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For fans of offbeat pop history, a spirited tour through the supernatural history of America, from its haunted sites to its famous ghosts to its ghost-obsessed pop culture.

Ghosts are everywhere–whether you believe in them or not. Every town has its local legends, and countless books, movies, and TV shows are haunted by their presence. But our obsession with ghosts runs deeper than we know–and is embedded in the very fabric of American history.

Writer and historian Marc Hartzman dons the mantle of tour guide, taking readers on a fascinating journey through supernatural history, including:

• The Fox Sisters and the rise of Spiritualism
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The tour takes a turn for the terrifying as we explore famous haunted sites like the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and the LaLaurie House in New Orleans, and learn about famous ghosts like the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia
• Along the way, we hear the stories of ghost hunters like Ed and Lorraine Warren, learn the history of ghost photography, and see how people are using modern-day technology to prove the existence of ghosts

Deeply researched and presented in an entertaining and accessible way, Marc Hartzman expertly blends popular history, pop culture, and a trove of archival material that will satisfy believers and skeptics alike.

The true crime cult classic that inspired an upcoming Netflix documentary series and companion podcast, The Ultimate Evil follows journalist Maury Terry’s terrifying investigation into the true evil behind the Son of Sam murders.

On August 10, 1977, the NYPD arrested David Berkowitz for the Son of Sam murders that had terrorized New York City for over a year. Berkowitz confessed to shooting sixteen people and killing six with a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver, and the case was officially closed.

Journalist Maury Terry was suspicious of Berkowitz’s confession. Spurred by conflicting witness descriptions of the killer and by the Queens District Attorney, who was convinced Berkowitz didn’t act alone, Terry spent decades researching, gathering evidence, and interviewing those involved in the case. He released his initial findings in the original publication of The Ultimate Evil in 1987, in which he presented his theory that Berkowitz was a member of the Process Church of the Final Judgment, a cult responsible for the Son of Sam murders, as well as other ritual murders across the country. After Terry’s death in 2015, documentary filmmaker Josh Zeman (Cropsey, The Killing Season, Murder Mountain) followed leads Terry left for him, which form the basis of his upcoming docuseries with Netflix and a companion podcast. Taken together with The Ultimate Evil, which includes a new introduction by Zeman, these works reveal the stunning intersections of power, wealth, privilege, and evil in America–from the Summer of Sam until today.

A fascinating and fun (yes, really!) guide to planning your final farewell. From selecting your burial outfit to your funeral theme, guided-journal elements and worksheets will help you think outside the coffin.

For most of us, our own funeral is an afterthought or, even worse, an anti-thought—something we avoid thinking about altogether. This book will change that negative thinking forever! After all, planning one’s funeral is an act of love and an important part of good mental health. Now readers can make sure their sendoff is exactly what they want it to be, whether a somber reflection on who they were, a drunken bacchanal for a life well lived, or a peaceful adieu to their earthly existence.

This practical yet cheeky guide offers a plethora of advice and inspiration, from budgeting for the big day to selecting a burial outfit to choosing a memorial theme. Morbid and pragmatic questions alike are answered, including:

• What is the most eco-friendly burial method?
• Should I write my own obituary?
• Do I really need a will?
• Can my body be shot into space after I die?
• What can be cremated with me?
• And, perhaps most important, how do I avoid being buried alive?

It’s Your Funeral! presents every stage of the legacy planning process—both material and digital—to ensure that one’s wishes are recorded for posterity before venturing to the Great Beyond. So get ready to dig into curious facts, strange stories, and helpful worksheets that cover everything readers need to know to make death the best time of their life.

Filled with quotes from Bob Marley’s speeches, interviews, and writings, this collection is sure to resonate with fans of his music and political activism, at a time when we need exemplary heroes. 

Redemption has many meanings, but there is one definition that embodies the spirit of Bob Marley’s beliefs and music: to reform, or to change for the better. Forty years after the release of his iconic “Redemption Song,” his desire to make the world a better place through mental and spiritual emancipation—important first steps to physical emancipation for the larger community—remains powerful and vital to this day.

Using Marley’s own words from interviews and his powerful song lyrics, his eldest daughter, Cedella Marley, creates a powerful narrative about the hard but rewarding path to redemption.

From notable geek girl Sam Maggs, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Universe is the ultimate handbook for teens living the nerdy life. 

Fandom, pop culture, feminism, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more—there’s never been a better time to be a fangirl, or a better guide to navigate the wide universe of fandoms. This handbook is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes, including:

· How to make nerdy friends
· How to rock cosplay
· How to write fanfic with feels
· How to defeat internet trolls
· How to attend your first con

And more! Featuring wisdom from Sam and insightful interviews with fangirl faves like Danielle Paige, Rainbow Rowell, and Preeti Chhibber, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Universe highlights the joys of fandom community and offers a fun, feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. This refreshed edition updates The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy including new interviews.

From amethyst to obsidian, Basic Witches author Jaya Saxena explores the multi-faceted meanings and history behind eleven popular crystals in this relatable personal essay collection.

Highly prized for their beauty, crystals can take the shape of jewelry, household objects, and an array of self-care products. But it’s the ideas they stand for that draw people to their raw forms. Like astrology, tarot, and modern witchcraft, crystals help practitioners understand themselves and the wider world around them.

In this collection of sharply observed essays, Jaya Saxena reflects on–and challenges–the ideas associated with eleven popular stones, including unconditional love (rose quartz), happiness and success (citrine), balance (amethyst), self-care (black tourmaline), purity (pearl), imposter syndrome (pyrite), toxic positivity (carnelian), change (opals), traditional concepts of marriage (diamonds), presentation versus identity (obsidian), and death (amber).

The result is a deeply personal book with universal appeal, exploring how we assign meaning and power to crystals in order to give meaning and power to our lives.