Popular culture Books

Book SynopsisWinner, 2021 Ray and Pat Browne Edited Collection Award, given by the Popular Culture AssociationHow popular culture is engaged by activists to effect emancipatory political change One cannot change the world unless one can imagine what a better world might look like. Civic imagination is the capacity to conceptualize alternatives to current cultural, social, political, or economic conditions; it also requires the ability to see oneself as a civic agent capable of making change, as a participant in a larger democratic culture. Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination represents a call for greater clarity about what we're fighting fornot just what we're fighting against. Across more than thirty examples from social movements around the world, this casebook proposes civic imagination as a framework that can help us identify, support, and practice new kinds of communal participation. As the contributors demonstrate, young people, in particular, aTrade ReviewAn exceptionally well-conceived and thoughtfully assembled collection that resuscitates a cultural studies oriented toward the popular, in service of politically urgent questions about agency and resources for imagining otherwise. Across a wide array of case studies that span genres, media, and geopolitical contexts, the entries in this volume build on each other in a rich and versatile way. -- Eva Cherniavsky, author of Neocitizenship: Political Culture after DemocracyRaises timely, critical questions and provides creative answers to this current moment in US history ... The essays thus function as a handbook for how individuals and groups can find creative collaborative approaches to crystallize their aspirations for a better society. This collection is a useful resource for scholars and advanced students in media studies, critical cultural studies, social movements, and sociology. * CHOICE *

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Book SynopsisHow do you remember the seventies? Whether it''s as the "Me Decade," the heatwave of 1976, or the Winter of Discontent, you''ll find something in these pages to stir up nostalgia for the pop culture that defined the decade. Cinemas were showing groundbreaking films, from Star Wars and Suspiria to Smokey and the Bandit, and TV programming was in its golden age with children''s classics like Jamie and the Magic Torch and the satirical Abigail''s Party. Then came the first-ever video game consoles -- the Magnavox Odyssey, or the Atari 2600 -- and along with it, Pong. In The Ultimate 70s Collection, you''ll remember (or imagine!) what life was like in this momentous decade. Filled with fascinating articles and high-quality photography, take a trip down memory lane and rediscover the iconic decade that was the seventies!

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Book SynopsisUrban islands and bamboo hideaways set the stage for a pop culture phenomenon like no other. In mid-century America, the imaginative appeal of Tiki penetrated fashion, music, eating, drinking, and architecture. In handy Bibliotheca Universalis format, Tiki Pop traces the development of Tiki as romantic vision and cultural appropriation. Follow Tiki from James Cook's first Pacific Island expeditions, through Gauguin's exotic paintings, Hollywood jungle fantasies, and elaborate temples erected to celebrate Tiki as the god of recreation. With hundreds of images, Tiki the pop icon unfolds from its earliest, enthusiastic beginnings to its spectacular downfall in the dawning awareness of the Western world’s colonial misdeeds. This book is the culmination of the extensive research of Sven Kirsten, urban archaeologist, Tiki sage, and author of earlier TASCHEN investigations, The Book of Tiki and Tiki Modern, which first recovered the figure of Tiki from obscurity. In his widely lauded graphic style, Kirsten places venerable ancient godheads next to their Polynesian pop counterparts, movie posters next to matchboxes, comic strips next to Robinson Crusoe illustrations. The result is at once a visual feast, a piece of cultural history, and a tribute to a very particular vision of paradise.Trade Review“…a beautifully illustrated, encyclopedic and loving treatment.” * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisVisitors marvel at Hong Kong's breathtaking location, its amazing architecture, its exciting shopping, and its fine dining. And yet it is a land of opposites of order juxtaposed with chaos, of ancient etiquette and seemingly abrupt manners, a place where rich and poor live in close proximity. Culturally, Hong Kong is rooted in the traditions of China, but there is more than a patina of Westernization. And despite stiff competition, it remains the principal international financial center in China. Hong Kong has more holidays than anywhere in the world, and most are celebrated in the streets or parks. Culture Smart! Hong Kong introduces the reader to this vibrant, multifaceted society. It provides helpful advice and cultural insights on business practice and social etiquette.Trade ReviewCulture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers...' Sunday Times Travel, ' the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries.' Global Travel, ' full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas.' Observer, ' as useful as they are entertaining.' Easy Jet Magazine, ' offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world.' New York TimesTable of ContentsBrief History Politics - Economic Life Traditions - Friendships & Family Relationships Bureaucracy Religion Humour - Local Holidays Taboos Invitations Gifts Dress - Business etiquette - Punctuality & Appointments - Team working Communication Negotiating - Women in Society Tips - Eating Out - Traditional Food - Dos and Don t - Making Friends

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Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times bestseller: a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear--now with a brand new bonus chapter!'You could spend a lifetime and fortune finding the perfect therapist, mentor, minister, career coach, and girlfriend - or you could just spend a day reading PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER.' Glennon Doyle, author of #1 NYT Bestseller UntamedFrom the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Judging You, a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear - that everlasting hater - and audaciously step into lives, careers, and legacies that go beyond even our wildest dreams.Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warm voice, and exceptional integrity. But even she's been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear. She was once afraid to call herself a writer because she was afraid of the title. She nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. And, as she shares in The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons from a Professional Troublemaker, she's not alone. We're all afraid. We're afraid of asking for what we want because we're afraid of hearing "no." We're afraid of being different, of being too much or not enough. We're afraid of leaving behind the known for the unknown. But in order to do the things that will truly, meaningfully change our lives, we have to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say to live free.With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, Luvvie walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; how to use our voice for a greater good; and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing-because truth-telling is a muscle. The point is not to be fearless, but to know we are afraid and charge forward regardless. It is to recognize that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower. Let's go!Trade ReviewYou could spend a lifetime and fortune finding the perfect therapist, mentor, minister, career coach, and girlfriend -- or you could just spend a day reading PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER. This book - Luvvie Ajayi Jones's most helpful, bold, vulnerable, hilarious, and relevant work yet -- is equal parts catharsis and wake-up call, both comforting and galvanizing. I laughed and cried so hard that my family asked me to read in the other room. With her razor-sharp mind, soul on fire, and heart of gold --- Luvvie is the activist and artist the world needs right now. This will be my go-to gift for all the beloved troublemakers in my life. * Glennon Doyle, author of #1 NYT Bestseller Untamed and founder of Together Rising *There's nobody quite like Luvvie Ajayi Jones. She's a force and a powerhouse, the thunder and the lightning - and Professional Troublemaker shows us exactly how she got that way. This is a great book about reaching deep down inside yourself, crushing your fears, unleashing your 'too-muchness,' and giving yourself permission to shake the world. In a voice that is funny, wise, bold, and always generous, Luvvie encourages, inspires, and dares us to follow our dreams, fight against injustice, soak up the pleasures of life, and take up all the space in the room. If this book doesn't make you feel bolder and braver by the final page, then you weren't reading it right. I loved every passionate word of it * Elizabeth Gilbert, author of City of Girls and Eat Pray Love *This book is a comfort and a challenge. It inspires, encourages, heartens, and invigorates in equal measure. You should read it * Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Furiously Happy and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened *As an oft-scared chickenhead, who cares too much about what others think, it's so comforting to be guided through my own crippling fear and self-doubt by one of the bravest, most incisively honest, hysterical voices I know. This book was so real, relatable and so much of it had me belly laughing. This is the essential manual for anybody who is ready to take that leap of faith to bet on the best, uninhibited, whole version of themselves * Issa Rae, Actor and New York Times Bestselling Author of The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl *Luvvie Ajayi Jones describes herself as 'a professional troublemaker'. From her TED talk Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable to setting up her own safe space social platform, LuvvNation, she's pushed boundaries despite struggling with fear and imposter syndrome and this book is about exactly that. We all feel fear and insecurity but that, in a world that wants to keep people in their boxes, we need to speak out, acknowledge we will always have that fear and get on with it anyway. Written with humour and verve, this is about changing the world politically and personally even if it means we need a bit of courage to do so. * The Stylist *This read underlines why facing your fears is crucial to changing the status quo - both personally and politically * Stylist *

