New non-fiction for October

Underlying everything in the book is Johnson's belief that the UK is an extraordinary country and should have an exceptional future. From trouncing Ken Livingstone in the London mayoral race in 2008 to becoming prime minister, he takes readers through all the big decisions during his time in power and the reasons he took them. The challenges and crises, how they were resolved - or not - and how he nearly died from COVID. Riots, knife crime, bikes, buses, the London Olympics and so much more. He writes about his role in Brexit and the constitutional sea-change that took place in British politics in 2019 - with his landslide election victory and the massive expansion in the groups that think of themselves as Conservative. This is the reality as he saw it: unvarnished, uncensored, unleashed.

Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies - The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon - that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. 'Sonny Boy' is the memoir of a singular, special talent, whose work has stood the test of time.

Growing up in Liverpool as the entertainer of the family, impersonating neighbours to the delight of her friends and playing pranks on her unwitting mother, the young Alison Steadman could never have imagined what the future had in store. But when she secretly sneaked off to London to audition for drama school, Alison set in motion a series of events that would see her become one of the greatest character-actors of the age, and a national treasure to boot. From Beverley's overbearing party throwing and Mrs Bennet's ailing 'nerves' to Pamelaaaa's instantly-regretted vegetarian declaration, Alison's colourful characters have found her fans across generations and continents. She has won award after award, with acclaimed film roles in Life is Sweet and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice alongside too many starring television roles to mention. This is her story.

'Women Living Deliciously' wants us to fall in love with our lives. It will help women uncover the sense of awe and wonder that has been buried by the layers of shame, perfectionism and self-objectification that get piled on us by the patriarchy. For too long we have internalised the belief that our bodies are things to be looked at - instead of lived in. That it's embarrassing to fully express ourselves. That we cannot trust the parts of ourselves that are so full of desire. This book will unpack the many barriers women face when trying to access joy so that they can discover the delicious life that's theirs for the taking.

London, 1953. Police discover the bodies of three young women hidden in a wall at 10 Rillington Place, a dingy terrace house in Notting Hill. On searching the building, they find another body beneath the floorboards, then an array of human bones in the garden. But they have already investigated a double murder at 10 Rillington Place, three years ago, and the killer was hanged. Did they get the wrong man? A nationwide manhunt is launched for the tenant of the ground-floor flat, a softly spoken former policeman named Reg Christie.

'Powsels and Thrums' is a distillation of a lifetime of work. It blends family history, folklore, stories and poetry, bringing to life the language and landscape of Garner's beloved Cheshire. It works as a companion piece to 'The Voice that Thunders', just as 'Treacle Walker' was a companion to 'Where Shall We Run To'. Full of charm and insight, this book is a celebration of the writer's life, values and language.

With month-by-month advice on what to do when - from self-sown seedlings to spot, the best time to propagate different plants, and seasonal pruning jobs - Anya shows you how to keep your garden looking good without breaking the bank. Handy monthly plant lists, money-saving tips, propagation charts, and planting calendars guide you on your way. Embrace each season with timely projects to absorb you, garden highlights to enjoy, and notes on how to find happiness in your garden even in the depths of winter. Anya's clear, practical yet mindful approach will help anyone grow a glorious garden while cutting costs.

From the winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize, an extraordinary story of the meteoric rise and fall of King James I's favourite, George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham. As the king's lover, Buckingham was one of the most flamboyant and enigmatic Englishmen at the heart of 17th-century royal and political life. A dazzling figure on horseback and a skilful player of the political game, he transformed the influence his beauty gave him into immense wealth and power. By the time he was 33 he had been first minister to two successive kings. With a novelist's touch, Lucy Hughes-Hallett transports us into a courtly world of masques and dancing, exquisite clothes, the art of Rubens and Van Dyck, gender-fluidity, sex and appallingly rudimentary medicine.

Balancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives, and introspection, 'Never' begins with family and unconventional upbringings; journeys through the tumultuous and glamorous world of pop; and takes pause for self-reflection. Rick goes beyond the blinding lights of the stage - giving an intimate look at the man behind the hits - and is a portrait of truth, artistic evolution and the astounding power of contentment.