Juan Luis Obregon was perhaps the greatest Portuguese novelist of the 20th century. If only he hadn't taken a job as a coat tree, there is no telling what masterpieces he might have created. more » more »

Hollywood high priest Gene Shalit gathers from more than 30 years in the entertainment industry to be the guide in this hilarious trip through the land of the stars. Bringing together zinging lines from movie personas and the stars who play them, as well as backstage humor and off-screen snipes, Great ... more »

There's never been a better excuse to buy a new dress ... or two. Shopaholic Ties the Knot The irresistible heroine of Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan is back!--in a hilarious tale of mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, and one blushing bride who just can't say no to saying ... more »

In fiction, the spy is a glamorous figure whose secrets make or break peace, but, historically, has intelligence really been a vital step to military victories? In this breakthrough study, the preeminent war historian John Keegan goes to the heart of a series of important conflicts to develop a powerful ... more »

In 1994, Eric Clapton came across a Wayne Henderson guitar in a recording studio and decided on the spot that he had to have one. Rarer than Stradivarius violins, these musical works of art are built from near-extinct Brazilian Rosewood, Appalachian spruce, black ebony, and fine mother-of-pearl. With ... more »

Friends? Romans? Countrymen? You never know whom you'll have to impress at your next corporate shindig or keg party. Whatever the target audience, mental_floss knows staring facedown into the punch bowl isn't the trick. In fact, that's exactly why we're handing you Cocktail Party Cheat Sheets -- a totally ... more »

The Provost is an ironic look at the career of a small town merchant and politician. Set in Irvine, in Ayrshire, it follows the life of James Pawkie, the Provost of the title. From his humble apprenticeship he progresses to owning his own shop, and eventually a large part of his home town. Simultaneously ... more »

Pedants, revolt! In this irreverent, smart, obscenely entertaining book, Andrea Barham shatters the myths, misconceptions, fallacies, and falsehoods about all the things you thought you knew (and a few you never considered). Lead pencils can give you lead poisoning.... Newton discovered gravity when ... more »

Rock Paper Scissors (RPS), the ultimate decision-making tool, is played the world over. By the late twentieth century, however, the sport's illustrious governing body, the World Rock Paper Scissors Society, had fallen on hard times. It was then that brothers Douglas and Graham Walker boldly took up the ... more »

A Santa Fe dad shares heartwarming, comic, often ludicrous tales of raising a family in this laugh-out-loud book perfect for anyone who enjoys the edgy humor of David Sedaris or the whimsical commentary of Dave Barry. Waxing both profound and profane on issues close to a father's heart-from exploding ... more »

From the author who brought you Spin Cycle and Neurotica comes a hilarious new novel about falling in love, hating your job, and getting what you want out of life---without ever mussing your lipstick! When it comes to men, beauty columnist Rebecca Fine always seems to be on the scruffy end of the mascara ... more »

In her acclaimed books I Do. I Did. Now What?! and What Wendell Wants , Jenny Lee hilariously chronicled the milestones of getting married and getting a dog. Now she takes on the most terrifying milestone of all: getting older. Tackling everything from the peer pressure to have children to resisting ... more »