From Citizen Hughes: In His Own Words, How Howard Hughes Tried To Buy America, by Michael Drosnin. The book details the recluse years of Hughes, when the billionaire was holed-up in a Las Vegas casino penthouse suite, refusing to wear clothes and fearful of germs. Drosnin gained access to several footlockers containing handwritten memos by Hughes that were stolen from the Hughes Corporation after the eccentric's death. The world's richest man and his crippling OCD results in a story stranger than fiction. The passage below details Hughes' instructions on how to prepare a can of fruit.

Posted by damnintellectuals at 4:33 PM PDT

Updated: March 17, 2014 2:14 PM PDT

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Introduction of Ringolevio (by Emmett Grogan). The book is dedicated to Albie Baker. I admit that I never played Ringolevio but I have the sense to wish I did. More about Ringolevio and Emmett Grogan.

Posted by damnintellectuals at 11:25 PM PDT

Updated: August 16, 2011 11:35 PM PDT

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John Wesley Hardin, Texan who once killed a man because he was snoring. A ruthless killer, his autobiography is unflinching in its pride. In the following, Hardin uses the alias name of Swain. 

Posted by damnintellectuals at 7:28 PM PDT

Updated: March 17, 2014 2:24 PM PDT

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Trout Fishing In America by Richard Brautigan. The following paragraph from the chapter "Trout Fishing In America Terrorists" which tells the story of 6th graders using chalk to write "Trout Fishing In America" on the backs of the entire 1st grade class.

Posted by damnintellectuals at 12:39 AM PDT

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From Native Funk and Fashion (1974) by Jacopetti and Wainwright. Is this the height of embroidery?

Posted by damnintellectuals at 12:05 AM PDT

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Finally managed to get a 1st edition of my favorite Kerouac novel, Desolation Angels. Kerouac's humor is often missed - surprisingly, Matt Dillon did a fantastic job with the audio version of On The Road, where he  captures Kerouac's joy and wit.

Fun times with Richard de Chili from Desolation Angels:

Posted by damnintellectuals at 8:04 PM PDT

Updated: July 25, 2009 9:07 PM PDT

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From Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me by Richard Farina. The guy certainly knew how to set a scene. He was also a succesful folk musician.

Posted by damnintellectuals at 10:51 PM PDT

Updated: May 10, 2009 6:37 PM PDT

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From Living With A Black Dog by Matthew Johnson. Winston Churchill used the term "black dog" to describe his bouts of depression.

Johnson's book is not a self-help book but rather a "visual articulation of what it is like to suffer from depression."

Posted by damnintellectuals at 10:15 AM PDT

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From Verdict!: the exclusive picture story of the trial of the chicago 8, drawings by Verna Saddock.

Posted by damnintellectuals at 12:42 AM PST

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For the famed horror movie actor Vincent Price, art was a major passion. Not so much as an artist but as an art collector and connoisseur. His autobiography is essentially about his love affair with art. Saving his pennies, Price bought his first piece of artwork at the age of 12 - an etching by Rembrandt. Below is a signed copy of his 1959 autobiography "I Like What I Know".

Posted by damnintellectuals at 1:59 AM PST

Updated: February 4, 2009 2:17 AM PST

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