Best of
Pop-Culture

2021

Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt's Creek


Daniel LevyDustin Milligan - 2021
    This beautifully produced, keepsake coffee-table book is the ultimate celebration of the series, the town, the characters, and the state of mind that is Schitt's Creek. Capturing the essence and alchemy of all six seasons of what is now considered to be one of the most groundbreaking comedy television series of the last decade, Best Wishes, Warmest Regards is a gift to fans everywhere who have made the show their own.Included are character profiles from the cast of Johnny, Moira, David, and Alexis, and all of the characters that populate the town, major moments from Moira's endorsement of Herb Ertlinger Winery, to Patrick and David's first kiss, to Cabaret and the Rose Family Christmas episode. Also included are special features, such as the complete, illustrated catalogs of David's knits and Moira's wigs, Moira's vocabulary, Alexis's adventures, and behind-the-scenes moments from Dan and Eugene Levy and the cast of Schitt's Creek.

Mike Nichols: A Life


Mark Harris - 2021
    Next he directed four consecutive hit plays, won back-to-back Tonys, ushered in a new era of Hollywood moviemaking with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and followed it with The Graduate, which won him an Oscar and became the third-highest-grossing movie ever. At thirty-five, he lived in a three-story Central Park West penthouse, drove a Rolls-Royce, collected Arabian horses, and counted Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Leonard Bernstein, and Richard Avedon as friends.Where he arrived is even more astonishing given where he had begun: born Igor Peschkowsky to a Jewish couple in Berlin in 1931, he and his younger brother were sent to America on a ship in 1939. The young immigrant boy caught very few breaks. He was bullied and ostracized--an allergic reaction had rendered him permanently hairless--and his father died when he was just twelve, leaving his mother alone and overwhelmed.The gulf between these two sets of facts explains a great deal about Nichols's transformation from lonely outsider to the center of more than one cultural universe--the acute powers of observation that first made him famous; the nourishment he drew from his creative partnerships, most enduringly with May; his unquenchable drive; his hunger for security and status; and the depressions and self-medications that brought him to terrible lows. It would take decades for him to come to grips with his demons. In an incomparable portrait that follows Nichols from Berlin to New York to Chicago to Hollywood, Mark Harris explores, with brilliantly vivid detail and insight, the life, work, struggle, and passion of an artist and man in constant motion. Among the 250 people Harris interviewed: Elaine May, Meryl Streep, Stephen Sondheim, Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Tom Hanks, Candice Bergen, Emma Thompson, Annette Bening, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Lorne Michaels, and Gloria Steinem.Mark Harris gives an intimate and evenhanded accounting of success and failure alike; the portrait is not always flattering, but its ultimate impact is to present the full story of one of the most richly interesting, complicated, and consequential figures the worlds of theater and motion pictures have ever seen. It is a triumph of the biographer's art.

Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)


Dan Ozzi - 2021
    After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue. Looking to replicate the band’s success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk’s rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn’t quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.   In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last “gold rush” of the music industry, where some groups “sold out” and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry’s evolution, and a punk rock lover’s guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk’s most (in)famous bands:Green DayJawbreakerJimmy Eat WorldBlink-182At the Drive-InThe DonnasThursdayThe DistillersMy Chemical RomanceRise AgainstAgainst Me!

Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office


Brian Baumgartner - 2021
    If you’ve turned on a television or logged on to Netflix at any time in the past fifteen years, chances are you’ve watched an episode of The Office. You can probably also rattle off your favorite episode, Dwight quote, Jim prank, and cringeworthy Michael Scott moment. And you may even have been one of the over 5 million viewers who tuned in (and cried) when the finale aired, only to see the show get new life as a streaming staple, becoming the #1 most-streamed show on Netflix and winning over a whole new generation of viewers.Now for the first time, viewers are invited to get an exclusive look behind the scenes of Dunder Mifflin, in this all-new official oral history from the producers and cast. Based off hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with key actors, writers, producers, executives, and even some Office super fans (like Billie Eilish), and illustrated with never-before-seen photos and stills from the show, Welcome to Dunder Mifflin is a must-have for anyone who’s ever found themselves re-watching the show for a third time because they just can’t get enough.So grab your Dundies and a pot of Kevin’s chili, and call a meeting of the Party Planning Committee to celebrate this one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes of one of television’s most beloved and enduring comedies, from the people who were there from the very beginning.

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather


Mark Seal - 2021
    Over the years, many versions of various aspects of the movie’s fiery creation have been told—sometimes conflicting, but always compelling. Mark Seal sifts through the evidence, has extensive new conversations with director Francis Ford Coppola and several heretofore silent sources, and complements them with colorful interviews with key players including actors Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, and others to write “the definitive look at the making of an American classic” (Library Journal, starred review). On top of the usual complications of filmmaking, the creators of The Godfather had to contend with the real-life members of its subject matter: the Mob. During production of the movie, location permits were inexplicably revoked, author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with an irate Frank Sinatra, producer Al Ruddy’s car was found riddled with bullets, men with “connections” vied to be in the cast, and some were given film roles. As Seal notes, this is the tale of a “movie that revolutionized filmmaking, saved Paramount Pictures, minted a new generation of movie stars, made its struggling author Mario Puzo rich and famous, and sparked a war between two of the mightiest powers in America: the sharks of Hollywood and the highest echelons of the Mob.” “For fans of books about moviemaking, this is a definite must-read” (Booklist).

My Little Golden Book about Betty White


Deborah Hopkinson - 2021
    - Abraham Lincoln - George Washington - Johnny Appleseed

Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos


Michael Imperioli - 2021
    Stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa—whose Talking Sopranos podcast has become a sensational fan favorite—talk intimately with virtually everyone who has been involved with the show. And they're ready to spill it all.Who made the phone call that got HBO to launch The Sopranos? What’s the significance of all those eggs? And, what the hell ever happened to the Russian? Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa, and the entire cast and crew of The Sopranos have all the answers—and they’re revealing where all the bodies are buried.   Inspired by the incredibly successful Talking Sopranos podcast, The Sopranos stars Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Baccalieri) will finally reveal all the Soprano family secrets in a surprising, funny, and honest new book. Woke Up This Morning will be the definitive behind-the-scenes history of the groundbreaking HBO series that became a worldwide cultural phenomenon, ushered in a new Golden Age of Television, and to this day continues to be one of the most binged shows of all time. Expanding on the podcast with exclusive interviews with the cast, crew, producers, writers, directors, and, of course, the series creator David Chase, Michael and Steve will tell all the incredible stories that The Sopranos fans have been waiting to hear for over twenty years. The book will cover the entire history of The Sopranos series from the original concept pitch and casting to the infamous cut to black—and answer many of the thousands of fan questions sent to the podcast, as well as dispel some widely propagated myths and reveal things no one outside the show would even know to ask.

Hip-Hop (And Other Things)


Shea Serrano - 2021
    The first two—Basketball (And Other Things) and Movies (And Other Things)—were both #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres


Kelefa Sanneh - 2021
    In Major Labels, Sanneh distills a career's worth of knowledge about music and musicians into a brilliant and omnivorous reckoning with popular music--as an art form (actually, a bunch of art forms), as a cultural and economic force, and as a tool that we use to build our identities. He explains the history of slow jams, the genius of Shania Twain, and why rappers are always getting in trouble.Sanneh shows how these genres have been defined by the tension between mainstream and outsider, between authenticity and phoniness, between good and bad, right and wrong. Throughout, race is a powerful touchstone: just as there have always been Black audiences and white audiences, with more or less overlap depending on the moment, there has been Black music and white music, constantly mixing and separating. Sanneh debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes, and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes, the best popular music isn't transcendent. Songs express our grudges as well as our hopes, and they are motivated by greed as well as idealism; music is a powerful tool for human connection, but also for human antagonism. This is a book about the music everyone loves, the music everyone hates, and the decades-long argument over which is which. The opposite of a modest proposal, Major Labels pays in full.

Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour


Rickie Lee Jones - 2021
    Jones? One night in 1979, a woman in a red beret skyrocketed to fame after a performance on Saturday Night Live. The song was “Chuck E’s in Love,” and the singer, Rickie Lee Jones. A vital part of the burgeoning Los Angeles jazz pop scene, she would soon be pronounced “Duchess of Coolsville” by TIME magazine.Last Chance Texaco is the first no-holds-barred account of the life of one of rock’s hardest working women in her own words. With candour and lyricism, Rickie Lee Jones takes us on the journey of her exceptional life, including her nomadic childhood as the granddaughter of vaudevillian performers; her father’s abandonment of the family and her years as a teenage runaway; her beginnings at LA’s Troubadour club; her tumultuous relationship with Tom Waits and her battle with drugs; and her longevity as a woman in rock and roll.These are never-before-told stories of the girl in the raspberry beret, a songwriter who would inspire American culture for decades.

Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of a Dark Classic


Glenn Frankel - 2021
    Suddenly the toast of Hollywood, Schlesinger used his newfound clout to film an expensive, Panavision adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd. Expectations were huge, making the movie's complete critical and commercial failure even more devastating, and Schlesinger suddenly found himself persona non grata in the Hollywood circles he had hoped to conquer.Given his recent travails, Schlesinger's next project seemed doubly daring, bordering on foolish. James Leo Herlihy's novel Midnight Cowboy, about a Texas hustler trying to survive on the mean streets of 1960's New York, was dark and transgressive. Perhaps something about the book's unsparing portrait of cultural alienation resonated with him. His decision to film it began one of the unlikelier convergences in cinematic history, centered around a city that seemed, at first glance, as unwelcoming as Herlihy's novel itself.Glenn Frankel's Shooting Midnight Cowboy tells the story of a modern classic that, by all accounts, should never have become one in the first place. The film's boundary-pushing subject matter--homosexuality, prostitution, sexual assault--earned it an X rating when it first appeared in cinemas in 1969. For Midnight Cowboy, Schlesinger—who had never made a film in the United States—enlisted Jerome Hellman, a producer coming off his own recent flop and smarting from a failed marriage, and Waldo Salt, a formerly blacklisted screenwriter with a tortured past. The decision to shoot on location in New York, at a time when the city was approaching its gritty nadir, backfired when a sanitation strike filled Manhattan with garbage fires and fears of dysentery.Much more than a history of Schlesinger's film, Shooting Midnight Cowboy is an arresting glimpse into the world from which it emerged: a troubled city that nurtured the talents and ambitions of the pioneering Polish cinematographer Adam Holender and legendary casting director Marion Dougherty, who discovered both Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight and supported them for the roles of "Ratso" Rizzo and Joe Buck--leading to one of the most intensely moving joint performances ever to appear on screen. We follow Herlihy himself as he moves from the experimental confines of Black Mountain College to the theatres of Broadway, influenced by close relationships with Tennessee Williams and Anaïs Nin, and yet unable to find lasting literary success.By turns madcap and serious, and enriched by interviews with Hoffman, Voight, and others, Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of a Dark Classic is not only the definitive account of the film that unleashed a new wave of innovation in American cinema, but also the story of a country—and an industry—beginning to break free from decades of cultural and sexual repression.

Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion


Tom Beaujour - 2021
    Indeed, fist-pumping hits like Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls," and Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" are as inextricably linked to the era as Reaganomics, Pac-Man, and E.T.From the do-or-die early days of self-financed recordings and D.I.Y. concert productions that were as flashy as they were foolhardy, to the multi-Platinum, MTV-powered glory years of stadium-shaking anthems and chart-topping power ballads, to the ultimate crash when grunge bands like Nirvana forever altered the entire climate of the business, Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock's "Nothin' But a Good Time" captures the energy and excess of the hair metal years in the words of the musicians, managers, producers, engineers, label executives, publicists, stylists, costume designers, photographers, journalists, magazine publishers, video directors, club bookers, roadies, groupies, and hangers-on who lived it.

The Skinny Confidential's Get the F*ck Out of the Sun: Routines, Products, Tips, and Insider Secrets from 100+ of the World's Best Skincare Gurus


Lauryn Evarts Bosstick - 2021
      We all have our ever-growing list of skincare questions: What products are essential for a nightly routine? Will a jade roller actually take care of hungover, puffy eyes? Why is sunscreen so important, and does it really need to be applied every day? What oils and serums are best for glowy, dewy supermodel skin? Lauryn dives into all this and more with a voice reminiscent of a friend at a boozy mimosa brunch who has a little more experience (and a lot more research) under her belt. From product and beauty tool recommendations to Lauryn’s personal experience with facial massage, fillers, Botox, lymphatic drainage, and cryotherapy, this authoritative and cheeky book is essential for a DIY generation that’s all about shaking up old ideas about skin care and transforming the beauty industry.   Lauryn interviews other top influencers such as Kristin Cavallari, Patrick Starrr, the Summer Fridays’ cofounders, Shea Marie, Chriselle Lim, Jillian Michaels, Stassi Schroeder, Aimee Song, the Ladygang, Mandy Madden Kelley, Amelia Gray, Delilah Belle, Bobbi Brown, and Justin Anderson and skin-care doctors and mavens including Dr. Dennis Gross, Dr. Jason Diamond, Sonya Dakar, Georgia Louise, and Dr. Barbara Sturm to get real-deal insider tips and tricks, making this book the go-to resource for preventative skincare with the signature pink Skinny Confidential spin.

What Is Nintendo?


Gina Shaw - 2021
    Though the cards sold well, Nintendo really became popular when it began creating toys in the 1960s, and then became internationally renowned after developing video games and consoles in the 1970s and '80s. After introducing the world to some of the best-known and top-selling video game franchises of all-time, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pok�mon, it's clear to see why Nintendo is beloved by parents as a company that creates nonviolet, family-friendly entertainment for kids.With fun black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest additon to Who HQ!

Parks and Recreation: Leslie for Class President!


Robb Pearlman - 2021
    In order to win over voters, though, Leslie starts to make some big promises...ones she's not sure she can keep. Will Leslie be able to keep her word and become the best president Pawnee Elementary has ever seen? Filled with colorful, detailed illustrations and brimming with Easter eggs and nods to iconic moments from the show, this hilarious reimagining features a pint-sized cast.The story will introduce Parks and Recreation to a whole new generation and will teach them the importance of staying true to yourself. And waffles.Parks and Recreation © Universal Television LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When She Comes Back : A Memoir


Ronit Plank - 2021
    Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, whose commune was responsible for the largest biological attack on U.S. soil, preached that children were hindrances and encouraged sterilizations among his followers. Luckily Ronit's father, who'd left the family the previous year, stepped up and brought the girls to live with him first in Newark, New Jersey, and later in Flushing, Queens. On the surface, his nurturing was the balm Ronit sought, but she soon paid a second emotional price, taking on the role of partner and confidant to him, and substitute mother to her sister. By the end of her childhood, Ronit would discover she had lost her mother and the close and trusting relationship she once had with her father. Though they have now reconciled, for years she grappled with the toll her mother's leaving took, measuring her self-worth and capacity for love by that absence.When She Comes Back is the story of a family trying to find itself, grownups who don't know how to be adults, and what happens when the person your life revolves around can't stay. It's also a story of resilience and reconciliation, how rejection by the most important person in Ronit's life ultimately led to an unflagging commitment to, and love for her own children.

All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told


Douglas Wolk - 2021
    The Marvel story is a gigantic mountain smack in the middle of contemporary culture. Thousands of writers and artists have contributed to it. Everyone recognizes its protagonists: Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men. Eighteen of the hundred highest-grossing movies of all time are based on parts of it. Yet not even the people telling the story have read the whole thing--nobody's supposed to. So, of course, that's what Wolk did: he read all 27,000+ comics that make up the Marvel Universe thus far, from Alpha Flight to Omega the Unknown.And then he made sense of it--seeing into the ever-expanding story, in its parts and as a whole, and seeing through it, as a prism through which to view the landscape of American culture. In Wolk's hands, the mammoth Marvel narrative becomes a fun-house-mirror history of the past sixty years, from the atomic night terrors of the Cold War to the technocracy and political division of the present day--a boisterous, tragicomic, magnificently filigreed epic about power and ethics, set in a world transformed by wonders.As a work of cultural exegesis, this is sneakily significant, even a landmark; it's also ludicrously fun. Wolk sees fascinating patterns--the rise and fall of particular cultural aspirations, and of the storytelling modes that conveyed them. He observes the Marvel story's progressive visions and its painful stereotypes, its patches of woeful hackwork and stretches of luminous creativity, and the way it all feeds into a potent cosmology that echoes our deepest hopes and fears. This is a huge treat for Marvel fans, but it's also a revelation for readers who don't know Doctor Strange from Doctor Doom. Here, truly, are all of the marvels.

