"Spanning three decades worth of astute, acerbic, and overall astounding music writing, Kick Out the Jams is the first large-scale anthology of the work of renowned critic Dave Marsh. Ranging from Elvis Presley to Kurt Cobain, from Nina Simone to Ani DiFranco, from the Beatles to Green Day, the book gives an opinionated, eye-opening overview of 20th century popular music--offering a portrait not just of an era but of a writer wrestling with the American...

"From culture writer and GQ contributor Scott Meslow, an in-depth celebration of the romantic comedy's modern golden era and its role in our culture, tracking the genre from its heyday in the 80s and the 90s, its slow decline in the 2000s, and its explosive reemergence in the age of streaming, featuring exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, and stars of the iconic films that defined the genre"--

In the 24 lectures of Rise of the Novel, take a journey from the birth of the novel to the height of the form in the mid-nineteenth century, and better understand what this literary form can tell about human nature and the unquenchable thirst for great stories. With Professor Emeritus Leo Damrosch of Harvard University as the guide, dive into some of the most notable works that helped create and shape the novel over the course of more than three centuries....

"The fables of Aesop are over 2,500 years old, yet we still recount them and ponder the lessons his animal characters deliver. Humans have found fables to be an effective way to reflect on people's behaviors and suggest wiser ways of behaving. Readers of this beneficial and accessible book will learn about this genre of literature and its writers. They'll examine the elements of fables and be invited to demonstrate their knowledge by writing their...

"The Mummy's story was inspired by the opening of King Tut's tomb in 1922. The film producers of the early Dracula and Frankenstein films wasted no time creating a character who's been creeping out of his coffin and entertaining audiences since 1932. Author Sheila Keenan explains the history of the movie and its remakes, the legendary curse of King Tut's mummy, and what lies ahead for this monstrous creature."--

The high notes and biggest moments in music history are covered in this fun compendium. You'll learn about the world's most famous musicians through the eras, from Bach to the Beatles to Beyonce -- and beyond. Many major music genres are playfully explained, from tribal, classical, jazz, folk, rock ... all the way to today's modern forms, such as k-pop, hip-hop, and rap. Instruments and sounds are explored, along with places and events in history...

This intricate visual celebration of the world's most celebrated composers tells the fascinating stories of their lives and works.

"Historically, a 'carol' is a song or dance of praise or joy. They used to be performed during all four seasons. Today, most young readers know the carols many people sing at Christmastime, including 'Oh, Christmas Tree' and 'Jolly Old St. Nicholas.' Entire radio stations will marathon-play these tunes during December. Where did the tradition for these songs begin? How are they used around the world? Beginning readers find out these facts and more...

"For the past four decades, no film saga has touched the world in the way that Star Wars has, capturing the imaginations of filmgoers and filmmakers alike. Now, for the first time ever, Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman... are telling the entire story of this blockbuster franchise from the very beginning in a single exhaustive volume. Featuring the commentaries of hundreds of actors and filmmakers involved with and impacted by Star Wars, as well as...

By mixing personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden explores the ways that classic rock changed the culture -- how it established the album as music's answer to the novel, and rock concerts as the secular equivalent to church -- and asks whether any of these signposts can endure. He investigates the rise and fall of classic rock radio and determines whether the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is telling the right version of Rock history. He revisits...