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For nearly fifty years, Vivian Gornick's essays, written with her characteristic clarity of perception and vibrant prose, have explored feminism and writing, literature and culture, politics and personal experience. Drawing writing from the course of her career, Taking a Long Look illuminates one of the driving themes behind Gornick's work: that the painful process of understanding one's self is what binds us to the larger world.In these essays, Gornick explores the lives and literature of Alfred Kazin, Mary McCarthy, Diana Trilling, Philip Roth, Joan Didion, and Herman Melville; the cultural impact of Silent Spring and Uncle Tom's Cabin; and the characters you might only find in a New York barber shop or midtown bus terminal. Even more, All That Is Given brings back into print her incendiary essays, first published in the Village Voice, championing the emergence of the women's liberation movement of the 1970s.Alternately crackling with urgency or lucid with insight, the essays in Taking a Long Look demonstrate one of America's most beloved critics at her best.

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Book SynopsisOver the years, Mondo has received global recognition for its incredible art posters that bring to life classic films, TV shows, and comics in a refreshing and utterly striking new way, offering a unique perspective on everything from Star Wars to Robocop, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Game of Thrones, Godzilla, Kill Bill, and many, many more. For the first time, The Art of Mondo will bring together this much sought-after art in one deluxe volume that showcases the incredible ingenuity of the studio's diverse stable of artists whose vastly different styles are united by one guiding principle: limitless passion for their subject matter. This richly imaginative work is fueled by a love of pop culture that fans recognize and identify with, giving Mondo's output a rare and valuable synergy with its audience. While these posters are normally produced in a limited quantity and sell out in minutes, The Art of Mondo will allow fans to explore the studio's remarkable back catalog, including Olly Moss's iconic Star Wars trilogy work, Laurent Durieux's brilliantly subtle Jaws poster, and Tyler Stout's Guardians of the Galaxy art. Other key Mondo artists such as Jock, Martin Asin, and Aaron Horkey will also feature. Definitive, visually stunning, and filled with art that celebrates some of the biggest and best-loved properties in pop culture, The Art of Mondo will be the ultimate book for cult art fans everywhere.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first history of the Hippie Trail. It records the joys and pains of budget travel to Kathmandu, India, Afghanistan and other ‘points east’ in the 1960s and 1970s. Written in a clear, simple style, it provides detailed analysis of the motivations and the experiences of hundreds of thousands of hippies who travelled eastwards. The book is structured around four key debates: were the travellers simply motivated by a search for drugs? Did they encounter love or sexual freedom on the road? Were they basically just tourists? Did they resemble pilgrims? It also considers how the travellers have been represented in films, novels and autobiographical accounts, and will appeal to those interested in the Trail or the 1960s counterculture, as well as students taking courses relating to the 1960s.Trade Review‘[A] well-written, comprehensive volume, one that can equally serve classrooms, research, and the general reader interested in a fascinating chapter in this important era’Tom Fels, The Sixties, A Journal of History, Politics and Culture -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: beginning the trail1 Drugs and the trail2 Sex and love on the road3 The hippie as tourist4 The hippie as pilgrim5 Representing the trail: Hideous Kinky and beyondEpilogue: ending the journeyIndex

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Book SynopsisManchester, its bands, its fashions, its attitude, has defined pop culture for the best part of four decades. Joy Division, The Fall, Buzzcocks, New Order, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Oasis. These were the bands that shaped two generations of teenagers and changed the course of pop music.Manchester: Looking for the Light through the Pouring Rain is a portrait of these individuals, the city, and their times. Whether it be on a rain-soaked stage in Brazil, a rented room in Whalley Range, or on the dancefloor of the legendary Hacienda, Kevin Cummins'' exquisite photographs capture the anarchic energy of the Manchester pop moment. This stunning visual record of the city and its pop history is complemented by four textual contributions from Paul Morley, Stuart Maconie, Gavin Martin and John Harris. What is it about that city that makes it the Memphis of the UK? Cummins'' photographic record of the past 30 years captures the highs, the lows and the transcendent pop mom

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking study examines Muslim female superheroes within a matrix of Islamic theology, feminism, and contemporary political discourse. Through a close reading of texts including Ms. Marvel, Qahera, and The 99, Sophia Rose Arjana argues that these powerful and iconic characters reflect independence and agency, reflecting the diverse lives of Muslim girls and women in the world today.Trade ReviewSophia Arjana’s book is my ideal balance of a popular-academic book. Academics are perpetually in search of that book which will be informative and scholarly as well as creative and fun: professor, that book has arrived. Using a refreshingly global, multi-stranded framework of religious studies, gender and women’s studies, cultural studies, and media studies, Dr. Arjana investigates the subversive up-ending of cultural power dynamics through the lens of visual media. Comic book superheroes are the perfect champions to interrogate outdated, wooden status quo of dominant majority cultures. And Muslim women superheroes are ideal protagonists to right wrongs and smash hegemonic stereotypes. Arjana shows how they battle for new paradigms like the heroes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, fight-dancing atop towering yet teetering cultural tropes. -- Shabana Mir, associate professor of religion, American Islamic CollegeSophia Arjana’s meticulously researched book is a must read for anyone looking for a window into current realities of Muslim lived experiences and on-the-ground and symbolic practices of resistance against islamophobia and objectification. Self- and other-rescuing female Muslim superheroes reclaiming symbols, their bodies, and their faith are part of the real, complex, diverse lived experiences of struggle and grass roots Islamic social justice work of Muslimah around the world. Arjana makes accessible the public pedagogy of graphic novels, and presents us with the kind of anti-colonial, feminist, liberational partners of which we need legion in our times. -- Heike Peckruhn, assistant professor of religious studies, Daemen CollegeWorking at the intersection of religion, popular culture, and gender studies, Sophia Arjana explores comics’ complex and compelling representations of Muslim women, beyond sexualized stereotypes. Drawing on examples from the famous (Ms. Marvel) to the little known (Bloody Nasreen), Veiled Superheroes situates characters in their diverse national environments while analyzing globally relevant issues of agency, imperialism, and power. -- Kecia Ali, Boston University, professor of religion, Boston UniversityThis is an invigorating, lively, and original book which will have a broad appeal in a number of academic fields including Cultural, Gender, and Islamic Studies. Examining a diverse set of the representations of Muslims in contemporary comics and animation, Sophia Rose Arjana provides lucid analytical insights on the intricate relationships between popular culture, identity, sociality, and reigning political dynamics. Her project brings the subversive and innovative genre of Muslimah Superheroes into a creative and engaged conversation with Islamic feminism and Sufism, all the while proving that erudite academic work can also be exciting and fun to read! -- Sadiyya Shaikh, associate professor of religious studies, University of Cape TownTable of ContentsForeword- Wajahat Ali Introduction 1. Muslim Women in Western Popular Culture 2. The Muslim Body, Veiling, and Contestations of Islam 3. Ms. Marvel, Islam, and America 4. Burka Avenger and the Subversive Veil 5. Qahera, Raat, Bloody Nasreen, and the Vigilante Superhero Conclusion: Islamic Feminism and Muslim Chivalry

