Rohan Candappa is a healthy handful of a man. He lives in London with his wife, two children and double a fridge.

 

"There's far more to being British that just the standardised, official picture. In fact, being British is also an ephemeral, idiosyncratic and decidedly hard to pin down state of existence.

 

"About the only thing we all agree on is that the British have a strong sense of humour. You don't have to laugh at everything in the book, but you'll be hard pressed to not laugh at some of it. "

 

The Little Book of Stress

 

Without stress, we would all be very, very nice. And stomach-churningly contented. And in all honesty, who wants to live in a world like that. The many and hilarious tips for increasing your own stress levels and stressing out the people around you include gems like the following:

*Learn to snore

*Choose friends you don't like

*Put empty milk cartons back in the fridge

*Become a politician.

And always remember, worrying is just medication for realists.

 

 

The Little Book of Wrong Shui

 

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of organising your home and workspace to improve your health and wealth, continues to feature strongly in books, magazines and on television, but not many people know of its equally ancient counterpart, Wrong Shui. Rohan Candappa has spent many years studying the principles of Wrong Shui at the feet of a master and now shares his knowledge with us. In The Little Book of Wrong Shui he continues his mission to point out how we add stress and disharmony to our lives. Helpful advice includes how to encourage conversation at dinner parties by always having one fewer chair than there are quests; ensuring that your front door is always positioned at the edge of your house, not in the middle; and attracting visitors to your home by placing your stereo, video and computer equipment where they can be seen from the road. What The little book of stree did for Paul Wilson, The Little book of Wrong Shui will do for Lillian Too - it is a perfect read for all those who suspect that Feng Shui is just a load of old proverbs. So throw away your baguas and forget your wind chimes - The Little Book of Wrong Shui will show you exactly how to misplace your wealth area, destroy relationships and flush all your money down the toilet.

 

 

Autobiography of a One Year Old

 

It's an extraordinary world out there and The One Year Old is here to share his revelatory journey through babyhood.From full and frank explanations as to why he sometime blows snot bubbles through his nose (because he can) to the mystery of the stalker (if someone had just explained to him about mirrors.). From the frustrating stupidity of his parents (Hairy and Smooth) to delights of running around naked on the kitchen table, it's a truly enlightening and delightfully funny read.To every parent who's ever wearily wiped food from the floor and said 'Is this your idea of a game?' - beware. The One Year Old is about to reveal just how much he's been playing with you.

 

 

Growing Old Disgracefully

 

Does your mother think it's really charming to talk to every rose bush on the street? Has your father taken up obsessive fundraising for a donkey sanctuary on retirement? Does he collect elastic bands because 'you never know when you'll need one'? Do your parents make jokes about sheltered housing? Have they guessed that you've already sent off for the brochures? Do they seem to be having too much fun for a couple with two fake hips, a pacemaker and three steel pins between them? Then you need Rohan Candappa.

 

 

 

University Challenged

 

Going to college or university can be a daunting experience. There are so many new experiences to try, so many new responsibilities to handle. What you really need is a best friend who'll show you the ropes, hold your hand and make sure you get to your lectures on time...This book, unfortunately, isn't that friend.

This book, even more unfortunately, is more akin to the kind of mate who doesn't get up till half past two, nicks your food from the fridge and when you're both well wasted at some awful party you've gate crashed convinces you that Malibu, cider and Worcestershire sauce is a real cocktail. Frankly, if you have even the slightest ambition to emerge from your time in 'higher' education with any kind of qualification whatsoever, it's best that you stop reading now.

If however, you insist on perusing the wisdom contained within this thoroughly disreputable tome, then please note that the author accepts no responsibility for the fact that you'll get a crap qualification, your parents will disown you and your subsequent career will go nowhere. But all that lies way off in the future. So let's talk about Freshers Week...'

 

 

One Hundred Birthday Wishes

 

A brand new concept from the bestselling author of The Little Book of Stress, a hugely appealing gift book filled with one hundred good wishes. Rohan Candappa's One Hundred Birthday Wishes is illustrated with charmingly funny black and white photography and the wry, gently inspirational captions will put a smile on even the grumpiest old boy's face.

With Rohan Candappa's beautifully packaged, affordable little book you can wish your mum, dad, friend or partner a multitude of good things from wish no. 31: 'I wish you a good plumber and a reliable builder' to wish no. 41: 'I wish you a Dennis Bergkamp goal, a Nina Simone song and a glass of Sangiovese,' or wish no. 65: 'I wish you the abandon to dance badly at weddings'.

 

 

Picklehead

 

Rohan Candappa grew up small and round in South London, riding his chopper bike and supporting Leeds United. But every day his mother would conjur delicious meals out of thin air. His father cooked too, with fiery flavourings, black curries and green coriander chutneys. Their home became the focus for family gatherings and feasts of such delicacy and exoticism that you'd never have known Norwood lay outside the window.

Yet somewhere in his twenties Rohan forgot his culinary heritage and it wasn't until he was bringing up his own young family that he began to think more about his identity as a second generation immigrant and the binding, identifying power of the family meal caught his imagination.

And so he began this beautifully written, funny, poignant memoir of his heritage and his home. Of curry leaves and curried chips. Hot chillis and hot dogs. Pataks and Heinz. About the past and the present - and the place where time should cease to matter... the family kitchen.