Archive for Items Categorized 'Other Genres', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

Yoko Ono, One Woman Show, 1960–1971

For many, Yoko Ono is merely John Lennon’s widow. But before she even knew about The Beatles, she was an artist in her own right. For decades, her standing in the art world has been on the fringe—until now: MoMA gave her her own show.

The Rum Diary, The Long Lost Novel

by Hunter S. Thompson

Thompson is best known for his Gonzo-Journalism—fame for his Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has not yet abated. But in his first novel, published decades after it was first written, we find something different, even a drop of tenderness. For those wary of his hyper-stylization but curious concerning the author, this would be a good introduction into Thompson’s worldview.

Son of a Beach Boy

by Scott Wilson with Karen Leslie Powell

Many still care deeply about Dennis Wilson, cofounder of The Beach Boys. Although this book doesn’t deny Wilson’s hedonistic behavior, it tells of the—often unconventional—devotion and affection he bestowed upon his stepson Scott. But the book, like its hero, has serious problems.

Dead Man’s Curve

by Berry, Christian, Kornfeld, Wilson

“The last thing I remember Doc, I started to swerve…”

Teenage tragedies, car songs, Jan Berry, Dean Torrence and Brian Wilson. 1964 was a heady time, and here at Speedreaders we miss nothing.

The Medium is the Massage, An Inventory of Effects

by Marshall McLuhan & Quentin Fiore

A blast from the future past! What did the twenty-first century look like back in 1967? McLuhan’s classic book is no easier to read now than it was then even though some of his future is already our everyday present.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin

A book cover with scalloped edges? Nope, this is . . . a postage stamp! Nothing escapes our attention, especially if it’s well designed and of some cultural import. So there.

The Story of Music, From Babylon to The Beatles

by Howard Goodall

Humans communicate—music is communication. But it’s also much more than that. Some 40,000+ years of musical ideas, forms, and trends in the Western world are discussed here to make sense of it all.

You Have Been Warned! A Complete Guide to the Road

by Donald McCullough & Fougasse

First published in 1935 and re-issued many times since, this popular compilation of “humorous advice for perplexed motorists” takes a light-hearted look at things a budding motorist and innocent bystanders ought to know about each other.

Catwoman, The Life and Times of a Feline Fatale

by Suzan Colón

A fun pictorial tribute. If this book were about The Batman, it’d be called sexist. Can good graphic design trump mediocre content? Don’t reject this book out of hand—but don’t break the kitty for it either.

The Beatles, aka The White Album

The Beatles, aka The White Album

The Beatles, the group, and The Beatles the album, aka The White Album, seem destined to be with us always. Speedreaders takes a detailed look at a 2009 CD reincarnation.Obladi Oblada indeed.

Cosmos

by Carl Sagan

Surely you’ve been watching the new TV version of this classic work? Read the book and discover more.

Popeye In a Sock for Susan’s Sake

by Elzie Crisler Segar

Introduced in 1929, Popeye the Sailor Man became—and remains—a cartoon superstar. This classic Whitman Better Little Book is an unusual and quite pleasing venue for Popeye.

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