KG: A to Z: An Uncensored Encyclopedia of Life, Basketball, and Everything in Between


Kevin Garnett - 2021
    

My Little Golden Book about Dolly Parton


Deborah Hopkinson - 2021
    This Little Golden Book biography shares how someone from incredibly poor beginnings can blossom and persevere to become an award-winning songwriter and singer, actress, author, literacy advocate--and she even has her own theme park! Young girls and boys will definitely feel inspired after hearing Dolly's story.Look for these other Little Golden Book biographies: My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris, My Little Golden Book About Betty White, My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo, My Little Golden Book About Misty Copeland, My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg, My Little Golden Book About Jackie Robinson, My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King Jr., My Little Golden Book About George Washington, My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln, My Little Golden Book About Balto, and My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed.

The 2000s Made Me Gay: Essays on Pop Culture


Grace Perry - 2021
    Instead, she had to search for queerness in the teen cultural phenomena that the early aughts had to offer: in Lindsay Lohan’s fall from grace, Gossip Girl, Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl,” country-era Taylor Swift, and Seth Cohen jumping on a coffee cart. And, for better or worse, these touch points shaped her identity, and she came out on the other side, as she puts it, gay as hell.Join Grace on a journey back through the pop culture moments of the early 2000’s, before the cataclysmic shift in LGBTQ representation and acceptance―a time not so long ago, that people seem to forget.

Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Real Housewives Spilling Tea, Throwing Shade, and Sharing Secrets


Dave Quinn - 2021
    From flipped tables to thrown tiki torches, from Atlanta to Beverly Hills, this is the definitive story of the Real Housewives.For the first time, the Real Housewives go on the record with the incredible story of the juggernaut franchise. With the full support of Bravo and Andy Cohen, Not All Diamonds and Rosé is the definitive tell-all of the hit television saga, from its unlikely start in the gated communities of Orange County, to the pop culture behemoth it has become—spanning seven cities, hundreds of cast members, and millions of fans. This is the whole story straight from the lips of the women and men who have made it one of America’s favorite television shows.Amassing hours of exclusive interviews with the wives, husbands, friends-of, and crew members behind the scenes, People magazine writer and author Dave Quinn gets the unfiltered truth about legendary rivalries and off-camera revelations never before shared. With the stories behind iconic lines like “whooping it up” and “who gon’ check me, boo?” and deep dives into the most explosive vacation moments in the show’s history, this is your VIP pass to the lives behind the glam squads, talking heads, and paparazzi shots.Not All Diamonds and Rosé is the must-have book for every Housewives obsessed fan and casual viewer. So pour an ice-cold glass of pinot grigio (or three), forget your worries, and listen close. The ladies are about to get real.Includes Color Photographs

PreachersNSneakers: 9 Questions to Help You Live Your Faith in an Age of Capitalism, Consumerism, and (Wannabe) Celebrity


Ben Kirby - 2021
    Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment.In PreachersNSneakers: 9 Questions to Help You Live Your Faith in an Age of Capitalism, Consumerism, and (Wannabe) Celebrity, the author boldly confronts many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, such as:Should pastors grow wealthy off of religion, and why do we get so angry when they do?Is it okay to stoke envy among others with curated “lifestyle” images on social media?Do we really believe that divine blessings are monetary, or is that just religious wallpaper to hide our own greed?Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news?What about this: Is it wrong for someone like this author to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change?PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for readers to make up their own minds. The book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith.After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.

Black Nerd Problems


William Evans - 2021
    When William Evans and Omar Holmon founded Black Nerd Problems, they had no idea whether anyone beyond their small circle of friends would be interested in their little corner of the internet. But soon after launching, they were surprised to find out that there was a wide community of people who hungered for fresh perspectives on all things nerdy. In the years since, Evans and Holmon have built a large, dedicated fanbase eager for their brand of cultural critiques, whether in the form of a laugh-out-loud, raucous Game of Thrones episode recap or an eloquent essay on dealing with grief through stand-up comedy. Now, they are ready to take the next step with this vibrant and hilarious essay collection, which covers everything from X-Men to Breonna Taylor with “alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate” (School Library Journal) insight and intelligence. A much needed and fresh pop culture critique from the perspective of people of color, “this hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Revenant


Alex White - 2021
    When Etom visits Deep Space Nine with the request to rein in his wayward granddaughter Nemi, Dax can hardly say no. It seems like an easy assignment: visit a resort casino while on shore leave, and then bring her old friend Nemi home. But upon arrival, Dax finds Nemi has changed over the years in terrifying ways…and the pursuit of the truth will plunge Dax headlong into a century’s worth of secrets and lies!™, ®, & © 2021 CBS Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Amy Winehouse: Beyond Black


Naomi Parry - 2021
    Featuring stories and anecdotes from a wide range of characters connected to Amy, specially commissioned photography of memorabilia, styled and dressed themed sets incorporating Amy’s clothing, possessions, and lyrics, and previously unseen archival images, this volume presents an intimate portrait that celebrates Amy’s creative legacy. Interspersed throughout are personal reflections on Amy’s life and work, provided by her friends, colleagues, and fans. These include Ronnie Spector, Vivienne Westwood, Bryan Adams, Little Simz, and Carl Barât, as well as Doug Landlord of the Hawley Arms, tattooist Henry Hate, goddaughter Dionne Bromfield, and DJ Bioux. Each one has a personal story to share, and together their anecdotes and reflections build into a complex picture of a much admired but troubled star. Vice Culture Editor Emma Garland puts these insights into context with an introduction that highlights the principal events and achievements in Amy’s life and work, and the key characters that played a part in it. Organized broadly chronologically, the book features newly shot lyric sheets, sketches, and ephemera together with contextual photographs and video stills, including album, single, and promotional artworks and outtakes. Punctuating the story are photographs of dressed room sets each created, designed, and styled especially for the book by Naomi Parry to evoke a period or aspect of Amy’s life or personality, incorporating Amy’s clothing, possessions, lyrics, and other memorabilia.

Kevin Smith's Secret Stash: The Definitive Visual History (Classic Movies, Film History, Cinema Books)


Kevin Smith - 2021
    . . . I don’t have a job. I don’t even have a career anymore. I’m just me for a living.”Making the leap from convenience store worker to international film icon, Kevin Smith has spent over twenty-five years at the forefront of pop culture. In this hilariously candid treasure trove of artifacts and anecdotes, Kevin tells the full story of his incredible life for the first time, from his early days in Highlands, New Jersey, through to the breakout success of low-budget indie smash Clerks in 1994, and the series of hit films that allowed him to build his own cinematic “View Askewniverse.” • THE STORY OF KEVIN SMITH, TOLD BY KEVIN HIMSELF: Both funny and confessional, Kevin Smith’s Secret Stash sees the director hold forth on all aspects of his career, including his live shows and podcasts, plus his comics and television work, such as the hit AMC show Comic Book Men. • NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN TREASURES: This deluxe volume is illustrated with a wealth of rare and never-before-seen items from Kevin’s personal archives, including script pages, personal letters, and concept art from beloved movies including Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Red State, Tusk, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and more. It also features a range of special pullout features exclusive to the book, including Kevin’s application to film school and comic art from Chasing Amy. • SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: In addition to a foreword from Kevin’s longtime collaborator and friend Jason Mewes, the book includes contributions from J. J. Abrams, Ben Affleck, Marc Bernardin, Ming Chen, Shannon Elizabeth, Walt Flanagan, Ralph Garman, Mark Hamill, Bryan Johnson, David Klein, Justin Long, Scott Mosier, Brian O’Halloran, Seth Rogen, Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith, and Harley Quinn Smith. • OWN THE ULTIMATE KEVIN SMITH TRIBUTE: Definitive, revelatory, and packed with exclusive surprises, Kevin Smith’s Secret Stash is the book fans have been waiting for and a must-have for pop culture aficionados everywhere.

When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today


Jennifer Keishin Armstrong - 2021
    When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women—each an independent visionary— saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.But as the medium became more popular—and lucrative—in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up—and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.This amazing and heartbreaking history, illustrated with photos, tells it all for the first time.

