Tag Archives: Book Review

The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave

The Batman mythos has become  a huge, multi-generation phenomenon in popular culture, and it isn’t hard to see why.  Fan boys (and girls) of all ages watch the tormented hero running through his trials over and over again, being re-invented on occasion to suit the desires of the time.  In 2005, Christopher Nolan gave Batman an edgy new face (and a whole bunch of cool new gadgets) for audiences to enjoy.  The Dark Knight trilogy has recently come to a head with the release of The Dark Knight Rises, and (most) fans are ecstatic.

In July of this year, The Dark Knight Manual by Brandon T. Snider was released.  And it is beautiful.

A dark, brooding coffee table edition that has the very mood and tone of the film.  It is chalk-full of removable inserts, character profiles, color pictures from the films, maps and diagrams that help you immerse yourself in the world of Batman.

A couple of our favorites?  How about a map of Arkham Asylum?  Or The Joker’s Calling Cards?  Gotham Police Department stickers?  Oh yes.  Fans can easily fall in love with this book.  A great gift for Batman fans and a beautifully made addition to your coffee table selection.

 

The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave
Written by: Brandon T. Snider
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Insight Editions
Released: July 10, 2012
Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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The Writer’s Portable Therapist

The Writer’s Portable Therapist: 25 Sessions to a creativity cure by Rachel Ballon, Ph. D., “Doc Hollywood“.  With the nickname Doc Hollywood, I’m half inclined to think Doctor Ballon might just be an outlaw.

Writing is an art-form, and like most artists a writer goes into a dry spell on occasion.  Some writers (me for instance) can go weeks or months at a time without being struck by the almighty urge to put the pen to paper.  The problem with writers block is simple: If you aren’t proactive about it, you might just stay in that rut.

The Writer’s Portable Therapist is a great little book that can help ease you through these minor blockages.  The biggest issue is that often a creativity block is a lot more then just not finding the words to put on the paper.  A lot of the time it is wanting to give up, not feeling confident in what we are writing, or not “finding the time” to write.  This book provides methods, tips and tricks for pushing past the blocks.

Available on Amazon.

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Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion

The Big Bang Theory is an immensely popular TV show about four science geeks and a quirky waitress.  The group has chemistry and if you are taking the time to read this, you probably already knew that.  As a matter of fact, if you happen to have gotten past the first sentence of this paragraph, you’ve probably already seen every episode and are thirsting for more.

So what you get in this volume is a companion to the television series.  It is an enjoyable, funny and fast read that will pull any The Big Bang Theory fan right back in after you’ve read it to refer to sections while watching the show.  It gives a detailed synopsis on the who’s, hows, why and whatnot’s of the characters, writing, and relevance to pop-culture.

My favorite part of the book is how it manages to categorize and include glossaries of different parts of the show and how they relate.  They go over relevant terms, geek references, and an episode guide that goes over the plot of each episode.

A fun guide for the fan of The Big Bang Theory, as well as a great way to get your jump start if you are just getting into the show.

 

Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion
Written by:  George Beahm
Publisher: Smart Pop
Released: December 6, 2011
Absolutely available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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