What a fun collection! Clearly I live in a world of bad taste because most of this was familiar to me. Although, I'm not sure that the Encyclopedia of Bad Taste is the best title for this book. Many of the items were very fashionable to start with, but then they caught on with the masses and were not cool for the rich anymore. It is really just a great peek into pop culture of the 20th Century. I was born in 1965 and got married in 1987, so this book that was published in 1990 was right in my wheelhouse - I remember many of the items very fondly!

I will say there is some nudity in the book, which I did not expect, so beware for the younguns. Primarily it is boobs (most notably those of Chesty Morgan). There is one photo of a couple of nudists but either the man's privates have been hidden or there is just too much hair!

Overall, the book is great. Like another reviewer said, it would be good to see an update. For instance, tattoos are shown as being in bad taste and for the fringes of society, but nowadays everyone has a tattoo! ( )

Retrospect of the evolution of tacky Americana as lived during the 1970s. Argues that bad taste (Cool Whip, Fuzzy Dice, Shag Rugs Leisure Suits, et. al.) adds spice to our boring lives. Attempts to weave theories of aesthetics into a wider discussion on fashion trends. ( )

This book is a stitch and includes everything from Liberace to Lay-Z-Boy recliners. I wish the author would bring out a more up-to-date version. ( )

this has got to be one of my all time favorite books!!! Deliciously cringe-worthy but oh so familiar! ( )

As with The Gallery of Regrettable Food, I have to admit a certain guilty pleasure in some of The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste, but on the whole....(shudder).