An all-time favorite, right here.

I love all of Ruscha’s artist books but this one stands out.

It consists of black and white stills from a film based on Mason William’s essay How To Derive The Maximum Enjoyment from Eating Crackers in Bed.

The essay details absurd instructions on how a man should best enjoy crackers. The story includes preparing a giant salad for his date, encouraging her to climb into the salad, and then leaving to enjoy saltines in bed at a hotel room alone.

This copy is in rough shape. Discoloration on front and back cover, tear from lower-right corner of cover, tear on back cover, spine separating from top of cover (though spine and pages appear to be in tact), Pasedena Art Museum sticker on inner cover. See images.

Still, a fantastic artist book from Ruscha at a very affordable price.