Popular Culture

A one-of-a-kind illustrated tribute to the joys and history of the cigar—and the good life.

For some, nothing is as pleasurable as the smell and taste of a great cigar. For them, Playboy The Book of Cigars will be the next best thing to lighting up. Whether you want to learn the finer points of cutters, cutting, or humidors, or want to understand more about how fine tobacco is grown and fine cigars rolled, it’s all here for you. Learn why Cuban cigars are so sought-after, what fine cigars from the Dominican Republic and Honduras have to offer, and whether cigars from Cameroon and the Canary Islands are worth your time.

With a foreword by artist and bon vivant LeRoy Neiman and an afterword by award-winning actor Joe Mantegna, there is more than a touch of the good life here. Sprinkled with photographs from around the world, enlivened by sexy Playboy beauties, and featuring illustrated images of celebrities by Risko, there has never been a cigar book offering more of the good life than Playboy The Book of Cigars. It’s the perfect book to keep next to your humidor. 163 color photographs and 22 black-and-white illustrations

"Still Searching for Pipe Dreams" is the second in a series following Rick Newcombe's first book, the best-selling "In Search of Pipe Dreams."

Why would anyone still smoke a pipe in the 21st century when all forms of smoking are being banned around the world? Why are so many young people drawn to pipe collecting and artistic pipe making with such intensity and passion, and why are pipe shows suddenly sold out, with waiting lists for tables? These young pipe enthusiasts are from America, Germany, Russia, Japan, China, Italy, Denmark and all over the world.

Unlike mass-marketed cigarettes, pipe smoking has a rich tradition that goes back many centuries, and the author predicts it is the only form of smoking that will last many centuries into the future. He contends that moderate pipe smoking, without inhaling, promotes relaxation and clear thinking, and it serves as an ideal antidote to stress that is much safer than the tranquilizers that are so freely dispensed today.

Unlike cigar and cigarette smokers, pipe collectors actually save their pipes. They clean and polish them and put them in racks or display cabinets. If they are broken, they have them repaired. Most pipe smokers remember when they bought each pipe in their collection, and every time they take a pipe out, it is a reminder of the past, to be enjoyed in the present, for many years into the future.

This book also is inspiring because of Rick Newcombe's enthusiasm and optimism, which shine through in every chapter and make it a fast-paced and enjoyable read.

For cigar-lovers who dream of becoming an instant cigar aficionado, you are in the right place! The information in this book has the ability to rapidly transform your entire cigar smoking game. Inside these pages, you will learn all that you need to know about the history, construction, selection, use, preservation and enjoyment of cigars to claim genuine cigar aficionado status. Among the many secrets revealed for the first time, you will discover: * How to choose the best cigar accessories that not only enhance your smoking enjoyment but also your image * The easiest way to obtain Cuban cigars without violating the law * How to increase taste and flavor by properly cutting, lighting and burning your cigars * How to choose a single that will satisfy you completely * How to acquire the sophisticated cigar etiquette of a connoisseur and impress your friends and colleagues * The best way to select a cigar gift that’s a hit with a new smoker * What it takes to ‘smoke out’ fake Cuban cigars * The secrets of storing and aging cigars for optimal flavor and quality … and much, much more. Every cigar aficionado knows that the maximum enjoyment of cigar smoking depends on getting the details right. This book gives you the tips and tricks you need to make each and every cigar smoking experience truly memorable. As you apply what you learn, you will be telegraphing your newfound cigar aficionado status to everyone in your world. Scroll up ... and click on "Add to Cart" to order this book now. This book is also available in the Kindle edition. Scroll up and click on "Read it now on this PC" to deliver the ebook almost instantly to your PC, Kindle or other reading device.

The road to true pipe smoking pleasure is neither long nor hard. A good pipe properly filled with carefully selected tobaccos, and smoked with care and skill, will reward its owner with unmatched taste and aroma. The pipe smoker never seeks stimulation through inhaling. On the contrary, the very act of lighting the pipe and smoking it will take his mind off his troubles and induce a relaxed frame of mind. The sole purpose of this book is to help the smoker achieve these rare moments of serenity, which are increasingly hard to come by in the accelerating pace of the modern world.

Selected from the vast archives of the Walt Disney Company, this historic collection includes handwritten letters and notes of Walt's, rare character sketches from the 1930's and 1940's, replicas of Disneyland's opening-day tickets, photos, movie theater programs, comic strips, greeting cards, commissary menus, and other treasures, reproduced in facsimile form. Many of these special features are designed to be removable so readers can touch and hold masterfully reproduced bits of history. In addition, the book comes with a 60-minute CD that features previously unheard audio of Walt Disney , radio commercials from the 1950s, and never-before-released sound tracks from the parks' most popular attraction.