Bookpedia : GQ Book Library : Genre : E

ISBN: 9780006386728

Dimensions: 0.40 x 7.90 x 5.10 in

Summary:

ISBN: 3822848042

ListPrice: $34.99

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ISBN: 9780813540238

ListPrice: $24.95

Dimensions: 0.90 x 9.20 x 6.10 in

Summary: A smug glance at the seventies--the so-called "Me Decade"--unveils a kaleidoscope of big hair, blaring music, and broken politics--all easy targets for satire, cynicism, and ultimately even nostalgia. American Cinema of the 1970s, however, looks beyond the strobe lights to reveal how profoundly the seventies have influenced American life and how the films of that decade represent a peak moment in cinema history.
Far from a placid era, the seventies was a decade of social upheavals. Events such as the killing of students at Kent State and Jackson State universities, the Watergate investigations, the legalization of abortion, and the end of the American involvement in Vietnam are only a few among the many landmark occurrences that challenged the foundations of American culture. The director-driven movies of this era reflect this turmoil, experimenting with narrative structures, offering a gallery of scruffy antiheroes, and revising traditional genre conventions.
Bringing together ten original essays, American Cinema of the 1970s examines the range of films that marked the decade, including Jaws, Rocky, Love Story, Shaft, Dirty Harry, The Godfather, Deliverance, The Exorcist, Shampoo, Taxi Driver, Star Wars, Saturday Night Fever, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Apocalypse Now.

ISBN: 9780192840103

ListPrice: $27.50

Dimensions: 1.69 x 8.98 x 6.22 in

Summary: The Concise Oxford History of Music, written by one of the world's most respected musicologists, remains the one-volume history for anyone seriously interested in the subject. This comprehensive work covers the whole history of music by genre from its first recorded emergence in Egypt to the death of Stravinsky.

ISBN:

ListPrice: $30.00

Summary: What are the secrets behind the creation of Larry David's hit show?
Fans can finally find out with this long-awaited
companion guide to the Golden Globe- and Emmy®
Award- winning series.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book" is complete with stories about Larry David's childhood, his roots as a stand-up comic, and his various writing jobs before the breakthrough of Seinfeld. Readers will enjoy dating stories from his bachelor years, discover how he met his future wife, Laurie David, and learn why Cheryl Hines was picked to play his TV wife. A highlighted map of Santa Monica shows locations where favorite Curb scenes were filmed, such as the Toyota of Hollywood where Larry works as a car salesman. Ever wonder if there's a story behind the creation of Krazee-Eyez Killa's infamous rap? There is, and it's in this book, along with the tale of the ordinary afternoon lunch where the idea for Curb Your Enthusiasm was first formed. Perhaps best of all, fans can finally see Larry David's original scene outlines-just a few sentences from which the actors improvise-which eventually evolve into the carefully edited comedy that we see on air.
After five hilarious seasons, "Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book" offers fans an intimate view of the people, experiences, and stories behind one of television's funniest shows.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book" is filled with hilarious images, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments, including:
* Original interviews with and commentary from more than 100 cast and crew members, guest actors, comics, and friends and family, including Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and Richard Lewis
* An in depth, four-section interview with Larry David, covering everything from his childhood in Brooklyn to his emergence into the world of comedy and television.
* Never-before-seen outlines from the show that are the basis for episode storylines.
* Detailed episode guides for the show's first five seasons.
* More than 100 full-color photographs.

ISBN: 9780452285729

ListPrice: $13.00

Summary: Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, "The Darwin Awards III" includes more than one hundred brand new, hilariously macabre mishaps and misadventures.
From a sheriff who inadvertently shot himself "twice", to the insurance defrauder who amputated his leg with a chainsaw; from a farmer who avoided bee stings by sealing his head in a plastic bag to the man crushed by the branch he just trimmed, "The Darwin Awards III" proves again that when it comes to stupidity, no species does it like we do.
Featuring scientific and safety discussions and filled with illustrations depicting inspiring examples of evolution in action, "The Darwin Awards III" shows once more how uncommon common sense still is.

