Bookworms

Design and Visual Communication by Bruno Munari

This book, published in Italian in 1968, is translated to English for the first time. A blend of lecture notes, class materials and letters invites designers and thinkers to reconsider how visual communication operates, spanning everything from typography to optical illusions. Munari’s clear voice, steeped in curiousity, makes connections between art, architecture, design and daily life, urging readers to see the world with fresh tools and new awareness. The annotations by scholar Jeffrey Schnapp deepen the experience, making this historic 1968 text feel thoroughly modern and relevant for today,

This product is sold by Inventory Press

Studio Maria Mayer Feng Custom Book

This isn’t your average coffee table book—it’s a deeply personal work of art. Maria Mayer Feng, known for her meticulous eye and impeccable taste, has reimagined the art of the personal archive. Each custom book is a one-of-a-kind creation: a tactile time capsule filled with your own photographs, invitations and keepsakes, bound in a variety of luxury materials and designed to feel like a piece of art in itself. Whether it’s documenting a milestone birthday, a summer in Capri or an entire creative career, Mayer Feng transforms memories into heirloom-quality objects you’ll actually want to leave out on display. Custom books are available by private commission through her studio.

This product is sold by Studio Maria Mayer Feng

Schott’s Significa

Schott’s Significa, A Miscellany of Secret Languages, is the latest from CH friend Ben Schott, master of minutia, trivia, erudite history and wit. From a thorough vexillology of pride (flags) to a photo illustrated guide to fatto a mano con amore (Italian hand gestures) to typographical anatomy, art auctions, tv production, casino gambling, graffiti, cosplay and so so so much more, it may not only be Ben’s best book, it may also be the best toilet companion of all time. Thanks, Ben, for sharing everything that we don’t need to know but are glad we do.

This product is sold by Ben Schott

Ahead of Time

This witty title plays both on the brand’s watchmaking and on the conversations its founder, Benoît Mintiens, an industrial designer, has with his friends—many of them customers of Ressence—as they share their thoughts on the future. It’s a book celebrating the brand’s anniversary, but looking forward instead of back. Mintiens speaks with Sam Altman (founder of OpenAI), Marcus Engman (Chief Creative Officer at IKEA), Lonneke Gordjin (Co-Founder of Studio Drift), Ivy Ross (Chief Design Officer at Google), architect Daniel Libeskind and fifteen other visionaries. It’s a great resource and thought exercise for anyone who leans into their work with a foot in the future.

This product is sold by Ressence

Psychedelic Now

Julia Chaplin’s “Psychedelic Now” explores the current cross-cultural psychedelic renaissance through text and images. She looks at four different themes and how they have the potential to create a better world—Rainbow Utopists (including A$AP Rocky), Cosmic Technophiles (including Leo Viallareal and Es Develin), Sprititualizers (including Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell) and Afrofuturists (including Kid Kudi and George Clinton).

This product is sold by Assouline

The Four Horsemen: Food + Wine For Good Times

Opening a decade ago, Brooklyn’s acclaimed, Michelin–starred The Four Horsemen restaurant has remained a hotspot for its exquisite food, delicious wine list and laidback, boisterous vibe. Their first cookbook is a pragmatic and user-friendly recipe book that’s separated into predictable categories (meat, seafood, salads + vegetables) and unexpected ones (a bowl of, bread + toast). With a humorous introduction, a section on wine and tempting photos throughout, it’s a warm, casual but impeccable cookbook that just makes sense—much like the restaurant itself.

This product is sold by Abrams Books

Kaikado, a Book Celebrating the Company’s 150th Anniversary

Kaikado was founded in Kyoto in 1875 by Kiyosuke Kaikado, who developed Japan’s first tinplate tea canisters (chazutsu), which offered a significant advantage over traditional earthenware, wood, or copper jars by providing an airtight seal to maintain tea freshness; the company is recognized as the oldest handmade tea canister manufacturer in Japan. Kaikado’s craft and heritage have been passed down through six generations, with Takahiro Yagi currently leading the family workshop, and he’s currently leading the celebration of the company’s 150th anniversary with the debut of Kaikado, a comprehensive and beautiful book created with ERG Media.

