Book

By Daniel Gardner ($24.95, Dutton Adult)

Basic story: Journalist Gardner examines how and why our fears are influenced by the world around us.

"We remain a species powerfully influenced by the unconscious mind. We also remain social animals who care about what other people think."

Thorough research and expert input, combined with an everyman style, make this an eye-opening, fascinating "science book."

Music

$14.98 (list price), Indie, Secretly Canadian

Basic story: Having just moved to Brooklyn by way of Chicago, Vandervelde releases his sophomore effort. "There is guilt behind every door/ and every promise is beggin' for more."

David Vandervelde has slowed things down this time around, but appears to be getting better with each record. While "The Moonstation House Band" was reminiscent of Marc Bolan's T. Rex, "Waiting for the Sunrise" takes a smooth turn towards a more rootsy sound, bringing to mind late-'70s Neil Young. Vandervelde is backed by his band, the Lickedy Splits, and even gets writing help from ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett on "California Breezes."

$13.98 (list price), Indie, Sub Pop

Basic story: Brazilian group CSS (short for Cansei de Ser Sexy, which translates into "tired of being sexy") offers up its dynamic second release.

"Oh my god it's so hot/ oh my god it's so gold/ oh my god I'm so messed up/ I don't know which way to go." Most of the songs on "Donkey" (all in English) are about getting drunk beyond belief, dancing on tables, and lashing out at an ex gone wrong. As much as the band talks about being drunk and sloppy, you would think the music would be off and messy, but the band is surprisingly tight. The record opens with "Jager Yoga," which is equal parts dance and rock-worthy. If you're looking for a record to party to, this is for you.

DVD

$19.99/$28.99 Blu-ray (list price), New Line

Basic story: John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a bathtub with no memory of how he got there or why there's a dead woman with him. A woman named Emma (Jennifer Connelly) is trying to find him, as are the police and a group of telekinetic bald men.

Murdoch: "I don't think the sun even exists in this place, 'cause I've been up for hours and hours and hours, and the night never ends here." This new disc of Alex Proyas' noir/sci-fi mash-up offers both the theatrical cut, complete with the original director/writer commentary tracks, as well as a longer cut that fleshes out the story with about 15 minutes of new footage. Featurettes offer a retrospective of the film's making and the behind-the-scenes turmoil.

$44.99 (list price), Warner Bros.

Basic story: Babs and Buster Bunny (no relation) and their friends Plucky Duck and Hamton Pig are students at Acme Looniversity, where they learn wackiness from a staff headed by Bugs Bunny.

Montana Max: "We don't have a song. We don't even have a dirge." Much like Beatles vs. Stones, "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs" fans have an uneasy peace. The release of this set while the final "Animaniacs" set has yet to see the light of day won't help. But "Tiny Toons" is actually quite funny, with clever use of original and vintage music. The new characters -- spiritual successors to the classic Looney Tunes cast -- are endearing. It's just, it's not "Animaniacs." Extras are scant.

Game

'Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2'

800 MS Points ($10), Activision, Xbox Live Arcade

Basic story: Xbox Live's must-have launch title from 2005 returns with the same two-stick control scheme, but with six different play modes and multiplayer for up to four people.

When going for the Treaty achievement in Kings mode, you don't have to stay in the safe zones to make them disappear. Touch them and keep moving.

As with every good sequel, "Geometry Wars 2" keeps what worked the first time and adds just enough to spice things up. Your point multiplier now escalates based on your collection of gems left behind by destroyed enemies, and it doesn't reset with each death, leading to much more respectable scores. The graphics have been upgraded, with more lighting and particle effects. It's actually less chaotic since designs of the enemies have been tweaked so they're more visible. Sadly, the multiplayer is offline only.

TV

'Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Dallas Cowboys'

Wednesdays, 10 p.m., HBO

Basic story: Following previous incarnations of the series with the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, HBO sends its cameras into camp with "America's Team" to see how the guys prepare for the NFL season.

"All the new guys who come in who have been on other teams, I tell them, 'I guarantee you haven't been to a training camp like this.'."

With Terrell Owens, the Tony Romo/Jessica Simpson show, and now Adam "Don't Call Me Pac-Man" Jones all in camp, this is probably the most interesting training camp for any team without a large "G" on their helmets. If you love the gridiron, check this show out early and often.