Panati's Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias: The Origins of Our Most Cherished Obsessions

As a theatre director, this has been an amazing tool for creating worlds set in these decades.

A rundown on some fads, mainly of the twentieth century, although some allude back to more simpler times. Covers fads from the discovery of King Tut's tomb to telephone stuffing, hunkerin' and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, although some "fads" are stretching the idea of popularity; Was the song "The Monkey Time" by Major Lance really considered to have been so popular it spawned a mania?

The highlight, of course, is the section on "Yes, We Have No Bananas".

Contemporary History