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Shock Value: A Tasteful Book about Bad Taste [Paperback]

John K. Waters (Author)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews) |

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Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste 4.2 out of 5 stars (9)
$13.87

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Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995

Softcover Book

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Softcover Book

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Product Details

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press; 2 edition (September 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1560250925
ISBN-13: 978-1560250920
Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,181,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's John Waters Page

John Waters is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, and visual artist best known for his cult films, including Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, and Cecil B. DeMented. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Customer Reviews

10 Reviews

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4 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiration, March 15, 2000

tracy heightchew (louisville, ky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shock Value: A Tasteful Book about Bad Taste (Paperback)

I finished Shock Value only moments ago, and i feel like i should go to baltimore and fall on my knees worshipping Waters and the crew. i thought i was weird...This book focuses on the early years and has truly inspired me to raise myself above the boring muck of semiconformist existence. READ IT

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Waters rules, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shock Value: A Tasteful Book about Bad Taste (Paperback)

I read this book in its french translation "Provocation" and it's one of the best I've ever read in the genre. It's funny, clever, sincere. I'm a big fan of Big John's work but reading this, I've discovered he was not only the king of bad taste but also a very moving person who's faithful in friendship and in his ideas. I can only recommend this maserpiece to anybody who's open-minded and wants to discover one of the most brilliant filmmaker of his generation.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gimme Trash or Gimme Death!!, August 6, 1998

William Akers (Tromites@aol.com) (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shock Value: A Tasteful Book about Bad Taste (Paperback)

John Waters, the man behind some of the trashiest, funniest, and most glamourous films in America's history has written a book about the making of his "American comedies." Filled with humourous anecdotes, the rantings of a madman, and everything you ever wanted to know about Divine (But were afraid to ask) is contained in Shock Value, the best book about filth that has ever been written. Pick it up today and shower yourself in the fabulousness of Trash Culture!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I Couldn't Stop Laughing
This book was without a doubt the funniest book I've ever read. Naturally, readers familiar with his movies will get the most out of this book, but there's a lot in there even for... Read more

Published on June 18, 2003 by G. Paula

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, distasteful, nauseating and fun!
This book is impossible to describe in one word. It's no surprise that Water's life is funnier, and more bizare then any of his films can ever hope to be. Read more

Published on June 4, 2002 by Rory

4.0 out of 5 stars very very funny
Out of maybe a few hundred, this is probably the funniest book I have ever read. I remember reading it late at night in my parents house, trying to stifle my laughter so I... Read more

Published on November 29, 2001 by tierny

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriquing look at Waters' life and career
Shock Value is like Waters' autobiography, mainly focused on his film career. There are only two chapters about his childhood. Read more

Published on September 17, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Waters proves that he is one of the funniest men alive
This book is an excellent insiders view on how some of the wierdest movies in history were made. Waters' takes us directly into his mind and doesn't let us leave. Read more

Published on December 27, 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars "Shock Value" is a wonderful read!

Even if you're not a fan of John Waters' films, I don't think you could put down this fascinating book once you've started reading it. Read more

Published on December 1, 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've ever dreamed of living in the gutter
If you've ever dreamed of living in the gutter or once did and wish to return. Don't make the voyage until you're completely sure of what lurks there. Read more

Published on March 14, 1997

› See all 10 customer reviews...

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
To me, bad taste is what entertainment is all about. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
filthiest people, gore film, female trouble, full drag

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Pink Flamingos, David Lochary, New Line Cinema, Multiple Maniacs, San Francisco, John Waters, Mink Stole, Mary Vivian Pearce, Edith Massey, Pat Moran, Mondo Trasho, Susan Lowe, Russ Meyer, Cookie Mueller, Blood Feast, Lawrence Irvine, Liz Renay, Van Smith, Los Angeles, Eat Your Makeup, Queen Carlotta, Mary Avara, Steve Yeager, Baltimore Sun

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Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 10 books:

Blood Feast by Herschell G. Lewis on page 202, page 203, and page 204
Citizen Kane (Screenplay) by Orson Welles on page 192
Two Thousand Maniacs by Herschell G. Lewis on page 202
Happy Birthday! (Candle Time) by Denise M. Jordan on page 36
Garden of Ashes (Hanuman, Book No. 34) by Cookie Mueller in Front Matter

See all 10 books this book cites

7 books cite this book:

Tendencies (Series Q) by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick on page 224, and Back Matter
The Spectacle Of Isolation In Horror Films: Dark Parades (Haworth Popular Culture) by Carl Royer on page 17, and Back Matter
Bodies out of Bounds: Fatness and Transgression by Jana Evans Braziel on page 325, and page 312
Carnival Culture: The Trashing of Taste in America by James B. Twitchell in Back Matter
Shooting Stars: Drugs, Hollywood and the Movies by Harry Shapiro in Back Matter

See all 7 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia by Mr Skin

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