creative thinking really does and how it really can be used to respond to problems both big and small. Art powers include Lies, Multiplicity, Fluidity and Imagination. The production is exquisite, too: with brilliant illustrations and superb design by Sarah Maxey. 4 No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer (Allen & Unwin, $38) A superbly entertaining memoir from journalist Lisette Reymer who recently starred in The Spinoff's My Life in TV column. 'Terrifically compelling,' says The Spinoff's review, here. 6 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $60) True crime. 8 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $27) 9 Men in Love by Irvine Welsh (Jonathan Cape, $38) The sequel to Trainspotting. A beautifully produced book for the family to learn from and share. Learn more about Farnham and his bookish life over on The Spinoff's Books Confessional.
Newsroom
4 hours ago
- Newsroom
This week's bestselling books, Aug 1
NONFICTION 1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $59.99) Number of reviews commissioned by ReadingRoom to cover the publication of Jacinda Ardern's memoir: three. Number of reviews commissioned by ReadingRoom to cover the upcoming publication of Jacinda Ardern's childrens book: hmm probably zero. 2 Polkinghorne: Inside the trial of the century by Steve Braunias (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) My book, holding fast to the Number 2 position for the second consecutive week; a free copy of the book everybody is talking was up for grabs in last week's giveaway contest, but I wasn't entirely satisfied that the very many entries included a deserving winner, so it's up for grabs again this week. Readers were asked to share a story or an opinion about Dr Philip Polkinghorne. The opinions were kind of generic. The stories, though, were fascinating, from people who knew him at school, as neighbours, and as a patient of his during his long career as an eye surgeon. And so part 2 of the giveaway contest is directed only at readers who have some kind of personal story to tell about the man found not guilty in the most sensational murder trial in modern New Zealand history. A meeting, an encounter, an observation … Anonymity granted on request. Send the entries to stephen11@ with the subject line in screaming caps HIS NAME WAS POLKINGHORNE by midnight on Sunday, August 3. 3 Leading Under Pressure by Ian Foster & Gregor Paul (HarperCollins, $39.99) 4 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 5 No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lissette Reymer (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 6 Everyday Comfort Food by Vanya Insull (Allen & Unwin, $39.99) 7 Whānau by Donovan Farnham & Rehua Wilson (Hachette, $29.99) 8 Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson (Allen & Unwin, $45) Guy on Insta makes book. 9 Easy Weeknight Meals (10th Anniv. Ed.) by My Food Bag & Nadia Lim (Allen & Unwin, $39.99) Includes her Malaysian roti chicken pie. Curry filling 600g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2cm cubes 2 carrots, cut into 2cm cubes 400g potatoes, cut into 2cm cubes 2 shallots, thinly sliced ½ bunch curry leaves 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 Tbsp minced ginger 20g mild curry powder 2 Tbsp cornflour pinch of chilli flakes 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup water 1 tsp fish sauce 200ml coconut milk 100g baby spinach Pie topping: 2 packs (480g) flaky roti ½ bunch curry leaves olive oil, to drizzle Method: Preheat oven to 220°C. Pat chicken dry and season cubes with salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat a drizzle of oil in an ovenproof skillet (or fry pan) on medium to high heat. Add carrots, potatoes, shallots, first measure of curry leaves and salt measure. Cook for about 5 minutes, until shallot is softened. Add garlic and ginger, mild curry powder, cornflour and chilli flakes and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Add chicken, stock, water, fish sauce and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 20 minutes, until vegetables are almost tender. Stir through spinach until just wilted, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place curry filling in pie dish, if using. Scrunch roti roughly and place on top of curry filling. Sprinkle over second measure of curry leaves and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until roti are golden. 10 Coach by Mike Cron (HarperCollins, $39.99) FICTION 1 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) Huzzah to Catherine Chidgey as she chalks up week 12 of her latest novel holding fast to the Number 1 bestseller position. 2 Dead Girl Gone (The Bookshop Detectives 1) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $26) 3 Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) Sales continue to give a second lease of life to the Wellington writer's beautiful novel which was published last year and kind of quickly sank, but was revived when it won the Acorn prize for fiction at the Ockham book awards in May. It's on its way to being considered a modern New Zealand classic. Huzzah, Damien! 