"What do you say to a hilarious tour of the coolest trends and baddest fads of the century? An A-to-Z ride on the pop culture waves that have made us what we are, Bad Fads takes you from the flapper styles of the 20s to the genius-defying Rubik's cube, from thigh-spilling hotpants to the rise (and fall) of the toga party, from the Ouija board to Pac-Man mania. In this retro-ramble, Mark Long goes behind the trends, revealing their obscure beginnings, their often unlikely paths to popularity, and their inevitable - and humiliating! - tumbles into the dusty warehouse of history. A must-have for any observer of the crazy games we all play, Bad Fads illustrates the very heart of our bizarre and ever-changing culture."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Fads come and go, but they’re almost always weird. From troll dolls to pet rocks and even goldfish swallowing, there are plenty of weird fads hidden in American history. Full-color photographs introduce readers to one of America’s earliest fads—drawing panoramas of towns—as well as some of the weirder phenomena like flagpole sitting or dance contests. With full-color photographs highlighting these odd toys, games, and hobbies, readers learn some of the reasons behind these trends in American history.

Around 5,000 business and management titles are published every year, and increasingly, their preferred mode of presentation is centred on the creation and marketing of buzzwords and fads. This book argues that these management fads and buzzwords deflect critical inquiry and limit useful action because they present a 'ready made' view of the world, which rejects the benefits of theoretical analysis and reflection. Topics covered include: * the 'guru industry' * 'excellence' * business process re-engineering * empowerment * culture * knowledge work * globalization. 'Unpacking' the 'guru industry' and analyzing the fads and buzzwords, this book provides a 'critical-practical' analysis, designed to allow readers to locate, understand and critique management fashion.

This informative two-volume set provides readers with an understanding of the fads and crazes that have taken America by storm from colonial times to the present. Entries cover a range of topics, including food, entertainment, fashion, music, and language. Why could hula hoops and TV westerns only have been found in every household in the 1950s? What murdered Russian princess can be seen in one of the first documented selfies, taken in 1914? This book answers those questions and more in its documentation of all of the most captivating trends that have defined American popular culture since before the country began. Entries are well-researched and alphabetized by decade. At the start of every section is an insightful historical overview of the decade, and the set uniquely illustrates what today's readers have in common with the past. It also contains a Glossary of Slang for each decade as well as a bibliography, plus suggestions for further reading for each entry. Students and readers interested in history will enjoy discovering trends through the years in such areas as fashion, movies, music, and sports.

When sheep feel glad that they can't use computers, this is why. 505 Unbelievably Stupid Webpages reveals the Internet's weirdest, funniest and overall dumbest websites. With more than 25,000 copies sold this new edition is completely updated and revised to include the most bizarre websites to emerge in the last few years. You'll never forgive yourself if you miss these insane, laugh-out-loud sites: -Marshmallow Bunny Survival Tests -The Corn Cam -The Leonard Nimoy Should Eat More Salsa Foundation -The Virtual Stapler -Star Wars Gangsta Rap -Squirrel Hazing: The Untold Story -Poke Alex in the Eye: The Game

Running barefoot isn't as natural as we're led to believe. Recent studies have shown that up to 85% of runners get injured every year, how natural is that? The most important question that running "barefoot" or "naturally" doesn't address is how we should run. Repetitive ground impact forces are at the root of most running injuries. A 30 minute jog can log more than 5,000 foot strikes; its because of this volume of movement that efficient

"Beyond the battles themselves, Glantz also presents an in-depth portrait of the Red Army as an evolving military institution. Assessing more clearly than ever before the army's size, strength, and force structure, he provides keen insights into its doctrine, strategy, tactics, weaponry, training, officer corps, and political leadership. In the process, be puts a human face on the Red Army's commanders and soldiers, including women and those who served in units - security (NKVD), engineer, railroad, auto-transport, construction, and penal forces - that have till now remained poorly understood."--BOOK JACKET.