The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style


Bethan Holt - 2021
    It was the first step in Kate's evolution to become the modern royal style icon she is today.In the decade since, Kate has become the Duchess of Cambridge, a future Queen and a mother of three. Her outfits range from high street to haute couture, with women worldwide fascinated by her style and eager to copy it. The Duchess has used her clothing to make diplomatic gestures, to send messages of solidarity, and to show respect. One day, her wardrobe underscores her status as a senior royal; the next it's all about being just like any 30-something Mum. But, thanks to an explosion of 24/7 news coverage and social media, her choices are analysed more closely than those of any royal before. In this book, Bethan Holt marks the tenth anniversary of Kate’s royal life by taking readers on a highly illustrated journey through the Duchess’s style evolution.

I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies: The Deck the Hallmark Podcast’s Guide to Your Holiday TV Obsession


Brandon Gray - 2021
    And thanks to original interviews with the movies' stars and creators, fans will find out insider information on the making of the movies and learn answers to pressing questions: Why do the lead characters keep coming down with amnesia? Why do so many female stock brokers and lawyers find themselves forced to plan parties? And do all of the stories take place within something called the "Kennyverse"?To complete the perfect Christmas package, the book is also chock-full of ideas for hosting your own holiday movie-watching party, complete with delicious recipes. Featuring dozens of full-color photos throughout, I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies is as cozy and sparkly as the movies themselves.

Bob Ross' Happy Little Night Before Christmas


Robb Pearlman - 2021
    A happy little Christmas miracle. Even after more than 20 years after his death, pop culture icon, painter, host, and teacher Bob Ross has never been more heralded than he is today. His memorable quotes, friendly face, and signature hairstyle grace merchandise and memes around the world. But what makes Bob as beloved as he is are ultimately his core values, and his peaceful, joyful demeanor that encouraged his students and viewers to not only appreciate their natural talents but to appreciate the natural world around them.Bob was, in many respects, the embodiment of the classic holiday sprint which encourages peace on Earth and good will toward men.Now, for the first time, inspired by the classic Clement C. Moore's story, this fully-authorized tale of a painter (and his little squirrel friend) on a cold winter night pairs Bob Ross's most beautiful wintertime landscapes with a meditation on embracing not only your inner creativity, but the beauty of nature, and the feelings of peace, friendship, and harmony that blankets the entire holiday season like a happy little snowfall.Perfect for families, fans, and painters of all ages, Bob Ross's Happy Little Night Before Christmas is the perfect addition to any holiday tradition.

One Tough Bastard


Adam Howe - 2021
    The other’s a chimpanzee. Shit just got real.From Adam Howe, writer of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet and Tijuana Donkey Showdown, and the winner of Stephen King’s On Writing contest, comes a ‘buddy’ comedy in the tradition of Lethal Weapon, 48 Hours, and Tango & Cash, and a love letter to the gory glory days of 80s/90s action cinema. One Tough Bastard will turn you into a goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus… just like its author.

So Happy Together


Deborah K. Shepherd - 2021
    She takes this as a sign he still needs her. With her three children safely off to summer camp, Caro embarks on a pre-Facebook, pre–cell phone road trip to recapture who she once was and what she thinks she once had. Set in the sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll ’60s in Tucson, Arizona―when Caro and Peter were kooky, colorful, and inseparable drama students―and in the suburban ’80s, when Caro’s creative spark has been quenched to serve the needs of her husband and children, So Happy Together explores the conundrum of love and sexual attraction, creativity and family responsibilities, and what happens when they are out of sync. It is a story of missed opportunities, the tantalizing possibility of second chances, and what we leave behind, carry forward, and settle for when we choose. It sits in that raw, messy, confounding, beautiful place where love resides.

The Goonies: The Illustrated Storybook


Brooke Vitale - 2021
    After finding an ancient treasure map from the pirate One-Eyed Willy, the gang sets out on an adventure to find the legendary rich stuff. But along the way, they run into the notorious Fratelli crime family and must follow the map to escape before the Fratellis catch them. Now the award-winning film is an illustrated storybook, complete with booty—er, booby—traps, near-death experiences, pirate’s treasure, Sloth, and a heartwarming ending. Filled with tons of ’80s nostalgia and beautiful original illustrations, The Goonies: The Illustrated Storybook is certain to be more amazing than the time Michael Jackson came to Chunk’s house to use the bathroom. ALL NEW! The first illustrated storybook version of The Goonies in more than 30 years! NEXT GEN FANS: Parents, Grandparents and cool Aunts and Uncles can introduce young readers to the beloved film! FAVORITE CHARACTERS: Have an adventure with Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, Data, Brand, Stef, Andy, and of course Sloth. MEMORABLE MOMENTS: From fleeing the Fratellis to booby traps to walking the plank and saving the Goon Docks, relive the exciting scenes in a whole new way! BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Favorite scenes are depicted in detailed and vibrant illustrations.

The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe


Val Staples - 2021
    Now, YouTube influencer Pixel Dan Eardley and He-Man historian Val Staples have worked with fans worldwide to cultivate this incredible volume that contains in-depth overviews of every item in several complete toy lines, including: 1982's Masters of the Universe, 1985's Princess of Power, 1989's He-Man, 2002's Masters of the Universe relaunch, and 2008's Masters of the Universe Classics! In addition to expertly-researched documentation of the toys' development and unique variants, each entry also includes photographic reference of the heroic figures and playsets from decades of development. This phenomenal tome also features never-before-seen interviews and designer commentary from the toys' creators, offering keen insights into the genesis of a product that inspired millions of young imaginations.With over 700 pages of lovingly assembled content, this compendium is the perfect addition to any Masters of the Universe fan's collection. By the power of Grayskull, you have the power!

The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop


Clover Hope - 2021
    Some of these women were respected but not widely celebrated. Some are impossible not to know. Some of these women have stood on their own; others were forced into templates, compelled to stand beside men in big rap crews. Some have been trapped in a strange critical space between respected MC and object. They are characters, caricatures, lyricists, at times both feminine and explicit. This book profiles each of these women, their musical and career breakthroughs, and the ways in which they each helped change the culture of rap.

Hill House Living: The Art of Creating a Joyful Life


Paula Sutton - 2021
    No one knows this better than stylist and blogger Paula Sutton, who is behind the beloved Instagram account Hill House Vintage. Like many people, Paula gave years of her life to the busyness of the city until she traded catwalks for dog walks and couture for manure after leaving office life a decade ago.Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, this book gives you a full glimpse into life at Hill House. Inspired by Paula's love of all things vintage, and filled with simple, stylish, and thrifty tips and tricks for every area of the house, this book will bring the best of country life into your home, wherever you are.In a world that often moves too fast, Hill House Living is an invitation to take a moment to style, make or cook something nice for its own sake--and yours. Slow down, cozy up, and join the quest to making each day more intentionally joyful.

The Art of Bob Mackie


Frank Vlastnik - 2021
    For nearly six decades, the iconic and incomparable Bob Mackie has been designing stunning, unforgettable clothing. His unique, glamorous—sometimes hilarious—creations have appeared on Broadway stages, TV screens, runways, and red carpets worldwide. For his pioneering genius and continual reinvention, he is a Tony Award and nine-time Emmy Award winner, a three-time Oscar nominee, and recipient of the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. For the first time, he has granted full access to his archives and personal memories to the authors of this lavish celebration of his achievements. The Art of Bob Mackie is the first-ever comprehensive and fully authorized book showcasing Mackie’s work, from his early days as a sketch artist for the legendary Edith Head at Paramount to his current, cutting-edge costumes for pop stars and line of accessible, wearable clothing for QVC. In addition to hundreds of glorious photos and dozens of dishy recollections from Mackie and his many muses, this gorgeous volume features never-before-seen sketches from throughout his prolific career, from Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” gown to Carol Burnett’s “Went with the Wind” curtain-rod dress, to Cher’s show-stopping 1986 Oscar look. As other designers have burst onto the scene and faded out of fashion, Mackie has soared from success to success, always remaining relevant because he has always been spectacularly fashion-forward. With a foreword by Carol Burnett and an afterword by Cher, The Art of Bob Mackie is a stunning must-have for lovers of sequins, beads, and feathers; Broadway shows and classic television; pop music and pop culture; and fashion with incomparable flair.

