Chapter titles include Bonfire of the Inanities, More Biff! and 'The Weirdest Fucking Song I've Ever Heard'. The other 51 will be revealed to you on purchase.

So the new book is a collection of 54 mini-chapters/essays about various aspects of the Sprouts and their music (and sometimes beyond; there's one about former England captain Bryan Robson). There are also a few typically Tassell quests, including tracking down the most famous motorbike in pop.

And for the lunchtime browsers...

Truly Gifted Kids:A Book About A Band Called Prefab Sprout by @nigetassell.bsky.social Nige sets out to uncloak the enigma in this deepest dive ever made into Paddy McAloon’s craft, motivations and methods Personal and poetic, a true labour of love about labours of love 13-08-26 tr.ee/-BLPqLQ27t

Back to Now! New Episode! 🎧 Join @graemethomson.bsky.social as we revisit NOW5 & the pop culture of summer 1985! We also chat about his new book from @newmodernbooks.bsky.social ‘In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk’. Available at all podcast places, 22 May. linktr.ee/poprambler

OUT TODAY ‘In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk’ by @graemethomson.bsky.social ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fascinating and stirring’ Classic Pop ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Forensic detail’ @mojomagazine.bsky.social ‘Genuinely illuminating’ @thewiremagazine.bsky.social tr.ee/bglwPAlMQS

A Mojo Book of the Year A Classic Pop Book of the Year A Guardian Book of the Year A Herald Book of the Year An Uncut Book of the Year A Penderyn Prize shortlisted book The Sunday Times Bestselling ‘Tremolo Diaries’ by Justin Currie is out in paperback on 4th June. Features brand new content

Three weeks today, on June 1, I’ll be at Topping in Edinburgh to talk talk talk with the fab @nicolameighan.bsky.social about In Another World. A 7pm KO on an early summer’s evening at the top of Leith Walk. Come join us if you can! www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb... @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

Really looking forward to reading this. And that quote from @rockingbob.bsky.social is right. There's a good argument that without the Shadows, the two-guitars-bass-drums lineup would be "that thing some minor US surf groups did in 61/62" rather than the default rock band lineup.

It's about time somebody wrote a book about The Shadows and I can't think of anyone better to write it than @rockingbob.bsky.social

BOB STANLEY - THE SHADOWS: THE DEFINITIVE STORY The definitive biography of how a group of working-class boys from Newcastle and London became the biggest band in the UK "The chronology should read Shadows, Beatles, Sex Pistols - they were that important" @rockingbob.bsky.social tr.ee/rSilFTJwfO

21-05-26 ‘In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk’ by @graemethomson.bsky.social "Genuinely illuminating ... with all the depth of detail such 'world building' entails” @thewiremagazine.bsky.social Out in two weeks

Book 21 was this very fine look at the final 3 Talk Talk albums & MH’s solo LP. I thoroughly enjoyed it & of course it sends you back to the marvellous music! Congratulations @graemethomson.bsky.social on producing such a great read from the most reticent of subjects! @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

This Thursday, Leytonstone @scottrowley.bsky.social STAY ALIVE - The Life & Death of Stuart Adamson with Richard Jobson & @keithcameron2.bsky.social 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986457635... @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

TIMOR MORTIS: HOW WE LIVE WITH DEATH by RICHARD COKER 30-07-26 tr.ee/dpSV_TkoJn Richard delves into the historical, biological, psychological and moral complexities of death, examining how our understanding of death has evolved through the lens of both his personal and public health expertise

RATE THIS BOOK: HOW STAR RATINGS TOOK OVER THE WORLD by BENJI WILSON 02-07-26 Benji unpicks the history, psychology and impact of star ratings and asks what has this reliance on something so reductive done to our ability to assess things for ourselves? ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’ Ian Hislop tr.ee/HQrHYvpZUp

Welcome to New Modern Arcade A brand new narrative non-fiction imprint from New Modern For readers inspired by the stuff of life Coming in July: ‘Rate this Book: How Star Ratings Took Over the World’ by Benji Wilson ‘Timor Mortis: How We Live with Death’ by Richard Coker tr.ee/HQrHYvpZUp

Many thanks to @willhodgkinson.bsky.social for his great piece on @stevemasonofficial.bsky.social in yesterday’s Sunday Times @thebetaband.com

@willhodgkinson.bsky.social talks to Steve Mason of the Beta Band in the Sunday Times ($) Failure Is Always An Option @newmodernbooks.bsky.social is a very readable, funny, candid memoir.

7 May 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986457635...

OUT NOW FAILURE IS ALWAYS AN OPTION by @stevemasonofficial.bsky.social @thebetaband.com “Heartwarming, honest and entertaining” Louder than War “Honest, hilarious and frankly uplifting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” Record Collector “(A)sobering memoir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” Mojo “Theres much to find fascinating here ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” Classic Pop

JUST IN! 'Failure is Always An Option' by Steve Mason Signed copies of the songwriter and The Beta Band frontman's autobiography. @stevemasonofficial.bsky.social @thebetaband.com @newmodernbooks.bsky.social www.normanrecords.com/records/2134...

