Film and Entertainment books

Looking for trivia books filled with fun facts and trivia questions and answers? Answers to Questions You've Never Asked will entertain you for hours

Fun facts for kids of all ages: When you take the most absurd parts of history, science, economics and geography, you end up with a pretty confusing picture of humanity. Why do we have borders, what’s the furthest you can get from the ocean, how do you qualify as a country and why did Vikings wear those silly helmets? These are just a few of the strange questions that bounce around the head of YouTube sensation Joseph Pisenti, aka Real Life Lore.

Trivia questions and answers: In his channel, Pisenti presents illogical truths in a logical manner. In his debut book, Pisenti builds on this nonsensical humor of the universe with in-depth analysis of empires, economies, and ecosystems as he helps answer the ridiculous. Why, you ask? Because someone has to. Using line drawings, graphs and charts, Pisenti not only details the absurd, but he also provides explanations on why things are…and why they aren’t. Answers to:

• Where can I move to so that I’m never tempted by McDonalds again?
• How far into the Pacific does Trump’s wall stretch?
• If Plato came back to life, what would he think of modern democracy?
• Why do all empires fail?
• Who decides what countries are allowed to participate in the Olympics?
• What makes Finland so great?

Witty, thought-provoking and occasionally snarky, Answers to Questions You’ve Never Asked is for anyone who beams with curiosity and has a belly-button.

#1 Amazon New Release! ─ If you are thinking of becoming a gay dad, or if you are already a gay dad ─ this book is for you!

Are you ready to have kids? More and more gay men are turning to adoption and surrogacy to start their own families. An estimated two million American LBGTQ people would like to adopt and an estimated 65,000 adopted children are living with a gay parent. In 2016, The Chicago Tribune reported that 10 to 20 percent of donor eggs went to gay men expanding their families via surrogacy, and in many places the numbers were up 50 percent from the previous five years.

Gay parenting: Having a kid is like coming out all over again, on a daily basis, especially if you have an infant. Was coming out stressful for you? It’s about to get more intense and you will have a child watching your every move and listening to your every word. If you stutter or pause, they may pick up on your discomfort and could start to feel like something is wrong about their family unit. The Ultimate Guide For Gay Dads is jam packed with parenting tips and advice to help you build confidence and become the awesome gay dad you were meant to be!

How Is This Parenting Guide Different From Others? Unlike other parenting books that have whole chapters focusing on things specifically related to mothers (such as how to get the perfect latch when breastfeeding), this parenting book replaces those sections with things relevant to gay dads. It covers topics like how to find LGBT friendly pediatricians, how to find LGBT friendly schools, how to childproof your home with style, how to answer awkward and prying questions about your family from strangers, examples for what two-dad families can do on Mother’s Day, and much more. The book also includes parenting tips and advice from pediatricians, school educators, lawyers, and other same-sex parents.

Top LGBT parenting expert: Bestselling author Eric Rosswood covers every aspect of fatherhood for gay men in this essential guide to growing your family in the post-DOMA era. He is a major influencer on social media with over 100,000 followers on Twitter alone, as well as thousands on other platforms.

Exploring LGBTQ issues: Rosswood is an in-demand authority and commentator on LGBTQ issues, including civil rights, parenting, marriage and politics. The author has been featured in major media including The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, CBS News, The Huffington Post, Elite Daily, Yahoo! News, AOL News, NY Daily News, IB Times, and regional LGBTQ press.

#1 Amazon New Release! ─ Learn why great wines and great writers are a wonderful blend

Pure delight: "This book would be a highly recommendable primer on wine without the literary references as Alexander guides us through regions and grapes, plus how to truly appreciate this nectar. But the hefty chapter matching grapes with authors is pure delight: albariño and J.R.R. Tolkien, chardonnay and Jane Austen, and his personal favorite, gewürztraminer and Marcel Proust." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The pleasures of great wine and great writers: Under the careful guidance of his father, Patrick Alexander began drinking wine with his meals at the age of five. At the same age, encouraged by his mother, he began a lifelong love-affair with books. The twin pleasures of wine and writing remained his passion for the next sixty-five years. He has raised his own children in many of the world’s great wine growing regions, from Bordeaux and Piedmont in Europe to the Santa Cruz mountains of California while researching and writing his definitive guide to the novels of Marcel Proust.

