If you are a regular reader of all the various style blogs out there, there is no way you’ve overlooked the upcoming re-release of the Japanese style-bible Take Ivy. Even the New York Times has recently written an article about it. This new edition is sure to get all the fashion folks worked up – with its translated English text, brand new photo reproductions, and most of all…its super low price tag.

I’ve written about this cryptically named book before – vintage copies of the tome are very hard to find, and often sell at auction for thousands of dollars. As an owner of a vintage copy (bought back in the good old days when there was such things as expense accounts..what?) it will be interesting to see how the new edition affects the price of the rare vintage copies. Luckily I got my original copy for a song. Newly listed on Amazon, the book will sell for $14.97 when it gets released on August 31st.

The small photo book takes an outsiders look at life inside the private, wealthy world of the American Ivy League – photographs of students back in sixties when the prep styles of the men’s clothes were really only worn by the entitled, privileged classes. Fashion designers, editors, and stylists worship the book – it’s a rare snapshot into this unique period of time and has influenced many fashion magazine stories, and countless menswear collections.

Taking the information learned from the opening of Daisy May’s, Chef Perry Lang compiled his knowledge in to his first fantastic cookbook called Serious Barbecue. This summer he’s back with another new book..and this one is a staple that no home cook should be without. Simply called BBQ 25, Chef Perry Lang takes on the the 25 most common grilled meats, breaks down the recipes to their essence, and shows you how to make each one perfectly step by step. Its genius.

The best part? Its made to last. The book is printed on laminated board pages, so you can take this cookbook out to the backyard, spill beer and bbq sauce on it, and clean it right up. Steaks, ribs, burgers, chops, brisket, wings, sausages, you name it…you’ll be grilling it. You’ll be using this book for years to come.

Less than Zero has been referred to as a current day Catcher in the Rye, and one can see how that comparison could be made. Both novels feature a listless narrator searching for answers – and sometimes discovering more about the world and themselves that they bargained for. The 80′s version of the city of Los Angeles was portrayed as a harsh and materialistic landscape where sex, drugs, and violence were treated as everyday occurrences…remember this is the guy that brought us American Psycho. Its going to be fascinating to see where the author picks up with his characters, see how they’ve changed, what they are up to, and see how they surviving in present day L.A.

Check out an excerpt from Imperial Bedrooms from Esquire.com.

If you answered yes, then check out this new book coming out in September from the publisher Assouline & the Council of Fashion Designers of America called American Fashion Designers at Home by Rima Suqi. This new coffee table book gives you get the chance to be a total nosy-body and see at how your favorite fashion designers choose to live during their off hours.

Have a look at the All-American perfectionism of one of Ralph Laurens gazillion homes, see where Donna Karan likes to do her salutations to the sun, check out the groovy pad of Kate & Andy Spade, peer into the abode of Tommy Hilfiger for yourself. With over 100 homes included in the book, they’ll be tons of pictures to look at and analyze. Do their homes reflect their sense of fashion design? Are the designers as creative with interiors as they are with clothing? From the comfort of your lazy boy…you’ll be the judge. Are they in or are they out?

American Fashion Designers at Home, coming soon to most bookstores and available for pre-order online here.

The novel revisits the well known story of General Custer’s famous 1876 defeat – illustrating the two day battle of the Little Bighorn with updated research and new historical details. I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on this recently released book, but I’ve read all his others and “In the Heart of the Sea” is one of my all time favorites. Its gonna be good.

For more information about The Last Stand and details on where to purchase the novel – check out Nathaniel Philbrick’s website. Viking has also put together a fascinating video to promote the book – with history and comments from the author himself:

The best part of the handbook was its perfect tone – was it for real? is it serious? is it satirical? The arch dry voice of the book made it impossible to tell, but made it completely side-splitting. Pointing out the eccentricities of this singular part of society was funny enough on its own…from its etiquette and manners, to the slang, to the very specific fashions and style. The book took on the history of all things prep, from childhood, schooling, college, and onto the adult years. No pink and green stone was left uncovered.

The new book True Prep by Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd is coming out this September 7th (from Knopf) and it promises to revisit all the old themes, along with some new ones — cell phones, texting, plastic surgery, online shopping, scandals, and of course..the much beloved happy hour. I personally can’t wait.

The book introduces us to 24 furniture designers and interior decorators that either custom made everything, or produced their work in very limited editions. The book claims that 20th century collecting is moving away from modernist mass produced pieces towards these special more one-of-a-kind items. Workmanship, design, style, and scarcity are key.

Included are profiles of some well known furniture makers like George Nakashima and Edward Wormley, to lesser known names like Sam Maloof, Karl Springer, Wendell Castle, and Harvey Probber. The coffee table style book is full of great images – from pictures of the furniture, to entire rooms, to the craftsmen themselves at work. Its an inspiring book that will totally expand your ideas of what American style is all about.

Examples of work by some of the designers featured in the book:

George Nakashima desk

Wendell Castle chair

Wharton Esherick bench and chair

Starting with early tailored clothing in the early 1900′s and ending with the designer fashions of today, this book uses rare illustrations and photographs to take a very comprehensive look at the menswear styles of the last century. Written by fashion historian Cally Blackman, the author also teaches at the esteemed Central St.Martins College in London. The book quite simply connects the dots and follows the evolution of men’s style in a very clear and concise way. If you are at all interested in why guys wear what they wear, this would be a great title to pick up.

This new book includes recipes like Clams with Sweet Potato, Smoked Sausage, and Watercress; Garlic-Chile Crabs; and my favorite – Pimento Cheese Potato Gratin. These guys really know how to take classic southern food and update it to make it modern and accessible.  With endorsements from such famous foodies as Alice Waters, Mario Batali, and Paula Deen, these guys really know what they are doing when it comes to servin’ up some excellent down-home grub.

Another cool thing to check out – especially if you live in an area where its hard to find southern ingredients is the brothers website called Boiled Peanuts. They stock and sell cool stuff online like Betty Ann Creecy Greens from Kentucky, real Red Field Peas, RC Cola, Cheerwine, and Dukes Mayonnaise. To order the new book, Simple Fresh Southern, check out the Lee Bros. main website HERE.