Film and Entertainment books

#1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts ─ The Surprising History of Ordinary Things

Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily from the host of The Story Behind podcast.

Everyday objects and major events in history: Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today.

The history and science behind the ordinary: From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes this revelatory new book. The Story Behind will give insight into everyday objects we don’t think much about when we use them. Topics covered in the podcast will be examined in more detail along with many new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored.

Discover the fascinating story behind many things:

• Learn truly obscure history and fun facts that will change the way they see the world
• Learn how major historic events still affect us today through seemingly mundane things
• Become formidable trivia masters

If you have enjoyed books such as Now I Know, What If?, Ever Wonder Why?, The Greatest Stories Never Told, or Atlas Obscura; you will be entertained by The Story Behind.

Inspirational Bunnies

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

Advice from Zen Leaders: Join some cuddly bunnies for encouragement from Buddhist teachers like Thich Nhat Hahn and the Buddha himself in Zen Bunnies. Don’t let the adorable bunnies 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. Learn from the bountiful bunny 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 Bunnies.

Let your inner Zen Bunny guide you to enlightenment.

#1 New Release in Language & Grammar, Questions & Answers, and Editing ─ Be a Successful Author

Learn the keys to successful authorship from a pro: Joan Gelfand, author of You Can Be a Winning Writer, has been teaching her 4 C’s approach to creative writing and successful authorship to aspiring authors at book festivals and writer’s conferences for the past decade. She has taught her 4 C’s method to college professors, CEOs, doctors, ghostwriters, poets, and playwrights throughout the United States; helping them realize their publishing dreams.

A publishing guide to writing success: From first draft to building a reputation, the 4 C’s provides solid tips on how to build a literary community and a fan base. But, successful authorship does not stop with mastering craft, commitment, and even building a community. Confidence is key, and Joan tackles this sensitive subject that keeps writers unpublished and manuscripts in the drawer. With the help of Renate Stendhal, PhD, Joan defines clear steps to overcoming the lack-of-confidence demon.

The perfect gift for writers: With a splash of humor, a dose of empathy, and plenty of support, Joan Gelfand includes real life anecdotes from famous and not so famous, but successful authors. You Can Be a Winning Writer is the go-to book for writers just starting out, for writers stalled after their first or second book, and for students. Joan’s 4 C’s wisdom and stories will inspire and encourage.

This literary reference and publishing guide includes:

• Key authorship and publishing tips
• Important post-publication strategies
• Guidance on how to avoid mistakes that even the most talented, prize-winning authors have made
• How, with the help of the 4 C’s, you can enjoy greater success
• What it means to “fire on all burners” and work to develop each of the 4 C’s simultaneously

Maybe you’ve read Stephen King’s On Writing, Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird, or William Zinsser’s On Writing Well─now you need to read You Can Be a Winning Writer.

#1 New Release in Cooking with Kids, Cookies, Sweets, and Curiosities & Wonders ― Life is Short. Celebrate With Cookies!

Follow along with photograph-filled instructions: A Cookie to Celebrate is an instant cookie-baking classic, with recipes that are gorgeously photographed and meticulously tested along with tons of decorating and packaging ideas. These inventive and inspired cookies will be perfect for sharing with your friends on Instagram―or in person!

Desserts made to impress at your next party: What sets A Cookie to Celebrate apart is its step-by-step instructions for gorgeously personalized cookies for all kinds of occasions, from birthdays to anniversaries to the changing of the seasons. These cookies are ornamental edibles that are perfect for the holidays, and because the recipes are easy to scale up or down, they’re great for cookie exchanges, gift-giving, kids’ parties, and potlucks.

Bake cookies with professional-level flavor and design at home: Jana Douglass is the founder of Jana Lee's Bake Shop, an artisan bake shop specializing in custom decorated cut-out cookies for special events and celebrations. In A Cookie to Celebrate, she shares her baking expertise and recipes as a veteran baker, inspiring you to create your own new classics. Each cookie in this collection is guaranteed to be a stand-out.

