Endangered 

Give this book to everyone who likes animals, photography, or the planet. If you don’t know any people in those categories, avoid this book at all costs.

Critical Critters 

Steadman and Levi draw attention to endangered animals with humor and art. Know a conservationist? You’ve found the gift for them.

Ungrateful Mammals 

Do you have a loved one with a bizarre sense of humor? Get that person this book.

Treat! 

Give the gift of giggles this holiday season! Once you start turning pages you won’t be able to hold back your joy at seeing these pups in mid-treat poses. Shop dog-approved!

The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion–Surprising Observations of a Hidden World

Sing, Unburied, Sing 

Winner of the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction! This is a beautifully written story of a family’s struggle through poverty, prison, and drugs, bound together by the tremendous protection of the love they feel for one another. If you’re lucky, you’ll come out of the experience with more compassion for the human condition. For people who want to be changed by what they read.

Lincoln in the Bardo

A peculiar historical fiction book for readers who want to branch out. Also for anyone who reads the “best of the best” — this book won the 2017 Man Booker Prize!

Chemistry 

Weike Wang was named to the prestigious “5 Under 35” list of young authors honored by the National Book Foundation, and for good reason. You’ll fall in love with the unique narrative voice, dry humor, and emotional truth in this slim book. Give it to your type-A friends — they’ll relate.

Little Fires Everywhere 

The picture-perfect Richardsons of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and the mother-daughter duo who upend their lives: these characters populate a novel perfect for the literary fiction fan who enjoys moral dilemmas.

Pachinko

A finalist for the National Book Award, now in paperback just in time for the holidays! This family saga is perfect for the person who wants to WOW their book club.

American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West 

Give this as necessary reading to the nature lover, environmentalist, or fan of wolves in your life. Or anyone interested in a good ol’ well-told story.

All Our Wrong Todays 

The physical book is great; the audiobook is phenomenal. Perfect for the person who has a long drive home after the holidays. (Grab it on a CD or listen via the Libro.fm audiobook app — it’s easy and it supports indie bookstores!)

Catalina

This novel is the perfect blend of witty, smart, unique AND under-the-radar — which makes it the perfect gift for your 20-something niece, nephew, wife, etc. who has read absolutely everything already. And it’s set in LA!

Artemis 

Give it to anyone who loved the The Martian (book or movie).

Perfect Little World 

Newly out in paperback! Full of Wilson’s trademark wit and dry sense of humor, Wilson’s follow-up to The Family Fang will simultaneously break your heart and make you laugh. With this fun balance, Perfect Little World makes a great gift for any member of the family — you can’t go wrong here.

The Blinds 

For the adult in your life who has already finished season two of Stranger Things and loved Jim Hopper the most. A little more Western than ’80s nostalgia, this is a fabulous mystery for those who like a touch of strangeness in their stories. Something sinister is happening in The Blinds, but there is a good chance it was there from the very beginning.

A Darker Shade of Magic Collector’s Edition

Do you enjoy swashbuckling? Thievery? Wit? Intrigue? Magic? Creeping darkness? Peculiar coats? If you answered yes to any of those questions, please do not leave this bookstore without a copy of this gorgeous collector’s edition of V.E. Schwab’s smashing first book in her Shades of London trilogy. If you answered no to any of those questions, please re-evaluate your life choices immediately.

Old Man’s War 

No, it’s not new — but listen: this is a perfect stocking stuffer for sci-fi lovers of all kinds. This classic delivers a wonderful combination of charm and sharp, refreshing wit. Give the gift that keeps on giving: a love of John Scalzi’s work.

To Capture What We Cannot Keep 

For historical fiction readers who want to try a new time period, I love this novel centered around the construction of the Eiffel Tower. Now out in paperback!

For lots more fiction favorites, scroll through past issues of our Staff Picks column here on Musing!  Among our many best-loved literary fiction titles of 2017, you’ll find:

• The Leavers by Lisa Ko
• The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott
• Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
• Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
• Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor
• Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
• Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
• Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta

• A Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre
• Glass Houses by Louise Penny
• Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites 

For your friend who likes to look at the delicious pictures more than she actually likes to cook. (Of course, you can cook from this excellent cookbook!)

Salad for President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists 

Salad: the nonpartisan choice for the greens-eater in your life. It’s a really beautiful book, too. Get one for yourself and display it in your kitchen.

Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South 

Give this to anyone who fell in love with Vivian Howard and her food on the PBS series A Chef’s Life. Or anyone who loves to cook really good Southern food. (Or anyone, like me, who just loves reading GORGEOUS cookbooks.)

BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts 

This is the cookbook of my DREAMS. Perfect for the passionate baker.

