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Who put the Minute in Minute Rice?¹ What, exactly, is Spam?² And why do Pringles come in a tennis ball can?³

Discover the answers to all these questions and more in Better Than Homemade, a freewheeling illustrated history of the packaged foods industry. From Green Giant and Hamburger Helper to Jiffy Pop and Jell-O, syndicated columnist Carolyn Wyman reveals the fascinating origins of your favorite “food” products-along with never-before-published advertisements, innovative packaging (cheese in a can!?), and hilarious “unauthorized uses.”

You’ll learn that Birds Eye frozen foods were invented by an Arctic adventurer; Kool-Aid got its start from an 11-year-old entrepreneuer; and Twinkies were once used to capture a gang of escaped baboons. Perfect for fans of the Food Network’s Unwrapped, this guide is the ultimate paean to processed pleasures!

CAROLYN WYMAN is the author of Jell-O: A Biography, Spam: A Biography, I’m a Spam Fan, and The Kitchen Sink Cookbook. Her food column for Universal Press Syndicate runs in more than 100 papers nationwide. She has written for the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New Haven Register. She lives in Philadelphia.

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¹Afghan prince Attaullah Durrani, who brought the idea to General Foods.
²According to Spam’s website, “Pork shoulder and ham, mostly.” Mostly?!
³To answer consumer complaints that potato chips were greasy and broke too easily.

We all know that life is full of hidden dangers-but what are you doing to avoid them? Do you know the safest lane on a highway? The best way to defrost meat? The cleanest stall in a public restroom?

Be Safe! is your road map to navigating the perils of everyday life. You’ll discover that June is the safest time to get elective surgery (it’s the month before the new class of medical residents arrive). You’ll also learn that Friday morning is the most dangerous time to go to the bank (historically, it’s when most bank robberies occur). Author Melissa Heckscher even explains why tuna is the safest kind of sushi (this deep-water fish doesn’t contain worms that thrive in warmer temperatures).

The perfect gift for a paranoid friend, Be Safe! will make you a stranger to danger!

MELISSA HECKSCHER is a writer living in Los Angeles. She is the author of Use This Book! and Date Him or Dump Him? When using a public restroom, she always uses the stall closest to the entrance (you should, too).

Every young lady dreams of a life spent exchanging witty asides with a dashing Mr. Darcy, but how should you let him know your intentions? Seek counsel from this charming guide to Jane Austen’s world. Its step-by-step instructions reveal the practicalities of life in Regency England, including sensible advice on:

     •  How to behave at your first ball
     •  How to ride sidesaddle
     •  How to decline an unwanted marriage proposal
     •  How to improve your estate
     •  How to throw a dinner party

—and much more. Offering readers a glimpse into day-to-day life in Jane Austen’s time, The Jane Austen Handbook is the perfect companion for fans of her novels and their film adaptations, complete with detailed information on love among the social classes, currency, dress, and nuances of graceful living.

In May 2001, billionaire Dennis Tito made history as the first “space tourist”-he’s the guy who paid $20 million to travel to the International Space Station. Since that landmark voyage, many others have followed in his footsteps-all courtesy of Space Adventures, the first travel agency devoted exclusively to outer space.

But before you can blast off, there’s plenty to learn. In this illustrated handbook, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson gives would-be space tourists the exact same training program that he gives to the billionaires. Here are step-by-step instructions for liftoff, sleeping in weightless environments, using the “vacuum toilet” on the spacecraft, living in zero gravity, and much more. It’s all so informative, the instructors at Space Adventures are already integrating this handbook into their lesson plans.

With more than 25 illustrations (and a special full-color section showing popular vacation “destinations”), The Space Tourist’s Handbook is fascinating reading for amateur astronauts of all ages.

ERIC ANDERSON is the president and CEO of Space Adventures, Ltd. He resides in Washington, D.C.

JOSHUA PIVEN is coauthor of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series. He lives in Philadelphia.

On the heels of the successful Stuff Every Man Should Know and Stuff Every Woman Should Know comes the volume that both genders will treasure: Stuff Every Husband Should Know. Finally, the priceless, practical wisdom that all wives hope their husbands possess is gathered in one book! New husbands and their long suffering brethren alike will find helpful knowledge of all kinds:

• The Ten Commandments of Laundry
• How to Hire Handymen
• Side with Your Wife, Not Your Mother
• How to Drive in Peace
• Wife Space Comes Before Man Cave
• And much, much more!

This stylish pocket-sized hardcover is the perfect gift for weddings, anniversaries, Father’s Day, or any time of the year.

ERIC SAN JUAN is the editor of a seven-newspaper chain in central New Jersey and the coauthor of A Year of Hitchcock: 52 Weeks with the Master of Suspense. A decade into marriage, he is delighted to find that his wife and son still seem healthy and well fed.

This little gift book is packed with tips, tricks, and life hacks for the modern Renaissance man.

With chapters on domestic life, personal appearance, etiquette and socializing, business and pleasure, love and relationships, and health and wellness, it’s the ultimate little black book for men of all ages. You’ll find all the answers in a concise but comprehensive pocket-sized package.
 
This handy reference guide features everything the modern man should know (but might not), including:

   • How to Cast a Fishing Rod
   • How to Open a Beer Bottle Without an Opener
   • How to Ask for a Raise
   • How to Start a Simple Skincare Routine
   • How to Make Friends as an Adult
   • How to Entertain Children

Plus wardrobe essentials, advice on car maintenance, how to start a conversation in five languages, exercise tips, grilling instructions, and much, much more!