Vampires are the hottest topic in popular culture today. From the now classic novels of Anne Rice, to the mega- selling series by Stephanie Meyer to the hit HBO series ?True Blood? based on the bestselling novels of Charlaine Harris, the undead are certainly not dead in terms of books sales. Now, those curious about the history and lore of these creatures can get up to speed in the refreshed edition of The Complete Idiot?s Guide to Vampires. It provides a detailed explanation of the origins of vampires and insight into the fascination they hold in literature and belief. --Complete history and origins of this mythic creature --An explanation of the various rules that vampires exist by --A lively and exhaustive literary discussion of vampires and their importance in fiction

Make no myth-take-this book is indispensable. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology explores the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, monsters and angels of the myths from every corner of the globe. Additionally, it explores the parallels between every culture and the striking similarities in mythic figures and the structure, action, wording, and result of the stories themselves. * Covers Egyptian, Celtic, Teutonic, Norse, Japanese, Mexican, Native American, and other myths * Features information on The Hero's Journey-the cycle of myth according to Jung, Campbell, and others * Appendixes include a glossary of terms and both a general and a subject Index

The "New Vampire" . . . The Complete Idiot's Guides® have explored the world of vampires, werewolves, the paranormal, and now the latest book in the "creepy" series is The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Zombies. This book brings the world of zombies chillingly to life—in a manner of speaking—covering everything readers need to know about them. The book includes: • The voodoo zombie, the viral zombie, and the whole zombie family. • What zombies and the delicious fear of them say about human psychology. • Zombies in American culture: in film, from the Romero classics to the Living Dead flicks that are so bad they're good, and in fiction, video games, comics, and more! • The zombie survival phenomenon—of course they're not real, but that doesn't stop people from having loads of fun pretending they are.

The dictionary defines mythology as a collection of ancient tales handed down over millennia, mainly dealing with gods and goddesses, that explains the way the world works, from natural events to society at large. Many people think of the deities of Greece and Rome when they think of mythology, forgetting that almost every culture has its own set of myths to interpret and explain its distinct worldview, often showing striking and fascinating similarities to the classical myths most people are familiar with. The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythologyexplores the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, monsters and angels of the myths from every corner of the globe - the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, Asia, and more. Additionally, it explores the parallels between every culture, including Greece and Rome - striking similarities in mythic figures and the structure, action, wording, and result of the stories themselves.

Graphic novel guidance from two experts in the field. Here is a clear, beginning-to-end guide to creating a graphic novel, from developing a concept to getting it to readers. Heavily illustrated, this book explains the tools used, demonstrates techniques, and offers tricks of the trade. Writers and illustrators alike will find it the best overall introduction to the world of graphic novels. ?New edition features a larger format with expanded illustrations. ?Publishers Weekly reports graphic novel sales in the U.S. and Canada at $375 million in 2007, quintuple sales from 2001, while in 2008, United Press International reports, graphic novel business is booming. ?Well-known author in the graphic novel community, both Eisner Award nominees

Indianapolis Monthly is the Circle City’s essential chronicle and guide, an indispensable authority on what’s new and what’s news. Through coverage of politics, crime, dining, style, business, sports, and arts and entertainment, each issue offers compelling narrative stories and lively, urbane coverage of Indy’s cultural landscape.

Offers clues to deciphering popular mysteries, puzzles, and myths, including UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, Lizzie Borden, and the Sam Sheppard trial.

Offers advice on identifying the verbal bullies in one's life, determining the difference between abuse and "kidding around," turning negative comments to one's advantage, and delivering verbal defense appropriately and confidently

No longer the no-holds-barred blood sport that garnered the "human cockfighting" label from Senator John McCain, today's regulated and televised version of mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the fastest growing professional sports in the United States. And co-author Rich Franklin is arguably its biggest star. In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ultimate Fighting, a three-time UFC Middleweight champion and star of Spike TV's reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, Rich Franklin, along with co-author Jon Merz, introduces new fans to the world of mixed martial arts and give them an introductory primer on the basic techniques used in the sport.

Do you ever think you’re the only one making any sense? Or tried to reason with your partner with disastrous results? Do long, rambling answers drive you crazy? Or does your colleague’s abrasive manner rub you the wrong way? You are not alone. After a disastrous meeting with a highly successful entrepreneur, who was genuinely convinced he was ‘surrounded by idiots’, communication expert and bestselling author, Thomas Erikson dedicated himself to understanding how people function and why we often struggle to connect with certain types of people. Surrounded by Idiots is an international phenomenon, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It offers a simple, yet ground-breaking method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with – in and out of the office – based on four personality types (Red, Blue, Green and Yellow), and provides insights into how we can adjust the way we speak and share information. Erikson will help you understand yourself better, hone communication and social skills, handle conflict with confidence, improve dynamics with your boss and team, and get the best out of the people you deal with and manage. He also shares simple tricks on body language, improving written communication, advice on when to back away or when to push on, and when to speak up or shut up. Packed with ‘aha!’ and ‘oh no!’ moments, Surrounded by Idiots will help you understand and communicate with those around you, even people you currently think are beyond all comprehension. And with a bit of luck you can also be confident that the idiot out there isn’t you!