Reimagined recipes and exciting new treats: A Cookie to Celebrate is filled with new twists on cookie concepts, like Engagement Ring Cookies and Baby Onesie Cookies―confections decorated for every season and reason. Try something new with ice cream cone cookies with sprinkles in summer, conversation heart cookies for Valentine’s Day, or even decorating a birthday cake with cookies!

A Cookie to Celebrate is full of cookie baking tips, recipes, and presentation ideas. With Jana’s cookbook, you will discover:

• How to expertly roll, cut, and bake your cookie dough
• Helpful tools and techniques for coloring and piping icing
• Creative ways to spice up classics―or try something new!

#1 New Release in Art of Comics and Manga, Essays, and Women in Art ─ Cartoons About Feminism, Relationships, Self-Love and Adulthood by Planet Prudence

Planet Prudence book of comics: Popular online illustrator and Instagram sensation Prudence "Planet Prudence" Geerts presents her take on the struggles of adulting and finding your own voice.

Funny Planet Prudence comics: Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism is the debut collection from Prudence Geerts. Never before seen comic strips bundled with all the best Planet Prudence comics. This book will make you laugh at the awkward moments we all go through as we learn to be functioning adults in society and, hopefully, learn to make the world a better place.

Graphic novel of humor, feminism, and relationships: We all think: “Am I the only one who acts like this? Am I the only one who goes through this moment in life?” Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism shows you that you’re not. It laughs with you at the struggles you’re going through as women fight for equal pay, respect and realistic role models. Filled with love, laughter and food Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism helps us realize that we’re all not so different after all.

Readers will find:

• Comic strips about the hilarious reality of work, relationships, dating, exercise, and beauty
• Inspirational illustrations about being confident and loving yourself

If you liked We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham, or Herding Cats: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen, you'll love Planet Prudence's Bad at Adulting, Good at Feminism  

#1 Best Seller in Popular Culture, Quotations, Women's Studies, Social Science, and Trivia ─ Positive Affirmations for a Badass

Fans of Rachel Hollis and Girl, Wash Your Face will love Becca Anderson's Badass Affirmations

Even a badass needs daily affirmations. We all need reminders. You don’t leap out of bed knowing you are amazing and about to have an incredible day. All of us have a lot of demands, pressures, to-do’s and responsibilities. We find ourselves rushing around, working hard to please others. Often we find ourselves at the back of our own bus, having made everyone else happy but our own damn self. Then you go and beat yourself up about it. Let’s stop that, shall we?

The incredible art of self-affirmation. Positive living and affirmation queen Becca Anderson reminds you that you are pretty darn great. I had to learn to remind myself, but you know what? It feels pretty darn good. It is even kind of addictive in the best way. There are reasons we need esteem boosters. We pick up scars and get bumps and bruises in daily life. If you had a bad childhood, you have old “tapes” from poor parenting looping through your unconscious brain. “You’ll never amount to anything. You’re not good at sports. Your sister has a better singing voice than you, so we’re sending her to music camp and you can stay behind and babysit.” Even nice moms and dads perpetrate these parenting errors that leave marks on our souls. But, we can overcome with the right mix of badass affirmations. Every day and in every way, you can learn the art of self-affirmation.

Self-affirmation adjustment. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and drained by life’s busyness and demands, stop in your tracks and do an attitude adjustment, or more specifically a “gratitude adjustment.” You have need for some “me TLC” and a dose of radical self-affirmation.

In Badass Affirmations you will:

• Learn the habit of affirming yourself daily
• Experience a life filled with love, joy, fulfillment and satisfaction
• Take control of your destiny
• Strengthen your self-esteem

# 1 Best Seller in Addiction & Recovery, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) ─ Badass Women Advice

Everything you need to know about love, life, relationships, sex, men, and being a badass.

Advice from girl bosses of all kinds: Women are, far and away, the Oral Sex. Women’s Studies scholar Becca Anderson has gathered the wisdom from a chorus of fabulous femmes for this one-of-a-kind advice book. From housewives to Hollywood starlets, from standup comedians to startup entrepreneurs, these badass women offer unvarnished and unabashed opinions and share their frank and forthright thinking on the wild world of relationships.

