Banner Message
Please note that online availability does not reflect stock in store!
Please contact us via email or phone for immediate stock information.
Humor / Pop Culture
Prepare to laugh your ass off! This book presents thirty-five never-before-seen hilarious observations by The Oatmeal and 25 classic favorites from the popular website, including "6 Types of Crappy Hugs" and "17 Things Worth Knowing about Your Cat." Prepare to laugh your ass off. The hilarity of The Oatmeal is now presented in book form with 35 never-before-seen pieces and 25 classic favorites from the Web site, including 6 Types of Crappy Hugs and 17 Things Worth Knowing about Your Cat. In Matthew Inman's New York Times best selling 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides), samurai sword-wielding kittens and hamsters that love .50-caliber machine guns commingle with a cracked out Tyrannosaur that is extremely hard to potty train. Bacon is better than true love and you may awake in the middle of the night to find your nephew nibbling on your toes. Sixtry of Inman's comic illustrations and life-bending guides are presented in full-color inside 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides). Consider such handy advice as: 4 Reasons to Carry a Shovel at All Times, 6 Types of Crappy Hugs, 8 Ways to Tell if Your Loved One Plans to Eat You, 17 Things Worth Knowing About Your Cat, and 20 Things Worth Knowing About Beer.
New York Times Bestseller The creator of The New Yorker's long running satirical column, and "one of the funniest people in America," pays tribute to comedic geniuses both past and present, including Mark Twain, George Saunders, Nora Ephron, and more (CBS Sunday Morning). Library of America's collection of hilarious stories, essays, and articles is an exclusive Who's Who of the very best American comic writing. Classic pieces of American humor appear here, such as "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry and a selection from Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Contemporary writing is well represented, with entries from comedic geniuses like David Sedaris, Larry Willmore, Roy Blount Jr., Sloane Crosby, Bernie Mac, Wanda Sykes, and George Saunders plus laugh-out-loud lesser-known pieces from The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic, National Lampoon, and The Onion. Full List of Contributors
Mark Twain
George Ade
O. Henry
Sinclair Lewis
Anita Loos
Ring Lardner
H. L. Mencken
James Thurber
Dorothy Parker
S. J. Perelman
Langston Hughes
Frank Sullivan
E. B. White
Peter De Vries
Terry Southern
Lenny Bruce
Tom Wolfe
Jean Shepherd
Hunter S. Thompson
Douglas Kenney
Henry Beard
Bruce Jay Friedman
Philip Roth
Nora Ephron
Michael O'Donoghue
George W. S. Trow
Fran Lebowitz
Charles Portis
Donald Barthelme
Veronica Geng
John Hughes
Mark O'Donnell
Garrison Keillor
Bruce McCall
Molly Ivins
Calvin Trillin
Dave Barry
The Onion writers
Susan Orlean
Roy Blount Jr
George Carlin
Ian Frazier
David Rakoff
Bernie Mac
David Sedaris
Wanda Sykes
Jack Handey
David Owen
George Saunders
Jenny Allen
Sloane Crosley
Larry Wilmore
Mark Twain
George Ade
O. Henry
Sinclair Lewis
Anita Loos
Ring Lardner
H. L. Mencken
James Thurber
Dorothy Parker
S. J. Perelman
Langston Hughes
Frank Sullivan
E. B. White
Peter De Vries
Terry Southern
Lenny Bruce
Tom Wolfe
Jean Shepherd
Hunter S. Thompson
Douglas Kenney
Henry Beard
Bruce Jay Friedman
Philip Roth
Nora Ephron
Michael O'Donoghue
George W. S. Trow
Fran Lebowitz
Charles Portis
Donald Barthelme
Veronica Geng
John Hughes
Mark O'Donnell
Garrison Keillor
Bruce McCall
Molly Ivins
Calvin Trillin
Dave Barry
The Onion writers
Susan Orlean
Roy Blount Jr
George Carlin
Ian Frazier
David Rakoff
Bernie Mac
David Sedaris
Wanda Sykes
Jack Handey
David Owen
George Saunders
Jenny Allen
Sloane Crosley
Larry Wilmore
500 Essential Graphic Novels is an all-in-one guide to this exciting form of visual literature.
Including more than 350 authors and 400 artists, this lush volume contains an essential mix of some of the finest visually-stunning stories of our time. From politically-charged non-fiction sagas to imaginative fantasy tales, this ultimate guide has something to satisfy everyone's taste.