This product is sold by ERG Media

Mycelium Wassonii

Mycelium Wassonii, Brian Blomerth’s beautifully illustrated book, shares the story of R. Gordon and Valentina Wasson, the scientists who worked to popularize the benefits of psychedelic mushrooms. Their research and journeys explored Russian folk wisdom, Mazatec indigenous traditions, science and mysticism, all captured through Blometh’s vivid illustrations and storytelling.

This product is sold by Amazon

Meyers Manx 60th Anniversary Coffee Table Book 

CH contributor Basem Wasef is one of the best writers in the automotive space, and its a joy to read the story of Bruce Meyers, inventor of the dune buggy in the 1960s that bore his name. The beautifully designed book is full of color, graphics, new and old photography, and stories that celebrate the man, the company, and its contributions to American culture. Celebrate the journey of this iconic car as it enters a new era.

This product is sold by Meyers Manx

Biblioscents Scented Bookmarks (set of four)

Perk up your books and reading time with Biblioscents scratch and sniff bookmarks made with essential oils. Created by master natural fragrance maker Mandy Aftel. Four bookmarks come in each pack, one each of vetiver, geranium, frankincense, and ginger.

This product is sold by Bookshop.org

PINOT by Wahyu Ichwandardi

The artist Wahyu Ichwandardi goes by the name PINOT, and this 1,000 run limited edition substantial hardcover book celebrates his illustrations, colorful pixel art and more. Wire bound with inserts, inlays and mini flip books make this a work of art in its own right, with multiple reading / viewing experiences. 244 pages, published in 2024.

This product is sold by twelvebooks

Hemingway Paris Adventure Kit + Experience

From our friends at the Nomadic School of Wonder and the Ernest Hemingway Estate, their unique Hemingway Paris Adventure Kit contains A Moveable Feast edited by Sean Hemingway in a limited edition cover, a field journal, sketch book and writing tools, a literary map of Paris in the 1920s, bespoke objects and membership in a unique experiential Hemingway Adventure Club. Through four online Zoom salons in February and March 2025, Hemingway scholar Dr. Hilary Justice will guide you and your fellow adventurers through the author’s time in Paris, bringing the book to life with your unique adventure kit and informed conversation. A truly unique experience for you or that special someone. Your Paris Adventure Kit arrives prior to the first online session.

This product is sold by Nomadic School of Wonder + the Ernest Hemingway Estate

Design: The Leading Hotels of the World

Curated by former Surface editor-in-chief Spencer Bailey, with a foreward by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Paul Goldberger, this coffee table book dissects how 70-plus properties comprising the coveted Leading Hotels of the World collection properties transform architecture into experience. Norman Foster’s sinuous Singapore courtyard, Jacques Garcia’s Parisian indulgences, Axel Vervoordt’s Zen New York penthouses—each space reveals why these properties consistently dominate hospitality and design awards time after time. The book cuts through gloss with candid conversations between Eleven Madison Park’s Daniel Humm and designer Gabriela Hearst, plus sharp insights from design luminaries André Fu, Stephanie Goto, and Samuel Ross. For anyone who grasps that hospitality design shapes how we experience the world’s finest hotels, this is your essential blueprint.

This book is sold by Amazon

Madonna Songbook

A shout out to CH Contributor Giulio Mazzoleni and his new book, Madonna Soundtrack. Having worked with the artist for years he was inspired to tell the stories behind her songs in a comprehensive way for the first time. This compendium covers more than 500 songs from the 1970s on, and features a range of interviews, tour coverage and playlists. This thoroughly researched and meticulously completed book is a must for any Madonna fan.

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John Derian Picture Book II

John Derian’s second Images book features a selection of colorful favorites from his world-class collection, Whether you’re seeking inspiration or beauty you’ll find beautiful illustrations of typography, nature, animals, sailboats and more.

This product is sold by John Derian

The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI

For nineteen year’s Kurzweil’s The Singularity Is Near has been the standard bearer of the future of technology. Most of what he predicted then is now part of our daily lives. The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI is an entirely new book with the same objective. While we’re always up for a fun, light summer read, this has captured our attention as we think about the rapid advancements in AI and how it’s impacting, or soon will be, nearly every aspect of our lives. He shares his views on biotechnology, after life technology, nanotechnology, AI, 3D printing and more. It’s not light or fun, but it’s certain to inform your understanding of the near future.

