Scattered across the American landscape in the happiest of places, the photobooth has an interesting place in our culture. Where Americans play, drink, smile and flirt, the photobooth is there. From carnivals to pubs to vacation hotspots, a photobooth is waiting to capture our happiness and store it on a row of black-and-white film. Author Nakki Goranin documented this American cultural phenomenon with a history of the photobooth and a stunning collection of classic photobooth pictures. “American Photobooth” is a brilliant expose on this phenomenon– and how you may never be able to pass another photobooth again without stepping inside…

Buy: $29.70

Having never been to Brazil, Thomas Kohnstamm started doing his research. He was, after all, a travel writer, and a seasoned one at that. Kohnstamm is one of the select few that get to traipse the earth in search of cool, interesting and fun things and get paid about it. With a dream job like that, what gives? Do All Travel Writers Go to Hell? acts not as a guide book or a hip “where to” guide, but instead chronicles Kohnstamm’s experience preparing to write the book. All the parties. The free drinks. The days sunning at the nude beaches. The one-night stands so casual that even a language barrier couldn’t deny - it’s all there. Read on in hilarity as you wonder whether Kohnstamm will live to write another “trusted” guide book for the well-respected company that is paying him to do this nonsense. So is Kohnstamm going to hell? We can’t say for sure, but he is one lucky SOB.

Buy: $13.95.

Fans of Fight Club and Choke know how deliciously bizarre Chuck Palahniuk’s stories can be. Not one to let down his rabid fanbase, Palahniuk has gone and outdone himself yet again. Snuff chronicles a baggy pornstar’s epic fall into the record books as she tries to do the deed with 600 men on film in single day. Instead of detailing her rotten play-by-play narrative, Snuff follows three of the suitors: Mr, 72, Mr. 137 and Mr. 600. Mr. 72 probably has it a lot better off than the other two guys, but Mr. 600 must have some twisted backstory if he’s willing to wait for 599 others to finish. Expect every sweaty detail to be included, as Palahniuk often immerses himself in research a full two years before beginning a story. Pre-order, due out May 20.

Buy: $24.95.

(image courtesy: laughing squid)

As the great Method Man once said, “Protect Ya Neck”. In this case, it might be a case of protecting ya “brains”– but we’ll keep the quote. We have one question for our GearCrave readers: are you truly prepared for a Zombie attack? What would happen if a new engineered virus were to break loose tomorrow and you were to be faced with an army of brain-hungry zombies as a result? Would you be ready? Sure, you could play Resident Evil all day and practice your head shots, but that skill won’t translate to real-time zombie onslaughts. You know what will get you ready? The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. This book is filled, from cover to cover, with Zombie defense plans, contingency practices and reviews of anti-zombie weaponry. You want to keep your brains inside that pretty little skull of yours? Get this book.

Buy: $11.16

We must admit, we’re totally addicted to TheSmokingGun.com– we love mugshots, whether they’re about celebrites, musicians, athletes, or even your average joe (or jane). We’d like to take that experience away from TheSmokingGun’s website and make it a little more accessible, like on our coffee table. Thanks to George Seminara, celebrity mug shots can adorn your living room or restroom for the max enjoyment of you and your guests. As you can see by the cover, this book is star-studded. Keanu, OJ, Mickey, Larry King and more fill these pages. While we do enjoy our celebrities, we really enjoy them when they’ve been very bad. Shame on you, Hugh Grant. At least it wasn’t a dude in drag, like our boy Eddie Murphy…

Buy: from $0.01 (that’s not a typo)

(image courtesy: sparktography)

In 1992, Neal Stephenson predicted the Second Life online world, inspired the Matrix film series, and helped define the cyberpunk genre with his classic novel “Snow Crash”. Snow Crash tells a story of a rough, post-economic-collapse America, a virtual world called the Metaverse, a mind (and DNA) altering drug, and the merging of new technology and ancient myth. Our hero, Hiro Protagonist, is a hacker, a pizza delivery driver and the best sword fighter in the virtual world. Our villains are a telecom tycoon with plans for global, religious domination; and the ultimate badass– a monstrous drug pusher with his very own nuclear insurance policy.  If science fiction is your bag, you’ve likely heard of Snow Crash.  If you have yet to read it, take our advice- get yourself a copy of this book now.  If you’ve already read Snow Crash, leave a comment and tell our readers why this one can’t be missed…

Buy: $10.50

Most guys at least know how to heat up some mac ‘n cheese or a can of soup. Some guys can even grill. But for the rest of us, there’s The Guy Can’t Cook: Over 350 No-Fail Recipes A Guy Can’t Be Without by Cinda Chavich. Thank goodness! What’s best about “The Guy Can’t Cook” is that it’s not just a picture and a list of ingredients — it’s a crash course on all the cooking techniques you’ll ever need to know. In no time you’ll be poaching salmon, shaking up cocktails and braising every meat under the sun. There’s even a foolproof mac ‘n cheese recipe, for those kitchen-impaired guys out there.

Buy: $24.95.

Many economists and sociologists have praised the early results of globalization.  Authors like Thomas L. Friedman suggest that this round world has become flat again, in that the connection between cultures, nations and businesses has become more intimate, more instantly gratifying.  Others, like Misha Glenny, have taken a look at the dark underbelly of globalization– how just as cultures and nations are coming together, so is organized crime.  Glenny tackles everything from narcotics and human trafficking, the capitol of money laundering in Dubai, plus the effects of this expanding network in our own neck of the woods.  McMafia provides a shocking, insightful look at the brave new world of global crime incorporated.

Buy: $16.77

Goodness, you’re getting married. What have you gotten yourself into? Thankfully, our friends at Quirk Books have supplied us with the necessary literature for such an endeavor, The Groom’s Instruction Manual. Find everything you need about tying the knot — from how to buy the ring and pop the question, to how to get through those damn thank-you notes. Just in case you’ve totally lost your mind, there are plenty of easy-to-understand illustrations. Take it from the author — this dude got married, and he lived to tell about it.

Buy: $15.95.

A year ago Friday, American novelist Kurt Vonnegut passed away. “So it goes.” Kurt Vonnegut was a social satirist– an author of “science fiction” known for his biting wit and a dark sense of humor. However, to call Vonnegut a “science fiction writer” would be to sell him short. While fans of Vonnegut adore his imagination, it is the social commentary, his blunt characterizations of American culture that are the crux of his works. Readers of Vonnegut may not find fantasy or futurism, but possibly the most honest, telling, comedic perspective of our own culture ever captured by an American author.

In celebration of Kurt Vonnegut, we invite you to get to know his three masterworks a little better. If you’re new to Vonnegut, its time you learned what you are missing. Continue reading for the details on Vonnegut’s masterworks.