The first of its kind, this book focuses on each graphic novel separately, honing in on art technique, style and prose, plus an age rating system so parents will know what is suitable for their children. Chapters are divided by genre, complete with individual plot synopses and star-scaled reviews for each book, providing the reader with a concise and balanced understanding of today's best graphic novels.
500 Essential Graphic Novels is an all-in-one guide to this exciting form of visual literature.
Including more than 350 authors and 400 artists, this lush volume contains an essential mix of some of the finest visually-stunning stories of our time. From politically-charged non-fiction sagas to imaginative fantasy tales, this ultimate guide has something to satisfy everyone's taste.
The first of its kind, this book focuses on each graphic novel separately, honing in on art technique, style and prose, plus an age rating system so parents will know what is suitable for their children. Chapters are divided by genre, complete with individual plot synopses and star-scaled reviews for each book, providing the reader with a concise and balanced understanding of today's best graphic novels.
Zombies are were people too! Escape routes, defense plans, survival kits. Enough is enough! Zombies have gotten a bad rap, and it's time the redeeming qualities of these brain-eating (but potentially lovable) creatures come to light. Enter 501 Things to Do with a Zombie. Inside, you'll see that the undead make the perfect sidekicks for just about anything you've got going on.
Can't convince a buddy to join you in karaoke? No worries! A Zombie never suffers from stage fright! Looking to take a leisurely stroll through the local farmers' market? Zombies know the secret to picking out the freshest tomatoes. Need to negotiate a new cell-phone contract? Bring a Zombie along to get out of the two-year commitment (he can strong-arm the sales rep--that is, unless it's missing).
Sure, Zombies may have rotting flesh and nasty viruses, but don't we all have our faults? Open your mind and open this book for inspired ideas on how we can all learn to get along. Monstrous fun awaits!
Sure, Zombies may have rotting flesh and nasty viruses, but don't we all have our faults? Open your mind and open this book for inspired ideas on how we can all learn to get along. Monstrous fun awaits!
From cult favorites to must-reads, 90 classic books are distilled into very short retellings. The entire story of each book is rendered in just four illustrated squares. Ideal for people in a hurry or anyone who likes books.
How well do you remember 90s TV? These 450+ questions will put even the most knowledgeable to the test! Sunnydale High School was attended by which stake-wielding teen? Edwina and Patsy are the champagne-guzzling duo from which hit TV show? Which main cast member does not appear in the Seinfeld pilot? Showcase your knowledge of the pre-streaming TV era, from The Fresh Prince to Buffy, and everything in between. Get quizzing, because the truth it out there!