A sassy collection of woman wisdom: This delightfully dishy gathering of gal pals is like having a heart-to-heart with 200 of your closest friends. Garrulous girls and loquacious ladies from every walk of life unleash their wicked wit in this humorous and enlightening compilation and tell it like it is. Topics include What the World Needs Now, Love Hurts, Lost Love, and Are Men Really Necessary.

Learn and laugh at the real stories of the amazing women you love: true tales about wild women of yore that entertain as much as they enlighten. From Anais Nin, Lily Tomlin, Amy Bloom, Dorothy Allison, Drew Barrymore, Chrissy Teigan and beyond, there's no shortage of sass, sarcasm, or sizzle and a few shocks along the way!

In Badass Women Give the Best Advice, readers will find:

• Wisdom about sex, dating, break ups, weddings, the prerequisites for the perfect kiss, and more!
• Quotes and true stories from famous women and girl bosses.
• Quizzes, love and sex bucket lists and topics like “Size Really Does Matter,” and “Cry Me a River, The Weepiest Romantic Movies Ever” that will spice up your sex and love life.

Be enlightened with these no nonsense takes on dating, love life, sex, self-love, and more!

#1 Best Seller ─ Film Buff Movie Guide

Best movies, best films, best indies. Theaters around the world are dominated by comic book heroes, ice princesses, apocalyptic love-struck teens, and whatever masterpiece Pixar is rolling out. It’s clear that cinema is as healthy as ever. Oscar-worthy directors, indie geniuses and foreign artists are creating stunning, boundary-pushing work. Since the turn of the century, movie lovers have been enjoying a second golden age. But which films are the best of the best? What are the top movies since 2000 to see before you die?

Film buff. Chris Stuckmann, one of YouTube’s most popular film reviewers (70+ million views), gives us his best of the best! In his book, Stuckmann delivers his list of the very best 50 Movies since 2000 – with that style and punch that YouTube viewers have come to love. These are the films you must see before you die.

The Simple Act of Praying

Wisdom, inspiration and prayer: As recent scientific research shows, the simple act of praying can be emotionally, spiritually, and even physically healing. With Prayers for Hard Times, author Becca Anderson offers solace in bringing together the wisdom of great thinkers, spiritual leaders and writers who have faced difficulty and learned from it.

Sacred and inspirational sources: Organized in daybook form, the book draws from sacred sources such as the Bible, the Torah, Buddhist and Native American texts, as well as inspirational writings of:

• Joan Didion
• Elizabeth Gilbert
• Maya Angelou
• Rumi
• Mark Nepo
• Harriet Tubman
• Dave Eggars
• Abraham Lincoln
• Anne Morrow Lindberg
• Martin Luther King Jr.

Consolation and renewal: Together, these wise words create a tapestry of consolation and renewal for those times when it all seems “too much.” In a world that feels increasingly fragile and, at times, fractured, people need answers and prayers. Becca Anderson’s collection focuses on prayers for a wide range of life challenges, from the personal to the global. Prayers for Hard Times covers issues facing individuals such as loss of loved ones, illness, anxiety, divorce, depression and addiction, as well as those challenges communities face in natural disasters and violence. The writers in Anderson’s devotional address the world at large, as well, with words of hope and help for global poverty, hunger, war and the environmental. Prayers for Hard Times offers readers solace, comfort, and support, drawing from the wisdom of every era, every major faith and tradition, and the important voices of those who have lived through such experiences themselves.

Easy Baking Recipes and Unique Theme Party Ideas

Geek Sweets: The ultimate guide to creating 60 confections for the legions of geek fans out there − from Star Wars to Game of Thrones to Harry Potter and much more!

Easy baking recipes: Geek Sweets is organized so even a beginning baker can have success. It's a baking cookbook full of beautiful photographs, with easy baking recipes for the 'truly geeky'. Geek Sweets is filled with cupcakes recipes, easy cookie recipes, and that special cake pops recipe.

