Other books that might interest you

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  Celebrity Image and the New...

  Alice Jackson

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  In an era where pop stars are more than performers, they are also brands, icons, and political actors. Celebrity, Image, and the New Politics of Pop offers a groundbreaking look into the cultural power of one of the most influential figures of our time: Ariana Grande. 
  Drawing on cultural criticism, media theory, and feminist analysis, this book examines how Grande has strategically crafted her image to navigate and challenge the evolving landscapes of celebrity, gender politics, and digital culture. From her early Nickelodeon days to her transformation into a global feminist symbol, Grande's rise is more than a success story; it's a case study in how pop stardom operates in the 21st century. 
  Whether she's using social media to bypass traditional media gatekeepers or reclaiming agency over her body and voice, Grande embodies a new kind of celebrity, one that blurs the lines between personal branding and political influence, performance and authenticity. 
  For readers fascinated by pop culture, media studies, feminism, or the artistry and ambition behind one of today's biggest stars, this book is an essential and eye-opening read.

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  Mouse Tracks - The Story of Walt...

  Greg Ehrbar, Tim Hollis, Leonard...

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  Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records chronicles for the first time the fifty-year history of the Disney recording companies launched by Walt Disney and Roy Disney in the mid-1950s, when Disneyland Park, Davy Crockett, and the Mickey Mouse Club were taking the world by storm. The book provides a perspective on all-time Disney favorites and features anecdotes, reminiscences, and biographies of the artists who brought Disney magic to audio. 
   
   
   
  Authors Tim Hollis and Greg Ehrbar go behind the scenes at the Walt Disney Studios and discover that in the early days Walt Disney and Roy Disney resisted going into the record business before the success of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" ignited the in-house label. Along the way, the book traces the recording adventures of such Disney favorites as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Bambi, Jiminy Cricket, Winnie the Pooh, and even Walt Disney himself. Mouse Tracks reveals the struggles, major successes, and occasional misfires. Included are impressions and details of teen-pop princesses Annette Funicello and Hayley Mills, the Mary Poppins phenomenon, a Disney-style "British Invasion," and a low period when sagging sales forced Walt Disney to suggest closing the division down. 
   
   
   
  Mouse Tracks is a collector's bonanza of information on this little-analyzed side of the Disney empire.

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  Uncross Your Legs - A Life in...

  Stan Herman

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  On any given day, more people will be "wearing" Stan Herman than any other American fashion designer.  In his 95th year that is just part of a life well-lived, and well-loved. In Uncross Your Legs: A Life in Fashion, Herman reflects on a remarkable life and career, from his childhood in Brooklyn, NY and Passaic, NJ, to WWII Army service in Europe, and back to NYC as a young freelance designer in the fashion hothouse of the Garment District. Next up, 16 years as head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, where he was instrumental in bringing New York Fashion Week to Bryant Park – all the while continuing his thriving uniform and leisurewear design business. He is the most acclaimed uniform designer of our time as well as catnip on television's QVC, having sold close to 900,000 items since 2017. His memoir is also a deeply moving and insightful.  following personal triumphs and tragedies, including his nearly 40-year relationship with novelist Gene Horowitz, who suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1992. Together they lived their lives in the shadow of the AIDS crisis that decimated their personal and professional worlds. They also shared a beloved poodle named "Mozart," who helped fill the void when Herman found himself suddenly alone. With equal aplomb, Herman writes with humor and compassion, caring about animal rights in the fashion industry – as well as encountering the indignities of one's aging anatomy.  He invites us into his world and introduces us to many of America's gifted fashion designers.  Hear the story of the man whose vision, over 60 years, has dramatically helped forge and transform American style told in his own words and voice.

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  Necessary Death - What Horror...

  Preston Fassel, Chris Grosso

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  Based on very real and practical commentary, life experience, and occasionally, tongue-in-cheek-misfortunes of horror legends, Necessary Death explores how the horror genre offers individuals a unique opportunity for insight and understanding of their own lives. 
   
   
   
  Using some of the most quintessential movies in the genre, Chris Grosso and Preston Fassel invite listeners to an in-depth examination of the human condition—its fears, anxieties, hopes, joys, sorrows, and everything in-between—and how it's all grist for our personal and collective evolutionary mill. A hallmark of the genre is how horror films force their characters to find some semblance of inner strength and wherewithal in order to stand up to the monster, ghost, or villain that is trying to take their lives. Through fascinating discussion of this and other elements, Fassel and Grosso relate these films' dark subject matter and characters to real world issues people face every day. This sharp analysis is complemented by exercises that prompt listeners to consider gratitude, forgiveness, determination, and bravery in the face of adversity. 
   
   
   
  An unusual mix of film study and self-help, Necessary Death might surprise or even shock listeners, but it will also enlighten, educate, and most importantly hearten those looking for an unexpected source of inspiration.

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  The Witch's Door - Oddities and...

  Ryan Matthew Cohn, Regina M. Rossi

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  A taxidermied monkey named Mr. Peepers. A rare collection of anatomical wax figures for sale in Munich. A Tibetan Kapala skull decorated with bits of coral. Two Charlie McCarthy dolls that may (or may not) be haunted. The incredible memento mori collection of Richard Harris. An actual witch's door. That's all just for starters. 
   
   
   
  Welcome to a world of oddities curated by Regina and Ryan Cohn, trendsetters and tastemakers who have reinvented what the artifact collectors market looks like. Together, they are the founders of Oddities Flea Market, artfully curating a selection of the best artists and collectors at several events across the US throughout the year, with an eye towards expanding globally. In The Witch's Door, Ryan, who starred in the reality television show Oddities, and Regina, who comes from the world of fashion, give us a rare peek behind the curtain into the business of collecting the strange and unusual and the cast of eccentric characters they meet along the way. 
   
   
   
  Ryan and Regina take listeners all over the world, from Brooklyn to Bavaria, giving them the inside scoop on how they purchase artifacts to sell and those they want to keep. Perfect for fans of Oddities, Atlas Obscura, and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, this collectible book is a must-listen for those happily inclined toward the dark side.

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  Urbanization and Growth - The...

  Lyric Vale

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  Human civilization is fundamentally a story of movement, migration, and collective settlement—with cities emerging as the most complex and dynamic manifestations of our collective human experience. From ancient settlements clustered around rivers and trade routes to today's sprawling global metropolises, urbanization represents a profound transformation of how humans organize, interact, and envision community. This comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate narrative of The History of Urbanization, the multifaceted Impacts of Urban Growth, and the emergence of Global Cities, tracing the remarkable journey of human settlement from isolated communities to interconnected, sophisticated urban ecosystems. 
  The evolution of cities is far more than a chronological progression of architectural and infrastructural development; it is a nuanced story of social adaptation, economic innovation, and human resilience. By examining the historical trajectories, contemporary challenges, and future potentials of urban growth, this book reveals the complex mechanisms that drive metropolitan transformation. Readers will journey through the social, economic, technological, and cultural forces that shape urban landscapes—uncovering how global cities emerge as crucibles of human potential, where demographic shifts, technological innovations, economic dynamics, and cultural exchanges converge to create living, breathing environments that continually redefine the boundaries of human collective experience.

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