This product is sold by Viking / Penguin Random House

Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell

A new biography of Joni Mitchell by NPR music critic Ann Powers seeks to share what makes Joni such a beloved, enduring artist. Through her childhood, music, collaborations and musings this “kaleidoscopic in scope, and intimate in its detail” book is number one on our summer reading list.

This product is sold by Amazon

Everything Is Illuminated

When The Other Collection creates an edition of a book you know you are getting one of the most considered, artistic and deeply design nerd experiences in print. For this edition of Jonathan Safran Foer’s multiple award winning  “Everything Is Illuminated,” first released in 2002 when he was 25 years old, TOC called upon Paul Smith to create the book’s jacket. A single drawing was turned into a pattern by Susanna Dulkinys, which looks amazing in letterpress. Type designer René Bieder’s “Vitruv” font was selected to complement Safron’s centuries-spanning story. Their editions are set digitally and their lasersetter then generates letterpress plates which are then run on their 1954 Original Heidelberg Cylinder press. Then there’s the 90 gsm paper by Schleipen Werkdruk & Gmund, a linen wrapped cover and the author’s signature on each of the 998 books in the edition. For you or anyone on your gift list who cares about great books printed in the most thoughtful manner, it’s a considered addition to any library.

This product is sold by The Other Collection

VISITORS

Adam Abdalla, a friend of CH, loves wrestling, and his latest book project documents a “death match” wrestling show at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall in October 2023, the first show created by an American independent wrestling company (Game Changer Wrestling). It featured 20 wrestlers and referees from the US and Mexico. Adam felt there wasn’t enough storytelling in previous efforts, so he recruited his photographer friend Nick Karp to document the event. This limited-edition book of 1,000 copies features 200 pages with images both behind-the-scenes as well as in the ring, and is  being shown during NY Art week (28 April – 5 May 2024). The photographs capture, in graphic detail and with a sense of primal and theatrical expression, this subculture of wrestling. Now available for pre-orders.

All photographs by Nick Karp (they have been cropped for our square format)

This product is sold by Orange Crush Art

Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World

Dr. Todd Boyd’s thorough history of hip hop starts in the 1970s and shares how it has become central to music and American history, impacting nearly every aspect of pop culture since then. For both the informed and those who love today’s hip hop but lack some of the genre’s history, Boyd breaks it down into its key players, defining moments, and sprawling influence.

This product is sold by Amazon

Made Here: Recipes & Reflections From NYC’s Asian Communities

More than a recipe book, Made Here: Recipes & Reflections From NYC’s Asian Communities is a love letter to the chefs, bakers and food vendors that make food in 43 Asian eateries across NYC. Packed with essays that give context to dishes, interviews, illustrations and more, the cookbook spans cuisines and regions. Learn how to make Thai Diner’s som tum, Pecking House’s dirty fried rice, Awang Kitchen’s tahu gejrot, Kuih Cafe’s pulut inti Kuih Cafe, and more. Best of all, 100% of net proceeds go to Send Chinatown Love’s community-focused projects.

This product is sold by Send Chinatown Love

Piero Lissoni Environments

Finally, a complete view of Piero Lissoni’s decades of work across architecture, interior design, furniture, furnishings, graphics, landscape and more. This substantial book, edited by Stefano Casciani, presents the Lissoni & Partners studio work in a well-organized and easy to peruse manner, from The Middle House hotel—our go-to in Shanghai, to the chic Sanlorenzo Yachts SP110 plus working, retail and living environments, there are beautiful images and inspiriting designs to inspire.

This product is sold by Amazon

The Ice Book

Camper English’s latest book breaks down the methods to making clear ice at home. From squares to diamond cuts, inclusions and more—it’s literally everything you need to know about making ice to enjoy and to impress. Aside from its visual appeal, clear ice also melts more slowly and is surprisingly easy to work with.

This product is sold by Indiana University Press

The Atlas of Car Design: The World’s Most Iconic Cars

650 of the world’s most iconic cars—from 30 countries and 190 manufacturers—are presented in this comprehensive design-focused survey. Written by Jason Barlow with Guy Bird and an introduction by Brett Berk, it’s as much an authoritative reference book as it is design inspiration for novices or simply a nice addition to a coffee table. Organized by country and decade, it provides helpful insight into historical design trends. It’s currently available for preorder.

This product is available on Amazon