Skip to Content

Books

Win A Copy of Outrageous Yachts

outrageous yachtsWhen a book is called Outrageous Yachts it has a lot to live up to. The latest publication from Vendome Press celebrates some of the world's most lavishly decadent floating palaces. The book features luxury yachts that are special for one reason or another, for beauty, speed, technological advancement and more. The book includes the classically extravagant Christina O which was owned by Aristotle Onassis as well as more modern beauties like the Maltese Falcon and the 118 WallyPower. The book profiles 21 yachts in detail with gorgeous color photographs of the exterior and interior of each yacht both close up and from a distance. Outrageous Yachts provides information about the yachts' builders and designers. The book's stunning shots of teak decks and graceful bows slicing through the water bring the world of yachting up close. We are giving away one copy of this book to a reader chosen at random.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before November 13, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a copy of Outrageous Yachts valued at $50.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

The Classicist: Celebrating the English Country House


We have always been entranced by the history, both cultural and architectural, of the grand country houses of England. The London-based magazine Country Life has long been the essential chronicle of these iconic estates, having featured a different country house in each weekly issue since it was founded back in 1897 and advertised many hundreds more in its property pages. A stunning new book, The English Country House, by Mary Miers from Rizzoli is sourced from the magazine's incredible archives. More than 400 images, mostly in color, highlight 62 houses encompassing a range of architectural styles spanning seven centuries beginning with the medieval Stokesay Castle and also examining the decoration, gardens, and landscapes, settings that inspire a continuing tradition of sporting style via country pursuits pursued with panache such as hunting and shooting, as well as whole schools of interior design.

As a result of its famous series of beautifully illustrated and authoritative articles, Country Life amassed an "astonishing library of photography and scholarship that provides a fascinating record of changing tastes and approaches to the country house and its garden over the past century," Miers notes. The book is illustrated almost entirely with images from its famous picture library, many of them by leading photographers of their day. The focus is not on the world-famous palaces that have now become museums, but rather the sort of houses to which Country Life has had privileged access over the years, many of which are still private homes often occupied by descendants of the families that built them. In the gallery you can preview photos from the book of Parnham House in Dorset, Honington Hall in Warwickshire, Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, and Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire.



Spanning more than seven centuries, these houses were nearly all built as an "expression of status at the center of a landed estate, many interpreting the mainstream architectural trends of the day with their own distinctive provincial character," Miers notes. "They celebrate that rich seam of English domestic architecture that reflects, through a variety of material and design, the diversity of the English landscape and its regional traditions of craftsmanship." Punctuating the book at intervals in the form of booklet inserts on rich, uncoated paper are six essays by leading British architectural historians that set the English country house into its social context and chart "the changing tastes in decorating and collecting, the development of ancillary buildings, gardens and landscapes, and finally, its influence in the United States" in our own magnates' mansions.

Country Houses, Rural Dwellings & Wooded Retreats


Twenty rural retreats spanning the breadth of North America and over a century of architectural and social history are featured in author and photographer Bret Morgan's stylish new book Rustic. Examples include the Ames Gate Lodge, H. H. Richardson's "sublime pile of boulders" in Massachusetts; Camp Topridge, Marjorie Merriweather Post's rustic luxe compund in the Adirondacks; the Arts and Crafts masterpiece Charles Millard Pratt House in southern California; Fortune Rock, George Howe's striking modernist home on the coast of Maine; Robert A. M. Stern's nostalgic Spruce Lodge, hidden high in the Colorado Rockies; and Ledge House, Peter Bohlin's vision of rustic modernism in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. All exemplify an "artfully informal aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of the natural world."

160 Years of Maritime Photography


Pierre Borhan, former director of photography for the French Ministry of Culture, presents a compelling anthology of maritime photography since 1843 in his beautiful new book, The Sea. The slipcased volume features 300 color and black and white images ranging from historical photos, documentary photos, and art photos to archival works and pictures taken in the present day. Images include striking seascapes and perspectives, including lonely lighthouses, bustling port towns, early explorations of Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, and abstract compositions of waves,
water, and light by some of the world's best-known photographers. It makes a perfect gift for lovers of all things related to water and the ocean.