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Amazon's Best Books of 2020 in Business and Leadership""Honorable Mention for the Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award, Consumers and Consumption Section of the American Sociological Association""Fascinating."---Helen Rosner, New Yorker"The most colourful investigation into nightlife and gender politics since Gloria Steinem went incognito as a Playboy Bunny in 1963."---Mark Smith, The Times"Riveting. . . . The results of her investigation are astonishing. Mears has amassed pages of enthralling, richly human testimony. . . . The anecdotes are hugely entertaining, in a throw-up-in-your-mouth way. . . . Mears’s thesis—that nightclubs aren’t exceptions to ‘real life,’ but a distilled, brutal caricature of it—gathers strength as the details accumulate. . . . Elegantly written and genuinely page-turning, with revelations about life that go far beyond nightclubs."---Iona McLaren, Daily Telegraph"Mears is a very good reporter. . . . A fascinating read."---Lynn Barber, The Spectator"Riveting. . . . Mears is an excellent storyteller, resulting in a book that’s well-informed and critical but also animated and engaging." * Tatler *"Very Important People was written before the coronavirus pandemic, but Covid-19 makes it more relevant. Lockdown has widened inequality as poorer households lose jobs and rely on their savings. Meanwhile, the rich are getting richer, leading to pent up demand for parties, girls and bottle trains among those who have already missed a season of it."---Ollie Williams, Forbes"Very Important People depicts a complex world of exchange and exploitation, and warrants praise for doing so without passing predictable moral judgement. More than offering a mere window into the exotic lives of others, Ashley Mears emphasizes themes that should resonate with us all: the labour of marginalized others that lurks behind so much status-seeking consumption, the risks of conflating work with fun and friendship, and the sad fact that 'girl power' remains as oxymoronic as ever."---Alice Bloch, Times Literary Supplement"Enlightening. . . . A fascinating glimpse into life behind the velvet rope."---Matthew Partridge, Money Week"Compelling, vivid and curiously poignant. . . . Very Important People succeeds in exposing the intriguing and often distressing realities of a culture whose values seem both alien and unpleasantly persistent."---Lisa Hilton, The Critic"Mears takes her readers inside the exclusive global nightclub and party circuit, from New York City to Miami and Saint-Tropez, in order to reveal a world constituted by spectacular displays of wealth."---Laurie Taylor, BBC Radio 4, Thinking Allowed"Throughout the seven chapters of the book, Mears dissects the economy of “ models and bottles ” (p. 17), or the formula by which we designate those parties in which the super rich display their power by attending models and making flaunting their wealth by wasting money and buying many bottles at exorbitant prices.”"---Giulia Mensitieri, La Vie Des Idees

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Book SynopsisRoute 66 Adventure Handbook is your personal guide to the vanishing American roadside, with all of its exuberance, splendor, and absurdity. For this updated and expanded sixth edition, Drew Knowles has included it all: magnificent architecture, natural wonders, Art Deco masterpieces, vintage motels and cafes, unique museums, offbeat attractions, fascinating artifacts and icons, and kitschy tourist traps. The addition of more city maps, showing the multiple paths of Route 66 and displaying the exact locations of points of interest, is a major improvement over the already critically acclaimed fifth edition of the book. The sixth edition also includes hundreds of beautiful new photographs—including a 24-page center insert with stunning color photos and the addition of dozens of new attractions. Knowles has also added QR codes for certain locations that will enable the reader to access additional online material, such as more photos, video clips, and scans of vintage memorabilia. Additionally, GPS coordinates have been included for virtually all of the photos, so that travelers can plug the information into their smartphones and other navigation devices and instantly determine where each photo was taken and compare it to the condition of that particular site at the time of their visit. Filled with wonderfully quirky side trips and fun bits of trivia, Route 66 Adventure Handbook is the most authoritative resource for anyone looking to explore the Mother Road. Fasten your seat belts!Trade Review“Just when you think you know all there is to know about the most famous roadway in America, along comes this expanded edition of Drew Knowles’s phenomenal guidebook with more offbeat attractions, a host of vintage motels and cafés, and a plethora of fascinating historical (and apocryphal) anecdotes. His book makes a great read, whether or not you have ever put your pedal to the metal.”—Newsday “As readers and travelers, we found the Route 66 Adventure Handbook the best of its class. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler of Route 66 or gearing up for your first adventure, this book is a must-have. Drew Knowles doesn’t just guide you along Route 66; he ensures you savor every bit of its storied path.”—RoadTrip America “If you want to tap into a wealth of useful and fascinating Route 66 knowledge, you need to buy this book. . . . Essential for every bona fide Road Warrior.”—Michael Wallis, author of Route 66: The Mother Road “Don’t leave your driveway without it.”—Road & Track “Route 66 Adventure Handbook shows how travelers can still get their kicks on America’s iconic road. . . . Route 66 Adventure Handbook provides a map of what’s left of the road and its charms. . . . Knowles highlights odd facts and off-the-beaten-track attractions.”—New York Daily News “Anyone who wants to turn Route 66 into the next great road trip should bring along Drew Knowles’s extensive and downright fun guide. . . . Quirky side trips are what make Route 66 still popular today and are what set Knowles’s guidebook apart from others.”—The Mercury News “An uncommonly detailed and helpful handbook to guide drivers exploring unmarked stretches of the fabled U.S. Highway 66. . . . It definitely belongs in the library of every Route 66 fan. It also belongs in the glove box when armchair travelers take to the road.”―Mary Kate Tripp, book editor, Amarillo Globe-News “Reading this book is like downing five energy drinks. It's exhilarating, like flooring the pedal someplace between Kingman and Seligman, Arizona. So fast and frequent are the Mother Road highlights, you can hardly keep up with the pace. No wonder the author, Drew Knowles, calls it the 'high-octane' edition. It'll leave you breathless―and ready to drop the top and roll.”―American Road magazine “Drew Knowles has written a Route 66 travel guide for those with a sense of adventure. He makes the reader want to be a detective. The commentary about sights to see along the way is particularly helpful.”―Tom Teague, executive director, Illinois State Historical Society “Drew Knowles has crafted a much-needed addition to the literature of the Mother Road. In the Route 66 Adventure Handbook, he takes us on a complete tour of lesser-known but fascinating icons and attractions, from one end of the great highway to the other. Add to the mix a strong flavor of historical facts and anecdotes, and it becomes a book no 66er should be without.”―Jim Ross, author of Oklahoma Route 66 “If you read and use this guide, there is a very good chance you will change your attitude towards motoring. Rather than simply driving to a location, your trip will become the destination.”―David Knudson, executive director, National Historic Route 66 Federation “There are a few reasons to buy a book: to add to your collection, to read, and/or to use. The Route 66 Adventure Handbook fills all three categories. Whereas a map shows you how to get from one place to another, this book tells you why you want to go from place to place. It is just as important in planning a trip as any map―maybe more so.”―James M. Conkle, executive director, California Route 66 Preservation Foundation “If seeing Cars has gotten you yearning for a journey down America’s highway, then the new expanded edition of Drew Knowles’s Route 66 Adventure Handbook is your perfect guide, detailing the roadside attractions, motels, eateries, and natural wonders that will make your trip one to remember.”―QuickStopEntertainment.com “After I saw Cars, I toyed with the idea of doing a road trip on Route 66, as it was so wonderfully depicted in the movie. Then I realized we don’t have a vehicle that could even get us as far as Barstow. But then, the next best thing arrived on my desk: Route 66 Adventure Handbook, the updated and expanded edition, by Drew Knowles. Organized in an easy-to-read way, the writing is fun and informative. I had no idea, for instance, that Route 66―once the main road going from Chicago to Los Angeles―was replaced by five modern highways.”―Contra Costa Times “The release of the movie Cars has certainly increased interest in Route 66, the classic ‘Mother Road’ pre-Interstate highway that stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles. Though the road no longer officially exists in the U.S. highway lexicon, many of the tourist sights, motels, and roadside diners along the way have been preserved. Knowles’s fifth edition offers insights into offbeat roadside attractions, vintage motels and cafés, natural wonders, and quirky side trips. The book covers a town-by-town description of Route 66 in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, as well as the history of the road and how to find it in places where it might have disappeared. Don’t expect to find the Cars town of Radiator Springs, however. It is a fictional amalgamation of many Route 66 places.”―Salt Lake Tribune

