The Valedictorians is a book that very much encompasses the Zoot Lifestyle.  Based in Boston, a freshly graduated 20-something year old struggles with adjusting to cube life as his College glory days become a distant past.  The book is filled with chapters of hilarious memories and awkward moments, while the protagonist takes on a deeper internal struggle with life, loss, career and where he sees his future.  If you are one of those people that struggles daily with the meaning of life or what your true calling is, this book could be the thing that finally compels you to GET OFF YOUR ASS.

"The Valedictorians" is an unflinching look at a jaded generation desperately seeking direction.

Even if you are perfectly satisfied with your measly existence, it is easy to find common ground.  Whether you have slept with a colleague, enjoy playing hoops, made some great tales in college or dealt with a serious hangover in the corporate world.  I know I felt for him.

(http://www.amazon.com/Valedictorians-Mitch-Cote-Crosskill/dp/1936107368)

Grant Lingel is a man to be jealous of and maybe even to admire. In 2006, after completing one semester as a super-senior in balmy Buffalo, NY, Grant decided to take a risk many of us have thought about, but never had the courage to do. Uninspired by the path laid in front of him (degree, job, corporate ladder, settle down, etc.), he dropped out of school only a few credits shy of a degree. Then he bought a one-way ticket to Cancun and took off with $300.00 to his name.

Imagine is Grant’s memoir of the odyssey that follows that plane flight south of the border. Working at resorts and doing odd jobs along the way, his trip takes him from Playa Del Carmen through Central America and back again. Along the way, he meets some interesting people and fellow travelers never to be forgotten. Whether he is escaping from reality or escaping to a better reality depends on your perspective. Either way, Grant’s writing transports you along in stream of consciousness on a voyage that you’ll wish you’d had the guts to take. Maybe it will even inspire you to do your own vagabonding.

You were probably thinking Mario weren’t you?  Well you would be wrong my friend.  Guinness has put out it’s 2010 “Book of World Records Gamers Edition” and surprisely Mario is not the most well known video game character in America.   Only the man who eats ghosts and chases babes with pink bows could take that title.  Good old PAC-MAN took the title for the Most Recognizable Video Game Character. The book drops today.  I am really happy to see NBA JAM has a spot in this book, “IS IT THE SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Here’s some of the other highlights noted by gameinformer.com

Biggest Selling Video Game of All Time: Wii Sports, with over 46 million sold

Highest Grossing Video Arcade of All Time: NBA Jam, making $1 billion in its first year

According to Norris, he was asked repeatedly over the past few years by various publishers to write about his favorite Chuck Norris Facts, those hyperbolic and mythical sayings about the nature of Chuck Norris that have made him an Internet and superhero sensation. (I’m certain picking 101 favorites was not easy for him, being that there are literally tens of thousands.)

Under each of Chuck’s 101 favorite Facts in the book is a related short story (titled “Let’s Be Honest”), a related quote from contemporaries to classic figures (titled “They Said It”), and a final section summarizing a life principle that is based upon what he just wrote (titled “Chuck’s Code”). Examples of a few are: “If you work in an office with Chuck Norris, don’t ask him for his three-hole punch”; “Chuck Norris was born in a cabin that he built with his bare hands”; “Sweating bullets is literally what happens when Chuck Norris gets too hot”; and “Chuck Norris can gargle peanut butter and blow bubbles with beef jerky.”
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Andy Kaufman was a little before my time, but from what I saw of him on the re runs of Taxi he was seriously out there. It was hard to tell where the line was drawn, as he regularly blurred the line of seriousness with his ground breaking form of comedy. Famous for his role as Latka Gravas on television’s Taxi and for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and his own variety show, the legendary eccentric performer Andy Kaufman provoked a national outrage in 1977 by taunting the women of America and challenging them to wrestle him live on television. Taking on an aggressive and ridiculous personality based upon the characters invented by professional wrestlers, he offered a $1,000 reward to any woman who could pin him.Thousands of fired-up females (and a few males) responded to the call, and Kaufman received a torrent of impassioned challenges, hate mail, and love letters from would-be wrestling contenders.
These fascinating and sometimes bizarre handwritten letters, photographs, and illustrations from would-be contenders are here assembled into a great book titled “Dear Andy Kaufman, I Hate Your Guts!”

Kaufman’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Lynne Margulies, provides an introduction. Bob Zmuda, Kaufman’s cohort and longtime friend, writes the foreword.