It All Began With A Scream


Padraic Maroney - 2021
    Initial signs indicated Scream being a flop upon its release in theaters, but it quickly became a word-of-mouth phenomenon spawning multiple sequels, a television series, and countless imitators.Twenty-five years later, the impact of Scream is still being felt in films and pop culture. For the first time, get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it took to make the beloved films–from the people who were there.With 30 interviews from cast and crew members, It All Began with a Scream provides readers with an unauthorized look at the franchise. From a bidding war for the original script and studio meddling to on-set romances, script leaks, lawsuits, and a beloved director who created a family atmosphere for everyone on his set, find out the story behind Scream.It All Began with a Scream is a must-read for horror aficionados, film buffs, and anyone fascinated by Hollywood.

We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers


Marisa CrawfordFrankie Thomas - 2021
    In 1986, the first-ever meeting of the Baby-Sitters Club was called to order in a messy bedroom strewn with Ring-Dings, scrunchies, and a landline phone. Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne launched the club that birthed an entire generation of loyal readers. The Baby-Sitters Club series featured a diverse, complex cast of characters and touched on an impressive range of issues that were underrepresented at the time: divorce, adoption, childhood illness, class division, and racism, to name a few. In We Are the Baby-sitters Club, writers and a few visual artists from Generation BSC will reflect on the enduring legacy of Ann M. Martin's beloved series, thirty-five years later—celebrating the BSC's profound cultural influence. Contributors include author Gabrielle Moss, illustrator Siobhán Gallagher, and filmmaker Sue Ding, as well as New York Times bestselling author Kristen Arnett, Lambda Award–finalist Myriam Gurba, Black Girl Nerds founder Jamie Broadnax, and Paris Review contributor Frankie Thomas. The first anthology of its kind from editors Marisa Crawford and Megan Milks, We Are the Baby-Sitters Club will look closely at how Ann M. Martin's series shaped our ideas about gender politics, friendship, fashion and beyond—and what makes the series still a core part of many readers' identities so many years later.

Kingdom Hearts Ultimania: The Story Before Kingdom Hearts III


Square Enix - 2021
    Explore character profiles from icons like King Mickey and Goofy, to modern favorites like Tron or Captain Jack Sparrow. Study detailed summaries of each games story, along with rare concept designs and storyboards! No stone is left unturned in this grand overview, which includes content from:Kingdom Hearts Final MixKingdom Hearts Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts II Final Mix Kingdom Hearts CodedKingdom Hearts Birth by SleepKingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance Kingdom Hearts Unchained XDark Horse Books, Square Enix, and Disney present Kingdom Hearts Ultimania: The Story Before Kingdom Hearts III. This original English translation of the Japanese fan favorite reference guide is sure to capture the imaginations of Disney fans and gamers everywhere!

Make It Happen: My Story of Gymnastics, the Olympics, and the Positive Power of Sport


Kyle Shewfelt - 2021
    But when a mistimed landing in a training session at the world championships leaves him with two broken legs just eleven months before the next Olympic Games, Kyle's self-belief is cast into doubt and he is forced to awaken a new level of determination to realize his final goal.Make It Happen is a motivational memoir that explores every aspect of Kyle's journey through sport. From his early years of cartwheeling around his home and falling in love with gymnastics, to his battles with perfectionism, taunting from a cruel bully and a stint of teenage rebellion, Kyle gives a gripping and honest glimpse into the pursuit of his Olympic dream. He takes readers behind-the-scenes to the epic Olympic after-parties and on the wave of post-Olympic fame while also shedding light on the darkness of injury, the intensity of elite training and the pressures of expectation. Throughout, he shares how he conquered fear and self-doubt with the help of dedicated family, friends, teammates, coaches and mentors - first to reach the Olympic Games, then to stand on top of the podium, then to comeback in the wake of a devastating injury and finally, to find a new sense of purpose in his life after retiring from elite sport.With his trademark candor and spirit, Kyle pays tribute to the difference makers in his career and shares a fresh perspective on how to nurture a champion. He details his winning formula and the factors that led to his triumphant success at the 2004 Athens Olympics and highlights the positive power of sport. This is a story of hope and resilience, and what it takes to "make it happen", no matter what the goal.PRAISE FOR MAKE IT HAPPEN:"Make It Happen has made a positive impact in the way I approach training, competition and life. Kyle blazed a new trail for Canadian gymnastics and showed us all that reaching the top of an Olympic podium is actually possible. He has been a difference maker in my life and his book continually filled me with new insights and fresh inspiration. I believe every athlete can benefit from reading it!"Ellie Black, 2x Olympian, 2017 World All-Around Silver medalist and 10x Pan Am Medalist"Make It Happen is a must-read for all athletes, parents and coaches. Kyle's journey is a great example of what it means to be athlete driven and parent/coach supported. I loved the honesty in which he shares his inner dialogue as he progressed and matured from a young tumbler to a world-class gymnast. This story is as much about Kyle's journey as a person as it about his journey as an Olympic Champion.Marnie McBean, OC, OLY, 3x Olympic Rowing Champion"Kyle's account of a life in sport is honest and raw. It brought laughter, surprise, excitement, tears, and above all, hope. . . The glimpses of his parents' pragmatic and unwavering support, coupled with their commitment to raising and a young man rather than an elite athlete, impacted me more than any how-to book on the same topic could ever accomplish. Make It Happen is compulsory reading for today's sport parent.Krista Thompson, Parent

Marvelous Manhattan: Stories of the Restaurants, Bars, and Shops That Make This City Special


Reggie Nadelson - 2021
    . . . [Nadelson’s] reporting, all from a personal lens, is up-to-date. . . . Like chocolate chips in a cookie, the book is studded with delicious photos old and new.” —Florence Fabricant, New York Times“A wonderfully lively, knowledgeable journey through the past and present of places that help make New York City what it is, and which we must cherish and (hopefully) preserve.”  —Salman Rushdie     New York might have Broadway, Times Square, and the Empire State Building, but the real heart and soul of the city can be found in the iconic places that have defined cool since “cool” became a word. Places like Di Palo’s in Little Italy, where you might stop in to pick up a little cheese only to find yourself in a long conversation—part friendly chat, part profound tutorial—with fourth-generation owner Lou Di Palo, sampling cheeses all the while. Or Raoul’s in SoHo, to enjoy a classic steak-frites in the company of downtown artists, celebrities, and dyed-in-the-wool locals. Or Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, to be in the room where some young guys named Thelonious, Dizzy, and Charlie invented bebop. Or maybe Russ & Daughters, to pick up the city’s best lox and bagels, which they’ve been selling since 1914. A lifelong New Yorker, writer Reggie Nadelson celebrates her city and all the places that make it special. Part guidebook, part cultural history, part walk down memory lane, alive with the spirit and the grit of small, often family-owned businesses that have survived the Great Depression, World War II, 9/11, and the coronavirus lockdown, Marvelous Manhattan is a seductive and timely book for anyone who lives in New York, loves the city, lived there once, or wishes they had. Because that’s the thing about Manhattan: all you need to do is walk into the right place—say, Fanelli’s on Prince Street—sit down at the bar, order a drink, open this book, and suddenly you’re a New Yorker.

David Fincher: Mind Games


Adam Nayman - 2021
    From feature films Alien 3, Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl, and Mank through his MTV clips for Madonna and the Rolling Stones and the Netflix series House of Cards and Mindhunter, each chapter weaves production history with original critical analysis, as well as with behind the scenes photography, still-frames, and original illustrations from Little White Lies' international team of artists and graphic designers. Mind Games also features interviews with Fincher's frequent collaborators, including Jeff Cronenweth, Angus Wall, Laray Mayfield, Holt McCallany, Howard Shore and Erik Messerschmidt. Grouping Fincher's work around themes of procedure, imprisonment, paranoia, prestige and relationship dynamics, Mind Games is styled as an investigation into a filmmaker obsessed with investigation, and the design will shift to echo case files within a larger psychological profile.

Girl With No Job: The Crazy Beautiful Life of an Instagram Thirst Monster


Claudia Oshry - 2021
    The origins of her pop culture obsessions can be traced back to household debates over boy bands, and her flair for the dramatic to her young emulation of Blair Waldorf. When she started @GirlWithNoJob, Claudia entered that world as a social media influencer, sharing her unbelievable—and incredibly awkward—encounters with some of her favorite A-listers as she navigates her incredible access. Now, in this juicy, behind-the-scenes look at the life of an Instagram sensation, Claudia leaves nothing out as she contemplates staying true to yourself while hustling in today’s digital culture. Sometimes the best lessons are learned the hard way, and her journey hasn’t been without its punch-in-the-face doses of humility. But, like anyone with a relentless desire to be popular, she dusts herself off and finds a new, better way forward. With humor and unique insights, Claudia examines the nature of social media celebrity, the many sides of fandom, and cancel culture. If there’s one thing she knows for sure, she was born thirsty, and she’s here for another round!

