An excerpt from the new book Camp Camp: Where Fantasy Island Meets Lord of the Flies

Camp Camp: Where Fantasy Island Meets Lord of the Flies (June 3, 2008) is the sequel to Bar Mitzvah Disco, picking up where that book left off, using hundreds of photographs and stories, including tall tales by A.J. Jacobs, David Wain, Rachel Sklar, Sloane Crosley, Paul Feig, and an intro by Meatballs director Ivan Reitman to tell the story of our generation via the great American institution of sleepaway camp—a parallel universe filled with bunk mates, unrequited crushes, appropriated Native American terminology, competitive sports, libido-soaked socials, panty raids, and snugly fitted velour shorts topped off with tube socks.

The book features the best of more than 80,000 photos submitted by former campers from across the country via campcampbook.com to trace the story of who we are and how we got to be this way. From the domination of Esprit as the Prada of the '80s, the subtle emergence of technology in the guise of Commodore personal computing, and the irresistible rise of hip-hop and the fall of "Frankie Says Relax," to the difficulties of maintaining the romance of a slow dance through the eight minutes, 57 seconds of "November Rain." Above all, camp culture was a juxtaposition of opposites—a cross between Fantasy Island and Lord of the Flies. That was nowhere more true than in the boys' bunk, which was both a Hai Karate testosterone-fueled primitive world of towel whipping and boner comparisons, and a place of radical inclusion and friendship. Violence and creativity played a special role, as highlighted in the chapter called "20 Acts of Violence That Say 'I Love You.'"

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In the days before Judge Judy was a national TV star and America became an overly litigious society, the boys' bunk was like a peewee Abu Ghraib, where torture was standard behavior. This list of random acts of violence may make you wince, but it is important to note that many of the campers who were victims of everyday sadism actually loved it.

In the words of one, "To be on the wrong end of a rat tail or an atomic wedgie meant that the counselor noticed you—that in a perverse way, you had arrived." So remember that, dear reader, as you peruse the list. Settle back, relax, and marvel at the detail and creativity that went into some of these acts. The elaborate flourishes—especially the use of toothpaste or deodorant to maximize the pain—stand as a unique tribute to the innovative spirit that made this country great.