To honor the grizzled, alcoholic author Charles Bukowski on the 20th anniversary of his death, a literary tour operator thought it was time for a commemorative stamp–and they launched an online petition to show how serious they are. The USPS is not likely to embrace the idea, but it’s actually a smart one. Bukowski is one of my favorite authors so I would love to see this idea become a reality. Besides his expertise in whiskey and women, Bukowski was also postal worker until age 49–he even wrote what is perhaps the most famous book about a post office, Post Office.

Let’s be honest, this idea is not likely to see the light of day, and Buk needs all the help he can get, but how great would it be send a letter to your grandma, and put a Broads, Beer, Books, stamp on the letter.

If you like this idea, and would love to see some Bukowski stamps in circulation, check out the online petition page

For the past couple of years I have been heavily into books. I usually try to read stuff that is either suggested to me by my nerd alert english major friends (DV) or that I feel I should have read years ago. Its great to have resources like this because through these people, I have gotten my hands on some great reading material, and even came across my favorite book of all time (so far). Plus, I just figured my time could have been used a little bit better, rather than listening to Joe buddens and Mos Def on the train to and from work every day. I still do that, but its more of a background music and to tune out the people talking. Anyway, when I get done reading something serious, or mentally draining, I usually try and find something fun and quick, just to refresh me. Chuck Palahniuk and Charles Bukowski both have some great books (Fight Club and Ham on Rye among others) which I would strongly recommend, but I came across some other awesome material that I figured I would share. Check out some of these books and if your looking for something fun and enterainting, I would seriously get over to Barnes and Noble and check these out.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls

Step back into the England of Jane Austen’s novels — with an undead twist — in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls. Written by well-versed novelist Steve Hockensmith, this latest addition to the Quirk Classic line serves as a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, exploring the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth century England. This book looks awesome, and it is something that Im sure I will be picking up this week.

The Dude Abides

If you havent been under a log for the past 10 years, then you know how much a cultural impact The Big Lebowski has had on this generation. If I had no clue what this book was about, I would still pick it up based on the title and cover alone, but it’s not exactly what you’d think. Instead of focusing solely on The Big Lebowski, Cathleen Falsani’s The Dude Abides is an exploration intro to the existential questions raised by the entire Coen brothers catalogue, from Blood Simple to A Serious Man. Whether it’s death, life, love, truth, or evil, there’s a Coen film that touches on it, and not always in the way you’d expect.

Outlaws!

With all of this pirate hijacking business going on in the world, and with them never getting caught, it would only seem like the logical decision to throw a book on here that chronicles the history of some of the most well know hellraisers. Outlaws!: Adventures of Pirates, Scoundrels, and Other Rebels might certainly tempt you to switch up careers. This 240-page ode to the outsider chronicles the adventures — and motives — of such famed and feared rebels as Jesse James, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, IRA-activist Bobby Sands, and more!

SuicideGirls: Beauty Redefined

Not a day goes by that I dont have a friend remind me that I have a unique taste in girls. Im not going to sit here and pretend that some super model isnt fine, but I would opt for an original and edgy girl any day of the week. Forget the airbrushed perfection of most modern female nudes, and take a walk on the wild side. SuicideGirls: Beauty Redefined (possibly NSFW) is a 396 page hardcover tribute to the openly real girls of the groundbreaking website. You have a tattoo where?!

If you have a set of balls then Absinthe & Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously is a must read. Professional engineer Bill Gurstelle lays out detailed instructions for making “black powder” (gunpowder), rockets, flamethrowers and other devices that will endanger your digits and eyebrows. To the author’s credit, he is equally detailed in his prescriptions of safety gear and precautions. He also details more hedonistic thrills, such as absinthe, cigarette smoking and “thrill eating”. Take MacGyver and Chuck Norris and combine the two into one human, this book was written for that guy. You can buy the book here from Amazon.

Booze wasn’t always demonized the way it is now by the church, and if you have trouble understanding why, perhaps you should read The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World ($17). It tells the story of Arthur Guinness and the Guinness family, from the founding of the brewery and the first Guinness poured through to modern times, focusing on the family’s faith and philanthropy. We recommend grabbing a pint before you dig in so you can really experience the book in full form. 10 Guinness pints later, and after rereading the 1st chapter 6 times without noticing will keep you occupied for a while.