ISBN: 9780715634653

ListPrice: $17.86

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ISBN: 9780316143462

ListPrice: $24.95

Summary: Whether by nature or by nurture, Ma and Pa Sedaris certainly knew something about raising funny kids. Amy Sedaris has built a cult following for her Comedy Central character Jerri Blank, and David, the more famous of the two siblings, continues to spin his personal history into comedic gold. A good chunk of the material in "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" debuted in other media outlets, such as "The New Yorker", but Sedaris's brilliantly written essays deserve repeat reads.
Based on the author's descriptions, nearly every member of his family is funny, although some (like sister Tiffany, perhaps) in a tragic way. In "The Change in Me," Sedaris remembers that his mother was good at imitating people when it helped drive home her point. High-voiced, lovably plain-spoken brother Paul (aka The Rooster, Silly P) has long been a favorite character for Sedaris readers, though Paul's story takes on a serious note when his wife has a difficult pregnancy. The author doesn't shy away from embarrassing moments in his own life, either, including a childhood poker game that strays into strange, psychological territory. "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" provides more evidence that he is a great humorist, memoirist, and raconteur, and readers are lucky to have the opportunity to know him (and his clan) so well. His funny family feels like our own. Perhaps they are luckier still not to know him personally. "--Leah Weathersby"

ISBN: 9780713997002

ListPrice: $37.20

Edition: 1st ed/1st printing

Dimensions: 1.34 x 8.74 x 5.67 in

Summary: The people of the United States, according to author and filmmaker Michael Moore ("Bowling for Columbine", "Stupid White Men"), have been hoodwinked. Tricked, he says, by Republican lawmakers and their wealthy corporate pals who use a combination of concocted bogeymen and lies to stay rich and in control. But while plenty of liberal scholars, entertainers, and pundits have made similar arguments in book form, Moore's "Dude, Where's My Country?" stands out for its thoroughly positive perspective. Granted, Moore is angry and has harsh words for George W. Bush and his fellow conservatives concerning the reasoning behind going to war in Iraq, the collapse of Enron and other companies, and the relationship between the Bushes, the Saudi Arabian government, and Osama bin Laden. But his book is intended to serve as a handbook for how people with liberal opinions (which is most of America, Moore contends, whether they call themselves "liberals" or not) can take back their country from the conservative forces in power. Moore uses his trademark brand of confrontational, exasperated humor skillfully as he offers a primer on how to change the worldview of one's annoying conservative blowhard brother-in-law, and he crafts a surprisingly thorough "Draft Oprah for President" movement. Refreshingly, "Dude, Where's My Country?" avoids being completely one-sided, offering up areas where Moore believes Republicans get it right as well as some cutting criticisms of his fellow lefties. Such allowances, brief though they may be, make one long for a political climate where the shouting polemicists on both sides would see a few more shades of gray. "Dude, Where's My Country?" is a little bit scattered, as Moore tries to cram opinions on Iraq, tax cuts, corporate welfare, Wesley Clark, and the Patriot Act into one slim volume--and the penchant to go for a laugh sometimes gets in the way of clear arguments. But such variety also gives the reader more Moore, providing a broader range of his bewildered, enraged, yet stalwartly upbeat point of view. "--John Moe"

ISBN: 9780739027936

ListPrice: $17.50

Dimensions: 2.00 x 5.80 x 4.30 in

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ISBN: 9781845761851

ListPrice: $35.00

Edition: Revised

Dimensions: 1.30 x 11.60 x 9.40 in

Summary: Fifty years ago, Hammer Films released "The Curse of Frankenstein." The now-legendary British company went on to make such classics as "Dracula "(and its many sequels), making international stars out of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, changing the face of horror cinema, and inspiring a generation of Hollywood filmmakers, including George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Tim Burton.

Now, for the first time, Hammer have given their active backing to an authorised history of the company, and have provided unlimited access to their archives.

"The Hammer Story "provides a film-by-film dissection, dripping with rare promotional material and previously unpublished photographs.