What You Don't Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood


Anastasia Higginbotham - 2021
    What worries him is seeing everyone scared (and scarred). He might not be out yet, but he can sense his parents' concern, his friends' acceptance, and the church's hypocrisy. But what all of them don't know is that it's never occurred to him to do anything but love himself, and until he senses that it's safe to come out, he just plans on radiating love."I think the days of Heather Has Two Mommies are long past. We're ready for GLBTQIA+ stories for kids that are a little bit complicated and a little bit interesting and a whole lotta fantastic. For all this, the person you turn to is Anastasia Higginbotham." —Betsy Bird, librarian and blogger"What You Don't Know is an ontological investigation and a treatise on love, disguised as a children's book. It is sure to make many kids (and their parents) feel seen." —Cooper Lee Bombardier, Pass with Care

The Joy of Basketball: An Encyclopedia of the Modern Game


Ben Detrick - 2021
    Instead, the book's focus is on everything else. Using text, charts, and illustrations that upend conventional jock wisdom, the book details the most incredible players in history, draft flops, long-limbed oddballs, superteams, the international talent wave, brawls, scandals, the rapid evolution of contemporary gameplay, coaching, fashion, crime, positional erosion, tragic tales, memes, and the sacred Kardashian Blessing. Bouncing between witty graphics and keen sociopolitical observations, The Joy of Basketball is a subversive sports manifesto camouflaged as a colorful reference book for your coffee table.

A Rugrats Chanukah


Kim Smith - 2021
    The babies imagine themselves as the characters in the story, but then Grandma stops reading to make latkes, and the ending is left unknown. Soon they’re all off to the synagogue, where Grandpa Boris is acting in the Chanukah play. The children, misunderstanding the phrase “the meaning of Chanukah,” believe that an actor in the play is the “meanie of Chanukah” and storm the stage to save Grandpa. How will the Rugrats get out of trouble this time? And will they ever learn the true meaning of Chanukah? This storybook is a perfect blend of silly, sweet, and educational and will make a cherished gift for children, nostalgic millennials, and anyone who’s ever wondered about the true meaning of the holiday.

A Love Story


Joanna C. Valente - 2021
    These poems are a symphony within an unopened box. Do we choose to open it and find what's inside? Are we brave enough to go deeper to find what we ourselves contain?

In Defense of Ska


Aaron Carnes - 2021
    In Defense of Ska is the much-needed response to years of ska-mockery. No longer do ska fans need to hide in the basement, skanking alone in their sharp suits, slim ties and porkpie hats. Now the time to take to the streets and fight music snobbery, or at least crank up the ska without being teased ruthlessly. In a mix of interviews, essays, personal stories, historical snapshots, obscure anecdotes, and think pieces, In Defense of Ska dissects, analyzes and celebrates ska in exactly the way fans have been craving for decades. This book will enlist ska-lovers as soldiers in the ska army, and challenge ska-haters’ prejudices to the core.

The Unseen Photos of Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street


Trevor Crafts - 2021
    Author and filmmaker Trevor Crafts, who was given unprecedented access to archival footage and photography, presents more than 150 of photographer David Attie’s behind-the-scenes images of Jim Henson, Will Lee, Loretta Long, Bob McGrath, Frank Oz, Matt Robinson, Caroll Spinney, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, and dozens of other pioneering puppeteers, animators, actors, and Sesame Street Muppets. Crafts uses Attie’s remarkable photos and additional interviews from the film to dive deeper into the story of how show creator Joan Ganz Cooney, along with Sesame Workshop cofounder Lloyd Morrisett, director Jon Stone, and Muppet creator Jim Henson, took the values and goals of the civil rights movement and revolutionized children’s television.The book is a tribute to the enduring achievements of an ingenious group of artists, educators, and television pioneers who believed that the values of equality, education, and inclusion should not just be championed but also made available to all—a dream that Sesame Street has carried forward for more than fifty years.

Godzilla vs. Kong: Sometimes Friends Fight (But They Always Make Up)


Carol Herring - 2021
    Godzilla vs. Kong: Sometimes Friends Fight (But They Always Make Up) pairs 10 tips for how to be a good friend and prompts to practice counting with adorable scenes of Godzilla and Kong working out their differences.  Playful Learning + Pop Culture Bonding: Parents, grandparents, and grown-ups can introduce kids to beloved movie monsters Godzilla and Kong. Social/Emotional Intelligence: Helps kids explore and identify their feelings, and develop empathy and kindness. Supports Essential Skills: Young learners can practice counting, learn number awareness, and develop early literacy skills.  New Series!: Collect all PlayPop books including Ghostbusters: Book of Shapes, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: E.T’s First Words, and Back to the Future: Telling Time with Marty McFly.

Avidly Reads Guilty Pleasures


Arielle Zibrak - 2021
    She takes up the overwhelming preoccupation with the experience of being humiliated, dominated, or even abused that has pervaded the stories that make up women's culture--from eighteenth-century epistolary novels to popular twentieth-century teen magazine features to present-day romantic comedies.In three chapters--"Rough Sex," "Expensive Sheets," and "Saying Yes to the Dress"--that mirror the plot structures of feminine fictions themselves, this book tells the story of the desires that only the guiltiest of pleasures evoke. Zibrak reexamines documents of femme culture long dismissed as "trash" to reveal the surprisingly cathartic experiences produced by tales of domination, privilege, and the material trappings of the heteropatriarchy.Part of the Avidly Reads series, this slim book gives us a new way of looking at American culture. With the singular blend of personal reflection and cultural criticism featured in the series, Avidly Reads Guilty Pleasures reclaims women's experiences for themselves.

The Orville #2: Digressions


David A. Goodman - 2021
    

The Comic Book History of Animation: True Toon Tales of the Most Iconic Characters, Artists and Styles!


Fred Van Lente - 2021
    Stuart Blackton and the first American cartoon, Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur, and Felix the Cat! Find out about Margaret Winkler, the most powerful person in early animation, and Walt Disney, who revolutionizes cartoons with sound and color! Discover how Fleischer Studios teaches us to sing Boop-boop-a-doop and eat our spinach, and how Warner Bros' Looney Toons rivaled Disney's Silly Symphonies! Plus, icons of animation including Hanna-Barbera, Huckleberry Hound, The Flintstones, and Ruby-Spears; the Plastic Age of toy-based TV shows including G.I. Joe, Transformers, and He-Man; and the new Golden Age of TV animation launched by The Simpsons!And go abroad to France with Emile Cohl's dynamic doodles in Fantasmagorie; to Japan, where Momotaro debuts the first full-length anime, Divine Sea Warriors, and Osauma Tezuka conquers TV as he conquered manga; and to Argentina, which beat out Snow White for the first feature length animated movie by two decades!And finally, Jurassic Park and the computer animation revolution! Post-Little Mermaid Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli conquer the world!

Gudetama: The Official Cookbook: Recipes for Living a Lazy Life


Sanrio - 2021
    But if you’re the kind of chef who doesn’t have time for complicated meals or long lists of ingredients, this cookbook is for you. From Japanese fare to pizza, egg salad, burgers, and tacos, this officially licensed cookbook will show you how to feast the lazy way with a collection of craveable comfort recipes inspired by everyone's favorite lazy egg with the can't-be-bothered attitude.Organized into sections like barely awake breakfasts, lazy lunches, drowsy dinners, and tired treats, included here are 60 recipes, each helpfully including a lazy meter so you know just how much effort or lack thereof you’ll need to execute each dish. The Gudetama Cookbook is the perfect combination of easy cooking and a love of lazy living and is for everyone from novices to experienced home cooks. Also included are full-color illustrations, fun sidebars, and your favorite quotes and sayings from Gudetama.Recipes include:Unmotivated Breakfast SandwichToo Tired Tater Tot BakeTuckered Out Tamago Sando (Japanese egg salad sandwich)Slow-Paced Short RibsMaybe I'll Make MeatloafStress-Free Strawberry Ice Cream PieEasygoing EggnogAnd more!

Universal Monsters Little Golden Book (Funko Pop!)