FAILURE IS ALWAYS AN OPTION @stevemasonofficial.bsky.social in conversation with very special guest hosts: Mon 20th April - LONDON with @irvinewelsh.bsky.social Thurs 30th April - BRIGHTON with Shaun Keaveny Tues 5th May - EDINBURGH with @nicolameighan.bsky.social Tix: tix.to/booktour

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Record Collector ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mojo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Classic Pop “(A) hugely enjoyable journey. Failure Is Always An Option succeeds in being painfully honest, hilarious and frankly uplifting” Record Collector OUT NEXT WEEK @stevemasonofficial.bsky.social @thebetaband.com

⭐️ A Top 5 Sunday Times Bestseller ⭐️ A huge congratulations to @scottrowley.bsky.social and a big thank you to everyone who has supported, bought, read or listened to ‘Stay Alive’ 📚🎧

7 May RED LION, Leytonstone Stay Alive - The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson Scott Rowley, Richard Jobson and Keith Cameron Tickets www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986457635... @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

The New Modern selection Tastier than chocolate @alexlarman.bsky.social @scottrowley.bsky.social

Two months today, on 1 June, I'll be chatting about In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk at the beautiful Topping & Co in Edinburgh. Event info via the link; come if you can! In Another World is published by @newmodernbooks.bsky.social on 21 May. www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinb...

A huge congratulations to @scottrowley.bsky.social! These weekend will see ‘Stay Alive’ crash into the Sunday Times bestsellers. Thank you to everyone who has supported and read the book x

Absolutely delighted to announce that ‘Stay Alive’ by @scottrowley.bsky.social will be a Sunday Times Bestseller this weekend. A huge congrats to Scott and massive thanks to everyone who has bought or supported the book. What a way to honour and celebrate Stuart’s memory

Delighted with the response to Scott’s book. Once again proving that the very best music books cover universal themes that stretch far beyond playing to the fans gallery. ‘Stay Alive’ is, fundamentally, a very human story about a gifted musician ill-equipped to deal with fame. It is magnificent.

OUT NOW! ‘Stay Alive - the Life & Death of Stuart Adamson’ The critically authorised biography by @scottrowley.bsky.social Available in Hardback, E-book and very special audio narrated by Mark Bonnar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Mojo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Record Collector ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Classic Pop #stuartadamson #bigcountry

Handsome proofs Congrats @graemethomson.bsky.social And thank you to Paul Palmer Edwards for design and Stephen Lovell-Davis for his beautiful photo Out 21st May

OUT THURSDAY @scottrowley.bsky.social

**NEW** ‘In Another World:The Four Seasons of Talk Talk’ by @graemethomson.bsky.social A deep and erudite immersion into a singular musical world. An elegant and insightful study of a unique and exceptional group 21-05-26 R: tinyurl.com/mrxrpsuh RT: tinyurl.com/28v3tda4 A: tinyurl.com/3sz3scf4

A magnificent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ lead in @mojomagazine.bsky.social for ‘Stay Alive’ by @scottrowley.bsky.social. With huge thanks to @keithcameron2.bsky.social “This superb book rues his absence while celebrating his music’s still audibly beating heart” Out next week

He’s having a laugh

Delighted to welcome @gralefrit.bsky.social and his gigantic comedy brain to @newmodernbooks.bsky.social. Be Funny Or Die is available now in Audio and E-Book with a brand new paperback coming soon

A huge congrats to Justin for making the Penderyn shortlist. A truly remarkable book. Also delighted to see Kate on the list who I acquired early on at Nine Eight and was the last book to be published on that imprint So, the last Nine Eight book and the first on New Modern. I’ll take that

Another great Word in Your Ear chats where Mark and David speak to @scottrowley.bsky.social about his forthcoming book ‘Stay Alive:The Life & Death of Stuart Adamson’ Includes, of course, the opportunity to revisit one of the all time classic Smash Hits nicknames podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

“A brilliantly told and long overdue account” @nivenj1.bsky.social ‘Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson’ by @scottrowley.bsky.social is out 26th March

**NEW** FAILURE IS ALWAYS AN OPTION: GLORIOUS ADVENTURES ON THE BETA BAND FRONT LINE AND OTHER TALES by STEVE MASON A wild story about youth culture, success, sadness and redemption Crash landing 23-04-26 R: tinyurl.com/39r74x6k RT: tinyurl.com/2zbx5c3e W: tinyurl.com/42mb34pw @thebetaband.com

19-02-26

We are delighted to be recognised on this year’s Penderyn Music Book Prize list. A huge congrats to Justin and Mike and all of the authors and publishers for another wonderful year of intelligent music writing. Thank you to Richard Thomas and all at Penderyn and Laugharne @delamitri.bsky.social

SCOTT ROWLEY Stay Alive: The Life & Death of Stuart Adamson *Signed by Bruce Watson & the Author* Hardback Preorder: resident-music.com/product/rowl... The heartbreaking biography of the Big Country & Skids man is unflinching, funny, brutally honest, & utterly essential @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

Very handsome proofs. Words by Scott Rowley. Design by Brad Merrett. Out 26-03-26 on @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

*NEW!* Written with the full co-operation of Stuart’s former band mates, family and the friends who knew him best, ‘Stay Alive’ by Scott Rowley is the unflinching, celebratory, deeply affecting true story of a Scottish musical folk hero 26-03-26 tinyurl.com/6w6cxss2 tinyurl.com/3cnv66ff

“Essential reading. An early contender for music book of the year 10/10” The Mirror The incredible coverage and reviews for ‘Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie’ continue to come thick and fast. A huge congratulations to @alexlarman.bsky.social Have you got your copy yet? #davidbowie

A great way to celebrate David Bowie if you’re in London this Saturday. An afternoon of talks and events @foylesforbooks.bsky.social. Conveniently located in the centre of Bowie’s West End/Soho universe. @alexlarman.bsky.social

“A genuine must buy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” Classic Pop “Sensitive, witty and very often affecting” @thetimes.com “A superb book to remind us of exactly how much he gave us, and how much we continue to miss him” @godisinthetvzine.bsky.social ‘Lazarus’ by @alexlarman.bsky.social is OUT NOW!