Too Cool

by Gene Sculatti (Editor), Dick Blackburn (Contributor), Bob Merlis (Contributor)

All new, from the creators of The Catalog of Cool.

An in-depth guide to the most out-of-sight movies, music, books, TV characters and creations. The real rap on hundreds of items of enduring bossness, complete with product information and shopping leads.

218 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[James Hutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2003, an Amazon search revealed that Gene Sculatti wrote a sequel to his life-affirming "Catalog of Cool" in 1993. Much like the predecessor, "Two Cool" made me realize that my tastes and interests were not so strange, just a little more refined and esoteric than the masses.

Bonus points for including a chapter on Pittsburgh. A musical home away from home, I spent much time there in the 1990's sharing bills with The Clarks. I discovered a city that is ethnic and blue collar by nature, and very receptive to unpretentious Rock 'n' Roll, even when it is not trendy.

[Phil Overeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find it and its companion volume The Catalog of Cool and put 'em right next to the commode, brothers and sisters. Sculatti's rounded up some seriously hip editors to address coolness in everything from books (I've yet to read anything either book's suggested volumes that's let me down--and they suggest much that's under the radar and out of print) to music to sunglasses to cosmetics to drinks to food to even cities (Pittsburgh!). Things is, their definition of cool is staunchly rooted in (though not always limited to) the post-WWII-to-Highway 61 Revisited explosion of creativity and vision and rebellion that lit up U. S. culture. Hard to explain, but both books are well, well, well worth the $2 you'll pay. Check out their website first, then get your copies from half.com or Amazon Marketplace.

Obviously, though, the sections on books (including sci-fi and comics) make 'em very relevant to GoodReads.

And where else are you gonna find Swamp Dogg's favorite recipes? And they're doozies.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

[FIRST READING: * * * Fun--but the happenin' now with-it badinage barrage did pall after a while. Sort of like your eardrum distending and numbing out after a concert. And their pick of TV was pretty lame--although at least they did mention Honey West. And Julie Newmar made it in twice.]