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Book SynopsisA rich collection of interviews, essays and full-colour illustrations from the testosterone-heavy 35-cent men's magazines that were created to help veterans confront the realities of the Cold War.

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Book SynopsisAnd what, exactly is 'this'. In On the Road Bike, Ned Boulting asks how Britain became so obsessed with cycling.Trade ReviewFunny, fascinating and frequently touching ... will be enjoyed by anyone with even a passing interest in cycling. No bib shorts required -- Helen Pidd * Guardian *Don't expect to read a better sports book this year. Funny, serious, quirky, hard hitting. -- Brendan GallagherQuirky, insightful, soulful. Could be subtitled 'cyclists are odd - discuss' -- Matt Dickinson * @DickinsonTimes *It's very funny, surprisingly insightful and features telling observations from a litany of engaging personalities along with Ned's amusing take on his own cycling experiences * Wheelsuckers *Boulting is a delightful narrator, amusingly preoccupied by his own middle-class roots * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisExplore all that Vulcan has to offer in an interactive guidebook. Drawing on 50 years of Star Trek TV shows, films, and novels to present a comprehensive guide to Spock's iconic home world, it covers every significant region, with historical, geographical, and cultural insights that bring the planet to life. Illustrated with classic Star Trek imagery and original illustrations. The perfect way to celebrate 50 years of Star Trek.

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Book SynopsisCulture Smart guides help travellers have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.Trade ReviewCulture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers...' Sunday Times Travel, ' the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries.' Global Travel, ' full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas.' Observer, ' as useful as they are entertaining.' Easy Jet Magazine, ' offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world.' New York TimesTable of ContentsBrief History Politics - Economic Life Traditions - Friendships & Family Relationships Bureaucracy Religion Humour - Local Holidays Taboos Invitations Gifts Dress - Business etiquette - Punctuality & Appointments - Team working Communication Negotiating - Women in Society Tips - Eating Out - Traditional Food - Dos and Don t - Making Friends

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Book SynopsisFew urban critters are more reviled than the hipster. They are notoriously difficult to define, and yet we know one when we see one. No wonder: they were among the global cultural phenomena that ushered in the 21st century. They have become a bulwark of mainstream culture, cultural commodity, status, butt of all jokes and ready-made meme. But frightening as it is to imagine, for more than a century hipsters have been lurking among us. Defined by their appearances and the cloud of meaning attached to them—the cool vanguard of gentrification, the personification of capitalism with a conscience—hipsters are all looks, and these looks are a visual timeline to America’s past and present. Underlining this timeline is the pattern of American popular culture’s love/hate/theft relationship with Black culture. Yet the pattern of recycling has reached a chilling point: the 21st century hipster made all possible past fads into new trends, including and especially the old uncool. In Decolonize Hipsters, Grégory Pierrot gives us a field guide to the phenomenon, a symptom and vanguard of the wave of aggressive white supremacist sentiment now oozing from around the globe.Trade Review“Ever since Norman Mailer styled himself as a 'White Negro' and Anatole Broyard passed as a white jazz fan, the hipster has been a subject of fascination in cultural criticism, a symbol of the love and theft at the heart of American popular culture. Grégory Pierrot's fiercely illuminating short book dissects the political complacency and racial delusions of hipsterism, but it does so with a verve, swagger and irreverence. Pierrot provides us not only an anatomy of hipsterism's past, but a vision of its possible future. ” —Adam Shatz, editor of Prophets Outcast “Decolonize Hipsters, the opening salvo in a new series of handbooks, places hipsters at the vanguard of a movement that starts with gentrification but ends with gifting Trump the White House and giving rise and misguided succour to white supremacists… Quoting Karl Marx through to Lemmy from Motorhead, Pierrot fleshes out the essence of modern hipsterdom and its pernicious contemporary manifestations…. In your face for all the right reasons, it’s full of fun and thoughtful facts, interesting anecdotes and parallels that all lead in the same direction—how hipsters steal, suck up and squander what they should hold dear… A quick and thought-provoking read that eloquently sets an agenda, justifies it, and demands that action is taken.” —Morning Star

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Book SynopsisCulture Smart guides help travellers have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.Trade ReviewCulture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers...' Sunday Times Travel, ' the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries.' Global Travel, ' full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas.' Observer, ' as useful as they are entertaining.' Easy Jet Magazine, ' offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world.' New York TimesTable of ContentsBrief History Politics - Economic Life Traditions - Friendships & Family Relationships Bureaucracy Religion Humour - Local Holidays Taboos Invitations Gifts Dress - Business etiquette - Punctuality & Appointments - Team working Communication Negotiating - Women in Society Tips - Eating Out - Traditional Food - Dos and Don t - Making Friends

