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Stacked Decks

They’ve been called wolf decks, stag decks, and plain old nudie playing cards. They’re older than poker, older than blackjack, and they offer a fascinating window into society’s ever-changing views of female beauty. Stacked Decks features images of hundreds of erotic playing cards from 1835 to the present, all illustrated with nude or seminude models, burlesque singers, flappers, 1950s pinup girls, and international superstars. Within these pages, you’ll discover unexpected celebrities, vintage advertisements, and fascinating cultural history (during the 1950s, these decks were sold primarily at drugstores). This lavishly illustrated hardcover volume is the perfect gift for fans of poker, magic, nostalgia, and vintage erotica.

Mark Lee Rotenberg, curator of THE ROTENBERG COLLECTION, lives in New Jersey. His book Forbidden Erotica is one of Taschen’s top 25 best sellers of all time.

Posted by impart

As Seen On TV

Do you want thicker, fuller, more lustrous hair? A smaller waistline and a bigger bustline? How about sharper cutlery, six-pack abs, and thighs that can crack a walnut? If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, you need As Seen on TV, a photographic history of 50 amazing products that are not available in any store. Here are the incredible true stories of Ginsu Knives, Chia Pets, the Veg-o-Matic, K-Tel Records, the ThighMaster, and dozens of other favorites.

But that’s not all! You’ll also receive expert analysis of the products, interviews with celebrity pitchpeople, and more than 100 color photographs. Order now, and we’ll even throw in a chapter on the George Foreman Grill, absolutely free!

As Seen on TV is an inspiration to entrepreneurs of all ages, and a wacky trip down memory lane for couch potatoes everywhere. Call now: Operators are standing by!

LOU HARRY and SAM STALL are the coauthors of Dirty Words of Wisdom and The Encyclopedia of Guilty Pleasures. They have written for a host of national publications, including Reader’s Digest, This Old House, and Men’s Health. They live in Indianapolis and have stellar abs.

Posted by impart

Art of the Video Game

The Art of the Video Game is the first book to celebrate an exciting new visual medium—with stunning examples from the biggest design studios and game publishers in the business: Electronic Arts, Activision, Nintendo, Midway, Eidos, Konami, and many others. Every page features gorgeously rendered digital artwork (along with never-before-published sketches, models, and works-in-progress) from dozens of beloved games—everything from old school favorites like Tomb Raider and Sonic the Hedgehog to such contemporary hits as Beautiful Katamari, Call of Duty, Half-Life, and more. Along the way, readers will discover the history of video game art and catch an exciting glimpse of its future. Full of exclusive interviews and images, The Art of the Video Game is a must-have gift for gamers of all ages.

JOSH JENISCH is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and writes regularly about the video-game industry. He lives in Los Angeles.

Posted by impart

Television Without Pity

Calling all Dawson’s Creek fans! Television Without Pity features irreverent entries about the shows, characters, actors, clichés, plot devices, memorable moments, and catch phrases that make watching TV such a guilty pleasure. From weekend-long Real World marathons to the People’s Choice Awards, from favorite characters (Brenda Walsh, Seth Cohen) to the most unfunny recurring skits on Saturday Night Live, this is a celebration of television unlike any other.

Written by the creators of televisionwithoutpity.com (hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “the industry standard” for obsessive TV fanatics), this snarktastic volume features 100 illustrations and an encyclopedic two-column design. It’s great fun for nostalgic browsing and guaranteed to prompt more laughter than a whole season of Seinfeld.

TARA ARIANO (screen name “Wing Chun”) and SARAH D. BUNTING (screen name “Sars”) are the founders of TelevisionWithoutPity.com. Tara is the coauthor of Hey! It’s That Guy! (Quirk, 2005), and more of Sarah’s work can be seen at TomatoNation.com.

Posted by impart