History of wine and some of the best wines: For the past six years, Patrick has been teaching a sold-out wine appreciation class at the nation’s No.1 independent bookstore, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. The Booklovers' Guide to Wine is based on this very successful class and blends Patrick’s passion for the culture and history of wine and his love of literature for the world's great writers. A literary twist on traditional food and wine pairings, this book explores how great wines and great writers can be combined to enhance the enjoyment of both. The book describes the history of wine from the time of Noah to the birth of two-buck Chuck. It explores the significance of terroir and varietal, the differences between Old World and New World wines and explains why England, a small island with almost no vineyards, is such a dominant force in the world of wine. The book also shows the relationship between:

• Charles Dickens with Cabernet Sauvignon
• Jane Austin with Chardonnay
• Shakespeare with Sherry
• and, J.R.R. Tolkien with Albariño

This fact-filled, jargon free guide to wine, bursting with entertaining anecdotes, literary quotes and compelling humor will teach you everything you always wanted to learn about wine but were too scared to ask.

Learn about wine: Patrick Alexander originally developed the Wine Appreciation program when he worked at the University of Miami as Director of the Office of Professional Advancement. In the summer of 2011, after Patrick had left UM in order to focus on writing, Mitchell Kaplan suggested he offer his program at Books & Books during the quiet summer months. “It seems a pity to waste all that research” Mitchell said “and you never know; our book customers might want to learn about wine while enjoying great writers .” Six years, twenty-three sold-out classes, and four-hundred satisfied students later, Patrick Alexander's Wine Appreciation Program has become one of the highlights of Books & Books event programming. Patrick is also a published author and his writings include Marcel Proust’s Search for Lost Time and The Nigerian Letter. Now, by reading The Booklovers' Guide To Wine you can also experience what Patrick's students have come to love and appreciate about great wines and great writers.

#1 Amazon Best Seller! — Want to know how to make a movie on a tight budget?

How to make a movie: Filmmaker Rickey Bird and screenwriter and novelist Al Guevara are on a mission to help indie moviemakers everywhere. Today’s indie film market is growing by leaps and bounds. At the same time, many aspiring filmmakers are running into their share of problems:

• not enough money for crews
• over budget and more than likely making the wrong movie
• can’t get the attention of an indie studio
• should have started with a short film to gain attention

Cheap Movie Tricks: Film school numbers aren’t down. They’re increasing at more than 2,600 film-related courses worldwide. You probably didn’t even realize 48% of all film schools are in the U.S. and U.K. Thousands of aspiring filmmakers are literally learning how to use cheaper, widely available filmmaking technology, as well as the craft of making movies from books pulled from bookstore and library shelves. They’re totally DIY and the most creative people you will ever meet. Rickey Bird’s Hectic Films is a Southern California enterprise that is building a filmmaking empire on a budget. His short films, feature films, micro docs and tutorials have landed in some of the biggest American film festivals and been seen online throughout the world. The result? Millions of views worth of exposure from films online, in festivals and creative marketing literally on the street. His many projects have seen leading B actors like Hulk Hogan and Vernon Wells (Mad Max Road Warrior), make-up artists from the TV show Grimm, and stuntmen from the Call of Duty games.

What you’ll learn inside this book:

• how planning and shooting a short film today can lead to a feature-length project tomorrow
• everything you need to know about writing a movie project on a burger budget
• tips on how to find locations and not get arrested
• shooting tips galore for building exciting scenes
• sound and film editing tips and all kinds of special effects wizardry, including puppetry
• screenings, promotions and juicy tips on film festival strategy

#1 Amazon Best Seller! ─ Learn How to Stop Anxiety from Stopping You

If you have read Girl Wash Your Face, Reviving Ophelia, 101 Trauma-Informed Interventions or Start Where You Are─you will want to read Stop Anxiety from Stopping You.

