Encyclopedia of Bad Taste

From Publishers Weekly
Lava lamps, Hawaiian shirts, accordion music and outlandish performer Charo are among the kitschy or lowbrow people, places and things affectionately featured in this entertaining, colorful reference book. Illustrated. $50,000 ad/promo. (Oct.)no PW revCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Pop culture mavens and authors of 15 books, including Elvis World ( LJ 10/1/87) and Sixties People ( LJ 1/90), the Sterns have assembled a directory of American "ersatz culture" that would make Roseanne Barr proud. Their goal is, "to catalogue bad taste, define the standard masterworks, and inaugurate the annals of the world's favorite faux pas." With entries running the gamut from Chippendale dancers, Tammy Faye Bakker, and the jogging suit to Jello, nose jobs, and tattoos, the result is a somewhat humorous and whimsical volume that celebrates lowbrow culture more than berates it. This encyclopedia offers trivial information aplenty, most of it from secondary sources: the origins of bowling, the invention of the Lava Lite. It might make a good gift item, but as a library reference purchase it is not recommended. Perhaps for pop culture or humor collections.- David Nudo, New YorkCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.


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Pop culture mavens and authors of 15 books, including Elvis World ( LJ 10/1/87) and Sixties People ( LJ 1/90), the Sterns have assembled a directory of American ``ersatz culture'' that would make Roseanne Barr proud. Their goal is, ``to catalogue bad taste, define the standard masterworks, and inaugurate the annals of the world's favorite faux pas.'' With entries running the gamut from Chippendale dancers, Tammy Faye Bakker, and the jogging suit to Jello, nose jobs, and tattoos, the result is a somewhat humorous and whimsical volume that celebrates lowbrow culture more than berates it. This encyclopedia offers trivial information aplenty, most of it from secondary sources: the origins of bowling, the invention of the Lava Lite. It might make a good gift item, but as a library reference purchase it is not recommended. Perhaps for pop culture or humor collections.-- David Nudo, New York


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