Our Blog

The Groom’s Instruction Manual

For decades, bookstore childcare sections were dominated by books for women–that is, until Quirk’s Baby Owner’s Manual offered a fun and refreshing alternative for male readers. Now we’re crashing the wedding section with The Groom’s Instruction Manual, an irreverent guide to everything guys need to know about:

    * Getting Engaged (popping the question, finding a ring)
    * Wedding Planning (choosing a location, drafting a guest list)
    * The Big Day (rehearsal dinner, toasts, what to do if you start crying)
    * Post-Wedding (honeymooning, thank-you notes, newlywedding)

And much more

Illustrated in the award-winning visual style that has made our Owner’s Manual series a smash success, The Groom’s Instruction Manual is the perfect shower gift for (engaged) men of all ages.

SHANDON FOWLER had five hundred guests at his wedding–and if he can survive that, you’ve got nothing to worry about. He and his wife are happily married and live in Brooklyn, New York.

Looking for more? Visit our Zazzle store for related merchandise.

Posted by impart

The Good, the Bad, and the Furry

"What’s the perfect dog for you? It depends on your lifestyle. Are you a couch potato or an athlete? A city slicker or a suburbanite? Do you suffer from allergies? Are you paranoid about security?

With The Good, the Bad, and the Furry, author Sam Stall offers the inside poop on the world’s most popular breeds-and describes which ones are right for you. Stall has consulted with dozens of breed rescue groups to learn the best-and worst-perks, quirks, and personality traits of more than 100 different dogs.

You’ll learn that, contrary to what you see on Frasier, Jack Russell terriers make terrible apartment dogs (they have tremendous energy and need plenty of open space to burn it off). A much better choice for apartment dwellers is the Greyhound. (Sure, they can outrun virtually anything on four legs, but they’re also content to spend all afternoon lounging on the couch.)

Complete with more than 100 whimsical illustrations, The Good, the Bad, and the Furry makes choosing the right dog a snap!

SAM STALL is the coauthor of The Dog Owner’s Manual and The Cat Owner’s Manual. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana."

Posted by impart

Good Deed Guide

You’ve heard it all before: People should be nice to one another, treat others with respect, and be good to neighbors. But does any of that still apply to our hectic, harried, post-twentieth-century lifestyles? James and Lisa Grace think so, and in The Good Deed Guide, they show readers dozens of little ways to make a big difference.

From classic good deeds (How to Get a Cat out of a Tree) to modern acts of generosity (How to Be an Organ Donor), this helpful handbook gives you clear, step-by-step directions for becoming a better neighbor, a better friend, and a better citizen. You’ll learn how to make a difference in your own backyard (How to Plant a Tree) as well as while in town (How to Help a Person Cross the Street). And you’ll master the more complex activities with the help of step-by-step full-color illustrations. People everywhere are realizing that life is short, and being good to one another is the best way to make life enjoyable. Go ahead-make a difference.

JAMES and LISA GRACE are writers and all-around good people. They live outside Boston, Massachusetts, with their three children.

Posted by impart

Gladstone’s Games To Go

No cards, no dice, no spinners-no board! Join the fun as you learn to play more than 50 of the best word games, puzzle games, coin games, and more. Gladstone’s Games to Go can be enjoyed with just a pencil, paper, and some commonly found objects (coins usually do the trick). Old classics like Battleship and Connect Four have been updated for more challenging play, while newer games like Doublet Racing and Initialist will test the skills of even the most experienced gamers.

Whether you’re on a transcontinental plane ride, waiting for a movie to start, lounging on a beach, or sitting with friends in the coffeehouse, you’re guaranteed to find the cure for boredom in these pages. Start playing today!

JIM GLADSTONE is the author of the award-winning novel The Big Book of Misunderstanding. His writing has also appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Billboard, and the Chicago Tribune. He lives in Philadelphia. Visit him on the Web at gogladstone.com.

Posted by impart

Gig Posters Volume 1

Since 2001, Gigposters.com has been the Internet’s first and best resource for rock-show poster art; their massive online database showcases more than 90,000 posters from 7,000 different designers, including all of today’s top poster studios.

Gig Posters Volume I highlights the 700+ best examples in their collection, including 101 perforated and ready-to-hang posters for bands such as Radiohead, Wilco, the Decemberists, the Shins, Arcade Fire, Sleater-Kinney, and more. Among the many designers contributing to this collection are Rob Jones (of White Stripes fame), The Decoder Ring (house artists for Modest Mouse), Patent Pending, Tara McPherson, and more. Packaged in an oversized 11-by-14-inch paperback, Gig Posters Volume I is a spectacular compilation of rock show art (and one hell of a cheap way to decorate a dorm room or apartment).

Clay Hayes is the founder and proprietor of Gigposters.com. He lives in Alberta, Canada.

Posted by impart

Geeky Dreamboats

Behold, the Geeky Dreamboats, the guilty pleasures of millions of women who ought to know better. Consider Michael Cera, who charmed us in Juno with his golden running shorts and knee-high tube socks. Or Justin Long, the only actor cute enough to play a Mac computer. Or poor little Tobey Maguire, who injured his back while filming Spider-Man 2 because he insisted on doing his own stunts. These unhealthy obsessions are the spiritual core of Geeky Dreamboats, a full-color celebration of the awkward men women love to love, with photographs and profiles of everyone from John Krasinski and Beck to Joe Jonas and Wes Anderson. We’ve also packaged the book with an adorable puffy cover that makes these dreamboats even dreamier. Go ahead and squeeze their cheeks – we won’t tell anyone!

Lacey Soslow is the vice president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Michael Cera Fan Club. She lives in Philadelphia with her very own geeky dreamboat and their dog Seymour.

Sarah O’Brien is an author and editor who lives in Philadelphia. She is available for publicity and John Krasinski, or Ryan Gosling, whoever calls first.

Posted by impart