Ninety-nine Stormtroopers join the Empire, and then their troubles begin. One takes a lunch break in the carbon freezing chamber. Two underestimate a princess. One picks the wrong time to ask for a promotion. Another fails to show Jabba the proper respect. And one interrupts Lord Vader's private time, failing him for the last time. A lifelong Star Wars fan, Greg Stones brings a playful wit and sympathy for the plight of the troops as they meet their amusing ends, filling each colorfully painted scenario with fun Star Wars details and appearances by Han, Luke, Chewie, K-2SO, and many other characters. As the trooper count ticks down, how will the last one fare as he receives a very special assignment (on the Death Star)? (c) and TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Used Under Authorization
A comic original in the tradition of Tracey Ullman and Lily Tomlin--with Cindy Sherman's eye--Hillary Carlip transforms herself into America's most unforgettable grocery shoppers. It's happened to all of us--we find, tucked away in the corner of our shopping cart, someone's discarded grocery list. Who's the person buying "Whole milk, heavy cream, ice cream, cheese, and Gas-Ex?" Why would someone need to write down "Coors and Oreos" on a matchbook cover--couldn't he just remember those two items? And what's the person like who scrawled their list on a PROZAC notepad? Taking her clues from the items listed, the types of paper written on, the handwriting, and even misspellings ("Aunt Spray"), Hillary saw that each list--at once mundane and personal--offered an intimate peek into a complete stranger's life. She chose 26 lists and imagined who the shoppers might be. She then transformed herself into all 26 people, one by one, literally stepping into each character--all ages, genders, and ethnicities--with hair, makeup, outfits, and one Fu Manchu. Photographer Barbara Green then captured unforgettable images of Hillary portraying these shoppers at their neighborhood markets. Hillary came to love these characters, so her accompanying stories for each are as poignant and hilarious as the photographs. She brings to life richly imagined inner worlds, including one for macho Woody, a self-described "Lady's Man with NO BANKRUPTCIES ready to meet just one Special Lady with NO KIDS." After getting to know these grocery shoppers through Miss Carlip's dedicated voyeurism, going to the supermarket will never be the same.
The fun and mischievous daily adventures of head mutt Earl and his kitty chum, Mooch, take center stage in Patrick McDonnell's Mutts collection, A Little Look-See. As with McDonnell's previous collections, the always-adorable Mooch and Earl can be counted on for hearty laughs and endearing moments as they share their pets'-eye views when "their peoples" are not around. In A Little Look-See, we learn through Earl and Mooch that yes, animals do practice those irresistible expressions that melt our hearts, and we witness a not-so-dignified debate over the age-old question of who is cuter: dogs or cats? The creative style and classic charm of Mutts earns McDonnell the admiration of loyal readers, prominent national organizations, and fellow cartoonists, as well as frequent comparisons to cartoon-strip greats such as Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes. In 2000, McDonnell received the National Cartoonists Society's highest honor, the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for 1999. With a following that spans 20 countries, Mutts has also garnered notice internationally, winning Germany's prestigious Max & Moritz Award for best international comic strip. Go ahead and take A Little Look-See at the spectacular world of Mutts.
It's awesome. Totally awesome.
From fashion to '80s music, tv and film, this pop culture book entertains adults while teaching even the littlest children about the '80s from Alf to Zubaz. Whether you put it on your coffee table or your kid's bookshelf, spread the love of the '80s and keep it alive!
From fashion to '80s music, tv and film, this pop culture book entertains adults while teaching even the littlest children about the '80s from Alf to Zubaz. Whether you put it on your coffee table or your kid's bookshelf, spread the love of the '80s and keep it alive!
A collection of irreverent summations of more than 100 well-known works of literature, from Anna Karenina to Wuthering Heights, cleverly described in the fewest words possible and accompanied with funny color illustrations.
Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didn't is packed with dozens of humorous super-condensed summations of some of the most famous works of literature from many of the world's most revered authors, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Emily Brontë, Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, J.R.R. Tolkien, Margaret Atwood, James Joyce, Plato, Ernest Hemingway, Dan Brown, Ayn Rand, and Herman Melville.
From "Old ladies convince a guy to ruin Scotland" (Macbeth) to "Everyone is sad. It snows." (War and Peace), these clever, humorous synopses are sure to make book lovers smile.
A Selection of the Scientific American Book Club Want to add more excitement to your life? This daring combination of science, history, and DIY projects will show you how. Written for smart risk takers, it explores why danger is good for you and details the art of living dangerously. Risk takers are more successful, more interesting individuals who lead more fulfilling lives. Unlike watching an action movie or playing a video game, real-life experience changes a person, and Gurstelle will help you discover the true thrill of making black powder along with dozens of other edgy activities. All of the projects--from throwing knives, drinking absinthe, and eating fugu to cracking a bull whip, learning bartitsu, and building a flamethrower--have short learning curves, are hands-on and affordable, and demonstrate true but reasonable risk. With a strong emphasis on safety, each potentially life-altering project includes step-by-step directions, photographs, and illustrations along with troubleshooting tips from experts in the field.