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Book SynopsisFrom computer games to figurines and maid cafes, men called “otaku” develop intense fan relationships with “cute girl” characters from manga, anime, and related media and material in contemporary Japan. While much of the Japanese public considers the forms of character love associated with “otaku” to be weird and perverse, the Japanese government has endeavored to incorporate “otaku” culture into its branding of “Cool Japan.” In Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan, Patrick W. Galbraith explores the conflicting meanings of “otaku” culture and its significance to Japanese popular culture, masculinity, and the nation. Tracing the history of “otaku” and “cute girl” characters from their origins in the 1970s to his recent fieldwork in Akihabara, Tokyo (“the Holy Land of Otaku”), Galbraith contends that the discourse surrounding “otaku” reveals tensions aTrade Review“In this tremendous book, Patrick W. Galbraith brings to life the relatively unknown world of Japanese popular culture. His voice shines throughout thoughtful interviews, detailed ethnography, sensitive portraits of people characterized as ‘otaku,’ and nuanced readings of videogames and interactive fiction. An impressive contribution to the field of manga and anime studies.” -- Ian Condry, author of * The Soul of Anime: Collaborative Creativity and Japan’s Media Success Story *“This book offers nothing less than a thorough rethinking of normative sexuality and alternative sexualities through the figure of the otaku and their practices. It's everything that the fields of Japan studies, queer theory, and media history need at this moment. A virtually flawless and captivating read.” -- Marc Steinberg, author of * Anime’s Media Mix: Franchising Toys and Characters in Japan *"This thoughtful investigation of hegemonic masculinity and its alternatives at the margins of imagination is well-sourced with cultural and academic research as well as personal experience." -- R. Tait-Ripperdan * Choice *“Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan is a meticulously researched book...[and] a strong contribution to the field of Japanese popular culture.” -- Emma E. Cook * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *“This is an excellent and thought-provoking text which will no doubt take its rightful place in the canon of manga, anime, and otaku studies. . . . The narrative [Galbraith] weaves contains just the right amount of academic theoretical discourse, reflections on his personal involvement in the movement, more as a participant than as a participant observer, and a solid history of Japanese (sub-)culture over the last 50 years.” -- Holger Briel * Japanese Studies *Table of ContentsDedication / Acknowledgments ix Introduction. "Otaku" and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan 1 1. Seeking an Alternative: "Male Sōjo Fans since the 1970s 20 2. "Otaku" Research and Reality Problems 49 3. Moe: An Affective Response to Fictional Characters 76 4. Akihabara: "Otaku" and Contested Imaginaries in Japan 127 5. Maid Cafés: Relations with Fictional and Real Others in Spaces Between 184 Conclusion. Eshi 100: The Politics of Japanese, "Otaku," Popular Culture in Akihabara and Beyond 227 Notes 261 Bibliography 289 Index 311

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Book Synopsis321 surprising facts about flora and fauna, language, famous people, our planet earth and much more.Table of Contents1. Animals galore • 2. The Incredible Human Body • 3. Sport is Good for You (most of the time) • 4. (In)famous Faces • 5. A Journey through History • 6. Our Beautiful Planet • 7. All Around the World • 8. The Wonderful World of Science • 9. Words and Language • 10. Adventures in Botany • 11. Food, Glorious Food • 12. To Infinity and Beyond

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Book SynopsisGudetama Cross-Stitch combines cross-stitching fun with 30 easy-to-follow patterns inspired by everyone's favorite lazy egg with the can't-be-bothered attitude. Gudetama’s name literally translates to “lazy egg,” and it’s how we all feel sometimes when it comes to, well, pretty much anything. But if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t have time for complicated crafts or dealing with other people, then this collection of 30 Gudetama-inspired designs are just for you. First, you’ll learn cross-stitching basics including tools and techniques and how to read a cross-stitch chart. Then you’ll apply your new skills to a range of hilarious and lovable patterns organized into chapters like Lazy, Medium-Lazy, and Pay Attention—depending on how sluggish or motivated you’re feeling. Finally, you’ll be able to apply your masterpieces to projects like gift tags, greeting cards, and orna

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Book Synopsis Isaac Asimov’s Foundation is the most influential science-fiction epic of all time. Published as a series of books and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s, the series has impacted most subsequent science fiction, and influenced sciences like sociology, statistics, and psychology. The story has now been made into a highly acclaimed TV serial (Foundation), on Apple TV, the second season now shooting in Prague. The story begins 45,000 years in the future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar human empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced mathematical technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari Seldon, predicts the collapse and establishes a “foundation” to bring about the resurrection of human civilization many generations in the future.Asimov’s Foundation and Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations, whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in analyzing human behavior.Joshua Heter teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam (2022).Josef Thomas Simpson is an academic coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA (2016).Trade ReviewIsaac Asimov (January 2, 1920 - April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. A prolific writer, he wrote or edited more than 500 books. He also wrote an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. Best known for his hard science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much non-fiction. (Wikipedia) Simply stated, novelist Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy is arguably the most influential science-fiction epic of all time. Published as a series of books and short stories from the 1940s to the 1980s, the series has impacted most subsequent science fiction, and influenced sciences like sociology, statistics, and psychology. The story has now been made into a highly acclaimed TV serial (Foundation), on Apple TV, the second season now shooting in Prague. The story begins 45,000 years in the future, and spans centuries in which a vast and successful interstellar human empire is unknowingly headed for total collapse. Using an advanced mathematical technique called psycho-history, a brilliant scientist, Hari Seldon, predicts the collapse and establishes a "foundation" to bring about the resurrection of human civilization many generations in the future. Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy is a collection of twenty-four chapter by philosophers exploring the philosophical issues and puzzles raised by this epic story. Topics include whether one individual can make a big difference in history, the ethics of manipulating large populations of people to bring about a desirable future result, the Dao of non-action, the impact of education on future generations, whether human affairs are governed by predictable cycles, whether attempts to plan for the future must be thwarted by free will, the futility of empire-building, the ethics of cloning human beings, and the use of logic in analyzing human behavior. Critique: Of special appeal to the legions of Isaac Asimov fans, and deftly co-edited by the team of Joshua Heter and Josef Thomas Simpson, "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is a compendium of twenty-three erudite and inherently interesting articles on the impact of the Foundation series on popular culture, introducing the concept of 'psychohistory'. Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an eight page Bibliography, a four page listing of the contributors and their credentials (The Encyclopedists), and a three page Index, "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is a significant and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Popular Culture & Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99). Editorial Note #1: Joshua Heter (https://philpeople.org/profiles/joshua-heter) teaches philosophy at Jefferson College, Missouri, and is co-editor of Better Call Saul and Philosophy: I Think Therefore I Scam (2022). Editorial Note #2: Josef Thomas Simpson (https://philpeople.org/profiles/josef-thomas-simpson) is an academic coach and part-time lecturer. He contributed chapters to Westworld and Philosophy: Mind Equals Blown (2019) and Orphan Black and Philosophy: Grand Theft DNA (2016).

