B&W PUBLISHING (dist. by Interlink)
Dead Weird (May, $15) by Jim Hewitson examines how we have dealt with death through time, including traditions, premature burials and raising the dead.
BALLANTINE
The Passionate Olive: 101 Things to Do with Olive Oil (Apr., $17.95) by Carol Firenze. In addition to its cooking use, olive oil functions as a beauty aid, a cleaning and polishing agent, and a balm for cuts, blisters and sunburn.
BLACK DOG & LEVENTHAL
Bloom's Bouquet of Imaginary Words: Change One Letter and Grow a Whole New Word! (Mar., $12.95) by Jeffrey and Carole Bloom shows how to create new words with fun new meanings, i.e., destination to dustination: a place where dust goes.
FREE PRESS
Expletive Deleted: A $@! Guide to Smart Swearing (July, $18) by Ruth Wajnryb. A linguist offers a provocative glimpse into our fascination with curse words. Ad/promo. Author publicity.
GOTHAM BOOKS
Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme (July, $20) by Chris Roberts reveals the seamy and quirky stories behind our favorite nursery rhymes. Author tour.
HARPERRESOURCE
The World's Worsts: A Compendium of the Most Ridiculous Feats, Facts, & Fools of All Time (May, $14.95) by Les Krantz identifies everything from the worst generals to the shortest Hollywood marriages.
INFORMATION TODAY INC.
Theories of Information Behavior (May, $49.50) by Sanda Erdelez, Karen Fisher and Lynne (E.F.) McKechnie evaluates how people need, seek, manage, give and use information in different contexts.
MERCURY BOOKS
Historical Atlas of the Islamic World (Mar., $25) by David Nicolle examines the religion's long and dynamic history.
W.W. NORTON
Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior (Apr., $35) by Judith Martin. This updated guide to etiquette explains how to navigate in the new millennium. 11-city author tour. Radio satellite tour.
PANTHEON
Armed Gunmen, True Facts, and Other Ridiculous Nonsense: A Compiled Compendium of Repetitive Redundancies (Aug., $15.95) by Richard Kallan offers a humorous and irreverent look at our tautological use of the English language. Advertising.
ROBSON BOOKS (dist. by Trafalgar Square)
The Companion Series: The Cook's Companion (Mar.) and
The Moviegoer's Companion (Apr., both $15) are filled with quirky facts and useful trivia.
RUTLEDGE HILL PRESS
Casual Lex (May, $14.99) by Webb Garrison is a lexicon of word meanings and origins.
SAGE REFERENCE
Encyclopedia of African American Society (Mar., $250), edited by Gerald D. Jaynes. This two-volume reference looks at the tenets and foundations of African-American culture.
SOURCEBOOKS
Between You and I: A Little Book of Bad English (Mar., $11.95) by James Cochrane is filled with incorrect grammar and usage that often pervades news broadcasts, newspaper articles and political speeches. 25,000 first printing.
SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA
The Bridesmaid Handbook (Mar., $10.95) by Sharon Naylor explains how to be a great bridesmaid by anticipating the bride's wishes and needs. Author publicity.