The History of Rock & Roll Photography


Gail Buckland's new book Who Shot Rock & Roll is the first to truly explore the extraordinary work of the photographers who captured the "energy, intoxication, rebellion, and magic" of rock, with images of icons ranging from Elton John to Led Zeppelin, Bjork to Janis Joplin, and James Brown to John Lennon, that have become icons unto themselves. Featuring more than 250 photos, including many rare and never-before-seen images, Who Shot Rock & Roll is an unparalleled compendium of portraits, live concert shots, behind-the-scenes snaps, and studio work selected for their aesthetic quality and power. The extended captions tell stories from the photographers, including everyone from Bib Gruen to Richard Avedon and David LaChappelle, that reveal their role as both "creative collaborators and tireless journalists."

Covering 1955 to the present, "Who Shot Rock & Roll is a silent window into a world of sound," Buckland says. "There are photographs of crowds and fans reminiscent of the great historical paintings of battle scenes where bodies blend and bend and faces radiate with what can only be described as transcendence. Snapshots reveal the passion, ambition, and insecurity of aspiring young musicians. There are portraits of godheads, objects of mass adoration; the best could hang next to paintings of Renaissance princes, so similar are these royals with their finery, wealth, and power." An accompanying exhibit just opened at the Brooklyn Museum and will run through the end of January and before traveling across the country through 2011.

Spike Lee to Sign "Design for Obama" at Taschen Store New York


It is hard to believe that it is already the first anniversary of Barack Obama's election as the first African-American President of the United States. In honor of this historic occasion Taschen books New York is holding a book signing to celebrate the publication of Design for Obama. Posters for Change: A Grassroots Anthology. Taschen a publishing house originally started in Cologne, Germany 1980 by 18 year-old Benedikt Taschen, who found himself with a huge collection of comic books, has become renowned for being the premier international publisher of stunning art books.

Unbeknown to many, hundreds of artists and designers supported Obama's campaign in an unusual way, with their talent at DesignforObama.org founded by one of the books editors Aaron Perry-Zucker. This web-site built upon the concept of volunteerism during a history making campaign provided an online forum where artworks could be uploaded and downloaded for free.

Filmaker Spike Lee and Aaron Perry-Zucker chose the best of the submissions and have compiled them into a book commemorating the 44th President and the artistic creativity that helped him win the historic election last fall. In addition to curating the artwork in the book, Lee, Perry-Zucker and design historian Steven Heller wrote essays to complement this collection of over 200 pro-Obama posters designed by everybody from renowned graphic artists to those who practice their art on the streets of our cities.

If you want to have your copy personally signed by the editors head to Taschen's New York SoHo location where the editors including Spike Lee will be on hand on November 4th, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Remarkable Residences, Through the Eye of an Earl


The English aristocrat the 12th Earl of Drogheda, better known as Derry Moore to his friends, is an arbiter of taste and style but also an accomplished photographer for Architectural Digest and other magazines, as well as the the author of several books. His latest, In House, just published by Rizzoli, is a selection of interiors from what he considers to be some of the world's most remarkable residences photographed over the last 35 years. The 28 houses pictured within are richly diverse in style and period with a common thread of originality, eccentricity and aesthetic appeal. They range from an airy and colorful palace in Morocco to an "austere but whimsical" Scottish castle; an Art Deco masterpiece in Jodhpur to a cluttered apartment in Prague; and from the museum-like home of one of London's most macabre collectors to the "extravagant remnants of Madrid's aristocratic heritage." Each of the houses is accompanied by commentary from noted architecture and design writer Mitchell Owens, and is laid out with an eye to its unique character by award-winning graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook.

The Racing Life of Paul Newman

racing life of paul newmanA new book on the late Paul Newman tells the story of how one of the world's greatest actors escaped the pressures of Hollywood by sitting behind the wheel of a race car.

