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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).

It’s the most-frequented room in the house-but how much do you really know about it? The Bathroom Companion is filled with interesting trivia from history, science, and pop culture, as well as toilet tales from around the world. You’ll discover:

(1) What the first toothbrushes were made from.
(2) Who invented the modern flushing toilet.
(3) How much floss the average person uses in a year.
(4) The musical note most toilets flush on.
(5) How to say “Where’s the bathroom?” in Swahili.

-and more. In the tradition of Schott’s Miscellany and the Uncle John series, this illustrated volume is essential reading for what the ancient Israelites called “The House of Honor.” And no honorable home should be without one!

JAMES BUCKLEY JR. dispenses his toilet paper over, not under, the roll (he loves the triangle tips you see in hotel bathrooms). He lives with his family in Santa Barbara, California.

The Baby Owner’s Manual has taught more than 300,000 parents worldwide how to “operate” newborns and infants. Now the bestselling book is back in an all-new deluxe package-and it’s the perfect shower gift for any hip parent-to-be. The Baby Owner’s Starter Kit includes:

–The Baby Owner’s Manual
–Growth Chart, with stickers for marking baby’s progress
–Diaper Changing Instructional Poster
–Babysitter’s Memo Pad
–Decorative magnet

Packaged with irreverent schematic diagrams, troubleshooting tips, and a handsome keepsake box, The Baby Owner’s Starter Kit makes parenting as easy as 1-2-3.

LOUIS BORGENICHT, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician with the American Academy of Pediatrics and has worked for the last 16 years at his private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2001 he was named “best pediatrician in Utah” by Ladies’ Home Journal. JOE BORGENICHT, D.A.D., has two children and frequently telephones his father for advice. He is also coauthor of The Toddler Owner’s Manual and The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book.

Tired of cutesy baby journals that record “Sweetie’s First Words” and “My Precious Baby’s First Poopie”? Help is on the way with The Baby Owner’s Maintenance Log—a guided journal inspired by our bestselling The Baby Owner’s Manual. This journal comes complete with helpful schematic diagrams, frequently asked questions, troubleshooting tips, and much more.

It’s the perfect place for moms and dads to track the performance of their baby—from sleep patterns and fuel preferences to the first activation of speech function. The Baby Owner’s Maintenance Log makes parenting as easy as 1-2-3.

LOUIS BORGENICHT, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician with the American Academy of Pediatrics and has worked for the last 16 years at his private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was named “best pediatrician in Utah” by Ladies’ Home Journal in 2001.

JOE BORGENICHT, D.A.D., frequently telephones his father for advice. They are the coauthors of The Baby Owner’s Manual.

The Baby Owner’s Manual taught more than 150,000 readers how to “operate” newborns and infants. Now it’s time to enhance your baby’s performance with The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book. These 75 games and activities are designed to make your baby smarter, stronger, faster, cleaner, and more imaginative than ever before! Intended for use with children ages 0-36 months, these instructions show how to:

• Test your baby’s audio/visual apparatus via “peek-a-boo” activities
• Maximize your baby’s coordination with simple ball games
• Strengthen your baby’s motor skills by stacking objects in vertical columns

and much more, complete with colorful illustrations and “schematic diagrams.” The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book is a delightful gift for parents and grandparents of all ages.

LYNN ROSEN is a freelance writer and a mother of two. She lives in Philadelphia.

JOE BORGENICHT is the coauthor of The Baby Owner’s Manual (Quirk, 2003). He lives in Salt Lake City.