As Real As It Gets

Michael Staack’s multi-year ethnography is the first and only comprehensive social-scientific analysis of the combat sport ‘Mixed Martial Arts’. Based on systematic training observations, the author meticulously analyses how Mixed Martial Arts practitioners conjointly create and immerse themselves into their own world of ultimate bodily combat. With his examination of concentrative technique demonstrations, cooperative technique train-ings, and chaotic sparring practices, Staack not only provides a sociological illumination of Mixed Martial Arts culture’s defining theme – the quest of ‘Fighting As Real As It Gets’. Rather further-more, he provides a compelling cultural-sociological case study on practical social constructions of ‘authenticity’.

She can uncover the biggest celebrity secrets. But now Maya Morgan's hottest story ever is way too up-close-and-personal . . . For once, everything in Maya's life is falling perfectly into place. She's getting serious media cred uncovering the source of a new designer drug doing major glitterati damage. And the new man in her life is giving Maya all the cool bling and attention she craves off-camera. But the truth behind her scoop is about to cut too close to home--and put Maya and her family in the crosshairs. Soon, she'll have to decide just how far she can afford to go to save her family, her career. . .and herself. "Sit up and pay attention--Maya Morgan will knock your socks off." --Earl Sewell, author of The Keysha Diaries "Scandal and mouth dropping entertainment!" --Ni-Ni Simone

San Francisco General Hospital has been the epicenter of the AIDS crisis from the start, and is for author Carol Pogash the perfect microcosm for reporting one of the great stories of this generation. With a novelist's eye she follows a memorable cast of characters, illuminating every political, social, or human dilemma in this tragedy.