The Absolutely Worst Places to Live in America surveyed thousands of Americans to find the fifty dirtiest, smelliest, most miserable cesspools, armpits, and tourist traps that make up this great land of ours. The winners of this awful distinction include the likes of:
- Atlantic City, New Jersey--Come for the slots. Stay for the gang warfare and fourth-rate prostitutes.
- Gary, Indiana--Like a sewer populated by 100,000 people.
- Carson City, Nevada--Perfect for folks burned out on the high culture of Reno.
- Fairbanks, Alaska--Take the most horrible place you've ever been, then subtract the sun.
- Jacksonville, Florida--Possibly the foulest-smelling city in the Western hemisphere.
- Camden, New Jersey--Once the proud home of America's first mass murderer, it's been all downhill since then.
Perfect for your friends unfortunate enough to live in Baltimore or Houston, The Absolutely Worst Places to Live in America is an uproarious look at the dregs of our otherwise wonderful country. Paper-Over-Board Edition
- Atlantic City, New Jersey--Come for the slots. Stay for the gang warfare and fourth-rate prostitutes.
- Gary, Indiana--Like a sewer populated by 100,000 people.
- Carson City, Nevada--Perfect for folks burned out on the high culture of Reno.
- Fairbanks, Alaska--Take the most horrible place you've ever been, then subtract the sun.
- Jacksonville, Florida--Possibly the foulest-smelling city in the Western hemisphere.
- Camden, New Jersey--Once the proud home of America's first mass murderer, it's been all downhill since then.
Perfect for your friends unfortunate enough to live in Baltimore or Houston, The Absolutely Worst Places to Live in America is an uproarious look at the dregs of our otherwise wonderful country. Paper-Over-Board Edition
THE definitive guide to the Academy Awards, from the very first ceremony to this year's 80th anniversary spectacular, includes EVERY nominee and winner in EVERY category?and has been fully updated to include the most recent winners and losers, unforgettable photographs, and highlights. Written by film experts who are sought out every year for their insider knowledge of movies and Hollywood, this book is both a comprehensive reference and a detailed history of the Academy Awards, complete with each year's facts, highlights, and controversies?all told with authority and attitude. Packed with more than 500 photographs from the Oscar ceremonies and red carpet as well as the movies themselves, it outdoes any other book on the market in both information and illustrations. And compared to boring "official" books with less reportage and much less color, this "unauthorized" book delivers what fans want most: ALL the facts, enhanced by juicy commentary and pictures galore. Now in its fourth edition, it's the most popular, comprehensive, lavishly illustrated, and enjoyable Oscar book out there.
Be an artist without starving. Reliable, objective information about the acting profession is hard to come by. Maybe you're new to the business and don't know where to start. Maybe you're training to become and actor, but need practical advice to help launch your career. Maybe you're a successful theater actor but sense you could boost your acting income. This nature of the industry is to guard secrets and confuse actors who want something from it. This book unlocks those secrets. Written by a Chicago-based career actor, Acting In Chicago 2013 Edition demystifies the question of how to earn a full-time living as an actor in the Midwest. You'll get details on: -The seven ways Chicago actors make money actually acting
-How much career actors can earn
-Local agents and casting directors
-Training resources available to Chicago actors
-Headshots and Resumes the Chicago way
-Auditioning in Chicago
-Working in Chicago
-The actor's union - SAG/AFTRA
-Other sources of income while your acting career is developing
-And much, much more Praise for Acting In Chicago: "This book is a dream for actors." Sam Samuelson, agent @ Stewart Talent Chicago "For an actor new to the business in Chicago, one who has been around but is trying to up their game, or one who is trying to break into new areas of the biz, this book is everything you need." Kurt Naebig, actor, director & teacher "Just shot my first national commercial and couldn't help but think of all the tips I learned from Chris Agos." Lauren Lapkus, actor, improvisor and comedian "I meet excited actors, new to Chicago and ready to dive in all the time, and I always point them straight to Acting in Chicago. This market is a unique beast and Agos' book is a huge help to anyone wanting to make a living in this town." Grace McPhillips, Chicago-based SAG-AFTRA actress and co-director of CAFM "This book is a must for every actor serious about making acting their business and not just their craft." Janelle Snow, adjunct faculty member, Roosevelt University "Actors spend many years perfecting their craft, but with Chris Agos' book at their side, they can understand the business instantly. A must read for all actors!" Ted Lega, Executive producer @ Bow]Arrow and Protein Editorial "Just landed an awesome commercial. Thanks for all of your instruction and guidance that helped me land this gig. I owe you a lot." Nick Bailey, Chicago-based actor "Outside of Betty Crocker and the Bible, no other book has helped me more." Janice Culver, Chicago-based actress.
