From Bugsy Siegel to the Rat Pack and Wayne Newton, from its glamorous showgirls to its fantastic mega-casinos and legendary displays of dazzling neon, Las Vegas is the world's most famous monument to reckless abandon and unbridled excess. Written in conjunction with the American Experience series and coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city, LAS VEGAS: An Unconventional History documents the endlesssly entertaining history of this most outrageous playground -- from the Mormon missionaries who came to the area for the natural springs, to the shady mobconnected gamblers, atomic blasts, and the tourists of today looking for fun that can only be found there. Accompanying the fascinating text are essays from four of today's most prominent writers, highlighting some of the more interesting aspects of Las Vegas, such as David Hickey's "Lights" and Jim McManus, writing on the art of poker. Lavishly illustrated and wittily written, LAS VEGAS: An Unconventional History is almost as fun as letting that $10,000 bet ride on red.