M.D. Brundlefly - 2021
    Humorous scenes introducing each monster as adorable Funko Pop! versions of these classic creatures is a safe and fun way to make reading a scary good time for kids 2 to 5 and fans of all ages. Funko and Universal Monster collectors will also love this new addition to the Little Golden Books line.

BTS by ARMY: 2020


Wallea Eaglehawk - 2021
    From their chart-topping Map of the Soul: 7 to surviving the pandemic together and creating BE featuring Billboard Hot 100 #1s Dynamite and Life Goes On, every moment is compiled to provide an authentic and dynamic profile of the group, and each member throughout the year. A culmination of interviews, lyrical analysis, live performances, and more, these profiles show the journey of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and, Jung Kook from the unique perspective of some of those who walked with them every step of the way: ARMY.Dear BTS,Happy 8th birthday. This book was written by ten ARMY from around the world and published by an all-ARMY publishing company. Though we cannot speak with you directly, nor write a book that shares new stories or truths, what we can do is reflect who you showed yourselves to be in 2020 back to you.While this book is firstly a gift to you, it is a gift to our fellow ARMY who wish to celebrate you on this day, and every other day for that matter. Further, we hope that anyone interested in learning more about who you are and connecting with you on a human level will find this book and find joy, solace, and understanding amongst these pages. We know and trust that the right people will find this book at the right time.Thank you for all that you do, and all that you are. We know 2020 was a difficult year for you, but we appreciate you for including us in your journey as you always have done. Just as you have seen and heard us, we see you, we hear you, we love you, too.Love,ARMY

Pop Star


James J. Caterino - 2021
    Best friends from the start, they begin to make music together, and soon form a band known as The Femme Fatales, one of the greatest pop sensations of the 1980s. This is the story about the rise and the fall of that band, and the special friendship at its core.Anchored by unforgettable characters and a vivid sense of time and place, Pop Star is a musical journey, and an epic tale of family, friendship, success, heartbreak, and hope.

Adrift


Isabel Jolie - 2021
    It’s even made me somewhat of a celebrity. My subscribers love my provocative shots, and I’m oh-so-good at teasing them.Then he shows up in my small town and complicates everything. See, Mr. Green-Eyed Gazillionaire is so far out of my league it’s ridiculous. We’re polar opposites.That doesn’t change the fact that even though I’m a fantasy to most men, I only want to be his reality. But nothing real can ever happen between us. Logically, I know that.Too bad logic and I have never had anything but a passing acquaintance. Because now, if I’m not careful, I’m afraid this sexy billionaire will smash my big, sappy heart into oblivion… A delicious billionaire small-town romance featuring two polar opposites adrift on a resort island with a small-town atmosphere, right off the coast of North Carolina. This is a steamy contemporary romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhanger, and no cheating.

The I Love Lucy Cookbook: Classic Recipes Inspired by the Iconic TV Show


Jenn Fujikawa - 2021
    Recipes include: Cuban dishes such as Ricky Ricardo's Arroz con Pollo and Tropicana nightclub favorites Chocolate treats and other sweet delicacies inspired by Kramer's Kandy Kitchen Mid-century Hollywood's finest fare, from episodes set in the sunny film capital Classic dishes from season three's "The Diner" "Pioneer Women" Fresh-Baked Bread (easy on the yeast!) Classic cocktails to toast life's big events -- plus a recipe for Vitameatavegamin, so you can spoon your way to health! The I Love Lucy Cookbook brings to scrumptious life food featured on the show, as well as tantalizing dishes inspired by classic episodes such as "Lucy's Italian Movie," "Job Switching," and "Paris at Last." Filled with photos and illustrations, the book is also an exuberant celebration of an era and unforgettable television moments.

Color Scheme: An Irreverent History of Art and Pop Culture in Color Palettes


Edith Young - 2021
    Edith Young's forty color palettes and accompanying essays reveal the systems of color that underpin everything we see, allowing original and, at times, even humorous themes to emerge. Color Scheme is the perfect book for anyone interested in learning more about, or rethinking, how we see the world around us.

Artists in Residence: Seventeen Artists and Their Living Spaces, from Giverny to Casa Azul


Melissa Wyse - 2021
    For the 17 artists profiled here, a house or an apartment is not simply a place to eat and sleep; they transform everyday spaces into dynamic reflections of their individual artistic passions. You will gain a deeper appreciation of your favorite artists' work and may just discover a new favorite. Richly illustrated throughout, this petite jacketed hardcover offers a fascinating and inspiring blend of art history, interior design, and armchair travel.• DISTINCTIVE ILLUSTRATED APPROACH: While other books have explored the spaces that housed and inspired artists, they have been exclusively photographic. With vibrant illustrations, this book immerses readers in the atmosphere of each artist's home more than photos ever could.• DIVERSE RANGE OF ARTISTS: The 17 artists profiled represent a diverse cross section of eras, countries, races, genders, and artistic styles—not to mention a wide range of homes, from a New York City apartment to a renovated English farmhouse.• A FRIENDLY INVITATION TO ART HISTORY: With relatable prose and vibrant illustrations, this book is perfect for anyone looking to casually learn something new.• INTERIOR DÉCOR INSPIRATION: Readers will surely walk away with ideas for crafting their own creative spaces after reading this book.Perfect for:• Artists and art appreciators• Art history buffs• Interior décor lovers• Travelers and armchair travelers• Podcast listeners and blog readers• Creatives in all industries

A Women’s History of the Beatles


Christine Feldman-Barrett - 2021
    Drawing on a mix of interviews, archival research, textual analysis, and autoethnography, this scholarly work depicts how the Beatles have profoundly shaped and enriched the lives of women, while also reexamining key, influential female figures within the group's history. Organized topically based on key themes important to the Beatles story, each chapter uncovers the varied and multifaceted relationships women have had with the band, whether face-to-face and intimately or parasocially through mediated, popular culture. Set within a socio-historical context that charts changing gender norms since the early 1960s, these narratives consider how the Beatles have affected women's lives across three generations. Providing a fresh perspective of a well-known tale, this is a cultural history that moves far beyond the screams of Beatlemania to offer a more comprehensive understanding of what the now iconic band has meant to women over the course of six decades.

Millennials Killed the Video Star: MTV's Transition to Reality Programming


Amanda Ann Klein - 2021
    As an alternative to the twenty-four-hour music-video jukebox the channel had offered during its early years, MTV created an original cycle of scripted reality shows aimed at predominantly white youth audiences including Laguna Beach, The Hills, The City, Catfish, and Jersey Shore. In Millennials Killed the Video Star Amanda Ann Klein examines the historical, cultural, and industrial factors leading to MTV's shift away from music videos to reality programming in the early 2000s and 2010s. Drawing on interviews with industry workers from programs such as The Real World and Teen Mom, Klein demonstrates how MTV generated a coherent discourse on youth and identity by intentionally leveraging stereotypes about race, ethnicity, gender, and class. Klein explores how this production cycle, which showcased a variety of ways of being in the world, has played a role in identity construction in contemporary youth culture—ultimately shaping the ways in which Millennial audiences of the 2000s thought about, talked about, and embraced a variety of identities.

Kingdom Hearts Character Files


Square Enix - 2021
    In addition to highlighting each character's evolving appearance and unique costumes, this tome illuminates the entire cast's back stories and retells their adventures from across the beloved series. This volume offers unprecedented insights into the lore behind the games!Dark Horse Books, Square Enix, and Disney present Kingdom Hearts Character Files. Officially localized into English for the first time ever, this is a must-own item for any fan of Disney or the Kingdom Hearts series!

The Stuff of Spectatorship: Material Cultures of Film and Television


Caetlin Anne Benson-Allott - 2021
    Think of the last time you watched a movie: the chair you sat in, the snacks you ate, the people around you, maybe the beer or joint you consumed to help you unwind--all this stuff shaped your experience of media and its influence on you. The material culture around film and television changes how we make sense of their content, not to mention the very concepts of the mediums. Focusing on material cultures of film and television reception, The Stuff of Spectatorship argues that the things we share space with and consume as we consume television and film influence the meaning we gather from them. This book examines the roles that six different material cultures have played in film and television culture since the 1970s--including video marketing, branded merchandise, drugs and alcohol, and even gun violence--and shows how objects considered peripheral to film and television culture are in fact central to its past and future.

