Gear Patrol

The Masters of Cinema Seriesare essential introductions to the world’s most renowned directors. Each book is written by contributors to the famous Cahiers du Cinéma magazine, and feature over a 100 images of film stills, set photographs, and posters — many of which have never been seen. Organized chronologically, film lovers can also read brief…

In American Assassin ($15), the 12th effort from #1 New York Times, best selling author Vince Flynn takes his signature character, Mitch Rapp (think Bourne but cooler) back to the beginning of his career, before he was a reaper of death feared all over the world. After the tragic loss of a loved one to…

After several postponements, The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back ($51) has finally been released. Author J.W. Rinzler has surpassed his previous work with this edition, and like the movie it chronicles, it’s even better than the first. The 362 page book is packed with everything a casual or avid fan could ask…

There’s no doubt that the creative minds behind blockbuster feature animations like Kung Fu Panda, The Lord of the Rings Two Towers, and Finding Nemo are incredibly talented. But, do you ever find yourself wondering how these artists use their skills when they’re not doodling Scottish ogres? Reading Moonshine: Dreamworks Artists… After Dark! ($14) is…

Earth: A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race ($15) is like Jon Stewart’s previous book America (The Book), except, instead of ripping on the good ol’ US of A, The Daily Show has the entire planet in their irreverent and witty sights. Filled with page after page of hilarious infographics mocking just about every aspect…

Feeling like your title as resident movie expert is in doubt? Then a quick read through a copy of the Cult Movie Quote Book ($10) should help you set the record straight. Filled with quotes from must see films like Easy Rider, Taxi Driver, Alfie, and the original Italian Job, it’s a perfect gift for…

For some, a vacation is supposed to be an adventure, and nothing’s worse than realizing you’ve spent your hard-earned dough and precious holiday time in a tourist trap. That’s why Rough Guides were developed. If you’re looking to go off the beaten path, these guides are the perfect travel companion for a news and picture…

Finally, a book that celebrates two of our favorite things: wine and dogs. Photographers Andrea Jacoby and Marjorie Adams recently published Winery Dogs of New York ($40), the fourth and latest edition in a collection of books about dogs that work and play at wineries. The vino-loving, canine-adoring couple visited over 70 New York State…

The absurdist humor of the Brits is the stuff of Pythonic legend, and it lives on in the pages of this brilliant piece of literature: Britain’s traditional traffic handbook as reinvented by the boys of Top Gear. Filled with unbridled sarcasm, general silliness, and automotive expertise, you need only peruse the index to find page…

Though the expression is cliché, the freedom that we enjoy in America has always come at a high price. Gary William’s biography of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, and Purple Heart, is a meditation on the sacrifice and dedication exhibited by those who have served…

$60 By Kevin Zack

Whether you’re aware of it or not, there’s a growing debate in the U.S. over food. Led by writers like Michael Pollan, the so-called “Food Movement” questions America’s dietary habits and the production practices we’ve adopted to sustain them. In a similar vein, the New York Times seafood writer (yes they actually have one on…

Alan Flusser, author of recognized men’s style books and permanent member of the International Best-Dressed List (yes, there’s a list for that), has recently published his most recent book, Style and the Man ($10). Essentially an abridged variation of Dressing the Man, The Art of Permanent Fashion (a general reference resource at Gear Patrol), continues…

If you enjoy BBQ in any form whatsoever it’s imperative you own BBQ 25 by Adam Perry Lang. Lang, a classically French-trained chef is a modern-day BBQ savant. His words are simple, his methods foolproof. The results, incomparable. Here, Lang’s collection are 25 of the most popular BBQ recipes and used in 95% percent of…

D.I.Y.ers, builders, geeks, mechanics, wood workers, and all around fiddlers aren’t the type who normally need an excuse to find something to do. In the rare instance that your creation queue is dwindling though, picking up a copy of The Best of Make ($24) should keep you busy for at least a week or two….