As with most things he attempted in life Newman excelled at it. Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman is an illustrated history of Newman's racing career both as a driver and team owner. His interest in racing began while preparing for his role in the movie, Winning, in 1968 and blossomed into several championships competing in the Sports Car Club of America.

The actor also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in 1979, and in 1995 at the age of 70 he became the oldest driver to be part of a winning team in a major sanctioned race, winning in his class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, capping his long association with the Rolex model of that name.

The book features a foreword by Mario Andretti and many first person remembrances from those who raced against him and admired him, along with many previously unpublished photographs documenting his career at the track. Newman's personal car collection including Porsches and Ferraris is also featured.

High Style in Sun-Drenched Climates


Fashion historian Caroline Rennolds Milbank examines the history of warm weather wear in a beautifully illustrated new book called Resort Fashion from Rizzoli. From the first "beach pajamas" designed by Coco Chanel and Lilly Pulitzer and Pucci prints, to sailor stripes and the Kennedys' laid back yachtsman style, to Michael Kors and Tory Burch's beach-inspired designs and of course the evolution of the swimsuit, Milbank crosses continents and generations. The seven chapters break the looks down by category: At Sea, Stripes, Prints, White, Playclothes, Summer Dress and Bathing Suits, with photos from destinations like Palm Beach, Montego Bay and St. Tropez by legends like Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Norman Parkinson, Helmut Newton, and Scavullo.

McParlin Partners: Portraits in Words


Here's a novel gift idea that is more thoughtful and less flashy than mere jewels. What accessory could be more individual or luxurious than your own book? New York-based McParlin Partners boasts a team of highly experienced former Forbes and Dow Jones editors as well as former Time Inc. art directors who will craft anything from a memoir or family history to a coffee-table book in praise of your spouse.

McParlin writers produce a portrait in words, complemented by your own photographs, commissioned photos and/or original art, that depicts the person you fell in love with or want to thank. It is the perfect way to celebrate an anniversary, wedding, graduation or other significant milestone.

Want to honor someone upon retirement? Consider a tribute book, full of reminiscences and career highlights. This is also a professional way to document a dynasty with a family history, ideal for handing out at that annual reunion or to favored clients.

McParlin editors work with clients to distill their management philosophy into a book or tell the story of their rise to the top. "People deserve the chance to tell their own stories in their own voice," says McParlin co-founder Kasia Moreno, an editor at Forbes for more than 20 years.

Moreno notes that, although McParlin also does corporate editorial work and has affiliations with custom publishers in Russia and China, the firm's individual services are a labor of love. "A family history," she says, "is a precious legacy that will be handed down over generations."

Indeed, the firm is named after Alida McParlin (1867-1957), a woman who wrote a memoir about her doting father, Brig. Gen. Thomas McParlin, an Army surgeon who served as Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. That book sparked the fascination with family history for McParlin co-founder Hugo Moreno, who is also McParlin's great-grandson.

Every McParlin project is completely customized. Prices vary depending on length of the project. For example, a book-length executive memoir starts at $30,000, while a version the length of a magazine cover story can be had for $10,000. A coffee-table book full of commissioned photographs and striking layouts can run into six figures.

Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaires Compiled in New Book

<I>Vanity Fair</I>'s Proust Questionnaires Compiled in New Book
Sometimes I find it challenging to get through an issue of Vanity Fair, with its overuse of the word "legendary" and its snobbiness. But I enjoy the back-page Proust Questionnaire, and VF is guessing the rest of the world does too. It just released a compilation of the monthly magazine's department -- which has been in VF since 1993 -- in a hardcover book, Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life (Rodale Books, October 2009).

Edited by VF editor Graydon Carter with illustrations by Risko, who illustrates the department each issue, the 224-page book sells for $23.99.

Read Carter's take on his new book, and learn that neither Proust nor VF invented the questionnaire, in VF's November 2009 issue's Society section. And be sure to take the questionnaire yourself.