Megumi Hayashibara's The Characters Taught Me Everything: Living Life One Episode at a Time


Megumi Hayashibara - 2021
    For over three decades, renowned Japanese voice actress Megumi Hayashibara has breathed life into countless iconic characters -- including Ranma Saotome (Ranma ½), Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Lina Inverse (Slayers), Jessie (Pokémon), Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop), and Paprika (Paprika)! In this new autobiographical memoir, Megumi provides an in-depth look at her illustrious career, and how the very characters she has portrayed have impacted her life on both personal and professional levels.

Sweating in the Land of Smiles: Living in Bangkok During the Year of Radical Change


Aldo A. Quintana - 2021
    We’ll discover the Bangkok way of doing things through my observations and conversations with some Thai locals. You'll get an honest account of my experience living in a city with ten and a half million people.In this book, I don’t advocate for people to pack their bags and leave everything behind. The grass isn’t always greener. We must endure hardships different from the ones back home. Consider that the chapters aren't research-based or a how-to manual to get by. I don't know the nuts and bolts about Thai culture or the Bangkok lifestyle either.If you’re open-minded and want to swim in a book that’s not the usual stuff in Amazon’s library, then this read might do the job. You’ll at least learn some interesting things about Bangkok and Thai culture that you won’t get in textbooks. Who doesn’t like to stimulate their mind and broaden their horizons?

Warning the Program You Are about to See Is All in the Family: The Show That Transformed Television


Norman Lear - 2021
    Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), his wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), and son-in-law Mike "Meathead" Stivic (Rob Reiner) instantly became--and half a century later still are--four of the most iconic characters in television.Here, Norman Lear shares his take on fifty episodes that exemplify why All in the Family remains as funny and relevant as ever. Its boundary-pushing approach to hot-button topics is examined with commentary from its costars, writers, directors, and guest stars. With previously unseen notes from Lear, script pages, production designs, and a foreword by superfan Jimmy Kimmel, this book is the ultimate companion to this seminal series and a must for fans of television comedy.

101 Dalmatians: Spot the Difference


Calliope Glass - 2021
    Have fun spotting the difference between Patch and the other puppies by counting, whistling, clapping, and more! Spot the Difference is the perfect book for: Parents looking for a fun, interactive read-aloud book for their kidsKids who love Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians Readers looking for a great bedtime that is entertaining for the whole family

Aimlessness


Tom Lutz - 2021
    This book asks us to get sidetracked along the way. It praises aimlessness as a source of creativity and an alternative to the demand for linear, efficient, instrumentalist thinking and productivity.Aimlessness collects ideas and stories from around the world that value indirection, wandering, getting lost, waiting, meandering, lingering, sitting, laying about, daydreaming, and other ways to be open to possibility, chaos, and multiplicity. Tom Lutz considers aimlessness as a fundamental human proclivity and method, one that has been vilified by modern industrial societies but celebrated by many religious traditions, philosophers, writers, and artists. He roams a circular path that snakes and forks down sideroads, traipsing through modernist art, nomadic life, slacker comedies, drugs, travel, nirvana, and oblivion. The book is structured as a recursive, disjunctive spiral of short sections, a collage of narrative, anecdotal, analytic, and lyrical passages--intended to be read aimlessly, to wind up someplace unexpected.

Melodies of Life: A Final Fantasy IX Retrospect and Analysis


Jamie L. Cruise - 2021
    One part retrospect, one part analysis, prepare for nostalgia, rabbit holes, and hopefully an altered (if not improved) understanding of Final Fantasy IX.Contents:A Voice From the Past, Joining Yours and Mine...ForewordIntroductionThe PartyPlot SummaryWhat it Means to be AliveAuthenticity & The ArtificialEither You Do, Or You Don'tThe Iifa Tree & The Angels of DeathIdentity & AutonomyRaison D'êtreVivi: Golem Among GolemsThe Genomes With Soul: Zidane, Kuja and MikotoGarnet x2 (or x3 or x4!)A Knight's DutyLost & ForgottenMusic & NarrativeEchoes, Reflections and ForeshadowingNot AloneMelodies of LifeSomething to ProtectThe Storybook Motif & NostalgiaLegend, Lore and CallbacksLife's a Play, The World a StageWho's the Bad Guy?Hierarchy & RebellionDecadent JestersThe Will to Live vs. The Will to PowerEt Tu, Kuja?Life Cycles & Internal and External ConflictGaia & TerraEternal Life/StrifeExistentialism: The Reality of MortalityLove, Fealty & Self-DeterminationRelationshipsWhy These Characters Work (And Work Together)RomancePersonal InfluenceRespectCamaraderieAnd So it Goes, On and On...AfterwordA Few Things You May Know...Acknowledgments

Devil in a Coma


Mark Lanegan - 2021
    Admitted to Kerry Hospital and initially given little hope of survival, Lanegan's illness has him slipping in and out of a coma, unable to walk or function for several months and fearing for his life.As his situation becomes more intolerable over the course of that bleakest of springs he is assaulted by nightmares, visions and regrets about a life lived on the edge of chaos and disorder. He is prompted to consider his predicament and how, in his sixth decade, his lifelong battle with mortality has led to this final banal encounter with a disease that has undone millions, when he has apparently been cheating death for his whole existence.Written in vignettes of prose and poetry, Devil In A Coma is a terrifying account of illness and the remorse that comes with it by an artist and writer with singular vision.

The Orville #1: Artifacts (Part 1 of 2)


David A. Goodman - 2021
    

A Guide to Film and TV Cosplay


Holly Swinyard - 2021
    A mix of exciting craft skills, heady escapism and passion for pop culture, it's easy to see why cosplay has become so popular with people no matter who they are, because now they can be anyone they want, and so can you.But how, why and where could you have a go at starting out in the wonderful world of cosplay?With a little bit of help from this handy, dandy guide to cosplay, you can get stuck in. Learn about the history of the hobby (it's been around longer than you'd think!), get your head around picking you're first costume, find out how about all the amazing skills people are using to make these costumes, and perhaps even try a few yourself. Who knows, you might be rocking our as Captain Marvel or Flynn Rider at the next big comic con! (And don't worry, there's a guide to comic con in here too.)

The Fugitivities


Jesse McCarthy - 2021
    Before he departs, Jonah has a troubled night of revelry and self-destruction, only to be rescued from arrest by former basketball star Nathaniel Archimbald who brings him back to his Bronx home.While recovering from his hangover, Jonah converses with Nathaniel about former lives and loves. The son of American expats, Jonah recalls living a cushy post-undergraduate life in Paris working as an apprentice film projectionist, a one-time girlfriend that still has his heart, and the decision to teach in Brooklyn. Nathaniel tells Jonah that he too has lived in Paris, where he resumed the studies he had abandoned to play basketball professionally. There he fell in love with a Parisian graduate student named Laura Pertrossian, who abruptly left not only him, but her entire life for a South American destination unknown. Nathaniel, in his grief, returned him to coach basketball for kids living in low-income neighborhoods. When he is unable to persuade Jonah to remain a teacher, Nathaniel hands him a letter to give to Laura were he to find her during his travels. Jonah and Octavio depart for Rio de Janeiro where Jonah discovers how different it is to be a black North American in South America. When Octavio falls in love with a Brazilian art student, Jonah finds himself making his way down the Southern Cone alone where a chance encounter will change the way he sees everything.

Low


Chrissy Williams - 2021
    At its heart is a series of poems about the desolation of miscarriage. These poems try to understand the many different means we use to come closer to articulating, and avoiding, experience. Drawing on the language of comedy, improvisation, drag and clown, Low interrogates humour’s role in enacting the possibility of change. A thought-provoking, irreverent and challenging book, Low exemplifies Chrissy Williams' ability to find 'seriousness in the apparently trivial and ephemeral' (Poetry Review). Chrissy Williams' first collection Bear (Bloodaxe) was one of The Telegraph's 50 Best Books of the Year in 2017. She has also published several pamphlets, one of which was shortlisted for the Michael Marks Award. Low is her second full-length collection.

Plus-Size: A Memoir of Pop Culture, Fatphobia, and Social Change


MekdelaMekdela - 2021
    This essay collection illustrates the insidiousness of fatphobia through analyses of film, television, books, and how they affect our perceptions and treatment of others. Altogether, the essays paint a big picture of fatphobia, misogyny, misogynoir, ableism, and capitalism in American society. Furthermore, this essay collection emphasizes the potential for social change. Featuring media from the 1990s, early 2000s, 2010s, and up until today, this memoir tells a story of America's uneasy and ever-changing relationship with fat.