|
|
| Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang by Lamont U-God HawkinsWhat it is: a gritty and fast-paced memoir from a founding member of the influential hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, chronicling his early life of poverty and drug dealing in Staten Island, the evolution and disbanding of the Wu-Tang Clan, and his prison sentences and struggles with mental illness.
Read it for: Lamont U-God Hawkins' vivid, detailed storytelling.
Did you know? 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the group's first album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). |
|
|
Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the making of a masterpiece
by Michael Benson
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the film's release, this is the definitive story of the making of 2001: A Space Odyssey, acclaimed today as one of the greatest films ever made, including the inside account of how director Stanley Kubrick and writer Arthur C. Clarke created this cinematic masterpiece. Regarded as a masterpiece today, 2001: A Space Odyssey received mixed reviews on its 1968 release. Although some leading critics slammed the film as incomprehensible and self-indulgent, the public lined up to see it. 2001's resounding commercial success launched the genre of big-budget science fiction spectaculars. Such directors as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron have acknowledged its profound influence.
|
|
|
Videocracy: How YouTube Is Changing the World -- With Double Rainbows...
by Kevin Allocca
What it's about: Remember "double rainbow"? "Charlie bit my finger"? Friday? Combining a history of YouTube with an exploration of the site's influence on pop culture around the world, Videocracy is an entertaining tour of all that the video-sharing platform offers.
Did you know? YouTube was created in part to help developers meet women; the first video posted was of a trip to the San Diego zoo; the company has a Culture and Trends department, and the author of this book heads it.
|
|
|
Sneakers
by Rodrigo Corral
An absolute necessity for design devotees and sneakerheads of all ages! Sneakers is a definitive exploration of the cultural phenomenon of sneakers, now an 85-billion-dollar-a-year industry. This gift-worthy book features 320 pages of photos and interviews with industry gurus, sports legends, and celebrities in a stunning package created by celebrated designer Rodrigo Corral.
|
|
|
American Runway: 75 Years of Fashion and the Front Row
by Booth Moore
Filled with designer interviews, backstage ephemera and exclusive photos culled from all 75 years of New York Fashion Week, a portrait of the rise of American fashion and the history of the runway brings to life the glitz, glamour, people, places and over-the-top runway productions that will delight die-hard fashion fans and fashionistas alike.
|
|
| Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure by Amy KaufmanWhat it's about: In this dishy exposé, Amy Kaufman peeks behind the curtain of long-running reality show The Bachelor, interviewing former contestants and profiling the show's manipulative producers. Commentary from celebrity fans like Amy Schumer and Donnie Wahlberg is interspersed throughout.
About the author: Los Angeles Times entertainment reporter Kaufman is a longtime fan of the show who has hosted viewing parties and written weekly recaps, though ABC banned her from press calls for coverage deemed too negative.
Is it for you? Fans of the show -- whether conflicted or unabashed in their admiration for it -- will appreciate Kaufman's fun, fascinating perspective. |
|
|
Extra! Weegee: A Collection of 359 Vintage Photographs from 1929-1946
by Daniel Blau
No photographer came close to capturing the sensations, scandals, and catastrophes of 1930s and ’40s New York like Weegee (1899–1968). His striking images—captured through his uncanny ability to be on the spot and ready to shoot when things happened—have become part of the visual vocabulary through which we understand the period. This book, however, offers something new: drawing on an NEA archive that was only discovered in 2012, it presents countless never-before-seen Weegee photos. We see new angles on many of his familiar subjects—from the hardened police officer to the loud-mouthed crook; the midnight boozer to the dancing jazz musician; a dramatic conflagration to the celebrations at the end of World War II—but we also get a glimpse of an unknown side of Weegee through surprising photographs of happy people enjoying themselves. The works are complemented by a fascinating account of the rediscovery of the archive, which had been missing for decades.
|
|
|
You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet: Interviews With Stars from Hollywood's Golden Era
by James Bawden
In You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet, Bawden and Miller return with a new collection of rare interviews with iconic film stars including Henry Fonda, Esther Williams, Buster Keaton, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, and many more. The book is filled with humorous anecdotes and incredible behind-the-scenes stories. For instance, Bette Davis reflects that she and Katharine Hepburn were both considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara but neither was "gorgeous enough" for the part; Janet Leigh analyzes the famous shower scene in Psycho (1960), which was shot in seven days and gave the actress nightmares for years; and Jimmy Stewart describes Alfred Hitchcock as a "strange, roly-poly man, interested only in blondes and murder." Popular horror film stars from Lon Chaney Jr. to Boris Karloff and Vincent Price are also featured in a special "movie monsters" section.