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis book, supported by relevant fieldwork and interviews, is a thoughtful discussion of the role of entertainment journalism in circulating, inspiring, expanding, and sometimes simplifying and sensationalizing political discourses...Penney's insightful dissection of entertainment, politics, and journalism is deeply illuminating. * Choice *Students will recognize the journalism and the political landscape described in this book. With discussions and interviews that address #MeToo, #OscarsSoWhite, and other debates that have been brought to the public via entertainment journalism, Pop Culture, Politics, and the News will remind readers that entertainment journalism is politically significant and that representation matters. I can't wait to use this book in journalism and media studies classes. * Lynn Schofield Clark, Director of the Estlow International Center for Journalism and New Media, University of Denver *Are the political battles of the twenty-first century being won on the playing fields of popular culture? That certainly seems to be a credible claim in our era of polarized social media in which public attention seems monopolized by the weapons of mass distraction. Entertainment journalism as a shaper and reflection of contemporary life receives a long overdue examination in this theoretically nuanced and empirically grounded study. * Larry Gross, Professor of Communication, University of Southern California *In this engagingly written and insightful book, Joel Penney addresses a dire need in the field by making a compelling case for the centrality of entertainment journalism as part of today's political communication landscape. Integrating the viewpoints of entertainment journalists from both left and right and the audiences who actively engage with their content, this book is a must-read for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the nexus of popular culture and politics today. * Neta Kligler-Vilenchik, Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism, Hebrew University of Jerusalem *Joel Penney offers compelling arguments for why 'soft news' should not be written off as frivolous or as having little public value, while also illuminating the potential dangers of conveying heated political issues via for-profit, click-bait-oriented entertainment journalism. Based on interviews with journalists and audiences, this insightful book will inspire lively class discussions about the colliding political and cultural spheres of our contemporary news media environment. * Regina Marchi, Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, Rutgers University *Table of ContentsDedication Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Why Pop Culture News Matters: Theorizing and Historicizing Entertainment Journalism as Political Communication Chapter 2: Progressing Hollywood: Left-Wing Entertainment Journalism and the Push for Diversity and Accountability Chapter 3: Pop Culture Warriors: Right-Wing Entertainment Journalism and the Fight Against "Big Hollywood" Chapter 4: Hot Takes and Clickbait: The Impact of Commercialism on the Pop Culture-Politics Beat Chapter 5: Trending Outrage: How Social Media Impacts the Work of Journalists at the Pop Culture-Politics Nexus Chapter 6: Pop Culture News as a Bridge to Politics? Exploring the Audience Perspective Chapter 7: Conclusion: Assessing the Public Value of Journalism at the Pop Culture-Politics Nexus Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisLAN PartyIn addition to documenting the nostalgic era of LAN parties, the photographs are unique artifacts of the peculiar cultural and technological moment, when gaming was tipping over from niche hobby to mainstream obsession. They reveal not just the home decor and personal fashion styles at the turn of the millennium but also a different world, one that existed before the internet took shape and we started carrying it around with us in our pockets.LAN Party

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Book SynopsisHorror Unmasked offers a general introduction to the popular film genre, serves as a guidebook to its film highlights, and celebrates its practitioners, trends, and stories.Trade Review"Considering the massive scope, this photobook is surprisingly succinct, informative, and helpful as an overview of horror films." -- Kevin Howell * Library Journal *"Well-researched text and quality film poster art make for great, spooky bed-time reading." * Creammagazine.com *"...will be sure to keep new horror fans up at night...an admirable effort that will undoubtedly give a budding horror fan a ton of fun homework." * MovieJawn.com *“…a great history of horror that spans both time and the globe…allows readers to find plenty of great recommendations and learn why these horror films are important to the legacy of the genre. Context is king, and Horror Unmasked lives up to its billing of providing a history of terror from Nosferatu to Nope.” * ComingSoon.net *"...an introspective examination of the films, filmmakers, and regions that have created and continue to influence the modern horror genre, Horror Unmasked is one history that you should own." -- Nick Banks * ConSkipper *"Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope is an excellent book. It addresses the horror film genre from a comfortable and accessible direction, providing a wide-ranging and extensive overview of the genre. Fans of horror cinema, old and new, will want to own this book and display it prominently in their collection." * Cemetary Dance *“Horror Unmasked” is not just a book for avid horror fans; it’s a comprehensive and highly illustrated exploration of the genre’s history dissected by an author who is not only an expert but also a passionate enthusiast. * Colorado Hometown Weekly *"This beautifully constructed 200+ page hardcover book encapsulates an extensive and comprehensive timeline of horror's history on film. As a reading experience, think about walking down the blood-soaked museum halls and terrorizing wings of the genre in every decade and then exploring the significance and impact movement of the sub-genre collections of styles (i.e. slasher, found footage, possession) within them. All with Weisman acting as your expert voice and tour guide." * The Reel Vision *Table of ContentsWORLD MAP OF HORROR INTRODUCTION SHADOWY SILENCE Horror Before Sound BROWNING AND CHANEY The Father of Freaks and the Man of a Thousand Faces MONSTER CENTRAL The Great Horror Cycles Begin CRANKING OUT THE CREEPIES Horror in the 1930s and 1940s VAL LEWTON AND THE TERRORS OF THE UNSEEN ATOMIC-AGE MONSTERS The Sci-Fi/Horror Boom BLOOD AND BOSOMS The Success of Hammer Horror THE MOMENT OF SHOCK Psycho and Peeping Tom THE CORMAN POES AND THE PEERLESS VINCENT PRICE HORROR, ITALIAN STYLE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, 1960–1975 BLOODY ENGLAND Hammer’s Competitors THE SLEEP OF REASON Horror in Spanish GODZILLA & CO Far East Horror in Transition POLANSKI, COFFIN JOE, AND OTHERS CLARK, CRAVEN, CARPENTER, AND CRONENBERG MAINSTREAM HORROR OR: BRING THE KIDS! J- AND K-HORROR, AND OTHER ASIAN ENTRIES THE PROBLEM OF TORTURE PORN ZOMBIES! THERE’S USUALLY A GORILLA Horror-Comedies MASTERS FOR A NEW MILLENNIUM IS HORROR LEGIT? POST-HORROR AND BEYOND GLOSSARY Subgenres of Horror NOTES IMAGE CREDITS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Book SynopsisThe third-largest country in Latin America, Mexico is hugely diverse, having both rural backwaters where time seems to have stood still and manic urban centers like Mexico City, one of the most densely populated and exciting cities in the world. This complex and fascinating country is where European and American civilizations first clashed. The repercussions of the meeting in 1519 between the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and the Aztec Emperor Montezuma II, and the subsequent devastation wrought by the Spanish conquest, is still felt today. Culture Smart! Mexico takes you to the heart of Mexican society and introduces you to the proud, spiritual, dynamic, fatalistic, and fun-loving people who call this country home. It describes how people socialize, the dynamics of daily life, the importance of family, and the annual cycle of feasts and fiestas. There's advice on how to negotiate a Mexican menu, as well as information on traveling safely, communicating, and provides you with the tools to make the most of your time in Mexico.Trade Review""Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers," - Sunday Times Travel;""...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries," - Global Travel;"...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas," - Observer;"...as useful as they are entertaining," - Easy Jet Magazine;"...as useful as they are entertaining," - Easy Jet Magazine"Table of ContentsKey History - Politics - Economic Life - Values - Attitudes - Religion - Traditions - Taboos - Festivals & Holidays - Friendships & Family - Women in Society - Humour - Hospitality & Home life - Cultural Life - Cuisine & Dining Out - Socializing - Dos and Don'ts - Business Etiquette - Punctuality & Time Keeping - Meetings & Presentations - Negotiating - Bureaucracy - Communication & Language - Tips