Win A Copy Of The New Secrets Of Style

new secrets of styleSometimes we all need a reminder of the basics of good style. InStyle is releasing the latest new edition of its top-selling classic, The New Secrets of Style (Time, Inc. Home Entertainment, $29.95) on October 27, 2009. This comprehensive style resource features expert guidance for looking fabulous with confidence and ease. The book uses celebrity examples to discusses the finer points of effortless and timeless dressing. Each chapter analyzes different aspects of a wardrobe, from lingerie to coats, and features "flattery" charts arranged by body type. Written by the editors of InStyle, The New Secrets of Style includes chapters on shoes, bags, jewelry and shows how to combine the various types of accessories with specific outfits to create an elegant, unfussy look.

We received a copy of this book to give away to one reader. To enter leave a comment with your own style tip below.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before October 30, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a copy of The New Secrets of Style valued at $29.95.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is closed. Thank you for your participation.

Trial over "The Trial": Kafka's Letters Headed to Israeli Court

Academics are desperate to get their hands on a collection of letters that once belonged to author Franz Kafka, the genius behind "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial." But, their efforts have been stymied by Have Hoffe and her sister, Ruth Wisler. The two ladies received the documents from their mother two years ago (when she died at the age of 101). Previously, the materials belonged to Max Brod, a German author who wrote a biography of Kafka. Brod died in 1968 and left the letters to Hoffe's and Wisler's mother, Esther.

The battle over the literary booty is on its way to Tel Aviv Family Court. The letters currently sit in two bank vaults, though scholars are worried that they aren't being stored properly. They see in the letters a potential treasure map: they may indicate the location of some notebooks confiscated from Kafka by the Gestapo. The issue became a legal matter when the sisters sought to ratify their mother's will, at which point the Israeli government became involved. Esther Hoffe only allowed a handful of researchers to view the letters and didn't make them available to the public -- a sore spot for interested scholars.

Had Kafka's wishes been respected, there would be no problem right now. The letters would have been burned.

Paintings of the Hudson River School


In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's first voyage up the Hudson River, the New York Historical Society has an exhibition of Hudson River School paintings running through March. In case you can't make it to the museum in person, they've also just published a book, The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision, featuring works from their incredible collection. In the first half of the 19th century, a group of painters working in New York City developed a distinctly American vision of the landscape. Their powerful interpretations of American scenery, which came to be known as the Hudson River School, "tell the story of how landscape imagery can shape both national and cultural identity." The book showcases more than a hundred of these images, many in full-page reproductions that convey the original paintings' monumental scale, and features work by all the greatest artists of the group including Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, Jasper Cropsey and Asher B. Durand.

Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour


British photographer Norman Parkinson's name may not be terribly well known today, but his influence on a subsequent generation of fashion photographers is obvious from a new survey of his work just published by Rizzoli. Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour is a lavish portrait of Parkinson's long career from the 1930s through the 1980s, produced in a unique collaboration with the Norman Parkinson Archive in London. Parkinson got his start at Vogue in London, was a protégé of the great Alexander Lieberman at American Vogue when he came to New York, and did some of his most innovative work in the Diana Vreeland years there. In a career that spanned more than four decades, Parkinson worked with the greatest models, from Carmen Dell'Orefice, often called the first supermodel, who was Parkinson's early muse, to the young Jerry Hall, whom Parkinson shot for her first Vogue cover as well as in an historic 1975 shoot staged in the USSR. His iconic photographs for the likes of Vogue, Queen, and Harper's Bazaar are reproduced in the volume alongside a trove of previously unpublished fashion work.


Join Luxist on Facebook!

Featured Galleries

Langham Yangtze Shanghai
Robb Report Limited Edition Series
Sierra Lodge
Own Original Works of Art - MoMA and Peter Norton Team Up To Raise Money for P.S. 1
James Patterson in Palm Beach
Peter Nitz Bejeweled Handbags
FitzGerald Coleman Curated Desk Sets
Moth Ball
Sophie Theallet Fashion Statement