Larger Than Life

This nostalgic, fully-illustrated history of boy bands -- written by culture critic and boy band stan Maria Sherman -- is a must-have for diehard fans of the genre and beyond. The music, the fans, the choreography, the clothes, the merch, the hair. Long after Beatlemania came and went, a new, unstoppable era of the boy band emerged, fueled by good looks and even greater hooks.

The pop phenomenon that dominated the 1990s and 2000s has left a long-lasting mark on culture, and it's time we celebrate it. Written by a super fan -- pop culture journalist Maria Sherman -- for super fans, Larger than Life is the definitive guide to boy bands, with a mix of serious fandom and a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Larger the Life begins with a brief history of male vocal groups, touching on The Beatles, the Jackson 5, and Menudo before diving into the building blocks of these beloved acts in "Boy Bands 101.

" Sherman then moves on the heart of the book -- which focuses on bands like New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and One Direction, before ending with the ongoing K-pop explosion and what's next for boy bands. Included throughout are Tiger Beat-inspired illustrations, capsule histories of the swoon-iest groups, in-depth investigations into one hit wonders, and sidebars dedicated to conspiracy theories, dating, in-fighting, haters, fan fiction, fashion (Justin and Britney in denim, of course) and so much more. Informative, intelligent, funny, and never, ever fan-shaming, Larger Than Life is the first and only text of its kind -- the ultimate celebration of boy bands and proof that this once maligned music can never go under-appreciated.