William L. Fox takes aim at the city's effect on the country. A companion to the PBS documentary is photo-filled. Click image for enlargement. Click image for enlargement. Click image for enlargement. Click image for enlargement.

Las Vegas is hot, and not just in the summer. It also remains a hot topic for writers, and the books about Sin City just keep hitting the bookstores.

Among the more recent offerings, former University of Nevada, Las Vegas Runnin' Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian tells his side of things in the behind-the-scenes book, "Jerry Tarkanian: Runnin' Rebel" (Sports Publishing LLC), an autobiography by Tarkanian with sports columnist Dan Wetzel.

Essayist, poet and travel writer William L. Fox analyzes the presentation of "art, animals and sex in Las Vegas" and what that means for the rest of the country in his latest book, "In the Desert of Desire: Las Vegas and the Culture of Spectacle" (University of Nevada Press). In a nutshell, Fox says what happens here doesn't necessarily stay here.

If you just can't get enough of Las Vegas history in this centennial year, "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History" (Bulfinch Press), a companion book to the recent "American Experience" documentary on PBS, purports to take a different approach. Written by documentary filmmakers Michelle Ferrar and Stephen Ives, the book is packed with photos and essays, including one by one of the most insightful writers about Las Vegas, art critic Dave Hickey.

In the fun and games category, Penn Jillette and Mickey D. Lynn lead the pack with "How to Cheat Your Friends at Poker: The Wisdom of Dickie Richard" (St. Martin's Press). It's basically a variation on the trademark Penn & Teller sleight of hand and mean humor.

Men, women and Vegas are a potent mix, and three books tackle the subject.

First, there's "Las Vegas Little Black Book" (Justin, Charles & Co.), by David deMontmollin, marketing manager of Green Valley Ranch, and screenwriter Hiram Todd Norman, which purports to give the lowdown on everything a guy needs to know about having a good time in Vegas.

Next up, "The It's Just Lunch Guide to Dating in Las Vegas" (10 Finger Press) by Cindy Taylor, is a more female-friendly look at dating in a tough dating town.

And local police officer, former hostage negotiator and part-time model Christopher Curtis and fellow Las Vegan and screenwriter Rob Wiser deliver all the techniques a guy needs to pick up women with "M.A.C.K. Tactics: The Science of Seduction Meets the Art of Hostage Negotiation" (Roadside Amusements).

Here's a book for every child in the valley: "Who Pooped in the Park" (Farcountry Press), written by Gary D. Robson and illustrated by Robert Rath, takes readers on the hunt for scat and the animals that leave it in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Finally, French photographer Francois Paolini examines the city through the lens of his camera in "We All Live in Vegas" (Stephens Press), complete with 320 images of the city. Stephens Press is a division of Stephens Media Group, which owns the Review-Journal.