Theme party ideas: Geek Sweets delivers step-by-step how-to's for every adventurer─from the squire just starting a journey, to a well-worn dragon slayer looking for a challenge. Geek Sweets also includes theme party ideas with cocktail recipes and a companion website with printables to enhance all of your geeky gatherings, including your Game of Thrones viewing parties, as well as theme party ideas with fantasy-adventure themes.

#1 Best Seller in Etiquette Guides & Advice ─ Great Movie Quotes for All Occasions

Whether blockbuster megahits or forgotten indies, we’ve got the right quote for the right occasion.

Movie quotes. We all do it. Every day, with or without noticing, we quote movies. Hit a search engine and you can find thousands of lists of the best movie quotes of all time. From Rhett Butler to Obi-Wan Kenobi, movie quotes have become an integral part of expression. But, the movie quotes on these “best of” lists rarely lend themselves to important moments in life or provide personal motivation. Open any typical movie quote list and you’re likely to see “May the Force be with you,” or “I’ll have what she’s having.” Does that really provide inspiration, motivation, or a beautiful phrase?

Best movie quotes for all occasions. That’s where I come in. I’ve scoured the movie world for the most appropriate, best movie quotes for every occasion. From weddings to pre-game pep talks, I’ve found quotes that are moving, inspirational, or just plain hilarious.

• Looking to rally your team? Try this quote of Capt. Malcom Reynolds from the science-fiction film Serenity (2005): “You all got on this boat for different reasons, but you all come to the same place. So now I'm asking more of you than I have before. Maybe all… So no more running. I aim to misbehave.” 
• Need a quote for your humorous wedding speech? Try some wisdom from Juno… from Juno (2007): “Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.”

If you enjoyed 1001 Smartest Things Ever Said, Uncle John's New & Improved Funniest Ever, or The Big Book of Quotes you'll love Movie Quotes for All Occasions which provides hidden gems from a variety of film genres.

Mindfulness Quotations and Puppies

Join some cuddly puppies for a collection of sayings from the Buddha. The verses, taken from the Dhammapada, were written centuries ago, but today they offer insight for all of life's basic struggles. Meditate along with the verses to gain a greater understanding of you, your life and your purpose. Find the meaning of truth in these verses and how to find it in the world around you. Let your inner Zen Puppy guide you to enlightenment.

#1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts, Questions & Answers, Curiosities & Wonders, and Cults & Demonism ─ Think You Know About Sexual Customs Around Our World? Have Fun and Enjoy Some Surprises!

This book is a humorous glimpse of a wide range of stereotype-busting sexual, relationship and romantic mores around the world. It is fun, interesting, and eye-opening! For example, places where women control the mating game, set marriage rules, and marry one another for political power. The fact that it's all true also makes it fascinating. Take a romp through a rollicking worldwide tour with LOL views of extraordinary sexual customs. It will astound and regale you. At the same time, it proves sex is like happiness – universally sought but subjectively enjoyed.

Dream Big! Do it now!

Strengths and weaknesses: We all have strengths and weaknesses. So, do you want to learn how to get out of your own way and build your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses? Do it now with Get Out of Your Own Way Guide to Life: 10 Tips to Shift Gears, Dream Big, Do it Now!

Dream big: Do you want to be known as a tremendous talent...or a lazy, unfocused slacker? Whether you’re a Millennial yearning to join corporate America, a Boomer ready for reinvention, a closeted LGBTQ+ testing the gender pool or even a nerd nauseated with perfection, the Get Out of Your Own Way Guide to Life: 10 Steps to Shift Gears, Dream Big, Do it Now! by Justin Loeber, is an in-your-face, funny, no-nonsense, socio-business, coming-of-ageless handbook for anyone who is yearning for true, inner-personal success.

