| Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything by Jennifer Keishin ArmstrongRabid Seinfeld fans will want to scoop up this detailed, engaging behind-the-scenes history of the famous "show about nothing." Even casual fans will appreciate learning just how much "Seinfeldia" has been absorbed into popular culture (Jerry's puffy shirt, man-hands, and the Soup Nazi come to mind). You'll also learn how many of the misadventures portrayed on the show came from the daily lives of the writing staff (many of whom were interviewed for the book) as well as how quickly the show itself took off -- against the expectations of network executives and even its creators, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. |
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| The Games: A Global History of the Olympics by David GoldblattThe 2016 Summer Olympics may be over, but if you're missing the highs and lows of elite international athletics, you can recapture the thrill with sportswriter David Goldblatt's social and political history of the modern Olympics. From its rebirth in 1896 Athens to (almost) the present, The Games highlights remarkable achievements, including those of Jesse Owens, Nadia Comaneci, the Miracle on Ice, and Usain Bolt. For more on the 1896 Games, try Jim Reisler's Igniting the Flame; check out David Maraniss' Rome 1960 or Jeremy Schaap's Triumph for an in-depth look at, respectively, the 1960 and 1936 Games. |
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| The Fifty Year Mission: The First 25 Years: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized... by Edward Gross and Mark A. AltmanThis 1st volume of an extensive oral history of Star Trek (the 2nd came out in August, subtitled The Next 25 Years) includes the uncensored and never-before-told stories of more than 200 people involved in creating the Star Trek franchise. Providing solid context for a bevy of quotes, the authors focus on the original series and the six movies that the show inspired -- and much of the entertainment comes from the different perspectives on the sometimes contentious relationships between contributors. Look out for a new Trek series boldly going to network TV in 2017... |
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| You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi KleinIn this upbeat memoir of an awkward youth, comedian and Inside Amy Schumer head writer Jessi Klein uses stories of her long-lived adolescence to comment on gender and gender roles in the U.S. today. From dating misadventures to the dangers of wedding websites to her own self-described status as a "tom-man" (that's a tomboy who's grown up), Klein's essays are clever and original; "reading her book is like watching her -- doubtless superb -- stand-up act" (Booklist). |
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| The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year by Andy CohenAndy Cohen, host and executive producer of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live (and executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise), offers up this diary of what it's like to be him, whether he's working with celebrities or hanging out with his much-loved dog. Candid and even a little cheeky, this diary is for fans of Cohen's brash persona -- who will also be looking forward to his new book coming out in November, Superficial. |
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| Yes, My Accent is Real: And Some Other Things I Haven't Told You by Kunal NayyarHow did a London-born, New Delhi-raised student who came to the U.S. to get a degree in business administration end up playing an astrophysicist on one of the most popular shows on TV, The Big Bang Theory? Just ask Kunal Nayyar, whose reminiscences on his life thus far form the essays in this charming book. (The answer, by the way, was that he tried out acting to meet girls.) From his childhood in India to his obsession with Winnie Cooper to his marriage to a former Miss India, Nayyar reflects on his luck, his inspiration, and his achievements in an engaging, self-deprecating manner. |
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| Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda RhimesYou've likely seen far more of Shonda Rhimes' work on TV than you have of the woman herself; she's the creator of hit shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. But this book is about her own self-discovery -- rather than dishing on her work (though there's some of that too), she describes what happened when she embarked on a one-year experiment to say "yes" to invitations she would otherwise have declined. Conversational and quite cheerful, this book is chock-full of lessons in the benefit of saying taking chances and being open to new experiences. |
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| I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend by Martin ShortComedian, actor, and all-around good guy Martin Short delivers the goods in this affable, endearing memoir, which relates a happy upbringing and a successful career despite the early loss of both of his parents and his older brother. Short also relates stories of the creation of such memorable characters as Jiminy Glick as well as his days as part of Toronto's drama scene, his time at Second City, and his appearances on Saturday Night Live. The many friends he made along the way pop up too. "Delightful," says Publishers Weekly. |
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| The News Sorority: Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Christiane Amanpour... by Sheila WellerThere are few women broadcasters more recognizable than Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, or Christiane Amanpour. In this provocative critique of the three influential news anchors, author Sheila Weller draws on interviews with colleagues and friends alike to reveal how they became cultural icons despite working in a male-dominated field. From professional ambition to personal setbacks, this group biography will appeal to news junkies and feminists alike. |
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