THE GREAT DAVID MCCULLOUGH
David McCullough is a Pulitzer Prize winning American historian who’s books are required reading, especially on President’s Day. He deftly captures the greatest moments and leaders in our nation’s history; quite remarkably, while still using a vintage “Royal” typewriter. Reading non-fiction history can be a laborious task, but not with McCullough, a compelling storyteller. Read one book, and the rest will follow. Begin with 1776, the story of George Washington, his followers and the year of American independence. His other notable books on the New York Times Best Seller List include: John Adams, Mornings on Horseback & Truman.
TERRAPIN STATIONERS
I wrote about this great little engraving and printing company in an earlier post but as it’s time to start sending out thank you cards, it’s well worth another mention. Terrapin Stationers is based in New York City and owned by Ted Harrington – his collection of note cards, calling cards and other small paper goods have a decidedly masculine aesthetic. My favorite would be the hunting/fishing outdoor motif shown above, $20 for a pack of 6, available at Etsy. His simple twitter handle calling cards are another top seller: (more…)
FRANKIES SPUNTINO COOKBOOK
Frankie’s is one of the top restaurants not just in Brooklyn, but across the country. Since 2004, Frank Falcinelli & Frank Castronovo have been serving rustic Italian home cooking to a very discerning and loyal following. Their cookbook is absolutely terrific and loaded with family-friendly recipes – ideal for the holidays when there are lots of hungry mouths to feed. From the book’s description: “The entire Frankies menu is adapted here for the home cook—from small bites including Cremini Mushroom and Truffle Oil Crostini, to (more…)
HOLLYWOOD AND THE IVY LOOK
Books make tremendous gifts – if you have someone in the family who enjoys history, design, and classic silver screen style, “Hollywood and the Ivy Look” belongs under the tree this season. A description from the publishers: “In the decade between 1955 and 1965 a coterie of discerning Hollywood hipsters appropriated the incomparable Ivy League clothing of America’s East coast elite. These West Coast actors elevated the Ivy look to the height of cool and defined a quintessentially American male dress code for a new generation of movie audiences.” It’s good to learn where a trend officially started, especially one that remains strong today. $75, available at Amazon.
A few additional pictures: (more…)
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
As soon as I watched the trailer for “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” I bought the book and dove right into it. I did the same thing when the trailers for “Game of Thrones” started appearing on HBO and went through all 5 tomes in about 6 months. I may change this habit but so far I have never watched a film that outdid the book. It is always firmly the other way around and I trust my imagination will envision characters in a much better light than casting directors at HBO. The first season of Thrones had a lot of disappointments, but the positive is that it turned me onto a highly imaginative, vast book series that now ranks as one of my all time favorites. Tinker Tailor is a book with an odd name, loyal following and rich heritage – written in 1974 by John Le Carre, it is a precisely written spy thriller set against the backdrop of a very tense and brutal 1960′s Cold War Britain. It has the rare distinction of being a quick read that is (more…)
MOUNTAIN BY SANDY HILL
For the adventurist, real or imagined, “Mountain” will evoke feelings of awe, respect and quite possibly, a serious desire to hit the trail. This massive book features a compilation of 350 dramatic images of mountain landscapes shot by 160 photographers across the planet. $85, available at Amazon.
1Q84 BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
If you walk past any book store in America you’ll notice prominent displays of “1Q84″ written by bestselling writer Haruki Murakami, not to be confused with artist Takashi Murakami. The UK’s Guardian has praised him as “among the world’s greatest living novelists” for his works and achievements. 1Q84 was released in Japan back in June and sold a massive 100,000 copies in it’s first week. Expectations are very high for this book. The novel is described (more…)
ROOM WITH A VIEW
Sure, knowing which hotels are the best in the world is good information, but knowing the specific room you should book in order to get a stunning view takes it to another level entirely. Conde Nast Traveler’s “Room with A View” features the best hotel room views around the world, with breathtaking vistas ranging from (more…)
FASHIONISTO BY SIMONE WERLE
Spotted at a small menswear shop, Hugo, in Stockholm, “Fashionisto: A Century of Style Icons.” Looking back is a great source of inspiration, whether you’re a traditionalist or a risk taker, and this book covers it all, from Oscar Wilde and JFK to David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix. $20, available at Amazon. (more…)
VINTAGE ROCK T-SHIRTS
Spotted at one of the best retail stores in Stockholm, Nitty Gritty. Flipping through this classic book provided a nice break from a long day of walking. A compilation of authentic concert T-shirts that are funny, nostalgic and bad-ass. “Vintage Rock T-Shirts” $29, available at Amazon.
