Bird watching. photograph. great outdoors. Big Mac.
Likely to be non-fiction the book there To suit almost anyone around you holiday gift list.
Some ideas:
for puzzle lovers
Imagine a world without cell phones, the Internet, and the New York Times (digital or print). Will your favorite puzzler survive? The good folks at The Times have the perfect thing to put in the bunker. “Puzzle Mania!” A stylish hardcover book filled with Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Mini and more. By Joel Fagliano, The Times’ Puzzle Editor. Author stock. $38.
contemporary art
Painting, collage, photography, sculpture, performance. Derrick Adams has embraced them all in a career spanning more than 25 years. his first book, “Derrick Adams” It includes 150 works that explore black American culture and his own identity. There are many portraits. There is joy, leisure, resilience, and a touch of humor in everyday experiences and reflections. Monacelli. $79.95.
steph curry inspiration
“Getting ready to shoot takes practice, training, and repetition, but that effort is rewarded with an unparalleled and transcendent feeling.” That’s what Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry says in his new book. “Shot Ready” Basketball Stars takes readers from rookies to veterans with inspiring quotes and photos. You don’t have to be interested in basketball to appreciate the game. One world. $50.
western america
Photographer Frank S. Matzula died in 1913, but his work lives on in vast archives. He is a Japanese immigrant who chronicled his life in Alaska and the Okanogan region of Washington state. He ran a photography studio frequented by the indigenous people of the area. Many of those portraits are “Frank S. Matsula: Iconoclastic Photographer of the American West” Edited by Michael Holloman. Princeton Architectural Press. $40.
talking bird gift
Cheeseburger, cheeseburger! useful little book “Bird Story” aims to make identifying bird calls fun without heavy phonetic descriptions or bird jargon. Written and illustrated by Becca Rowland, this is a fun and easy way to identify calls using what our brains already have. Therefore, the black-capped chickadee cries, “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger.” Story Publishing. $16.99.
mocktails and cocktails
David Burtka is calm. His husband, Neil Patrick Harris, also drinks. They love to throw parties together. This elf book is “Both sides of glass” It includes easy-to-follow cocktail and mocktail recipes, with commentary from Harris, who took lessons in mixology out of a pure love of delicious drinks. Co-written with Zoe Chapin. Plume. $35.
It’s a book. It’s a hamburger.
The book, with a cover design reminiscent of a Big Mac, is a work of international journalism that won two James Beard Awards in 2025 for writer and photographer Gary He, who previously freelanced for the Associated Press and self-published the book. He conducted research by visiting McDonald’s restaurants around the world. “Makatras: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches” In social anthropology, that helps. $49.95.
love of yosemite
From the cute yet ferocious river otter to the nocturnal glider of the Humboldt flying squirrel, this impressive book is the first comprehensive work dedicated to the park’s animal kingdom in more than a century. “Yosemite’s Wildlife: The Animal Wonders of California’s Sierra Nevada.” It includes over 300 photos and covers over 150 species. Written by Beth Pratt, Photographed by Rob Hirsch. Yosemite Preserve. $60.
Samin Nosrat’s new book
Samin Nosrat reveals himself in the highly anticipated second book from the chef and author of the acclaimed Salt Fat Acid Heat. Her first book was 17 years in the making. As a result, she explains: “Good thing” It was a struggle that included overwhelming loss due to the death of several people close to her and a bout of depression that almost consumed her whole. Here, she rediscovers why she, and others, cook in the first place. The recipes are simple and her observations are helpful. You can taste happiness in every bite. Penguin Random House. $45.
chapel lawn
She struggled in the music game for years before becoming a star in 2024. Chapel Lawn’s drag-queen style, big vocals, and queer pride earned her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Now, just in time for the holiday season, a lovely little book has been published that tells her origin story. “Chapel Lawn: The Rise of a Midwestern Princess” Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Dibs Baer, Patrick Crowley, Izzy Grinspan, J’na Jefferson, Ilana Kaplan, and Samantha Olson contributed text. Hearst Home. $30.
snoop’s homemade food
For weed lovers who love to eat, “Snoop Dogg Snacks” We offer 55 recipes that can be made with or without cannabis. Enthusiasts offer tips on how to use everything from tinctures to gummies, cookies to cannabutter. Perhaps a hearty milkshake or buttermilk pancakes with stoner syrup. Chronicle Books. $27.95.
muse of style
With her effortless beauty and tousled hair and bangs, Jane Birkin effortlessly transitioned from her swinging London roots in the early 1960s to a muse of culture and style for decades. She lent a bohemian charm to everything she did, from acting to singing to liberal activism. And she is famous for being the muse of the Hermès Birkin bag. new “Jane Birkin: A Style Icon” Covers everything about Birkin. Written by Sophie Gachet. Abrams book. $65.
See more Taylor Swift
All those easter eggs. All those songs. It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and we’re just seeing and hearing it all. Swift has been popping up everywhere lately, including her engagement to Travis Kelsey, touring with Ella, and now on “The Life of a Showgirl.” add to pile “All Taylor Swift songs” A guide to the lyrics, origins, production, and secret messages of every song except the “Showgirls” track. Written by Damien Somville and Marine Benoit. Black Dog & Leventhal. $60.
Are you a theater fan?
What is the heart of American theater? Broadway, of course. Theater historian Teal Dvornik, known on social media as “Broadway Blonde,” has written a handy little history of New York’s theater district. “The Hidden History Around Broadway” She goes theater by theater, providing behind-the-scenes footage of the venues themselves, the shows that took place there, and Broadway highlights through the ages. running press. $25.
Christmas baking, Gilded Age style
sugar plum. They are real! Fans of ‘The Gilded Age’ will be eating it up, because they know better “The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook.” It includes lots of sweets, culinary history and old-fashioned charm from the time. For the record, sugar plums date back to the 1600s, when they were basically sugar. By the Gilded Age, beginning in the late 1800s, it was made from chopped dried figs, nuts, powdered sugar, and brandy. Yes, please. Written by Becky Librell Diamond. Grove Pequot. $34.95.
eternal flower
Do you know a crafter? Know a flower lover? in “A flower that blooms forever” Floral artist Leila Robinson offers more than 25 projects that focus on the use of dried flowers. She includes festive flower crowns, table displays, wreaths, and arrangements with buds and branches. Her step-by-step guidance is easy to understand. Robinson also teaches them how to forage and dry flowers. Hachette Möbius. $35.
michelle obama style
Brown polyester dress with plaid skirt and Peter Pan collar. This is the first fashion statement Michelle Obama can remember making when she was in kindergarten. Stylistically, it was up there and away from it. The former first lady has published a book full of photos. “Appearance” A behind-the-scenes look at her style and beauty choices. Crown. $50.
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For more information about the AP Gift Guide and holiday offers, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/gift-guide and https://apnews.com/hub/holidays.