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Book Synopsis*** WINNER OF INTERNATIONAL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 ***''fascinating, informative and revealing'' Mail on SundayBeloved bestselling author and golf aficionado Rick Reilly channels his insatiable curiosity, trademark sense of humour, and vast knowledge of the game of golf in 80 original pieces about what it has meant to him and to others, and all the reasons we love it.This is the book Rick Reilly has been writing in the back of his head since he fell in love with the game of golf at eleven years old. He unpacks and explores all of the wonderful, maddening, heart-melting, heart-breaking, cool, and captivating things about golf that make the game so utterly addictive. We meet the PGA Tour player who robbed banks by night to pay his motel bills, the golf club maker who takes weekly psychedelic trips, and the caddy who kept his loop even after an 11-year prison stint. We leTrade ReviewAn informative, enjoyable romp. * Kirkus Reviews *[So Help Me Golf] features Reilly's usual hilarious story-telling with a kinder, gentler, more grateful tone. * Sports Illustrated *Former Sports Illustrated and ESPN man Reilly has always had the knack of unearthing great anecdotes that reveal the golfer and of also putting those tales together in fast-paced and funny narratives - So Help Me Golf is a romp that maintains all those trends. * Planet Sport *This book is Reilly's heartfelt ode to the game: a bulging collection of sharp and snappy snippets... His usual wit and charm is in abundance, but what actually keeps you turning is just how fascinating, informative and revealing it all is. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe world is full of books about how to be rich. This is not one of them.Today, many of us are feeling the pinch - and being bombarded with portrayals of social media ''perfection'' is making that pinch feel more like a punch.We may know that social media - with all its billionaires and beauty queens - is just a highlight reel. So why is it still making most of us feel so low?Comedian Shabaz Ali wants to help you see the funny side of social media again. Because while it looks nice to live up in an ivory tower, this book reminds us that it is much more fun to be part of the baying mob that surrounds it.This laugh-out-loud deep-dive into social media''s ridiculously rich, will help you love your own penny-pinched, rough-around-the-edges, extraordinarily ordinary life.

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Book SynopsisDiscusses how the depiction of diseases in movies has changed over the last century and what these changes reveal about American culture

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Book SynopsisEver since the premiere for the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in 1928, Disney has played a central role in American popular culture, which has progressively expanded to include a global market. The company positioned itself to be a central role in family entertainment, and many of its offerings – from films to consumable products – have deeply embedded themselves into not only the imaginations of children and adults, but also into the threads of one’s life experience. It is difficult to go through life without encountering one Disney product. Because of this, fans of Disney build connections with their favourite characters and franchises, some of which are fuelled further by Disney’s own marketing practices. Similarly, Disney responds to the cultural values of the era through its films and other media offerings. In this volume, scholars from varying backgrounds take a close look at facets of the Disney canon as more than agents of entertainment or consumption, and into underlying messages at the very heart of the Disney phenomenon: the cultural response that drives the corporation’s massive production and marketing machine. The relationship between Disney and its fans is one of loyalty and love, shaping cultural behaviours and values through the brand and its products. Disney responds in kind with a synergistic approach that makes it possible to experience Disney in any format at any given time. Primary readership will be academics, researchers, educators, scholars and students working in the fields of media and cultural studies, especially those interested in marketing and branding, and in the Disney Company in general. The accessible writing style and the range of topics covered make it suitable for postgraduate students and academics working in these fields, as well as third-year undergraduate students. The book will also appeal to academics working in the related fields of tourism studies, film and television studies and, given the focus of some of the chapters, in gender studies. Although academic in focus, the accessible writing style does mean that it may also have appeal to the non-academic reader and fans of Disney.Trade Review'[The] idea that [Disney] should continually renew itself to be in dialogue with the vagaries and vicissitudes of contemporary society is a throughline in the chapters that comprise Interpreting and Experiencing Disney: Mediating the Mouse, edited by Priscilla Hobbs. The volume is a welcome addition to this corpus, as many of its essays feel specific to 2020s America, a period of enormous flux and introspection characterized by popular protests and the removal of outdated statues. The book will interest scholars in the humanities and social sciences and the general public. One of the virtues of Hobbs’ volume is its concentrated focus, as many of the chapters feel connected. [...] In sum, this book is a significant contribution to Disney studies in that its authors point to the dialogical relationship Disney has historically had with American and European society. Like the Disney Company itself, Disney studies is presented as in constant evolution.' -- Noah Zweig, International Journal of Communication'Recommended - Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.' -- CHOICETable of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Interpreting Disney Abbreviating Mickey Mouse: The art of remediation in Disney cartoons ‘You grow up to be a Duck fan in your mother’s womb': The bond between Finnish people and Donald Duck Toad, Alice, and Peter: From England to Disneyland and back again Egalitarian or stereotypical?: Gender representation in Disney feature fairy tales of the twenty-first century Father still knows best: Exploring the construction of traditional masculinity as depicted in portrayals of fatherhood in Disney Princess movies Poisoned apples: Womanhood in Disney’s Snow White A rhetoric of classism and reading cultures in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Part 2: Experiencing Disney ‘Our cartoon city upon a hill’: Disneyland, Disney World, and American identity Can Small World ever be politically correct? Reading the Disney Princess attractions: Narrative adaptation, immersion, and control in the Magic Kingdom’s expanded fantasyland Online brand communities: A case study of Disney I’m Disney bound: Costuming as psycho-spiritual practice A journey from girl to womanhood: The influence of Disney Princess fashion on the female gender

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“We don’t know as much about affluent people as we think we do. Caricatures abound, but the socioeconomically lucky don’t often offer themselves up for study. That all changed with Rachel Sherman’s Uneasy Street. . . . With each reading, I’m a little more unsettled, in the best possible way.”—Ron Lieber, New York Times“There have been many cogent analyses of income inequality. Sociologist Rachel Sherman’s welcome addition probes the psychology and socio-economics of affluence.”—Barb Kiser, Nature“Sherman takes a dispassionate approach to find out how those who are `benefitting from rising economic inequality’ experience `their own social advantages.’ She elicits her subjects’ thoughts about work and productivity, charitable giving, marital discord and more. Worthwhile humanizing ensues, as do plenty of squirm-inducing moments.”—John Williams, New York Times Book Review“Sherman offers something new and surprising: a look inside the 1 per cent’s minds. . . . She shifts our understanding of today’s dominant class.”—Simon Kuper, Financial Times

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Book SynopsisA sprawling, intimate scrapbook documenting the Grateful Dead's history in words and pictures.

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Book SynopsisA lucid analysis of the impact on society of the increased use of technology in everyday life.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Fear of technology • Living with technology • Becoming hooked • Solutions for restoring health • Conclusion

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Book Synopsis''Present Tense is an anthology to savour . . . giving you as sharp a portrait of this unknowable band as you could hope for . . . Radiohead fans will love it'' Classic RockA Rock''s Backpages anthology of Radiohead, the most radical and fascinating rock band in modern music history, edited and introduced by Barney Hoskyns.For over 25 years, Radiohead have been the most radical and fascinating rock band in the world. Fearless in their desire to change and shape-shift, the Oxfordshire quintet has - through the nine studio albums from 1993''s Pablo Honey to 2016''s A Moon-Shaped Pool - consistently stretched the boundaries of what ''rock'' means and does. Anchored in Thom Yorke''s soaring voice and elliptical lyrics, and in the compositional genius of guitarist/keyboardist Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead continue to astonish as they approach their fourth decade.Present Tense collects the best writing on this most liteTrade ReviewPresent Tense is an anthology to savour . . . giving you as sharp a portrait of this unknowable band as you could hope for . . . Radiohead fans will love it * Classic Rock *