ISBN: 9780340910481

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ISBN: 9780316776967

ListPrice: $14.99

Summary: David Sedaris became a star autobiographer on public radio, onstage in New York, and on bestseller lists, mostly on the strength of "SantaLand Diaries," a scathing, hilarious account of his stint as a Christmas elf at Macy's. (It's in two separate collections, both worth owning, "Barrel Fever" and the Christmas-themed "Holidays on Ice".) Sedaris's caustic gift has not deserted him in his fourth book, which mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Though his anarchic inclination to digress is his glory, Sedaris does have a theme in these reminiscences: the inability of humans to communicate. The title is his rendition in transliterated English of how he and his fellow students of French in Paris mangle the Gallic language. In the essay "Jesus Shaves," he and his classmates from many nations try to convey the concept of Easter to a Moroccan Muslim. "It is a party for the little boy of God," says one. "Then he be die one day on two... morsels of... lumber," says another. Sedaris muses on the disputes between his Protestant mother and his father, a Greek Orthodox guy whose Easter fell on a different day. Other essays explicate his deep kinship with his eccentric mom and absurd alienation from his IBM-exec dad: "To me, the greatest mystery of science continues to be that a man could father six children who shared absolutely none of his interests."
Every glimpse we get of Sedaris's family and acquaintances delivers laughs and insights. He thwarts his North Carolina speech therapist ("for whom the word "pen" had two syllables") by cleverly avoiding all words with "s" sounds, which reveal the lisp she sought to correct. His midget guitar teacher, Mister Mancini, is unaware that Sedaris doesn't share his obsession with breasts, and sings "Light My Fire" all wrong--"as if he were a Webelo scout demanding a match." As a remarkably unqualified teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, Sedaris had his class watch soap operas and assign "guessays" on what would happen in the next day's episode.
It all adds up to the most distinctively skewed autobiography since Spalding Gray's "Swimming to Cambodia". The only possible reason not to read this book is if you'd rather hear the author's intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, get "Me Talk Pretty One Day" on audio. "--Tim Appelo"

ISBN: 9780330418379

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ISBN: 9780340863732

ListPrice: $16.50

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ISBN: 9780306814488

ListPrice: $16.95

Dimensions: 1.20 x 8.90 x 5.90 in

Summary: "As Comic Book Guy might say, this thorough examination of a pop culture phenomenon is 'Best. Simpson. Book. Ever.'"-"January" magazine
D'oh-it's "The Simpsons." And here's the book with the behind-the-scenes story of how America's favorite nuclear family first arrived at a TV near you, how the series grew into a worldwide icon, and who brings it to life so brilliantly week after week, year after year.
Since first airing in 1987 as a cartoon interlude on the short-lived "Tracey Ullman Show," "The Simpsons" has deliciously skewered the foibles of American life, evolving into a cultural institution that reaches across the generations. As satire, it's sharp and funny. As a pop phenom, it's in a league of its own. And with "Planet Simpson", it finally gets the sprawling, multidimensional critical look it so richly deserves.
"Smart and funny, Turner writes with fitting enthusiasm for his subject while working in seemly references to cultural theory and TV-insider politics. His book is just the thing for fellow fans, and for anyone interested in how pop phenomena came to be." -"Hollywood Reporter"
This book was not prepared, licensed, approved, or endorsed by any entity involved in creating or producing the television series "The Simpsons."

