Essays explore the influence of art in twentieth-century American culture, including jazz, basketball, professional wrestling, magic, gambling, entrepreneurship, series television and automotive design.

“Make Air, Not War” is the personal motto of Dan Crane, the musician who decided to put his “there” guitar aside and reinvent himself as Björn Türoque: the take-no-prisoners future of competitive air guitar. Jeopardizing love and livelihood to join the ruthless international circuit of the World Air Guitar Championships, Björn Türoque (pronounced “b-yorn too-RAWK”) began a three-year odyssey to secure what was rightfully his (and America’s!)—the air guitar world crown. To Air is Human is the riotous tale of one man’s journey through a world of wheelchair-bound Christian air rockers, spandex-jumpsuit fittings, Finnish stunt wolves, catatonic ‘80s guitar heroes, air groupies, Aireoke™, Air Supply, dry-ice injuries, and ultimately, good vs. evil (in the form of Björn’s rival pretender to the air guitar throne). But it is also a sincere and penetrating account of the pursuit of an elusive, intangible, and perhaps nonexistent goal: to achieve “airness”—that is, when air guitar transcends the “real” art that it imitates and becomes an art form in and of itself. “Björn Türoque is so good that people with real guitars now have contests to see who can do the best imitation of his air guitar imitation.”—Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point

You've encountered them at every concert: The Chatty Cathie, The Beer Whoo Crew, The Unauthorized T-Shirt Guy, The Other Lead Singer, and of course the dreaded Makeout Couple. As much a part of any concert as the band itself, these prototypical concert goers shape our concert experiences. Steve Weinberger, extreme concert goer and author of No Air Guitar Allowed, knows this better than anyone, having attended over 1,000 concerts and counting. He has been interviewed on countless radio stations across the country and on national television.

Freddie Mercury did it. Hormone-addled adolescents do it. Grown men do it in the privacy of their own homes (and, sometimes, in dark public gatherings)—and now you, too, can take your first step toward becoming a master axeman. All you need to know is here: Dos and don'ts (and even accessories—from how to choose the "axe" that's best for you, to onstage tips) A user's guide to the key air guitar moves, and more—graded by difficulty, from learner to master axeman level. 50 fret-fondling favorites to play—plus ten to avoid at all costs... REMEMBER, IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO START STRUMMING. ALL YOU NEED IS A COPY OF THIS BOOK, AND A BELIEF IN THE POWER OF ROCK!

A hilarious illustrated book for adults, the authors document not only the history and health benefits of air guitar, but also teach readers how they can become rock legends in only four easy lessons.

Forty beautiful Celtic melodies arranged for solo fingerstyle guitar. All the songs are arranged to be easily playable. Most of the songs are in standard tuning plus there is an additional section in DADGAD tuning. A CD is included featuring all the songs.

New York Times bestselling author Allen St. John started off looking for the world’s greatest guitar, but what he found instead was the world’s greatest guitar builder. Living and working in Rugby, Virginia (population 7), retired rural mail carrier Wayne Henderson is a true American original, making America's finest instruments using little more than a pile of good wood and a sharp whittling knife. There's a 10-year waiting list for Henderson's heirloom acoustic guitars—and even a musical legend like Eric Clapton must wait his turn. Partly out of self-interest, St. John prods Henderson into finally building Clapton's guitar, and soon we get to pull up a dusty stool and watch this Stradivari in glue-stained blue jeans work his magic. The story that ensues will captivate you with its portrait of a world where craftsmanship counts more than commerce, and time is measured by old jokes, old-time music, and homemade lemon pies shared by good friends.

Embrace your inner air guitarist, with the help of one of Britain's leading cartoonists. Have you been searching all your life for a hobby you can start today and be good at instantly? Well, here it is! With the help of award-winning cartoonist Steven Appleby, you can change your life for the better! In just a few moments you could be standing in front of your bathroom mirror playing a real air guitar of your very own! It's all here in Better Living Through Air Guitar: the fancy moves, the cool facial expressions, the lingo, the equipment, the obscure technical details you'll even learn other air instruments, like bass, keyboards, and violin. With all of these great things happening in your life, your whole outlook will change and you'll be feeling on top of the world! So what are you waiting for? Let's rock!