The world of high stake, high-profile theft has been glamorized by Hollywood for decades. But what is it actually like? Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures ($15) is a look back on the career of Robert K. Wittman who is the founder of the FBI’s Art Crime Team and has…

Besides a title that gets your mouth watering, Ribs, Chops, Steaks, & Wings ($14) has a singular focus on our favorite food group: meat. 40 simple meat-centric recipes make up this 132 page book. Everything from veal chops Oscar, to filet mignon, to Southern fall-off-the-bone spare ribs. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe also takes you through…

There’s nothing like a good distraction to keep people from mulling over a void in their lives. Depressed Losties struggling to make sense of their Tuesday evenings now that all of the answers are out there should heed this advice and seriously think about pre-ordering the Lost Encyclopedia ($27). Scheduled to hit shelves everywhere on…

Ask yourself; what would you do if you saw a naked women running for her life down a gridlocked LA freeway? Seriously. If you’re anything like Rail Black, then you’d rush to the rescue. What our protagonist didn’t realize though is has initiated a globe spanning, murder-mystery adventure. The problem is, Black doesn’t have a…

Baseball is America’s past time (if you don’t count Facebook or eating), and that shows no sign of stopping. Will Leitch who is the founding editor of Deadspin.com as well as a contributing editor for New York magazine wrote Are We Winning? in part to commemorate his father and in part for his love of…

As a dad and as something of a geek, it’s only natural that this editor would be a fan of Wired’s GeekDad blog. It’s a parenting site like no other, as a visit is likely to kindle your nostalgic passions and to inspire you to help the next generation connect with their geek-magination. Now the…

Anyone who doesn’t have a sprawling home of their own keenly understands the impact clever design can have on maximizing space. If you’re running short on ideas though of what to personally do to squeeze the most out of your lair, this book may be your new Bible. Written by Maxwell Gllingham-Ryan whose claim to…

Following the cult-success of Seagalogy: A Study of the Ass-Kicking Films of Steven Seagal, Vern (full name) has released his second book, the equally short-titled Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer!: Writings on Bruce Willis, Badass Cinema and Other Important Topics ($10). Focused on over-the-top action film genre, Vern’s witerary, laugh out loud, style on cinema reviews (and…

Love it or hate it, Facebook has become a world wide online phenomenon. Veteran technology reporter David Kirkpatrick wanted to tell the company’s tale like never before, and enlisted the cooperation of Facebook’s key executives in his research. Don’t assume it’s all roses though. In fact what really caught our eye about this book was…

In a similar move to Shit My Dad Says, the viral internet meme Awkwardfamilyphotos.com has now released a book. Featuring never-before-seen photos, and hilarious stories on just about every uncomfortable family situation you can imagine, it’s a great benchmark to judge your own family by. It also makes Clark Griswald’s life seem amateur. Considering Mother’s…

Active Twitter users may already be well aware of the account of 28 year old Justin Halpern, known as @shitmydadsays. Started after he was dumped by his girlfriend and moved back in with his parents at the age of 28, Justin began sharing with the world his 74 year old father’s foul mouthed nuggets of…

As part of a series of books from The London Museum of Design, Fifty Cars That Changed the World ($14) examines the evolution of the modern era’s most important mode of transportation: the automobile (sorry Dean Kamen it’s not the Segway). Starting in 1908 with the Ford Model T and ending in 1998 with the…

Set an alternate America, a dark one, The Army of the Republic weaves a scary thought: what if our country found itself run rampant with a corrupt government and greedy businesses controlling its citizens through privatized public resources and a secret security force with limitless control. Cohen’s enthralling (f not somewhat politically charged) narrative follows…

Great works of non-fiction often stand out because they make detailed examinations of even the most obscure topics fascinating. Cartographies of Time: A History of the Timeline ($32) certainly follows this pattern and will appeal to anyone with a love of history or design. Lavishly illustrated and packed with historical documentation, this book examines the…

The attention put into product design is something most consumers ignore. Sure it’s easy to pick up on the design work put into things like the iPad, Hennessey Venom GT, or the beer belly, but the reality is that just about every product out there today was (hopefully) made with some degree of tedium to…