Books Reviews
The Garth Factor
By Patsi Bale Cox
Hardcover, 335 pages $24.99
The unprecedented country music boom of the 1990s was largely the result of the impact of Garth Brooks, a transplanted Okie whose success in Nashville changed the game plan—and opened up the playing field—for every record company in town. This solid exploration of his superstardom is also an insider's glimpse into a music industry blissfully basking in Garth's white-hot glow while wondering just how to capture his brand of lightning in a bottle.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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By Diane C. Arkins
Hardcover, 128 pages ($19.95)
The red-white-and-blue spirit of Independence Day past is captured in this collection of retro fireworks packaging, posters, postcards, parade decorations and party favors from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And if you're itching to pitch a stars-and-stripes party of your own, there's also a roundup of vintage menu suggestions, games, poems and other suggestions for celebrating the Fourth of July with a festive, old-fashioned bang.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame
By Burt Randolph Sugar ($35)
Hardcover, 272 pages
Sugar, a renowned sportscaster and sportswriter, takes you on a colorful tour of baseball's most sacred shrine with this handsome collection of more than 500 exclusive photos of exhibits, hallowed artifacts and historic moments. A special section spotlights the plaques of every inductee on display in the sport's equivalent of Mt. Olympus. Experience the magic of baseball's mecca of memories without ever leaving home!
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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Tornado Hunter
By Stefan Bechtel with Tim Samaras
Hardcover, 272 pages ($24)
While most people take shelter from a storm, a handful of others try to get as close as possible—especially when it involves the most violent, freakish windstorms on Earth. The United States has more tornadoes than any place in the world, and "tornado hunters" are passionate in their quest to learn more about them. Come along for the windy ride with these wild tales of close encounters with funnel clouds, a look at the men who chase them and an explanation of what makes tornadoes so destructive, deadly...and fascinating.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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By Warren Dotz & Masud Husain
Softcover, 176 pages ($16.95)
Colorful and classic advertising characters line this breezy walk down a memory lane of Madison Avenue creations that captured the imagination—and the marketplace—in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Nostalgia buffs and baby boomers will enjoy becoming re-acquainted with such icons as Tony the Tiger, the Dutch Boy, the Orkin Man and hundreds of other lesser-known mascots that put a friendly, goofy or helpful "face" on hamburgers, hot dogs, breakfast cereal, bubble bath, bathroom cleaners and a store-stocked spectrum of other products.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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By Tony Bill
Softcover, 216 pages ($8.95)
You'll sound like a real Hollywood insider when you throw around terms like "Doris Day Parking," "brodkin," "honeywagon" and "rough cut"—and actually know what you're talking about! Written by an award-winning producer, this handy-dandy A-to-Z guide also includes descriptions of the jobs behind all those cryptic credits that run at the end of a film, like grip, gaffer, best boy and wrangler. Fun, fact-filled and full of insight into the backstage world of filmmaking, it's a must-have for any movie buff!
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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Escape From the Deep
By Alex Kershaw
Softcover, 270 pages ($15.95)
Now available in paperback, this true WWII story puts you inside the decorated U.S. submarine Tang, sent to the bottom of the sea by its own misfired torpedo during a battle off the coast of Japan. Nine survivors miraculously escaped death in a watery tomb—only to face an even more harrowing ordeal at the hands of their angry enemy captors. A tale of courage, survival and heroism beyond what most of us can even imagine, it's got the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. So read it now and be ready to tell everyone, "Oh, the movie was good—but the book was better!"
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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Hardcover, 288 pages ($35)
Face it, we're fascinated with criminals. In addition to this rogues' gallery of some 250 police "booking" photos of famous mugs (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde), there's also a fascinating history of the scientific identification of wrongdoers, plus insightful commentary on the crime behind each criminal. It's like taking a field trip to an all-star night court!
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Coastal Towns of America
Hardcover, 280 pages ($50)
Take a tour of America's coastline with this handsome coffee-table collection featuring 300 sumptuous color photos and background on coastal destinations rich in history, lore, legends and breathtaking scenery. Spanning from New England to Alaska (and even including Hawaii), it's an armchair getaway and a feast for the eyes—and if you want your feet to follow, there's helpful info about lodging, parks, monuments, landmarks and other things to see and do when you get there.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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By Brian Cronin
Softcover, 244 pages ($14)
Why did the U.S. War Department try to suppress some issues of "Superman"? Which comic book hero inspired Elvis Presley's hairstyle? What character's trademark color came about as a result of poor printing? Pop culture junkies, comic geeks and even casual readers will get a kick out of these fascinating—and sometimes wild—stories behind dozens of popular characters from the world of comic books.
—Neil Pond, American Profile
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