These are dark days. The world is seething with imbeciles and poltroons. Everywhere the careless and thoughtless are charging about the place in hulking 4x4s, or inviting Channel 4 to come around rather than clean their own homes. So comedian Chris Addison has written CAUTIONARY TALES FOR GROWN-UPS - poems to illustrate the dangers of modern behaviour.

The tales include:

* The Gloucestershire Horse Club, Who posed Naked for a Charity Calendar.
* Phillip, who talked only in Management Speak
* Myfanwy, Who answered an Email from a Nigerian Bank Manager
* and Fiona and Dave, who had a Wacky Wedding

Sparklingly wicked and cunningly illustrated, this is a hilarious Struwelpeter for the twenty-first century.

"'Extremely funny'" - Stephanie Merritt, Observer

"'What could be more pleasing than to see annoying types getting their richly-deserved comeuppance? . . . Neatly and cruelly done and ingeniously rhymed'" - Oliver Pritchett, Sunday Telegraph

"'His scathing wit deserves comic-laureate status.'" - The Sunday Times on Chris Addison

"'The country's most erudite young stand-up.'" - Guardian on Chris Addison

"'There aren't enough stars for Addison's show: he is erudite but not inaccessible or superior; confident withouth being arrogant, and the show is so well written and sharp that you will bore your friends for days afterwards quoting memorable lines from it.'" - Stephanie Merritt, Observer

"'A clever sod.'" - Metro

"'A load of Bellocs - and in a good way ... recommended'" - Dave Crozier, Hampstead and Highgate

"'Shockingly good ... spot-on'" - The Leeds Guide