Great guide to life: You’ll learn 10 easy steps, such as:

• Work on Your Work Ethic
• Own the Power of Thoughtfulness
• Find Perfection in Imperfection
• Rule Your Plane
• and more

Learn how to get out of your own way: This shebang of a book is based on Loeber’s quirky personal life experiences that all started in the NYC 70s disco era. Justin worked as a waiter, a Wang Word Processing Operator, (remember Wang?), a substitute go-go dancer, was discovered by pop icon Gary Numan in London and was one step from stardom in his own right as a solo pop-recording artist—only to lose it all. Then, in a 180-degree turn—and without a college degree—went from a temp at Random House to an EVP at HarperCollins in a little more than a decade. In 2006 Loeber created mouth: digital + public relations, a boutique agency in NYC—repping over 550 clients to date.

Get Out of Your Own Way Guide to Life will give you the courage to:

• Shake down your fear, which is squelching your dream;
• Find the “it” that makes you “tick”;
• Take a Risk, which in the end, isn’t risky after all; and
• Put down the electronics, look up; and transfer from the passenger to the pilot of your life…NOW!

So, Get out of your own way! Dream big! Do it now!

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 Best Seller in Wine & Spirits Buying Guides ─ Great Wines and Great Writers are a Wonderful Blend

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

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.

Women in Film and Their Struggle Against Bias

"After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels" - Ann Richards

Women in film since the beginning: Women have been instrumental in the success of American cinema since its very beginning. One of the first people to ever pick up a motion picture camera was a woman; as was the first screenwriter to win two Academy Awards, the inventor of the boom microphone and the first person to be credited with the title Film Editor. Throughout the entire history of Hollywood women have been revolutionizing, innovating, and shaping how we make movies. Yet their stories are rarely shared.

The first women directors: This is what film reporter Alicia Malone wants to change. Backwards and in Heelstells the history of women in film in a different way, with stories about incredible ladies who made their mark throughout each era of Hollywood. From the first women directors, to the iconic movie stars, and present day activists. Each of these stories are inspiring accomplishments of women, and they also highlight the specific obstacles women have had to face. Backwards and in Heels combines research and exclusive interviews with influential women and men working in Hollywood today, such as Geena Davis, J.J. Abrams, Ava DuVernay, Octavia Spencer, America Ferrera, Paul Feig and many more, as well as film professors, historians and experts.

Time to level the playing field: Think of Backwards and in Heels as a guidebook, your entry into the complex world of women in film. Join Alicia Malone as she champions Hollywood women of the past and present, and looks to the future with the hopes of leveling out the playing field.

Millennial Moms. You've Survived Pregnancy and Now You Have a Newborn Baby. What's next?

Deep Breaths: The New Mom’s Handbook to Your Baby's First Year is Michelle Pearson's debut book. In her newborn baby book, this YouTube mom of 5 details:

• What to expect during pregnancy
• What to expect during the first year
• The importance of finding your mother tribe
• How to embrace motherhood with all of its ups and downs
• How to continue managing your career
• How to continue your social life

Millennial moms: This isn’t your grandma’s parenting book. YouTube parenting vlogger, Michelle Pearson, brings her inspiring and motivating parenting stories, tips and tricks for the modern millennial mom. From what to expect as the pregnancy develops to the milestones within the first 12 months, Michelle knows that the journey will have highs, lows and the occasional unexpected surprise.

Starting a family and caring for your new baby: “Reading Michelle's journey as both a mom and a millennial woman, with hopes and admirations of her own, I couldn't help but feel like I was sitting down to coffee with a close friend, sharing some of our hardest and most beautiful struggles. Michelle's depiction of both the blessings and the challenges that every millennial mom faces is raw, refreshing, and shows truly how unique the millennial generation is. Sharing her high moments, as well as the low, you get an intimate look into her life as both a young woman and also a mom who is passionate about everything she does. Millennials have both the advantage and the curse of social media, and Michelle so candidly speaks life and hope into a generation of moms who just want someone to tell them they're doing it "right". Jaimie Kight, YouTube Vlogger.

If you liked reading books like The Sh!t No One Tells You or What to Expect the First Year, you will love Michelle Pearson’s Deep Breaths.