Breakthrough Program: Our pace of life has increased exponentially in the last few decades. We are often too busy or preoccupied to attend to our emotions until they hit with the strength of a tornado. When signs of anxiety and panic appear, they ravage our lives, our dreams and our spirit. Dr. Helen Odessky, Psy. D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, anxiety expert, author and speaker who runs a private practice in Chicago that is focused on anxiety, OCD and panic treatment. In her book, Stop Anxiety from Stopping You: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Panic and Social Anxiety, Dr. Odessky gives you the tools to learn how to overcome anxiety and how to stop panic attacks, using practical real-life solutions. 

How to overcome anxiety and how to stop a panic attack: It is now possible to stop anxiety from stopping us in our tracks. In her book, Dr. Odessky helps you understand the process of anxiety, and how to arm yourself with strategies that work. Dr. Odessky draws on her years of clinical experience to guide you through the process of not only learning how to overcome anxiety, but also how to enrich your life. Stop Anxiety from Stopping You will show you how to stop anxiety and how to stop panic attacks in an easy to implement six-step framework. You will learn about:

• Signs of anxiety
• How to overcome anxiety
• How to stop panic attacks
• How to treat anxiety

Unlock Supernatural Power

If you like The Crystal Bible or Crystals for Healing, you'll cherish The Magic of Crystals and Gems

Practice Practical Magic: Did you know that wearing an amulet of green jade on an interview will help get the job? Have you heard that an amethyst ring can help break bad habits and even encourage sobriety? Anyone looking for love can place two pink quartz crystals in the bedroom; you’ll not be alone for long! These are just a few of the hundreds of secrets shared in The Magic of Crystals and Gems. Semi-precious stones and gems have long been known for their magic as well as their beauty. In this book of charms, readers learn everything there is to know about the powers of crystals from birthstone magic to gem divination to jewelry spells. This is a fun, entertaining, and enlightening book that will appeal to everyone who's ever worn a birthstone, kissed the ring of a lover for luck, or bought a crystal for good energy.

Learn Amazing Things About Crystals: The Magic of Crystals and Gems is a treasure chest filled with the ancient wisdom of crystals. It is also a handy how-to filled with little-known lore along with the myth, meanings and specific magical qualities of hundreds of crystals, both common and very rare, including many meteorites. Author Cerridwen Greenleaf shares secrets to how and why crystal balls work, scrying with obsidian, crystal astrology, divination, healing, psychism and connections between the stars in the sky and gems of the earth. This one-of-a-kind work on the power of crystals belongs on the bookshelf of everyone interested in the magical gifts of Mother Nature.

The Magic of Crystals and Gems is the definitive guide to the enchanted world of crystals and gems. After reading this book, you will understand:

• Which crystals are right for you
• How to unlock the mystery of sacred stones
• Ways to improve your life with changes as simple as putting new crystals in your room
• And much more!

Beer School ─ An insider's guide to craft beer, the world's greatest drink

The wonderful world of craft beers: Beer has come a long way in the 6,000 years since the first taste. The legends of the craft beer industry have made sure everyone’s within reach of the perfect pint. But, how do you get the right brew for you? And, can you learn to make a beer that will add to the lager legacy?

Beers of the world: Welcome to Beer School, brought to you by the heroes of YouTube sensation the Craft Beer Channel, a guide to everything you need to know about the wide and wonderful beers of the world. In Beer School, Jonny and Brad explain the intricacies of the finest artisan craft brews, including: ales, lagers, porters, stouts, IPSs, and bitters.

How to make beer: The lads have the inside scoop on everything from hop varieties and barrel aging, to serving temperatures and glassware. Beer School helps you learn how to make beer and how to get the most out of every sip. You will learn about: grain, mash, water, hops, boil, yeast, fermentation, serving, storing, pouring, and tasting.

#1 Amazon New Release! ─ Find your fate

Oracular answers: Think of a question you wish to divine the answer to and focus intently on that question, flip the pages of the book, stop the page with the tip of a finger and read the corresponding words, the results will surprise and amaze! The collected oracular answers span the ages with the words of some of the great thinkers, philosophers, poets and writers of all time.

