A definitive account of the life and career of the legendary Broadway caricaturist covers his achievements as an agent, his three marriages, his famous parties, and the ongoing cultural influence of his distinctive creative style.

The host of the wildly popular podcast presents a collection of insights and observations from such guests as Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams and Barack Obama to explore how today's most recognizable figures handle the challenges of today, from parenting and relationships to sexuality and success.

A highly anticipated memoir by the prolific hip-hop artist traces his unlikely path to stardom and personal rebirth, discussing his early years in Alabama and Georgia, his activities as a drug dealer, the experiences that inspired his influential street anthems and his recent prison term.

The critic and correspondent for NPR Music explores the history of American popular music as an erotic art form, from 19th-century New Orleans and the Jazz Age in New York, to the screaming teens that welcomed The Beatles and modern day web-based performers. 75,000 first printing.

Draws on inside access to key figures in a chronicle of progressive rock that shares behind-the-scenes stories about the chart-topping bands of the 1970s, the sounds of genres ranging from psychedelia to heavy metal and the inconsistent ways '70s rock has influenced culture, inspired satire and divided fans.

An account of the life of the influential jazz artist and civil rights advocate shares additional insights into her lesser-known contributions as an African-American woman, drawing on inside sources to discuss her creative process and challenge misperceptions about her character. 40,000 first printing.

The author of Saturday Night Widow examines the cultural influence of the Oscar-winning classic, Thelma & Louise, drawing on interviews with dozens of actors, writers and filmmakers to discuss the making of the film and whether or not its creators believe if women's participation in film has progressed in the past quarter century.

The host of The Daily Show With Trevor Noah traces his wild coming of age during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed, offering insight into the farcical aspects of the political and social systems of today's world.

Revisiting the films that don't make the Academy Award montages, Charles Taylor finds a treasury many of us have forgotten, grungy, unartful B films like Prime Cut, Foxy Brown, and Eyes of Laura Mars.

The actor and founder of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science traces his personal quest to understand how to relate and communicate better, from practicing empathy and using improv games to storytelling and developing better intuitive skills.

This year marks the golden anniversary of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the flagship band of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Formed in 1966 and flourishing until 2010, the Art Ensemble distinguished itself by its unique performance practices— members played hundreds of instruments on stage, recited poetry, performed theatrical sketches, and wore face paint, masks, lab coats, and traditional African and Asian dress. The group, which built a global audience and toured across six continents, presented their work as experimental performance art, in opposition to the jazz industry?s traditionalist aesthetics. In Message to Our Folks, Paul Steinbeck combines musical analysis and historical inquiry to give us the definitive study of the Art Ensemble. In the book, he proposes a new theory of group improvisation that explains how the band members were able to improvise together in so many different styles while also drawing on an extensive repertoire of notated compositions. Steinbeck examines the multimedia dimensions of the Art Ensemble's performances and the ways in which their distinctive model of social relations kept the group performing together for four decades. Message to Our Folks is a striking and valuable contribution to ourunderstanding of one of the world's premier musical groups.

Presents a comprehensive portrait of the singer's background, his upbringing, and his professional career, while placing the narrative within the social history of the 1960s.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Rolling Stone — a leading voice in journalism, cultural criticism and music from the 1960s to today — presents a decade-by-decade exploration of American music and history alongside interviews with rock legends and image makers.

The child prodigy-turned-violin virtuoso describes how her career was upended by the 2010 theft of her beloved 1696 Stradivarius, revealing how the instrument represented her senses of self and music and how its displacement triggered revelations about art, passion and what it means to do what one loves.

Explores the unlikely bond between the famous Austrian composer and his pet starling, providing an unexpected window into human-animal friendships, music, and the nature of creative inspiration.

Published to commemorate the first anniversary of the iconic musician's death, a candid assessment of his personal and professional life by his first wife traces their long-distance courtship, marriage and creative partnership as well as the challenges that compromised their romance.

Cheech Marin describes how he formed his successful comedy duo, became representative of the recreational drug movement, forged a successful solo career and amassed a collection of renowned Chicano art.