-How much career actors can earn
-Local agents and casting directors
-Training resources available to Chicago actors
-Headshots and Resumes the Chicago way
-Auditioning in Chicago
-Working in Chicago
-The actor's union - SAG/AFTRA
-Other sources of income while your acting career is developing
-And much, much more Praise for Acting In Chicago: "This book is a dream for actors." Sam Samuelson, agent @ Stewart Talent Chicago "For an actor new to the business in Chicago, one who has been around but is trying to up their game, or one who is trying to break into new areas of the biz, this book is everything you need." Kurt Naebig, actor, director & teacher "Just shot my first national commercial and couldn't help but think of all the tips I learned from Chris Agos." Lauren Lapkus, actor, improvisor and comedian "I meet excited actors, new to Chicago and ready to dive in all the time, and I always point them straight to Acting in Chicago. This market is a unique beast and Agos' book is a huge help to anyone wanting to make a living in this town." Grace McPhillips, Chicago-based SAG-AFTRA actress and co-director of CAFM "This book is a must for every actor serious about making acting their business and not just their craft." Janelle Snow, adjunct faculty member, Roosevelt University "Actors spend many years perfecting their craft, but with Chris Agos' book at their side, they can understand the business instantly. A must read for all actors!" Ted Lega, Executive producer @ Bow]Arrow and Protein Editorial "Just landed an awesome commercial. Thanks for all of your instruction and guidance that helped me land this gig. I owe you a lot." Nick Bailey, Chicago-based actor "Outside of Betty Crocker and the Bible, no other book has helped me more." Janice Culver, Chicago-based actress.
Jenna Fischer's Hollywood journey began at the age of 22 when she moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of St. Louis. With a theater degree in hand, she was determined, she was confident, she was ready to work hard. So, what could go wrong? Uh, basically everything. The path to being a professional actor was so much more vast and competitive than she'd imagined. It would be eight long years before she landed her iconic role on The Office, nearly a decade of frustration, struggle, rejection and doubt. If only she'd had a handbook for the aspiring actor. Or, better yet, someone to show her the way--an established actor who could educate her about the business, manage her expectations, and reassure her in those moments of despair. Jenna wants to be that person for you. With amusing candor and wit, Fischer spells out the nuts and bolts of getting established in the profession, based on her own memorable and hilarious experiences. She tells you how to get the right headshot, what to look for in representation, and the importance of joining forces with other like-minded artists and creating your own work--invaluable advice personally acquired from her many years of struggle. She provides helpful hints on how to be gutsy and take risks, the tricks to good auditioning and callbacks, and how not to fall for certain scams (auditions in a guy's apartment are probably not legit--or at least not for the kind of part you're looking for!). Her inspiring, helpful guidance feels like a trusted friend who's made the journey, and has now returned to walk beside you, pointing out the pitfalls as you blaze your own path towards the life of a professional actor.
"The Actual One is a total delight: the perfect read for anyone who has ever felt frustrated and bewildered by the concept of "The One," which is to say, probably just about everyone. Isy Suttie's stories about dating, drinking, and disaster - sometimes all three at once - made me laugh out loud so often I annoyed the people in my immediate surroundings."--Katie Heaney, author of Never Have I Ever and Dear Emma