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  Bobby Fischer Goes to War - How...

  David Edmonds, John Eidinow

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  In the summer of 1972, with a presidential crisis stirring in the United States and the cold war at a pivotal point, two men—the Soviet world chess champion Boris Spassky and his American challenger Bobby Fischer—met in the most notorious chess match of all time. Their showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, held the world spellbound for two months with reports of psychological warfare, ultimatums, political intrigue, cliffhangers, and farce to rival a Marx Brothers film. Thirty years later, David Edmonds and John Eidinow, authors of the national bestseller Wittgenstein’s Poker, have set out to reexamine the story we recollect as the quintessential cold war clash between a lone American star and the Soviet chess machine—a machine that had delivered the world title to the Kremlin for decades. Drawing upon unpublished Soviet and U.S. records, the authors reconstruct the full and incredible saga, one far more poignant and layered than hitherto believed. Against the backdrop of superpower politics, the authors recount the careers and personalities of Boris Spassky, the product of Stalin’s imperium, and Bobby Fischer, a child of post-World War II America, an era of economic boom at home and communist containment abroad. The two men had nothing in common but their gift for chess, and the disparity of their outlook and values conditioned the struggle over the board.Then there was the match itself, which produced both creative masterpieces and some of the most improbable gaffes in chess history. And finally, there was the dramatic and protracted off-the-board battle—in corridors and foyers, in back rooms and hotel suites, in Moscow offices and in the White House. The authors chronicle how Fischer, a manip-ulative, dysfunctional genius, risked all to seize control of the contest as the organizers maneuvered frantically to save it—under the eyes of the world’s press. They can now tell the inside story of Moscow’s response, and the bitter tensions within the Soviet camp as the anxious and frustrated apparatchiks strove to prop up Boris Spassky, the most un-Soviet of their champions—fun-loving, sensitive, and a free spirit. Edmonds and Eidinow follow this careering, behind-the-scenes confrontation to its climax: a clash that displayed the cultural differences between the dynamic, media-savvy representatives of the West and the baffled, impotent Soviets. Try as they might, even the KGB couldn’t help.A mesmerizing narrative of brilliance and triumph, hubris and despair, Bobby Fischer Goes to War is a biting deconstruction of the Bobby Fischer myth, a nuanced study on the art of brinkmanship, and a revelatory cold war tragicomedy.

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  Homefield Advantage

  Andrew Santino

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  Half Mick, half WOP, Andrew Santino returns to his hometown of Chicago for the debut of his hour special "Homefield Advantage." Santino touches on everything from growing up thinking he was black, his disgust with bachelorette parties, his bout with severe acne and his envy of male porn stars; "these guys can throw a rope across the room." Shot at the historic Vic Theater, Santino's special gives viewers an authentic taste of the city made of Italian beef, Old Style and deep dish.

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  Cake Wrecks - When Professional...

  Jen Yates

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  New York Times Bestseller: Stories and photos of confectionary calamities that “will have you laughing so hard you’ll forget to eat” (The Washington Post). 
   
  Have your cake and laugh at it, too, with the sweet treat known as Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong. From the creator of the award-winning blog, here are the worst cakes ever, including the ugly, the silly, the downright creepy, the unintentionally sad or suggestive, and the just plain funny. With witty commentary and behind-the-scenes tidbits, Cake Wrecks will ensure that you never look at a cake the same way again. 
   
  Jen Yates’ CakeWrecks site was a winner of a Blogger’s Choice Award for Best Humor Blog, among other honors, and for this inspired and sidesplitting collection, she gathered extensive never-before-seen material to create “a hilarious winner” (The Oregonian). 
   
  “I haven’t laughed so hard in ages.” —Mary Alice, from the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes 
   
  “Think of them as epic fails, with frosting.” —TheNew York Times

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  Al Capone Was a Golfer - Hundred...

  Erin Barrett, Jack Mingo

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  What is it about the game of golf that can cause otherwise normal folks to lose all perspective? More than one person has seen their loved one become consumed with the details of the quality of wood used in clubs, or the type of cleats on their shoes. What is it about the game of golf that can cause otherwise normal folks to lose all perspective? More than one person has seen their loved one become consumed with the details of the quality of wood used in clubs, the type of cleats on their shoes, the distance between their feet, and the direction of the wind, not to mention statistics, statistics, statistics. Featuring more than 500 facts about the sport that Paul Harvey describes as “a game in which you shout ‘fore,’ shoot six, and write down five.” Readers learn that experts believe shepherds invented the game using their staffs to bat around stones and that 12 percent of all lightning fatalities happen on the golf course.

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  Pardon My French - How a Grumpy...

  Allen Johnson

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  To make a friend is a joy. To make a friend in another country is a wonderment-a small miracle. Pardon My French follows an American author who has embraced a daunting mission: not to be a spectator in France but an enthusiastic participant-fully engaged, fully alive. 
   
  In France, Johnson is like an alien from another planet. Everything is strange to him. His goal is to speak French without going to prison, drive without being squashed like a bug, dance the tango without losing his marriage, and belt out a tune with a world-class jazz combo without being booed off the stage. 
   
  Repeatedly, the author fearlessly steps into harm's way. He joins a summer acting troop and witnesses the French version of sexual liberation. He pits his rather staid and conventional driving skills against the French speed demons of Languedoc. He tries to be cool in a painting class while sputtering nervously in front of the nude model with the long legs and silky voice. 
   
  And then, after it all-after the splendor of Christmas on the Mediterranean, the bicycle tours along the French canals, the mountain treks amply supplied with French bread, cheese, and wine-the miracle happens. The often self-deprecating and bungling American meets and falls in love with a beautiful mistress: La belle France. And when he does, an entire village adopts him into a new family-one with a gracious heart and a beautiful French accent.

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  1001 Would You Rather Wacky...

  Johnny Nelson

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  Tough choices. Big laughs. It's a timeless game for everyone.Would you like to know more about your crush, but you’re too shy to make the first move?Do you want to make your regular family get-togethers more intellectually stimulating, yet still be fun?Are you tired of having the same old boring conversations with your friends every day?If you’re looking for the perfect bonding activity to liven up your hang outs, a fun game is always a safe bet.Asking “Would you rather” questions is a classic tradition that kids and adults alike enjoy. It provides great conversation starters that turn into all night ruminations. You find out interesting things about each other that you otherwise wouldn’t in a normal chat.But sometimes, you may run out of questions to ask...It helps to have some clever, weird, and wacky questions handy when you’re at a loss for words.In 1001 Would You Rather Wacky, Thought Provoking and Hilarious Questions, you will find:The most amusing way to get to know yourself and your family betterChallenging choices that will reveal surprising truths about you and your friendsThoughtful queries to reflect on, long after the game is overDifficult dilemmas that will have you hilariously questioning your decisionsA first-date icebreaker designed to weave in fascinating topics to your conversationsSide-splitting questions that will get the entire group laughing out loud and bonding in no timeAn entertaining party game guaranteed to be a hit with all of your guestsAnd much more.With more than 1,000 questions covering topics ranging from the mundane to the profound, you won’t run out of places and people to play this game with.You can bring this along on road trips, to parties, or to dates--anywhere you’ll be interacting with people.You can play with family, friends, significant others, classmates, students, colleagues, or even complete strangers. The choice is totally yours.

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