On The Edge

What if the life you were promised was taken from you? What would you do to get it back? Rhys lives in a coastal town in South Devon, where seasonal work dries up as winter storms hit, housing is hard to come by and livelihoods are threatened by distant bureaucrats. Life is much harder for Rhys and his two younger brothers than tourists can possibly know. It is only when surfing that Rhys finds solace in the beauty around him: the crashing waves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. But when that solace is taken, his tinder-dry rage is soon ignited. Determined to defend his family from a life blighted by social neglect and poverty, Rhys is drawn to Dodo, a radical political activist inspired by the Welsh protest group, Meibion Glyndŵr. Before long, Rhys' actions spiral out of control, with dire consequences for himself and those he loves. Set in a coastal town and drawing on the author's own rural childhood, this YA / crossover novel explores how young people's futures are built – and defended – on shifting and uneven ground, where tides of tourism, gentrification and second-home ownership erode the traditional ways of life and financial stability of locals. Beautifully drawn characters, lyrical depictions of the natural landscape, brotherly love, family loyalty – and surfing. A powerful and thought-provoking summer read. Garrard’s writing burns with the intensity of teenage emotions – The Observer Tender and angry, salty and sweet… a heartfelt novel shaped by powerful undercurrents – Michael Morpurgo

What if the life you were promised was taken from you? What would you do to get it back? Rhys lives in a coastal town in South Devon, where seasonal work dries up as winter storms hit, housing is hard to come by and livelihoods are threatened by distant bureaucrats. Life is much harder for Rhys and his two younger brothers than tourists can possibly know. It is only when surfing that Rhys finds solace in the beauty around him: the crashing waves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. But when that solace is taken, his tinder-dry rage is soon ignited. Determined to defend his family from a life blighted by social neglect and poverty, Rhys is drawn to Dodo, a radical political activist inspired by the Welsh protest group, Meibion Glyndŵr. Before long, Rhys' actions spiral out of control, with dire consequences for himself and those he loves. Set in a coastal town and drawing on the author's own rural childhood, this YA / crossover novel explores how young people's futures are built – and defended – on shifting and uneven ground, where tides of tourism, gentrification and second-home ownership erode the traditional ways of life and financial stability of locals. Beautifully drawn characters, lyrical depictions of the natural landscape, brotherly love, family loyalty – and surfing. A powerful and thought-provoking summer read. Garrard’s writing burns with the intensity of teenage emotions – The Observer Tender and angry, salty and sweet… a heartfelt novel shaped by powerful undercurrents – Michael Morpurgo

Gripping account by Richard Hammond of life before and after his terrifying high-speed car crash. Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. In September 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash. ON THE EDGE is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his recovery, full of drama and incident. An adrenalin junkie long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous, make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear that Richard was involved in a high speed crash, driving a jet-powered dragster. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.

Gripping account by Richard Hammond of life before and after his terrifying high-speed car crash. Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. In September 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash. ON THE EDGE is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his recovery, full of drama and incident. An adrenalin junkie long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous, make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear that Richard was involved in a high speed crash, driving a jet-powered dragster. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH A NEW PREFACE 'Masterly... Utterly compelling... A highly readable and engaging tour' Sam Freedman, The Times From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk—and the players raising the stakes In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise , Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates "The River," or those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape—and dominate—so much of modern life. These professional risk takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the 21 st century. By embedding within these worlds, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—including the flaws in their thinking—is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale. Taking us behind-the-scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply-reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of powerbrokers and risk takers.

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH A NEW PREFACE 'Masterly... Utterly compelling... A highly readable and engaging tour' Sam Freedman, The Times From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk—and the players raising the stakes In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise , Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates "The River," or those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape—and dominate—so much of modern life. These professional risk takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the 21 st century. By embedding within these worlds, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—including the flaws in their thinking—is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale. Taking us behind-the-scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply-reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of powerbrokers and risk takers.

The Instant New York Times Bestseller With a New Preface from Nate Silver for 2025 "Engaging and entertaining... a glimpse of the economy of the future." -- Tim Wu, New York Times Book Review From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise , the definitive guide to our era of risk--and the players raising the stakes In a world wired for chaos, these players are rewriting the rules. High-stakes, high-IQ, and often high on their own mythologies, they are driving the next era of finance, tech, and politics. But what happens when their bets go too far? Nate Silver's On The Edge reveals the hidden world of the River. It is the domain of gamblers and like-minded folks who move markets and change the fabric of society: poker legends, hedge fund titans, crypto speculators, and even those willing to bet the world's future on AI. They are obsessives with a deep hunger for volatility and an unrelenting desire to exploit every edge over the rest of us. Silver embeds with them, competing in the World Series of Poker, visiting Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX compound, and attending wild Miami yacht parties at the height of the crypto bubble. On the Edge is a front-row seat to a new world order built on risk, math, and ambition--a gripping ride through the minds shaping your future, whether you like it or not.