The Southern Foodways Alliance Guide to Cocktails 

For the mindful drinker in your life, this book is packed with more than 100 cocktail recipes from the South, essays about Southern drinking culture, and some snack recipes too!

Paladares: Recipes from the Private Restaurants, Home Kitchens, and Streets of Cuba 

The dining culture in Cuba is unique, and some of the most exciting, vibrant food is coming out of its private restaurants. For the adventurous, meat-loving cook on your list!

The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook: 120+ Everyday Recipes for the Healthy Home Cook 

Get this for the folks who enjoy cooking but not mile-long ingredient lists. Laura Lea is a local chef and truly a food wizard. I started with her Turmeric Tahini Cauliflower and haven’t looked back.

Autentico: Cooking Italian, the Authentic Way 

Pok Pok the Drinking Food of Thailand: A Cookbook 

Old-Fashioned Economical Cooking: Healthy Culinary Ideas on a Budget 

Dining in: Highly Cookable Recipes 

The “Best” of 2017

There are lots of best-of series and special editions to choose from. A stack of these makes a can’t-go-wrong gift for that person who has already read everything. Surely there’s something in here they’ve missed!

• The Best American Short Stories 2017
• The Best American Essays 2017
• Best American Poetry 2017
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2017
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2017
• The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017
• The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2017
• The Best American Travel Writing 2017
• The Best American Sports Writing 2017
• The Best American Comics 2017

Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship 

Father Greg is the founder of L.A.’s Homeboy Industry. Think Thistle Farms on a massive scale. He meets the suffering of the world with fierce love and sense. He’s also a world class storyteller. Give this to everyone. (And if you’ve got a drive coming up, get the audiobook on Libro.fm, as I just did. It’s perfect for listening.)

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating 

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body 

Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News 

The subtitle of this one really says it all. A finalist for the National Book Award, Bunk would make a great gift for the inquiring mind or anyone with a love of sometimes unbelievable truths.

What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism 

After a year filled with division, this slim volume is a beacon of hope leading us forward. There’s a chapter called “Books.” Give this to an idealist you admire.

Holidays on Ice 

You do have this classic in your home, right? In my nerdy family, we were all required to read something aloud on Christmas Eve — but everyone got to choose their reading. Introducing this completely inappropriate book into the mix was a game-changer; no one could stop laughing. My dad guffawed. I think sometimes we laughed so hard, we forgot to go to midnight Mass. This one also makes for a fabulous listening experience — give someone a membership to the Libro.fm audiobook app and make this their first download.

(And of course, make sure to give all the Sedaris fans in your life a copy of Theft By Finding, his fantastic volume of journals released this year!)

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life

Shout-out to the Tinder generation: Pick this book for the funny people in your life, especially those who have ever had to swipe right to find their soulmate.

The Year of Magical Thinking 

Another classic for anyone who needs it at this time of year . . . The holidays can be hard. I read this memoir years ago and thought it beautiful, but didn’t really get it until this year. “Grief, when it comes, is nothing we expect it to be.” A fresh copy makes a great gift for anyone who loved this year’s new documentary about Joan Didion, The Center Will Not Hold.

South and West: From a Notebook 

While you’re at it, make sure the Didion-fans in your life have a copy of her latest book, newly released excerpts from a notebook she kept on a roadtrip with her husband John Gregory Dunne in 1970.

Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve And/Or Ruin Everything 

Smart and funny! From fusion to androids, Soonish unwraps the future with just the right combination of fact and humor.

American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World

Having experienced totality once, I’m now an official eclipse-chaser. This captures the ‘magic and awe’ of this incredible wonder. Give it to anyone who shares the obsession.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry 

Who couldn’t stand to learn more about astrophysics? And who isn’t in hurry?

Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery 

After I heard an interview with Scott Kelly on NPR I couldn’t wait to read his fascinating story of his year in space.

Where the Animals Go: Tracking Wildlife with Technology in 50 Maps and Graphics 

How to Read Nature: Awaken Your Senses to the Outdoors You’ve Never Noticed 

On Trails: An Exploration 

Pair this with the 2018 Radnor Lake Calendar (available in-store) or Sierra Club planner and satisfy the nature-minded person in your life.

Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City’s Creative Heart 

Living in a Paris state of mind is my New Year’s resolution. This is the perfect ticket to start my “trip.” Give it to your favorite Francophile.

Atlas of Improbable Places: A Journey to the World’s Most Unusual Corners 

For the armchair traveler: A journey into the world’s lost cities, remote corners and extraordinary environments. Accompanied by stunning, unique illustrations, this is the world with all its obscurities, displayed like never before.

Leonardo Da Vinci 

Do you have an art or history lover on your list? This book has both covered. This is the biography of the original and unmatched Renaissance man. Text thoughtfully interspersed with color illustrations.

