Breaking Bad

One of the most critically acclaimed series ever produced, Breaking Bad won legions of avid viewers who debated its every nuance as they followed the story of how terminally ill high-school teacher Walter White becomes a criminal-mastermind drug kingpin. This one-of-a-kind volume-adapted and expanded from the interactive e-book Breaking Bad: Alchemy-is the only official guide to the show. It covers the evolution of Breaking Bad from the pilot to the final episode and beyond, and highlights the unique elements that made the series so magnetic. It's filled with insider secrets about the making of the show and the meanings behind its iconography, as well a complete series timeline, exclusive interviews with creator Vince Gilligan, and a new introduction from noted film critic David Thomson. In addition to exploring how this epic came to be, Thomson sets Breaking Bad in the context of both crime literature and long-form television.Illustrated with more than 300 images and insightful captions by Thomson, this must-have volume offers the most thorough look at Breaking Bad, which Thompson believes is not only a great TV show (winning 108 industry awards and nominated for 260) but one of the most significant works of fiction in the new century.

“If you’ve been going through withdrawal since ‘Breaking Bad’ ended its TV run in 2013, here’s a way to get a quick fix. ‘Breaking Bad: The Official Book’ (Sterling, $19.95) is the ultimate fans’ guide featuring a complete episode breakdown, hundreds of photos from the series and on the set, an extensive interview with showrunner Vince Gilligan, trivia (the Bad Chemistry Quiz offers posers like ‘How many bodies have we seen dissolved in acid on screen?’) and more.             The book, edited by film critic David Thomson, is broken down into seven chapters, starting with ‘Elements Timeline,’ which summarizes all five seasons of the show. ‘Breaking Down Breaking Bad’ takes a more analytic look at the series, including some of the show’s influences, such as Brian De Palma’s ‘Scarface.’ And ‘Crystal Clear’ is a visual treat that spotlights the show’s striking cinematography.             There are also interviews with producers, a listing of the show’s awards and nominations, interviews with the people who made all that ‘Bad’ music and many more Eureka moments.” —Newsday, “If you’ve been going through withdrawal since ‘Breaking Bad’ ended its TV run in 2013, here’s a way to get a quick fix. ‘Breaking Bad: The Official Book’ (Sterling, $19.95) is the ultimate fans’ guide featuring a complete episode breakdown, hundreds of photos from the series and on the set, an extensive interview with showrunner Vince Gilligan, trivia (the Bad Chemistry Quiz offers posers like ‘How many bodies have we seen dissolved in acid on screen?’) and more.             The book, edited by film critic David Thomson, is broken down into seven chapters, starting with ‘Elements Timeline,’ which summarizes all five seasons of the show. ‘Breaking Down Breaking Bad’ takes a more analytic look at the series, including some of the show’s influences, such as Brian De Palma’s ‘Scarface.’ And ‘Crystal Clear’ is a visual treat that spotlights the show’s striking cinematography.             There are also interviews with producers, a listing of the show’s awards and nominations, interviews with the people who made all that ‘Bad’ music and many more Eureka moments.” —Newsday

Considered one of the foremost film writers of our time, David Thomson is a highly sought-after speaker on film criticism and the history of Hollywood. He is the author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (Knopf, now in its sixth edition) and Hollywood: A Celebration, among other works. In early 2011, the New Republic named the London-born Thomson as a columnist for its new online section, "At the Movies." He is also a contributor to the New York Times, Film Comment, Movieline, and Saloncom.