A "relentlessly hilarious, mercilessly self-aware, and consistently compassionate" journey into the Punderdome and other fields of competitive wordplay (Josh Gondelman, Emmy Award–winning comedy writer).When Joe Berkowitz witnessed his first Punderdome 3000 competition in Brooklyn, it felt wrong in the best way. Something impossible seemed to be happening. The kinds of jokes we learn to repress through social conditioning were not only being aired out in public—they...

From the author of Away with Words, a deeply hilarious and unexpectedly insightful deep-dive into a cultural and culinary phenomenon: cheese."Who knew it was possible to enjoy reading about cheese as much as eating it? Remarkably entertaining, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious, American Cheese goes far beyond the plastic yellow slices we all know, and some love, revealing a community as quirky, passionate, and creative as the chee...

A hilarious examination of faux pas for readers of Allie Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half and Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never HappenedHumankind is doomed. Especially you.It’s already too late. From overstaying your welcome at a party, to leaving passive-aggressive post-its on your roommate’s belongings, to letting your date know the extent of the internet reconnaissance you did on them—you're destined to embarrass yourself again and ag...

A hilarious examination of faux pas for readers of Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half and Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened Humankind is doomed. Especially you. It's already too late. From overstaying your welcome at a party, to leaving passive-aggressive post-its on your roommate's belongings, to letting your date know the extent of the internet reconnaissance you did on them-you're destined to embarrass yourself again and again. In You Blew It!, Josh Gondelman, comedian an...

From the author of Away with Words, a deeply hilarious and unexpectedly insightful deep-dive into a cultural and culinary phenomenon: cheese.“Who knew it was possible to enjoy reading about cheese as much as eating it? Remarkably entertaining, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious, American Cheese goes far beyond the plastic yellow slices we all know, and some love, revealing a community as quirky, passionate, and creative as the chee...

A Short History of Nearly Everything meets Astrophysics for People in a Hurry in this humorous, accessible exploration of how meteorites have helped not only build our planet but steered the evolution of life and human culture.The Solar System. Dinosaurs. Donkey Kong. What is the missing link? Surprisingly enough, it's meteorites. They explain our past, constructed our present, and could define our future.Impact argues that Earth ...

A rollicking exploration of the history and future of our favorite foods.When we humans love foods, we love them a lot. In fact, we have often eaten them into extinction, whether it is the megafauna of the Paleolithic world or the passenger pigeon of the last century. In Lost Feast, food expert Lenore Newman sets out to look at the history of the foods we have loved to death and what that means for the culinary paths we choose for the future. Whether it's ...

The United States boasts a culturally and ethnically diverse population which makes for a continually changing culinary landscape. But a young historical gastronomist named Sarah Lohman discovered that American food is united by eight flavors: black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha. In Eight Flavors, Lohman sets out to explore how these influential ingredients made their way to the American table.Eight Flavors intro...

An inside look into the story of why we all traded in pots for pods!Reminiscent of God in a Cup and The Devil’s Cup, this is an inside look into the modern business of making coffee. But rather than a general history, Coffee for One focuses on the revolution that made single serve the most popular way to consume coffee worldwide, and the competition and conflict that got us here.This story features A-list names, corporate intrigue...

""No one makes me laugh harder than Judy Gold. If I had to pick one comedian to write a book about free speech, it would be Judy."" – Amy SchumerFrom award-winning comedian Judy Gold, an equal parts thoughtful and hilarious polemic on the current efforts to censor comedians, arguing that they undermine the art—and purpose—of comedy itself.“You can say anything that comes to mind as long as it is funny.” — Richard PryorThe fallout af...

A History of the Burger, From Conception to PerfectionA World History of Burgers: Do you know what the first burger chain was? That Taco Bell was originally known as Bell Burger—and was founded in the same city as McDonald's? Have you heard of the 1980s Burger Wars? All About the Burger covers all of these topics and more! Discover the food history you've been missing in this entertaining book.The Burger Journey of a Lifeti...

""Larson's elegantly written dual biography reveals that the partnership of Franklin and Washington was indispensable to the success of the Revolution."" —Gordon S. WoodFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian comes a masterful, first-of-its-kind dual biography of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, illuminating their partnership's enduring importance.One of USA Today’s “Must-Read Books"" of Winter 2020 • One of P...