Find inspiration and meditate: A must-have for fans of great poetry, fortune telling, magic eight balls and those with a sense of adventure! Readers are asked to contemplate a question and then randomly select an excerpt, which will offer revelations and inspiration for further contemplation. Excerpts are drawn from poets throughout the ages, including Shakespeare, Sappho, Li Po, Rumi, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, William Blake, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Though designed as a prophetic tool, it can also be used for daily inspiration and meditation.

Mindfulness Mutts and Dharma Dogs

Readers of Start With Why, You Are Here and Whatever You Are, Be A Good One will love the quotes and teachings of Zen Dogs

Advice from Zen Leaders: Join some cuddly puppies for the timeless teachings of Buddhism along with key lessons our canine companions are here to remind us of—such as how to live in the now—in Zen Dogs. Don’t let the adorable dogs fool you—they have plenty of mindfulness wisdom to share in the form of quotes and verses. These timeless verses will continue to be helpful and relevant to your life for years to come.

Daily Mindfulness: Meditate along with these verses daily. Every dog is a living example of loving kindness, a central tenet of the Buddha, which they reteach us with every affectionate lick and joy-filled wag of the tail. Learn from the dutiful dog to be true in body and mind. If you appreciated the mindfulness encouragement from Peace Is Every Step, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching and Together Is Better, you will love the quotes in Zen Dogs.

Let your inner Zen Dog guide you to enlightenment.

The Tao of Meow

Feline mindfulness: Is it time to “paws and reflect?” Cats are mysterious and even enigmatic, but they hold the keys to great wisdom. Is your kitten really meditating when staring off into space? Perhaps your kitten is sleeping or maybe deeply contemplating the very meaning of life. In every cat’s clear-eyed gaze lies a hint of secrets only they know. Cats will only come to you when they are ready, but kittens are always ready for companionship and a good cuddle.

Inspirational kittens: These adorable furballs embody the essence of Zen Buddhism - harmony of body and mind and living fully in the present moment. Kittens exemplify the Power of Meow with their simplicity, grace and blissful Buddha-nature. Each feline Zen Master in this lovely volume will get you one step closer to enlightenment as you follow the Four-Pawed Path. If you are looking for calm, clarity and insight into the teachings of Buddha, this is the purrrrfect book for you!

#1 Amazon Bestseller! Truck Nuts! Truck Nuts! Truck Nuts!

We're dedicated to helping find the best truck for you: So, truck nuts ─ your truck is your career, your office, your passion, your attitude. What is the best truck for you? Kent "Mr. Truck" Sundling from MrTruck.com and Andre Smirnov from The Fast Lane Trucks will explore that question and more in their book, Truck Nuts. Learn about:

• small trucks and the best small truck
• big trucks
• diesel trucks
• family trucks and vans
• pickup trucks and the best pickup truck
• and much more

All Trucks All The Time! Truck Nuts, the debut book by Kent "Mr. Truck" Sundling and Andre Smirnov, takes on the challenge of breaking down all the ins and outs of trucks:

• How to match your truck to your trailer
• Top 3 MPG trucks
• Used truck judging
• Gas or diesel engine?
• Understanding truck and trailer tires
• Truck safety
• Going off the beaten path
• The future of pickup trucks
• Oil change myths

We are nuts about trucks and we want to take you on a journey through "Truck Nuts", the book. Please join us.

#1 Amazon Best Seller! ─ Cubanisms ─ The evolution of Cuban slang, Spanish slang, and Spanglish

The history of Spanish slang: Spanish is a unique language. From Argentina to Spain, accents, meanings, connotations and more get lost between borders. Cubanisms by Pedro García-Menocal details the diverse history of the Spanish language as it evolved in the Lost City.

The humor of Spanish slang: With beautifully traditional illustrations from noted Cuban artist Gustavo “Garrincha” Rodriguez, Cubanisms embraces the hilarious and historic value of words and their interpretations. This funny and informative collection will keep you laughing and learning all the way from Havana to Santiago.