4 Tea and Cake and Death (The Bookshop Detectives 2) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $38) 5 The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 6 For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99) 7 1985 by Dominic Hoey (Penguin Random House, $38) 8 Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99) 9 See How They Fall by Rachel Paris (Hachette, $37.99) The 2025 Whitcoulls Top 100 Books List was announced on Monday – and included Auckland writer Rachel Paris's debut novel at number 17, ranked higher than To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Rings, Normal People, Edmonds Cookery Book, Jane Ayre, Little Women, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and The Bible. Huzzah, Rachel! 10 Black Silk and Buried Secrets (Tatty Crowe 2) by Deborah Challinor (HarperCollins, $37.99)
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Jeremy Clarkson faces heartbreak as TB outbreak threatens farm
Clarkson later clarified on X: 'I should clear this up really. It's Bovine TB that we have. It doesn't affect people, just our poor cows.' Responding to someone who said they hoped his herd recovered soon, he simply said: 'They have to be culled. It's the law.' It marks the latest blow to the running of Clarkson's 1000-acre farm, which he has been documenting through the hit Amazon series Clarkson's Farm as he tries to make the business profitable. Responding to a well-wisher who said he hoped Clarkson's new prize-winning Aberdeen Angus bull, Endgame, would be spared, the broadcaster said: 'His test was 'inconclusive'. I couldn't bear it if we lost him.' The TV presenter introduced Endgame to his herd of seven cows at Diddly Squat with high hopes of producing new calves, but things did not go to plan for him in the latest series. He grows increasingly confused as the prized bull shows little interest in the female cows, prompting Clarkson to quip: 'He's gone the wrong way. 'Seven ladies and he's not even bothered. Now they're chasing him. Why are they chasing him? Why did the cow just mount the bull? Do you get gay cows?' He also revealed that the offending animal which caused the spread of TB on the farm, believed to be a cow, 'is pregnant with twins'. Some 40,000 cattle are culled every year as a result of bovine TB infection, causing devastation to farmers. More than 21,000 animals were killed because of a TB incident in England between April 2024 and March this year. Last year, the presenter turned farmer was visited by police after activists reported blocked badger setts on his land, which is illegal under UK wildlife law. He insisted that his defence was that he had shot all the badgers, which spread TB on farms, under licence. He wrote at the time: 'Mercifully, however, I had the perfect excuse: 'I've shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts?' And yes, before you ask, it was all legal.' Clarkson has previously ranted on the show about the threat of TB for his cattle from the 'bastard badgers'. 'These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May. This is what badgers do. This is how much heartache they're causing to people who've worked for generations to build up a farm that's been wiped out by badgers,' he said in 2023. Sir Brian May, the Queen guitarist, has previously argued that badgers are not responsible for the spread of TB among cattle. He has launched a high-profile campaign to stop a badger cull for more than a decade, which has turned him into a villain in some farming communities. Clarkson has discussed their role in spreading TB to cattle on the show, with one scene in the second series showing him explain that cows are at risk of contracting the disease because of the presence of badgers on the farm. 'If you want to make a popular show you have to say, 'Oh, look at the little cuddly-wuddly badgers,'' Clarkson previously wrote. However, he added: 'But I thought: no, it's a farming show, and you'd lose your core audience, the farmers, if you went around, saying, 'Look at these sweet little animals'. So, I actually called them bastards and showed people what they actually do. It's truthful.' Clarkson bought the Diddly Squat Farm in 2008, but it was run by a villager until his retirement in 2019, after which the veteran broadcaster decided to see if he could run it himself. Over the years, he has faced numerous challenges, including bad weather damaging crops, piglets being accidentally squashed to death by their mothers and planning battles with his council over the building of a restaurant. A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'Bovine TB is a devastating disease that destroys farmers' livelihoods. Our hearts go out to all farms suffering from positive cases. 'The Government and its agencies are working hard to introduce measures to reduce the spread and paying compensation to farmers who lose animals to this disease.' 'We are determined to eradicate bovine TB, rapidly rolling out badger vaccinations to help protect farmers' livestock.'