POOLSIDE WITH SLIM AARONS
Poolside with Slim Aarons is a chic coffee table book that will add a touch of glamor to any room. It offers a rare glimpse into the exclusive club of the super wealthy, from Acapulco to Monaco. “Slim Aarons (1916–2006) is regarded as one of the most (more…)
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
Of all the comic book adaptations that have come our way over the past two years, none looks more promising than the launch of the upcoming Tintin franchise. If all goes well, and by the looks of trailers for “The Secret of the Unicorn,” it most definitely should, the first film will be the start of many. The movie release is set for December 23rd, 2011 and the marketing machine is just starting to roll. Steven Spielberg’s first-ever appearance at last week’s Comic Con to promote (more…)
THE HISTORY OF SURFING
“The most comprehensive chronicle of surfing from 1000BC to modern day, written by the greatest surf journalist of our time.” – 495 pages featuring more that 250 rare photos. $50, available at Stag Austin.
SUMMER READING
No this isn’t homework, these are beautifully designed books on poetry that will look damn good on your book shelf at home all worn and banged up after a summer at the beach. Spotted last night at a D&G press event at the Core Club in Manhattan, they stood out. You can (more…)
LOCALS ONLY: CALIFORNIA SKATEBOARDING 1975-1978
“‘Locals Only’ is a celebration of youth. Muscles, wiry bodies, long, tangled hair. A kid might have been in one of the most awkward stages of adolescence, but when he was sailing around an empty pool, Holland reminds us, (more…)
LEROY GRANNIS: SURF PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE 1960′s & 1970′s
This stunning book is a bit pricey at $90 but well worth it considering it double as artwork for your living room. Leroy Grannis captures surfing at it’s laid back best, before it became mainstream. “Grannis quickly became (more…)
GUCCI BY GUCCI
We spotted this beautiful book in the pristine offices of P&G’s beauty division in Manhattan, known as “P&G Prestige.” Unbeknownst to many, P&G owns a collection of some of the best fragrance brands in the world, including Dolce & Gabbana, Lacoste, Hugo Boss, Dunhill, and of course, Gucci. The book, “Gucci by Gucci,” chronicles the rise of one of fashion’s sexiest and (more…)
AMERICAN FASHION TRAVEL
Designers are a fickle bunch when it comes to R&R; it has to be just right. They spend their days picking fabrics, so of course they’re going to notice thread counts. With such a discerning eye for luxury and quality then it’s no surprise that we might learn something from their choices in travel destinations. “American Fashion Travel,” available in May for $45, (more…)
GLENN O’BRIEN: HOW TO BE A MAN
Heritage and authenticity are hugely popular in menswear at the moment, and there isn’t a more original voice then Glenn O’Brien’s. His popular “Style Guy” column in GQ has a loyal following and we anticipate his new book, “How to be a Man” will follow suit. $25 Amazon.com
A GAME OF THRONES
When HBO announced they were creating a new series, “A Game of Thrones,” based on the best selling books by George R. Martin, we couldn’t get the book quick enough. So far it hasn’t disappointed. If you enjoy reading a book without picturing the actors playing key roles, for example Tom Cruise as blond Vampire Lestat, then by all means buy this book and jump in before the series debuts on April 17th. Hefty at nearly 700 pages each, there are four books in the series with a rumored two more yet to arrive. We only hope HBO has assigned the talented people behind the Soprano’s & Deadwood & definitely John from Cincinnati.