The Instant New York Times Bestseller With a New Preface from Nate Silver for 2025 "Engaging and entertaining... a glimpse of the economy of the future." -- Tim Wu, New York Times Book Review From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise , the definitive guide to our era of risk--and the players raising the stakes In a world wired for chaos, these players are rewriting the rules. High-stakes, high-IQ, and often high on their own mythologies, they are driving the next era of finance, tech, and politics. But what happens when their bets go too far? Nate Silver's On The Edge reveals the hidden world of the River. It is the domain of gamblers and like-minded folks who move markets and change the fabric of society: poker legends, hedge fund titans, crypto speculators, and even those willing to bet the world's future on AI. They are obsessives with a deep hunger for volatility and an unrelenting desire to exploit every edge over the rest of us. Silver embeds with them, competing in the World Series of Poker, visiting Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX compound, and attending wild Miami yacht parties at the height of the crypto bubble. On the Edge is a front-row seat to a new world order built on risk, math, and ambition--a gripping ride through the minds shaping your future, whether you like it or not.

An Arsenal hero, invincible defender and now distinguished pundit, he is an icon of British football. His story. His words. The inspiring official and first memoir from the football legend and his parting reflections on life, leadership and love. 'As hard-hitting as his tackles' Daily Mail 'Explosive' Mail on Sunday '[Full of] brilliant stories' Gary Lineker Over three revolutionary decades, Martin Keown played football at the highest level. He witnessed the birth of the Premier League, the arrival of the millionaire player and was a key player in one of the best sides of all time – Wenger’s Arsenal. So why has he always felt like a man battling on the edge In this autobiography, Keown recounts how a son of working-class Irish parents, raised in a hostile England during the unrest of the 1970s, rose to be an automatic and enduring pick for club and country; the outsider who stayed the distance while so many insiders fell away. Over his career, Keown played alongside some of the world’s finest footballers – including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, David Beckham – and under inspirational managers – Arsène Wenger, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Howard Kendall. He was the backbone for many years of the invincible Arsenal team that went on to win the 2003/4 Premier League title without losing a match. Known as “The Rash” by friend and foe alike for the intensity of his man-marking, Keown always played as if he had more to prove. But his teammates knew he was fast, skilful, tough and loyal, a leader on and off the pitch. Fearless too, as you’ll discover – he doesn’t pull any punches here. On The Edge is the story of one of Arsenal’s all-time greats – a man whose commitment put him at the centre of the pitch, a place he dominated like almost no other footballer of his generation.

An Arsenal hero, invincible defender and now distinguished pundit, he is an icon of British football. His story. His words. The inspiring official and first memoir from the football legend and his parting reflections on life, leadership and love. 'As hard-hitting as his tackles' Daily Mail 'Explosive' Mail on Sunday '[Full of] brilliant stories' Gary Lineker Over three revolutionary decades, Martin Keown played football at the highest level. He witnessed the birth of the Premier League, the arrival of the millionaire player and was a key player in one of the best sides of all time – Wenger’s Arsenal. So why has he always felt like a man battling on the edge In this autobiography, Keown recounts how a son of working-class Irish parents, raised in a hostile England during the unrest of the 1970s, rose to be an automatic and enduring pick for club and country; the outsider who stayed the distance while so many insiders fell away. Over his career, Keown played alongside some of the world’s finest footballers – including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, David Beckham – and under inspirational managers – Arsène Wenger, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Howard Kendall. He was the backbone for many years of the invincible Arsenal team that went on to win the 2003/4 Premier League title without losing a match. Known as “The Rash” by friend and foe alike for the intensity of his man-marking, Keown always played as if he had more to prove. But his teammates knew he was fast, skilful, tough and loyal, a leader on and off the pitch. Fearless too, as you’ll discover – he doesn’t pull any punches here. On The Edge is the story of one of Arsenal’s all-time greats – a man whose commitment put him at the centre of the pitch, a place he dominated like almost no other footballer of his generation.

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'Masterly... Utterly compelling... A highly readable and engaging tour' Sam Freedman, The Times From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk—and the players raising the stakes In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise , Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates "The River," or those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape—and dominate—so much of modern life. These professional risk takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the 21 st century. By embedding within these worlds, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—including the flaws in their thinking—is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale. Taking us behind-the-scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply-reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of powerbrokers and risk takers.

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'Masterly... Utterly compelling... A highly readable and engaging tour' Sam Freedman, The Times From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk—and the players raising the stakes In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise , Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates "The River," or those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape—and dominate—so much of modern life. These professional risk takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the 21 st century. By embedding within these worlds, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—including the flaws in their thinking—is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale. Taking us behind-the-scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply-reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of powerbrokers and risk takers.