New Posts
Writing Course 20% off!
I’m leading a writing course on the beautiful Greek island of Lesbos from 5-12 September 2026. A few places still available!
Istanbul thriller Palladium as new paperback – and hardback
My Istanbul thriller “Palladium” is available as a new, good-value paperback. There’s also, for the first time, a hardback.
Casino Royale the book
The book Casino Royale contains the best Martini recipe of all time. It also contains a key truth about caviar I am enjoying Ian Fleming’s
How to work better: 10 rules? Or not? A mysterious text, or an artwork?
How to work better: 10 rules. My father left behind a mystery. What is “How to work better” – and does it matter where it
17 rules on “how to write”
17 brilliant rules on how to write from George Orwell and Henry Miller. Both repay some study: Orwell on style, Miller on getting books finished.
The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens review: contrary to my expectations, this turned out to one of the best “Star Wars” movies. Worth a watch. The Force Awakens
FIFA corruption
FIFA corruption: world football is plagued by poor administration. You could fix it overnight if you had the political will.
The Mystery Shopper: a Hotel Story
“The Mystery Shopper” is the first “Hotel Story” set in the Caravanserai Ultra-Platinum, the coolest, most ecological and most luxurious hotel on earth.
The Force Awakens trailer. Five bits of bad news, five bits of good news
The Force Awakens trailer. Before I saw the movie, I reviewed the trailer. Unusually, the movie itself is miles better – in fact, it’s great.
How to be happy: 11 simple tools, scientifically proven
How to be happy: a couple of simple tricks can make a big difference. And it’s scientifically proven by the National Academy of Sciences. Zero
The internet polarises opinion: Paris, the Internet, and the Financial Times
The internet polarises opinion. Simplifying messages does not always help understanding, but may simply amount to shouting loudest. My post “The Internet. 7 reasons
James Bond and women: the movies are an epic sexist fail
James Bond and women: the movies have made token efforts to improve the treatment of women in recent years, but it remains dismal. One of
5 reasons James Bond movies suck. 5 reasons you watch them anyhow
Why most James Bond movies suck – but still watch them. 5 reasons the next movie will suck and 5 reasons we’ll watch it anyhow.
Datli Maya – the late, great Istanbul restaurant was my favourite
Datli Maya – before its closure, this tiny, strange cult restaurant in Istanbul was my favourite. This post explores why I used to love it. Great
Hans Rosling: Don’t panic
Hans Rosling’s video “Don’t Panic” is a lesson in why we all should examine the facts about population – and why the world is better than we think.
The Walk movie review – high wire action at the Twin Towers is awesome
The Walk movie review: this will irritate some, but the scenes imagining a man on a tightrope between the twin towers are magnificent. I often
The Internet is dangerous
The Internet is dangerous. It risks tearing civilisation apart. It is also our best friend and a huge creator of wealth and convenience. My friend the
The Zero Art Movement: the artistic movement you never heard of?
The Zero Art Movement was a group of German artists founded in Düsseldorf in the late 1950s. You might find you like them. What is
What’s wrong with Bali – and one simple way to fix it
What’s wrong with Bali. This beautiful island is a great holiday destination. But it has some ugly features that risk spoiling it. Here is a fix.
Anthony Trollope: 13 reasons to read him
Anthony Trollope is one of the most brilliant and rewarding authors you have never heard of. Plus, he invented the letter box.
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