Red-Blooded American Male

This coffee table collection of photographs is stunning, visually appealing, and hilariously awesome. Photographer Robert Trachtenberg does an amazing job of catching his male subjects (not all of whom are American like the title applies, for which he apologies numerously) in out of the ordinaary poses and manages to have fun and catch the ridiculousness of the everyday without poking fun at the subjects themselves. You'll find yourself giggling over the absurdity of Will Ferrel, Paul Rudd, JAmes van der Beek, and more. Many of the photographs are accompanied by an amusing story or tidbit about the actor in question. Another great thing is that not all the subjects are actors, there are some musicians, politicians, comedians, non-celebrities and more (as well as a few women). A great addition to any coffee table and a wonderful holiday gift for the comedian or photographer in your life.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Photographs From The Edge

Art Wolfe's stunning photography will make a welcome addition to any coffee table. Utterly amazing and engrossing these photos beg to be looked at more than once. Included along with each picture is a summary, photo tips, and the nature of the photo. Included are amazing nature photos, portraits, city views, and animals from all over the globe. The quality of these photos is beyond compare and can be likened to looking at the "best of" National Geographic photos. I found myself captivated by nature scenes, there is a wonderful photo of a seal swimming up to Art and I would love to have that framed, really though, any of these photographs would be a welcome addition to any home. Beautifully bound with no dust jacket, this book isn't too large to be bulky, but it is still large enough to allow the reader to see high resolution photos. Before reading this I had never heard of this photographer but I will definitely be keeping an eye on his work from now on. A must read!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Hippie Chick

Acclaimed jam-band and Grateful Dead photographer, Jay Blakesberg, has compiled an excellent collection of photographs, essays, and quotes from hippie chicks all over the United States.  They range over several decades worth of live concerts, mainly Grateful Dead shows. The pictures themselves are beguiling, but the accompanied quotes and mini essays really add depth to this photography collection. There is nothing more awe inspiring then the freedom and devotion of the hippie chicks; they are weightless, dancing, hooping, laughing, swaying with the music and Blakesberg's photographs really make these women shine, they are beautiful inside and out. This collection really plays tribute to the music and the culture that created and sustains decade after decade of hippie chicks. Reading through this gorgeous collection will inspire you to start planning your next live show immediately. As an added bonus there is a wonderful foreword penned by Grace Slick and an afterword by Grace Potter. This gorgeous photography collection is not to be missed.

Fare Thee Well

Deadheads who were unable to attend the 50th anniversary Grateful Dead farewell tour will go nuts over this beautiful coffee table book. Those who were lucky enough to attend the sold out two city tour will also find themselves clambering for this gorgeously photographed memento. Photographer Jay Blakesberg, a lifelong Deadhead, does a wonderful job capturing each night of the tour, outlining the set-list, and highlighting the musicians and the fans in their element. The quality of the photos and the emotions they capture make this book worth every penny. Blakesberg captures shots during rehearsals, on stage, off stage, in the stands, with the fans, as well as some stuning aerial views. For an additional treat, Bill Walton writes the foreword, David Lemieux writes the afterword, and the interspersed essays are by Gary Lambert. All in all it's a magnificent treat for any dedicated Deadhead and an essential addition to every Grateful Dead library.

Novel Interiors

An enchanting coffee table book perfect for book lovers and interior decorators. Lisa Borgnes Giramonti takes readers on a picturesque romp through some of the prettiest and most well decorated homes I've ever seen. While the title makes it sound like this book will showcase home libraries, it does soo much more than that. This book will help you discover your design style through different literary worlds. According to the author, classic novels contain all the details needed for living a stylish life. The book is broken into six sections: Shall I put the kettle on, remembrance of things past, living au natural, oh the glamour of it all, anything goes, and sometimes a fantasy. Each section contains decorating tips, literary quotations and GORGEOUS photos that will make any homeowner want to go out and start re-decorating. This book is sure to have something for everyone, from the man that loves sleek geometric lines in The Great Gatsby to the woman who loves threadbare cozy chic like in Austen's Sense and Sensibility. A visually captivating and inspiring read!