3/5 stars

Many illustrious individuals have graduated from the University of Washington: current governor Christine Gregoire, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon and Nobel Prize winners George Hitchings, Martin Rodbell and George Stigler. Despite their many accolades, none of these notable figures can claim to be authorities on drinking games. Luckily, recent UW graduate Alex Bash (‘08) has filled this gaping hole in the university’s alumni list.

Bash released his first book, The Imbible: Drinking Games for Times You’ll Never Remember with Friends You’ll Never Forget, in August through St. Martin’s Press in New York City. Besides having a clever name, The Imbible contains detailed instructions to nearly 100 games to help you, as Bash puts it, “acquire a vast body of blurry memories full of drunken adventures, hangover remedies, sloshed sexual encounters and several new cell phones.”

The book, which Bash dedicated to his liver, begins with 10 classic games, including Beer Pong, Flip Cup, Kings and Quarters. So, when “reracking” and “rebuttal shots” are being disputed during your next game of pong, The Imbible may provide a resolution and keep you from downing an extra cup of warm Keystone.

In addition to the basics, Bash has outlined rules and regulations for dozens of more obscure drinking games, leading one to wonder how he graduated in four years. These games are broken down into card, dice, coin, miscellaneous and movie games. The majority of Bash’s creations are games you’re likely to know and maybe played as a child — except back then, you probably didn’t drink beer every time you had to “go fish.”

Although primarily a drinking game guide, The Imbible is also packed with jokes about alcohol, college and the stupid things people do under the influence, such as the author’s expectations of what life would be like if beer replaced guns (“war would be cheaper, but only if Doritos were on sale”). Bash’s commentary ranges from witty to shamelessly idiotic, though after a few of the games are played, The Imbible probably reads like Twain.

The Imbible is definitely written for the drinker in search of a challenge, as many of the games, if played to completion, would almost certainly result in alcohol poisoning. One such impossibility is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy drinking game, which requires more than nine hours of boozing. The instructions to this game are entitled “How to Drink in Middle-earth” and require drinking whenever “Legolas’s blond locks look especially good” and “every time there’s sexual tension between Frodo and Sam,” along with 22 other occurrences. It would be a feat finishing a single film.

In addition to writing The Imbible, Bash also contributes a weekly humor column, “The Alcoholic Medium,” to Points In Case, which the Web site describes as “A drunk R-rated version of Chicken Soup for the Soul from the intoxicating and irreverent mind of a professional frat guy.” It seems clear that Alex Bash has found his niche.

Reach reporter Joe Darda at arts@thedailyuw.com.