More about this book

Mental Hygiene
Classroom Films 1945-1970
For generations of American school kids, 16mm classroom films served as a break in classroom tedium and a chance for the teacher to sneak a smoke in the hall. But for the quarter century that followed World War II -- the years 1945 to 1970 -- a special kind of classroom film received wide circulation. These were "mental hygiene" films, specifically designed to shape the behavior of their young viewers.

With over 400 photos, interviews with surviving filmmakers, and nearly 300 capsule reviews MENTAL HYGIENE: CLASSROOM FILMS 1945-1970 is the first book to take an in-depth look at these forgotten classics, such as "The Last Prom," "Dating Do's and Don'ts," "Lunchroom Manners," "Duck and Cover," "Highways of Agony," and "Girls Beware." [Blast Books, 272 pp]

Order from Amazon.com.

More about this book

• Frank Olson - who drank a cocktail spiked with LSD by the CIA and then killed himself
• Karen Silkwood - murdered when she tried to save her coworkers from radiation contamination
• Ota Benga - a pygmy exhibited in a cage in the Bronx Zoo monkey house

Illustrated by Mack White, written by Ken Smith, published by Blast Books.

RAW DEAL challenges the think-positive-and-you-can-win! hogwash that clutters our bookstores. It proves that good vibes and a positive attitude aren't worth squat when you're in the way of someone with power and money. If you want to be better informed about Life in these United States - or if you're just a fan of the unknown and bizarre - you need RAW DEAL. [Blast Books, 288 pp]

Order from Amazon.com

More about this book

Ken's Guide to the Bible
KEN'S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE takes Bible literalists to task by pointing out everything in the Good Book that is TOTALLY WEIRD. Ken's jaw hit the floor when he read in the Bible that:

• Noah was 500 years old when he fathered his first child (Genesis 5)
• Moses had to wear a veil because talking to God made his face glow (Exodus 34)
• God doesn't want anyone near Him who sweats (Ezekiel 44)
• Jesus' death triggered an invasion of Jerusalem by zombies (Matthew 27)
• God is green (Revelation 4); Jesus' mother is the planet Venus (Revelation 22)

"I think the Bible is nutty," Ken says."Some may take offense at that, but I don't know of any new idea that doesn't offend somebody. It's about time the more ridiculous parts of the Bible made people laugh." KEN'S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE is written for people who don't have the time to read the Good Book, but who suspect that it shelters a lot of weird stuff between its covers. [Blast Books, 144 pp]

Perfect for a holiday gift. Order from Amazon.com for a very reasonable price.

The New Roadside America
by Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins
Jam-packed with nearly 800 offbeat tourist attractions Ñ and just the right size to jam into the glove compartment for your next road trip. Each copy has that great new book smell.

New Roadside America is organized by categories such as "Science," "Celebrities," and "Civic Pride," and full of photos and graphics Ñ like the Meat Map, a guide to all of the meat and cannibal attractions in America! [Fireside/Simon & Schuster, 288pp]

Visit www.roadsideamerica.com, the "Web's Largest Tourist Trap," with trip planning tips on over 3,000 attractions. Ken is a weekly contributor to the site's collection of Hypertours, attraction reviews and "Mr. Picky" rants.