Cult Lit

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Browsing though the book store you will come across chick lit ( anything with pink stilettos and/or martinis), lad lit ( anything by Tucker Max or Maddox) and Cult Lit. Many subdivisions of pop culture have donned the label of "Cult Status" from Fight Club (before they started showing it on Fx every weekend) to the Rocky Horror Picture show to virtually anything with Edward Norton. Yet it's not just the provoking dialogue or the moving metaphors that make people attracted to these Cult items, they also serve as a tool of superiority. A way of feeling a cut above the less esoteric masses. Yet just because something isn't transgressive fiction or a Kurt Vonnegut novel doesn't mean it isn't worthy of acquiring the ever so elusive legion of cult followers. So if your getting sick of watching Trainspotting, here are three books, in my so humble/self indulgent opinion (I do have a blog after all) that I think deserve a shot in the not-so-obscure hall of fame.

1. Youth in Revolt: the Journals of Nick Twisp by C.D Payne: It's part Catcher in the Rye and part Confederacy of the Dunces. Nick Twisp is precocious, smart and has just the right amount of self deprecation to make this book funny, awkward and realistic.

2. King Dork by Frank Portman: If you've ever seen someone with a "Sam Hellerman is a Genius T-shirt" they probably know what I'm talking about. Don't let the YA label turn you off, this funny and almost painfully realistic novel is, as a fellow reader states, perfect for those of us who are "still mourning the cancellation of Freaks and Geeks."

3. Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander: Okay so this isn't technically a work of a literature and majority of people have already read it but in case you haven't you should go out and buy yourself a copy, prefebaly on your way to Whole Foods while listening to NPR in your car.

And who said reading wasn't sexy?

If the last time you thought of science and sex in the same sentence was in 8th grade with your foxy biology teacher than your in for a pleasant (or pleasurable) surprise. Jena Pincott’s “Do Gentlemen really prefer Blondes: Bodies, Behaviors, and Brains- The Science Behind Sex Love and Attraction” uses biology, evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to answer all of our carnal questions in an easy to read format. Some of my personal favorite questions:
- Why when a couple first falls in love their brains are indistinguishable form those of the clinically insane?
- Are good dancers good in bed?
- How do the seasons affect our sex life?
In short Pincott uses science to shed light on what makes us tick sexually. One thing is for sure, I’ll never look out at a biology textbook the same way again.

The Holy Trinity

No I am not referring to the famous Italian Fresco. I am talking about the three indisputable style icons for those sartorially classists among us. I am of course alluding to Jackie, Audrey and Grace (I nicknamed them JAG for short, I know I have way too much time on my hands) Anyway I thought I'd share my favorite fashion books devoted to these lovely ladies. After all it is summer vacation if you are not going to read something light hearted now then when are you? So without further adieu here are my top three style biographies
1. A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House by Oleg Cassini: a beautiful crafted memoir that consists of over 200 black and white photographs in addition to letters written by Jackie this book truly captures the magic that epitomized Jackie O's style
2 Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke Keogh: (my personal favorite) With breathtakingly beautiful photographs this visual stunning book makes you want to slip a little Audrey in your day
3. Grace Kelly: Icon of Style to Royal Bride by H. Kristina Haugland: This book gives us a behind the scenes look at Grace Kelly's fairy tale wedding from her wedding gown to her veil and her shoes.
I hope these books inspire you to put a little JAG in your step