Awesome Books

While Google is our go-to for many answers, we still keep a copy of Thomas Glover’s Pocket Ref on hand. It’s loaded with more than 850 pages of reference tables, formulas, constants, and conversions, and is one book we’d want in our bug-out bag if the internet ever blew up. The larger Desk Ref has 1280 pages.

Ever thought about what might happen if we lost everything and had to rebuild the world from scratch? This 400-page book is designed as a reference to give our society a fighting chance, with illustrations and information on everything from vehicles to shelters to medicines and agriculture. Available in digital or print editions.

Author Micah Cash expands his wonderful Waffle House photo essay from The Bitter Southerner into a book. The 96-page hardbound book incorporates photos taken from inside of the iconic diners across the South, and explores the role that the restaurants play for their customers that goes beyond just bacon and eggs.

What’s a schmegoogle? “A person so insignificant that if you Google his name, nothing comes up,” jokes Daniel Klein, author of Schmegoogle: Yiddish Words for Modern Times. Klein updates 200 Yiddish words to hilariously kvetch about contemporary life from tech to weed. Corny Jewish humor has rarely felt this fresh.

BOWIE: Stardust, Rayguns, & Moonage Daydreams celebrates the life of David Bowie through a series of illustrated comic panels. The 160 page hardcover graphic novel chronicles his rise from pop singer to Ziggy Stardust, and his numerous personas and reinventions. Written by Michael Allred, Steve Horton, and Laura Allred.

Didier Ghez’s six-volume series delves into the lesser-known art of Disney Animation. Each book is filled with rare images gathered from the depths of the Walt Disney Archives and the Disney Animation Research Library, along with untold stories of the artists behind the scenes. Start with the 1930s and work your way to 2020.

This hardcover art book catalogs hundreds of forms, patterns, textures, and colors extracted from natural things like fruits, veggies, insects, fish, and more. It’s a great addition to any artist’s or designer’s reference library, providing a fresh source of creative inspiration.

“Feeling classy as f*ck? Have a Bellini. Life kicking your ass? Try a Corpse Reviver.” Classy as F*ck Cocktails demonstrates that profanity is elegant when combined with gold calligraphy and 60 classic drink recipes. Equally swanky: Two Damn Classy rocks glasses and the golden Shaking Sh*t Up! cocktail shaker.

Rolls-Royce makes the most elegant cars in the world. Authors Simon Van Booy and Harvey Briggs and photographer Mariona Vilarós take an insider’s tour of the factory where each Rolls is built by hand. The 296-page book incorporates elements of the UK automaker’s heritage, including vintage design sketches and assembly line photos.

Hungry for more from the trio behind the Snacky Tunes podcast? The book Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient chronicles how music inspires 75 of the world’s best chefs. Personal playlists are paired with recipes, plus five chefs worked on an Everybody World capsule collection made from 100% recycled cotton.

Need a getaway from the daily grind? We’ve always wanted a custom-built cabin in the woods to escape the world. This 256-page book by Sofia Borges and Sven Ehmann offers a visual catalog of some of the world’s most bucolic hideouts. It’s a great source of architectural inspiration and relaxing thoughts.

Most books have covers made from thick paper, though you might find some vintage ones made from wood. What you won’t find are any books with covers made from cast aluminum. Black Beard Projects teamed up with Nerdforge to create just that, and the result is a impressive work of readable art. Watch part two here.

If you’re not in-da-couch, perhaps that sativa has your brain running a thousand miles an hour and needs a creative outlet. This book should do the trick. It’s basically a blank journal loaded with ideas of things to doodle, from a giraffe riding a rainbow to a dog on a surfboard.

One of the many things we love about The Mandalorian is how they show concept art in the closing credits. This 256-page hardcover book lets you give some of these images a more permanent home. The book is packed with art and sketches, along with interviews with the cast, crew, and creative team behind the Disney+ series.

Now you’re cooking with candy! This cookbook offers 40 dessert recipes that incorporate Toblerone candy. The unique mix of Swiss milk chocolate, nougat, honey, and almonds takes your sweet treats to another level compared to ordinary chocolate. Toblerone brownies and cupcakes, oh my!

Ever wondered why modern buildings don’t have exterior fire escapes? Who gets to name streets? What are those cryptic spray-painted markings on the ground? Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt’s book delves into the fascinating stories behind the important but subtle things city-dwellers experience on a daily basis.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant have been entertaining our minds with their Stuff You Should Know podcasts since 2008. Now, along with Nils Parker, they want to stuff our brains with more, digging into stories like the history of facial hair, where Mr. Potato Head came from, and much more. Pre-order and claim your free SYSK print.

Rogier Wieland Studio created this captivating stop-motion promo clip for Trombosestichting, The Dutch Thrombosis Foundation, who is distributing a free e-book to help educate people about the dangers and warning signs of blood clots, wrapped up in the guise of a noir thriller.

From Chiquita to Count Chocula, from the Geico Gecko to the Jolly Green Giant, mascots have long been a staple of the advertising industry. Author Warren Dotz’s two-volume series is filled with characters from the iconic to the obscure, from the lovable to the downright weird.

Ernest Cline presents the follow-up to his beloved bestseller. After the events of Ready Player One, Wade Watts makes a discovery in Halladay’s vaults – an advancement that could make OASIS even more wondrous – and addictive. Expect a heaping helping of pop culture references when the book hits on 11.24.2020.

From the poison brick-slinging Brickbat to The Horrible Hand, author Jon Morris’ humorous reference book catalogs some of the weirdest and worst supervillains in the history of comic books. Can’t get enough? Round out your bookshelf with some equally unfortunate superheroes and their half-baked sidekicks.

Wally Koval and the followers of the Accidentally Wes Anderson Instagram page are on a mission to find real locations that capture the fastidious and whimsical style of filmmaker Wes Anderson. This 368-page book chronicles some of these wondrous destinations through images and stories, along with a foreword by Anderson himself.

Just because you’re away from your kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t serve up an amazing meal for your friends and family. Emma Frisch’s cookbook for the outdoors not only includes recipes and menus, but shopping and equipment lists to help make dining under the stars a truly memorable experience.