Thursday, October 24, 1996
BOOK:
Coffee-table tome by the author of ‘Martini’ takes stylish look
at trendBy Susan Lee
Daily Bruin Contributor
Once the trademark accessory of overweight political bosses,
cigars are regaining popularity in all social spheres. And those
who smoke them will be more than happy with the release of "The
Cigar," by Barnaby Conrad III, a beautifully illustrated book
capturing one of America’s most well-known pastimes that has
recently become more popular.
"I guess it’s kind of an escape into elegance, connoisseurship
and maybe even the opposite of grunge. It seems more grownup and
it’s an inexpensive way to have a piece of glamour," Conrad says.
"It’s a meditative pleasure. It’s like drinking the same scotch and
smoking the same cigar as Arnold Schwarzenegger … or maybe the
scary thing is that we’re becoming our parents."
"The Cigar" follows a similar format to Conrad’s 1995 book "The
Martini," which was dedicated exclusively to the history of the
popular drink. After five months of intensive research and picture
collecting, Conrad completed "The Cigar."
"I liked nightlife and nightclub culture and things that are
about ritual," Conrad says. "I come at books from point of view of
‘what’s symbolic of times which were enjoyed?’"
Full of interesting anecdotes and facts about this symbol, "The
Cigar" is fit for any bookshelf. It also makes an excellent coffee
table book since it’s a fun and easy read. Eye-catching photographs
of pictures and artwork enhance each page and short story boxes
highlight excerpts from various texts which deal with cigars.
The book contains many photographs and paintings of cigars, two
of which Conrad himself created. Conrad, who graduated from Yale
with an art degree, has been writing for over 20 years.
Writing, Conrad says, is "a little bit like directing a flat
movie or building a two-dimensional house because it is satisfying
to pull together a whole world from pictures of Groucho Marx to
Freud to cigar cutters."
One of the highlights of the book is its design, which offers a
range of pictures alongside text. Although Conrad attributes this
as one strength of his publisher, Chronicle, he also credits the
designer with its visual appeal.
"The design was superb because of designer Tom Morgan, who also
designed the "Martini" book," Conrad says. "The main thing is
there’s going to be … four other cigar books coming out later on
and I’m not bragging, but this book is very beautiful. It’s a
visual celebration. None of the other books really have that visual
splendor … I’m very happy with it."
The book is not only aesthetically stylish but thoroughly
researched as well. While writing "The Cigar," Conrad journeyed to
Cuba, where he visited a Partages cigar factory to see how cigars
were rolled. He also witnessed the extent of "negative effects of
socialism on a place as beautiful as Cuba."
Conrad recognized that cigars are an important craft in a
society that allows for few luxuries. "Cigars are still one type of
pride and joy in Cuba. It takes real skill to produce cigars and
Cuban tobacco is still among the premier tobaccos," Conrad says.
"It gave me the sense of how important the cigar is to Cuban
culture and economy."
Because Conrad is looking for a broad audience to pick up his
book, he insists that "The Cigar" is more about cultural and social
celebration than the actual act of smoking (and the health risks
that come with it).
"I don’t want 6-year-olds to take up cigar smoking but the book
shows that cigars are not just for old fat guy in corner with the
stinky stogie in mouth," Conrad says.
"I have lots of friends who smoke who love it. They love the
camaraderie. The book is about joi de vie (life’s joy) and not
really about cigars … it’s a celebration of a ritual in
life."
A smoker of 10 years, Conrad insisted he was an "amateur" before
writing his book. But now he should be able to explain the
difference between smoking cigarettes and smoking a really good
cigar.
Conrad likens the difference to drinking great red wine and
shots of the cheapest, foulest bourbon.
"I really don’t know anyone who would light up a cigar and smoke
it three minutes before flying on an airplane … No cigar smoker
inhales cigar smoke into his lungs because you swirl the smoke in
your mouth, savor it and then blow it out. People make time for
cigars and it’s a way to relax for a longer period of time than the
cigarette."
As far as advocating cigar smoking, Conrad, 44, insists on
putting things in perspective. He advises taking everything in
moderation  whether it is cigar smoking, alcohol, work or
sports  in order to have balanced life.
"Cigars are about savoring the moment, the company you’re with,
and the food or wine you had beforehand … it’s about time and
life and it’s more old-world because everything today moves so
fast."
Recently, the new world has embraced this ritual. Conrad cites
the success of magazines such as "Cigar Afficionado," which are
strictly aimed at cigar lovers, as a critical indicator of the
growing fad that makes his book so popular.
"I guess I’m just lucky and good at spotting out trends," Conrad
says. "Six months ago I noticed more cigar clubs popping up …
like in New York, there’s a ‘Club Macaneudo’ and there’s others
owned by a group called ‘Bar and Books’ … I’m so amazed at the
trend and that more are coming."
And yes, "The Cigar" is educational, too. Going beyond the
current trendiness, it covers a broad range of history of the cigar
and gives advice on how to distinguish between various types of
cigars. With a book this entertaining, Conrad should find sales of
"The Cigar" smoking hot.