With a name like Sebastian Faulks, you might think it was one of the series’ characters authoring the new James Bond novel, but alas Faulks is real and he’s done a bang-up job with Devil May Care.

The latest chapter in the spy’s life takes us to the outskirts of Paris where an Algerian drug runner is executed. Bond is then recalled from his sabbatical in Rome to shadow Dr. Julius Gorner who’s pharamaceutical empire has taken a turn towards opium related drugs, legal and illegal. The female accomplice, is Scarlett Papava. A Parisian who we undoubtedly is described as a woman with limitless… facets.

Lest you think this is set in modern-day times, Faulks has taken off right were Ian Flemming left Bond, the Cold War. A welcome turn, in my opinion.

Cost: $17 @ Amazon

You’re a great guy, friendly, dependable, easy to get along with, fun to work with. Ever feel like something is missing? Maybe you want more in your life - more money, more women, more attention, and the bravado that goes along with it. There’s nothing wrong with who you are, but let’s face it, you’re tired of always being the nice guy. Ready to do something about it? Well, Martin Kihn has the answer for you. His new book Asshole: How I Got Rich & Happy by Not Giving a Damn About Anyone, and How You Can, Too provides a satirical look at what your life can be like as, well, an asshole.

Kihn, a self-proclaimed nice guy, tells you how he became an aggressive jerk. Set in a New York office environment, the author develops a 10-step program for becoming the type of person he needs to be in order to win a promotion. The transformation that takes place is both insightful and ironic, and you’re sure to laugh along the way.

What this means to you: The team here at Gear Patrol are a bunch of nice guys. We don’t encourage you to become an asshole. That said, this book is downright hilarious.

Cost: $15 @ Amazon

Spring and early summer are here and that means three things:

1. Women begin the parade of skirts, shorts and other skin revealing ensembles
2. Golf bags are out of the closets and on deck in car trunks
3. Wedding season

Ah yes, wedding season… the perennial joy of buying gifts, looking happy to see people you could care less about, eyeing well dressed women trying to guess which ones are single, and standing in bewilderment as people laugh at unrelate-able nostalgia. Some men embrace it, others don’t. If you’re a groom may we hope you’re not the latter of these two, but may we also suggest this book.

Get some irreverent advice from Shandon Fowler as he guides you through the perils, joys and customs of the life test, that is, a wedding. A perfect fit for your buddy that just got engaged.

What this means to you: The tagline of The Groom’s Instruction Manual says it all: “How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Most Bewildering Ceremony Known to Man”.

What this means to you:

Cost: $16 @ Quirkbooks
Cost: $11 @ Amazon

Hywel Davies’s book is on a subject we find critical in men’s style, menswear. Don’t suppress your surprise please.

If your primary domicile for the past decade hasn’t been a cave then you’ve noticed that men’s dress is important. Dynamic, casual, relaxed, sharp - menswear has become a hotbed of disposable income. It’s no longer just a suits and shorts. It’s throwing a sport jacket over cardigan with madras shorts and driving mocs or for this writer a comfortable pair of chinos and a striped polo with sandals. Oh, and doing either without looking like an ass.

Davies has showcased fashion leaders, profiling big names and emerging talent from across the world. Designers featured include Marc Jacobs, Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood, and John Galliano. All providing an insight into their design processes and their contribution to the contemporary fashion aesthetic.

Cost: $26 @ Amazon

The manual to help you answer style and lifestyle questions is back. The editors at esquire have an all-new book for 2007 called the Big Black Book and it’s chock full of information, tips, steps on everything from drinks to suits to travel. Not unlike a certain website you’re reading now.

Amazon describes it as

“This luxury brand extension is innovative and leverages Esquire’s status as the original lifestyle magazine for discerning men. Its elegant and visually rich format brings Esquire’s great equity as a style arbitrator to the modern and successful man. The tone is exclusive. Intelligent service edit is the key ingredient and provides a unique point of distinction. The Big Black Book is about luxury items and experiences that have clear value and meaning for men.”

It is truly the one resource no modern man should be without.”

What this means to you: Whether or not you buy books and magazines, this is 10 dollars well spent to getting you upgraded and outfitted.

$10 @ Esquire