ISBN: 9780374249397

ListPrice: $30.00

Summary: gt;gt;The scandal over modern music has not died down. While paintings by Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock sell for a hundred million dollars or more, shocking musical works from Stravinsky’s "Rite of Spring "onward still send ripples of unease through audiences. At the same time, the influence of modern music can be felt everywhere. Avant-garde sounds populate the soundtracks of Hollywood thrillers. Minimalist music has had a huge effect on rock, pop, and dance music from the Velvet Underground onward. Alex Ross, the brilliant music critic for "The New Yorker", shines a bright light on this secret world, and shows how it has pervaded every corner of twentieth century life.gt;gt;"" gt;gt;"The Rest Is Noise "takes the reader inside the labyrinth of modern sound. It tells of maverick personalities who have resisted the cult of the classical past, struggled against the indifference of a wide public, and defied the will of dictators. Whether they have charmed audiences with the purest beauty or battered them with the purest noise, composers have always been exuberantly of the present, defying the stereotype of classical music as a dying art.gt;gt; gt;gt;Ross, in this sweeping and dramatic narrative, takes us from Vienna before the First World War to Paris in the twenties, from Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Russia to downtown New York in the sixties and seventies. We follow the rise of mass culture and mass politics, of dramatic new technologies, of hot and cold wars, of experiments, revolutions, riots, and friendships forged and broken. In the tradition of Simon Schama’s "The Embarrassment of Riches "and Louis Menand’s "The Metaphysical Club", the end result is not so much a history of twentieth-century music as a history of the twentieth century through its music.gt;gt;

ISBN: 9780061257315

ListPrice: $85.00

Dimensions: 1.80 x 13.40 x 11.60 in

Summary: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." It's been 30 years since those immortal words were first seen on movie screens nationwide and it was the start of a worldwide phenomenon and the beginning of the most successful movie franchise of all time.
"The Star Wars Vault: Thirty Years of Treasures" from the Lucasfilm Archives, With Removable Memorabilia and Two Audio CDs by Stephen J. Sansweet and Peter Vilmur (HarperEntertainment; on-sale October 30, 2007; $85.00) is the official illustrated book celebrating this year's 30th anniversary of George Lucas' first Star Wars movie, and includes removable reproductions of memorabilia, along with two CDs containing vintage radio ads, original cast interviews, George Lucas' commentary, and even Carrie Fisher singing in the "Star Wars Holiday Special."
"The Star Wars Vault" is the insider's look at the development and making of all six movies, and the huge cultural impact they've had. In addition to hundreds of photos and pieces of artwork, the book includes fifty interactive, rare, and some never-before-seen pieces of memorabilia.
Among the book's features are:
The special questionnaire for the first and only test screening of the original "Star Wars" — and the invitation to attend it George Lucas' hand-written treatment for "The Empire Strikes Back" Lucasfilm Christmas cards Iron-on T-shirt transfer The very first concept sketch drawn for" Star Wars " Blueprints of "Star Wars" vehicles and sets Original hand-written directions for ground-breaking special effects
"The Star Wars Vault" is the ultimate, one-of-a-kind insider's look into the sensation that launched a phenomenon that includes six feature films; two spin-off films; three television series with more to come; and an extensive collection of licensed books, comics, video games, action figures, trading cards, and many other products worldwide.

ISBN: 9780060987268

ListPrice: $13.95

Summary: "Stupid White Men", Michael Moore's screed against "Thief-in-Chief" George Bush's power elite, hit No. 1 at Amazon.com within days of publication. Why? It's as fulminating and crammed with infuriating facts as any right-wing bestseller, as irreverent as "The Onion", and as noisily entertaining as a wrestling smackdown. Moore offers a more interesting critique of the 2000 election than Ralph Nader's "Crashing the Party" (he argued with Nader, his old boss, who sacked him), and he's serious when he advocates ousting Bush. But Moore's rage is outrageous, couched in shameless gags and madcap comedy: "Old white men wielding martinis and wearing dickies have occupied our nation's capital.... Launch the SCUD missiles! Bring us the head of Antonin Scalia!... We are no longer [able] to hold free and fair elections. We need U.N. observers, U.N. troops." Moore's ideas range from on-the-money (Arafat should beat Sharon with Gandhi's nonviolent shame tactics) to over-the-top: blacks should put inflatable white dolls in their cars so racist cops will think they're chauffeurs; the ever-more-Republicanesque Democratic Party should be sued for fraud; "no contributions toward advancing our civilization ever came out of the South [except Faulkner, Hellman, and R.J. Reynolds]," because it's too hot to think straight there; Korean dictator Kim Jong-il "has got to broaden himself beyond porn and John Wayne" by watching better movies, like "Dude, Where's My Car?" (which contains "all you need to know about America"). Whatever your politics, "Stupid White Men" should make you blow your stack. "--Tim Appelo"