Pre-order
1
of
1
Parks and Rec
Lit'rally the Inside Story of America’s Great Underdog Sitcom
Brief Description
From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, the definitive guide to beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation. Featuring exclusive cast and creator interviews and unparalleled insider knowledge. "Armstrong is an engaging writer, and her enthusiasm for the series is enormously contagious.... More fun than watching...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$6500
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Pre-order
Releases
18th
August 2026
(Approx. Date)
Pre-order "Parks and Rec" now to secure your copy from our first shipment
Found a better price? Request a price match
Parks and Rec
$6500
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, the definitive guide to beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation. Featuring exclusive cast and creator interviews and unparalleled insider knowledge.
"Armstrong is an engaging writer, and her enthusiasm for the series is enormously contagious.... More fun than watching Li'l Sebastian chow down on a waffle from JJ's Diner." - Kirkus
"Making Parks and Rec was fun, pure fun, achieved through joyous collaboration with an incredible collection of writers and actors and creative people. I miss it every day, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's book is as close as I (or anyone) can get to actually being there, working and laughing and making something we all loved so much." - Michael Schur, cocreator of Parks and Recreation
"What an incredible work. I was on the show for six seasons, and reading the book gave me an entirely new understanding and appreciation of Parks and Recreation. This book truly is a study on how Hollywood sitcoms are envisioned, engaged, and then enjoyed. It makes me even prouder to have been a part of it." - Jay Jackson (aka Perd), actor on Parks and Recreation
"This was such a joy to read and to relive my years working on Parks and Rec. Jennifer Keishin Armstrong created the ultimate companion guide for superfans—it meticulously chronicles the trials and tribulations that came with writing and producing this piece of TV history (and keeping it on air)." - Jen Statsky, staff writer on Parks and Recreation and cocreator of Hacks
"Armstrong's writing is as heartfelt as her subject, and she eloquently details the show's unlikely survival and its portrayal of an alternative work-life balance." - Library Journal
The insider account into the sitcom that barely survived its first season - but went on to become a modern classic.
When Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, creators of The Office, came together to write a new comedy, they wanted to create something that would celebrate the power of community. Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson and the rest of the Pawnee gang became the escape we all needed, balancing sharp political commentary with heart, optimism and top-notch comedy. But the road wasn't smooth, despite one of TV's most lovable casts.
Featuring exclusive cast and creator interviews and unmatched insider knowledge from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Parks and Rec gives the untold story of how the iconic show came to be. With a foreword from Offerman himself, Armstrong gains access to new and exclusive interviews with Michael Schur, Greg Daniels, Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, as well as other cast and crew members.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529977936
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 09 April 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Ebury Spotlight
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 31.0mm
Width: 163.0mm
Height: 242.0mm
Weight: 538g
Pages: 320
About the Author
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's writing takes readers behind the scenes of major moments in pop culture history and examines the lasting impact that our favourite TV shows, music, and movies have on our society and psyches. She has written eight books, including the New York Times bestseller Seinfeldia, When Women Invented Television, Sex and the City and Us, and So Fetch. Armstrong spent ten years on staff at Entertainment Weekly, where she reported from the front lines of Grey's Anatomy, 30 Rock, Lost, and The Office. Her writing has since appeared in BBC Culture, New York magazine, Billboard, and many other places. She curates and writes the Peabody Finds newsletter, featuring recommendations and media history, from the prestigious Peabody Awards in broadcasting. Her own newsletter, Culture Trip, explores the intersections between pop culture, spirituality, and politics. She lives with her partner in New York's Hudson Valley.
Also by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
View all-
Seinfeldia
The New York Times bestseller about two guys who went out for coffee and dreamed up Seinfeld—“A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better understanding of how television series are made” (Booklist, starred review). Comedians Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld never thought anyone would watch their sitcom about a New York comedian...Paperback$3500Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
So Fetch
People Best New Book The inside story of the making of Mean Girls – and our enduring 20-year obsession with it Released in 2004, iconic teen comedy Mean Girls remains as relevant now as ever. But what made an adaptation of a parenting guide by SNL writer Tina Fey so successful? And why, two decades later, can we all just...Paperback$3799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
So Fetch
People Best New Book The inside story of the making of Mean Girls – and our enduring 20-year obsession with it Released in 2004, iconic teen comedy Mean Girls remains as relevant now as ever. But what made an adaptation of a parenting guide by SNL writer Tina Fey so successful? And why, two decades later, can we all just...HardbackSold Out
More from Arts & Culture
View all-
Dylan's PickBold Types
A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...Hardback$5500Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 1 week -
New ReleaseDisney Moana: The Official Cookbook
Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...Hardback$4499Elsewhere:$5299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
This Angry Pen of Mine
This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...Hardback$7299Elsewhere:$8999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
They Bloom Because of You
Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Leaves of Grass
A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...Hardback$2200Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...Hardback$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Beautiful Chaos
The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...Paperback$2900Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Odyssey
Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....PaperbackSold Out -
To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
A Thousand Feasts
THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Did I Ever Tell You This?
In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...PaperbackSold Out
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
