Cigar Asphyxianado [Paperback]

Eric Spitznagel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

Everybody is lighting up these days. From personalities like Schwarzenegger and Madonna to Cosby and Castro, people from all walks of life are enjoying the richness and pleasure from a good stogie. As cigar smoking becomes one of the hottest cultural trends of the 1990s, one publication continues to report from the very center of this phenomenon as it chronicles its every move -- Cigar Aficionado. Now, this hilarious parody -- "Cigar Asphyxianado" -- takes dead aim at the snobbery and arrogance of the "above" average cigar smoker. From draw strengths to smooth nutty finishes, "Cigar Asphyxianado" teaches readers how to maximize the pleasures of a good cigar without losing its tongue-in-cheek wit.

In the tradition of the bestselling Is Martha Stuart Living? comes this hilarious parody of the stylized monthly magazine devoted to the pleasures of cigars and the chic lifestyle of the cigar smoker.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It might almost be argued that the cigar lifestyle magazines that Eric Spitznagel so perfectly parodies are already beyond a joke, but Cigar Asphyxianado manages to get a lot of laughs out of a very bad habit. Describing itself as "Not the best magazine on cigars, but certainly the most pretentious," this book touches every base--from the cigar-toting celebrity cover-shot (Fidel Castro) to the ads that promise that "Size Does Matter." And for the tobacco tyro, there are even instructions on how to light your favorite stogie:

Angle the cigar 25 degrees below horizontal and hold the flame exactly 1/3" below the foot. Rotate the cigar under the flame, alternating between clockwise and couterclockwise, allowing 23 seconds for the clockwise rotations and 29 seconds for the counterclockwise, while puffing the cigar every two to four minutes (depending on the room temperature). Continue this process for 43 minutes.

This book will probably prevent Eric Spitznagel from ever visiting Cuba, and people who actually buy magazines about cigars may not get the joke, but for everyone else, Cigar Asphyxianado is a lot of fun. --Simon Leake

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446674095
• ISBN-13: 978-0446674096
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,674,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Spitznagel has written for dozens of magazines, most of them glossy and filled with pictures of celebrities with white teeth and flawless skin. His words have appeared in Playboy, Esquire, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, among many others. He's a contributing editor for The Believer and the author of six books, including one that was translated into German and features a cat on the cover for no apparent reason. His latest book is called Fast Forward, a memoir of his (thankfully) brief career as a screenwriter for adult movies. He's also the editor of the upcoming Vintage book You're a Horrible Person (But I Like You), which features terrible life advice from the likes of Sarah Silverman, Judd Apatow and Zach Galifianakis. He has one more testicle than Hitler, which he considers a moral victory.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A clever, humorous parody on the cigar craze, October 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cigar Asphyxianado (Paperback)

Mr. Spitznagel has allowed us to laugh at ourselves with his irreverant parody aimed at the cigar craze of the '90's and at the Cigar Aficinado magazine. I think Mr.Shanken, the author of the Cigar Aficinado and Wine Spectator magazines ( I subscribe to both ), should be flattered by this book. It allows us to laugh at ourselves and is wonderfully written and illustrated. I have given it as a gift to many friends along with the magazine........but it's getting difficult to find so I would recommend you get them now for Xmas gifts.