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of a British institutionBrilliant.' Alan JohnsonCompelling.' David KynastonThe beer drinkers' Bill Bryson.' Times Literary SupplementFerment Magazine's Best Beer Book of the YearPete Brown is a convivial guide on this journey through the intoxicating history of the working men's clubs. From the movement's founding by teetotaller social reformer the Reverend Henry Solly to the booze-soaked mid-century heyday, when more than 7 million Brits were members, this warm-hearted and entertaining book reveals how and why the clubs became the cornerstone of Britain's social life offering much more than cheap Federation Bitter and chicken in a basket.Often dismissed as relics of a bygone age bastions of bigotry and racism Brown reminds us that long before the days of Phoenix Nights, 3,000-seat venues routinely played host to stars like Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong, and the Bee Gees, offering entertainment for all the family, and close to home at that. Britain's best-known coTrade Review‘Pete Brown is a brilliant master of ceremonies as he brings the history of these fine institutions to life and demonstrates their importance in working class communities across the country.’ Alan Johnson, author of This Boy ‘A compelling mixture of social history, vivid reportage and candid autobiography, Clubland makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of Britain in the last century and a half.’ David Kynaston, author of Austerity Britain ‘This is not a romantic book, lost in misty memories. It is a deeply political one. Warm, witty, Brown writes this study with humour, but also rage.’ The Observer ‘Droll, warm, bittersweet.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘A diverting journey through an important chapter of British social history. A portrait of the working man at play, at the bar, at the committee table at the club at the end of his street and yet… within touching distance of Tom Jones.’ Mark Radcliffe ‘Pete Brown writes poetically and with great authority on a slice of culture that has been ignored or derided for many years. He illuminates these arts centres, debating halls and palaces of carefree delight with love and care.’ Ian McMillan, author of Neither Nowt Nor Summat 'An important history and a heartfelt tribute to the friendship, organisation, humour and community to be found in these remarkable institutions.’ Ian Clayton, author of It's The Beer Talking: Adventures in Public Houses ‘Leave any flat-capped clichés at the door: Brown offers an earnest exploration of this crucially formative area of British social history.’ John Warland, author of Liquid History 'Completely original and brilliantly entertaining … a masterful blend of pub-fire anecdote, rigorously researched social history and insightful commentary; ultimately, a political book.’Ferment Magazine, Beer Book of the Year 2022

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Book SynopsisDive into this fun and entertaining quiz book from the UK's biggest Black British pub quiz! Get your thinking caps on because it's time to test your knowledge on all things Black and British, with rounds on everything from music, sport, history and geography to Black Twitter, anime, your favourite culinary delights and much more.Whether you're a history buff, a self-proclaimed movie critic, food connoisseur, a perfect all-rounder or a novice, you'll find your chance to show off your knowledge!So, assemble every group chat and the cousins from your mum's side of the family, as we have something for everyone inside The Black British Quiz Book.

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Book SynopsisVocabulary alone isn''t enough. To survive in the most sophisticated - and the most scathing - nation on Earth you will need to understand the many peculiarities of the (very peculiar) French culture. And for that you need A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi.If you want to fit in with the French you''ll have to know how to deal with sardonic waiters; why French children hate Charlemagne; the etiquette of kissing, joke-telling and drinking songs, what to do with a bidet, the correct recipe for a salade nicoise and, of course, how to convey absolute, shattering indifference with a single syllable (Bof!).Charles Timoney, the author of Pardon My French, provides a practical, pleasurable guide to the charms of the Gallic people - from their daily routines to their peerless gesticulations, from their come-ons to their put-downs. Read on and put the oh la la back into your French vacances. Your inner gaul will thank you for it.

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Book SynopsisThe outlandish, hilarious, terrifying, and almost impossible-to-believe story of the legendary, dangerous amusement park where millions were entertained and almost as many were injured.

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Book SynopsisIn Pop Masculinities, author Kai Arne Hansen investigates the performance and policing of masculinity in pop music as a starting point for grasping the broad complexity of gender and its politics in the early twenty-first century. Drawing together perspectives from critical musicology, gender studies, and adjacent scholarly fields, the book presents extended case studies of five well-known artists: Zayn, Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Take That. By directing particular attention to the ambiguities and contradictions that arise from these artists'' representations of masculinity, Hansen argues that pop performances tend to operate in ways that simultaneously reinforce and challenge gender norms and social inequalities. Providing a rich exploration of these murky waters, Hansen merges the interpretation of recorded song and music video with discourse analysis and media ethnography in order to engage with the full range of pop artists'' public identities as they emerge at the intersections between processes of performance, promotion, and reception. In so doing, he advances our understanding of the aesthetic and discursive underpinnings of gender politics in twenty-first century pop culture and encourages readers to contemplate the sociopolitical implications of their own musical engagements as audiences, critics, musicians, and scholars.Trade ReviewHansen's conclusion is both an homage to masculinity in popular music studies and an invitation for future pop scholars to join him in this ever-expanding field of gender and performance. * Paxton Haven, The University of Texas at Austin, Journal of Popular Music Studies *Pop music is a unique context in which the meanings of masculinities are being negotiated on an exceptional kind of display. In this interdisciplinary tour de force, Hansen provides rich and nuanced analyses that unpack just what it means to argue that enactments of gender sometimes simultaneously shore up and destabilize the very systems of inequality they may seem designed to challenge. Pop Masculinities provides new material for better understanding the flexibility of gender hegemony in a cultural arena that impacts all of us. * Tristan Bridges, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Co-editor of Men and Masculinities and Exploring Masculinities *We often forget that men have gender too. And despite what a patriarchal ideology might frame as a natural structure, boys, no less than girls, struggle to forge their own subjectivities amid the many cultural pressures confronting them. In this dazzling and nuanced study, Kai Arne Hansen analyzes the ways several prominent young male entertainers have publicly negotiated their own coming of age by means of music, lyrics, fashion, and self-presentation. A beautifully written and deeply compelling study. * Susan McClary, Fynette H. Kulas Professor of Music, Case Western Reserve University and Distinguished Professor Emerita, UCLA *Pop music is a unique context in which the meanings of masculinities are being negotiated on an exceptional kind of display. In this interdisciplinary tour de force, Hansen provides rich and nuanced analyses that unpack just what it means to argue that enactments of gender sometimes simultaneously shore up and destabilize the very systems of inequality they sometimes seem designed to challenge. Pop Masculinities provides new material for better understanding the flexibility of gender hegemony in a cultural arena that impacts all of us. * Tristan Bridges, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Co-editor of Men and Masculinities and Exploring Masculinities *In Pop Masculinities, Hansen draws together a range of perspectives—age, class, race, sexuality, and more—to consider the complex manifestations of masculinity in twenty-first century popular music culture with an impressive intersectional nuance. He interweaves close readings of sonic and visual artefacts with a rich cultural-theoretical framework, to offer a timely analysis of the gender politics of commercial music culture. * Freya Jarman, Reader in Music, University of Liverpool *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Like Pinocchio 1. Separating the Men from the Boys: New Masculinities, Pop Music, and the Social Politics of Interpretation 2. Good Boy Gone Bad: Fashioning a Post Boy Band Masculinity 3. A Different Country? Lil Nas X, the Sound of the Internet, and Queering the Cowboy 4. Beyond Bieber Fever 5. Dangerous and (In)Vulnerable: Aestheticizing Violence and Dancing in Sin City 6. From Boy Band to Man Band: Take That, Age(ing), and the Display of Self-Irony Conclusion: Fade-Out Bibliography Index

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