Books

A 176-page compilation of some of artist Nina Katchadourian’s funny and poignant photo essays. She goes through book collections both private and public, forming poems out of book titles. Also available from Chronicle Books.

Mumbai designer Shahid Datawala captured images of over 500 unique matchbox labels and assembled them into this compilation of one of India’s more unusual artforms. The book itself looks like a giant matchbox.

We’ve seen a way to put your favorite t-shirts on display. Boox does that for books. Available in three sizes, it’s a glass case with squishy rubber orbs that hold an opened book in place.

Bryant Austin has won international acclaim for his extensive collection of large and detailed photographs of whales. He shares some of those images in his coffee table book Beautiful Whale. See sample images on io9.

For kids and kids at heart, Klutz’ Book of Impossible Objects offers 25 fun and mind-bending illusions and tricks. Our favorite – the stare-o-saurus, a dinosaur whose eyes remain fixed on yours.

Lumio borrows from the form of a book. Its body is made of Tyvek, while the cover is made of wood with neodymium magnets inside. The lamp also has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours.

Patrick W. Galbraith’s fascinating look inside Otaku culture, which is best described as a combination of avid collecting, hoarding, and some sort of an OCD. Features interviews with 15 of these über-fans.

(NSFW: Language) Illustrator Mr. Bingo creates nasty postcards with randomly hateful messages on them and mails them out to victims selected by his customers. Now available in book form.

Annie Marie Musselman captured amazing photos of the furry and feathered friends she met working at Sarvey Wildlife Rehab Center Her upcoming book introduces us to these brave animals (and humans).

Christoffer Martens’ Book Binder are the only pair of bookends we’ve seen that lets you organize books even without a bookshelf. It’s made of lacquered wood or raw oak and an elastic textile band.

Thierry Cohen’s Villes éteintes are images of clear night skies superimposed over cities from the same latitude, simulating what urban landscapes might look like without light pollution. More retailers here.

These vintage-inspired books Things to Do and Things to Know are loaded with tips for boys of all ages, such as making your own battery, learning spy cyphers, how to juggle and even dog tricks.

Inspired by Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, these charming picture book illustrations would be a perfect way for the kiddies of Westeros to learn the house sigils and words.

(NSFW: Language) From America’s Finest News Source comes the only book you’ll ever need. The Onion Book of Known Knowledge: buy it or remain an idiot forever. Sample entries here and here.

Enter now to win one of five copies of Roger Ma’s practical guide to taking down the (supposedly) immortal blood-suckers, and keep vampires out of your town for good. (Contest Ends 10/21/12.)

K is for Knifeball: An Alphabet of Terrible Advice is a parody children’s book from Avery Monsen and Jory John, the demented authors who brought us All My Friends Are Dead. Video made by POYKPAC.

Roger Ma returns with the latest in his series of manuals for dispensing imaginary monsters using real-world weapons and tactics. You’ll also learn defense, but not how to avoid the Twilight movies.

Japanese artist Bunpei Yorifuji breathes life to nature’s simplest substances in his book Wonderful Life with the Elements: The Periodic Table Personified. A great read for kids and adults alike.

Similar to Nook’s SimpleTouch w/ GlowLight, its 6″ E-ink screen is now complemented by an adjustable LED, so you can read in all lighting conditions. Its battery can last up to 8 weeks.