Grant 

I’m not typically a nonfiction reader, but last winter I read Alexander Hamilton and was surprised at how engaging Chernow’s writing was. Grant is much the same. Informative, excellently written, it will keep Civil War history buffs as well as new-to-nonfiction readers glued to the page.

Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit

For history and political buffs: Chris Matthews gives a refreshing look at Bobby Kennedy’s life, from forgotten son to tragic run for President. His extensive research and deep understanding of the Irish Catholic community provide a personal look at a man who was that rare combination of pragmatist and idealist.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI 

The Vietnam War: An Intimate History 

• Freud: The Making of an Illusion by Frederick Crews
• True Gentlemen: The Broken Pledge of America’s Fraternities by John Hechinger
• We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Bunny Mellon: The Life of an American Style Legend by Meryl Gordon

The Arena: Inside the Tailgating, Ticket-Scalping, Mascot-Racing, Dubiously Funded, and Possibly Haunted Monuments of American Sport 

For every sports fan who has ever stopped to wonder: how DO they coordinate the fighter jet flyover with the national anthem?

Fire on the Track: Betty Robinson and the Triumph of the Early Olympic Women 

Check this out, sporting enthusiasts: Montillo reveals the remarkable stories of those who blazed the trail for women’s athletics. A fascinating look at the courage and determination of woman like Betty Robinson who overcame physical and social obstacles to triumph on the track and change the course of Olympic history.

Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World

Give it to the young professional in your life and/or the person who has the Tim Ferriss Show in their podcast feed. Who doesn’t need more mentors? Success tips from 100 folks at the top of their game in art, science, entertainment and more.

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact 

For anyone who works in retail, plans events, is a teacher, runs a business, or in any way serves fellow human beings, this is a business book with real-life relevance, and — like all the Heath brothers’ books — is actually fun to read.

The Jacksons: Legacy 

Kick back and listen to the Jackson 5 Christmas album while flipping through the pictures and stories from one of the greatest musical groups of all time. Perfect for the Motown lover.

Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll 

This came out last year, but it’s essential that nobody miss it: an excellent biography on one of the most iconic record producers in the history of rock n’ roll. One of the earliest names from Sun Records’ historic log, Phillips amassed an extensive list of impressive names such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and many more. A great gift for any music fanatic interested in emergence of the record business.

For You to See the Stars (Book + CD)

Anyone who went to Sewanee needs this collection of short stories with accompanying music. So does anyone who loves songwriters with a literary bent.

The Sun and Her Flowers

For the woman who needs some poetry to find and make her way in the world.

Books Make a Home: Elegant Ideas for Storing and Displaying Books 

For the book hoarder on your list. (Maybe that’s you.) This book is full of inspirational home libraries.

This Land: An American Portrait 

This big, gorgeous coffee table book of Spencer’s photographs from around the U.S. is the ideal hostess gift or a stunning addition to any living room. Bonus: We’ve got signed copies!

Hamilton: The Revolution 

For all those Hamilton-lovers who want to learn more about the making of their favorite musical.

Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons series 

From whale songs to dust, these beautiful little books are a crash course in the mundane and bizarre. Give Password to your techie friend, Personal Stereo to your nostalgic uncle, Earth to the environmentalist on your list.

Legendary Authors and the Clothes They Wore 

A perfect gift for the fashionable nerd in your life.

Marvel Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the Marvel Universe 

A gift to knock the socks off the comic book nerd you love. Bonus: They’ll be able to fact-check all the movies and shows.

DC Comics Encyclopedia All-New Edition 

Heroes of Tolkien 

For everyone who grew up on Tolkien: a beautiful special edition full of your favorite heroes. This belongs out on a table where people can pick it up.

The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong . . . and You Can Too! 

This book is NOT a joke! Excellent, easily-done exercises for anyone of any age.

Blitt 

A must for the lover of political satire in your life. Barry Blitt is a legendary political cartoonist with more than 100 New Yorker covers under his belt. This book is a hoot, with delightful full color illustrations throughout.

The Sewanee Night Before Christmas 

A brand new Sewanee book for both young ones and us older alums. Beautiful art by Christi Teasley.

The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine 

This book was put together from notes left by Mark Twain describing a story he told his children. With gorgeous, magical illustrations from Philip and Erin Stead, this longer picture book is perfect for adults who love sharing a good story with young readers. Give it to a grownup with children in their life.

Paradise Lost: A Graphic Novel 

For the art lover as well as the classical literature enthusiast, Pablo Auladell’s illustrations of Paradise Lost are hauntingly beautiful and give full life to Milton’s lasting work. You do not want to overlook this incredible work of art.

Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: Fifty Years of New York Magazine 

Know anyone with their nose in a New York magazine most of the time? (You?) Let this be their new bible.

The First Editions Club