|
|
|
What We Think About When We Think About Soccer
by Simon Critchley
You play soccer. You watch soccer. You live soccer You breathe soccer. But do you think about soccer? Soccer is the world's most popular sport, inspiring the absolute devotion of countless fans around the globe. But what is it about soccer that makes it so compelling to watch, discuss, and think about? Is it what it says about class, race, or gender? Is it our national, regional, or tribal identities? Simon Critchley thinks it's all of these and more. In his new book, he explains what soccer can tell us about each, and how each informs the way we interpret the game, all while building a new system of aesthetics, or even poetics, that we can use to watch the beautiful game. Critchley has made a career out of bringing philosphy to the people through popular subjects, and in What We Think About When We Think About Soccer he uses his considerable philosophical acumen to examine the sport that has captured the hearts and minds of millions.
|
|
|
The Art of Horror Movies: An Illustrated History
by Stephen Jones
Through a series of informative chapters and fascinating sidebars chronologically charting the evolution of horror movies for more than a century, profusely illustrated throughout with over 600 rare and unique images including posters, lobby cards, advertising, promotional items, tie-in books and magazines, and original artwork inspired by classic movies, this handsomely designed hardcover traces the development of the horror film from its inception, and celebrates the actors, filmmakers, and artists who were responsible for scaring the pants off successive generations of moviegoers! Edited by multiple award-winning writer and editor Stephen Jones, and boasting a foreword by director and screenwriter John Landis ( An American Werewolf in London ), this volume brings together fascinating and incisive commentary from some of the genre's most highly respected experts. With eye-popping images from all over the world, The Art of Horror Movies is the definitive guide for anyone who loves horror films and movie fans of all ages.
|
|
|
Marvel the Avengers: The Ultimate Guide--New Edition
by Inc. Dorling Kindersley
Marvel The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide, Updated and Expanded covers everything about Marvel's mightiest Super Hero team--their stories, their powers, their allegiances, and their enemies. Exciting comic-book art on dynamic page design gives a stylish and up-to-the-minute look, while information is presented through character profiles covering key issues, storylines, and topics.
|
|
|
Three Dog Nightmare: The Chuck Negron Story
by Chuck Negron
The former lead singer for Three Dog Night relates his unhappy childhood, his life as a rock star, the drug addiction that nearly killed him, and his final success at getting sober.
|
|
|
The World of Disney-A Wrinkle in Time: The Making of the Movie
by Kate Egan
An official companion to Disney’s upcoming movie adaptation of the classic novel takes readers behind-the-scenes of the film, complete with interviews, photographs and details about production, costumes, characters and the world of one of the most beloved children’s books of the 20th century.
|
|
| Stealing the Show: How Women Are Revolutionizing Television by Joy PressWhat it's about: Drawing from extensive research and reporting, cultural critic Joy Press spotlights the careers of pioneering female showrunners over the last 30 years.
Chapters include: Sharply written profiles of 13 showrunners and their works, ranging from Diane English (creator of Murphy Brown) to Jill Soloway (creator of Transparent, who now identifies as non-binary).
Further reading: Sabrina the Teenage Witch creator Nell Scovell's lively and frank memoir Just the Funny Parts: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys' Club.
|
|
| Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970 by David BrowneWhat it's about: 1970 marked a crucial moment in rock music history, underscoring the cultural fractures of a disillusioned America. The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young all released their final albums; the release of James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James signaled a shift to a gentler sound that would dominate the genre in the decade to come.
What sets it apart: David Browne's use of rare documents and recordings re-contextualizes a turning point in music history. |
|
| Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction by Grady HendrixWhat it is: a tongue-in-cheek survey of pulpy horror paperbacks of the 1970s and '80s, featuring insightful commentary that illuminates the cultural contexts behind publishing trends.
What's inside: Nazi leprechauns, killer embryos, ghost trains, and feral frogs, rendered in sordid detail via colorful cover art reproductions (350 in total).
Don't miss: Playful chapter titles ("Real Estate Nightmares") and subsections ("Salads of the Damned"). |
|
| Never a Dull Moment: 1971 -- The Year That Rock Exploded by David HepworthWhat it is: an entertaining and gossipy month-by-month account of an influential year in music history, tracking the creation of such albums as Carole King's Tapestry and the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers.
Why you might like it: Hepworth explores the impact of instant classics as well as albums that have only recently come into a wider appreciation (such as Nick Drake's Bryter Layter).
|
|
| Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed PiskorWhat it is: an epic graphic novel tracing the development and impact of New York City's hip-hop scene.
Featuring: Bright, cartoon-like art reminiscent of 1970s comics and urban graffiti.
Series alert: This is the first book in a four-volume series. Volume 1 covers 1970-1981; each subsequent volume chronologically covers a brief period of two to three years.
|
|
| Spider From Mars: My Life with Bowie by Woody WoodmanseyWhat it's about: In this engaging memoir -- the first to be published following David Bowie's 2016 death -- Woody Woodmansey recounts his four-year tenure as the drummer for The Spiders from Mars, and his struggle to stay grounded as the group catapulted to stardom.
Supplemental materials: Never-before-seen photographs.
Reviewers say: "Those interested in rock history won't want to miss this slice of music history" (Publishers Weekly). |
|
Never be without a book you love! |
|
|
|
|
|