In Search of the New Age: A Humorous Look at an Emerging Culture

Intended to be a funny, irreverent guide to the products, services, activities, philosophies and personalities of New Age culture, Kilham's work elicits a few smiles and an occasional giggle, but mostly groans. The author of Stalking the Wild Orgasm has a brand of humor that tends to be heavy-handed (``Beyond Firewalking: Huna Lava Surfing,'' ``Hypocrite's Health Spa,'' ``Tibetan Boozism: Out on a Binge''), scatological (``Reverend Flung Dung Loon and the Loonies,'' ``Crystal Enemas: Light Up the Darkness!,'' ``Sacred Feces'') and sophomoric (a list of herbal products includes Long Dong Wow, a restorative for men, the diuretic Pee Man Cok and Toe Jamm Goo, a salve for athlete's foot). Many of his targets are dated (``Wormer Airhead and the Airhead Seminar Training AST,'' ``I'm O.K. but You're Not''), and he misses the mark entirely on others (``acupuncher'' as delivered by Dr. Sugar Ray Chang is a ``blinding fast roundhouse to the temple . . . especially good for anesthesia''). Illustrated. $75,000 ad/promo; author tour. (June)