One of my favorite authors, Nathaniel Philbrick, has just released a new novel called The Last Stand – Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The author of a few award winning and classic historical novels – “In the Heart of the Sea” and “The Mayflower” – this new book promises to be equally as fantastic.

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:

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Lots of articles have been written lately about 80′s humor style bible The Official Preppy Handbook and its new sequel coming out this Fall called True Prep. The book first appeared on the scene about the same time as when Ralph Lauren and J.Crew were introducing East Coast style to the masses – and consumers were ready to reinvent themselves in the image of a higher class and taste level. Suddenly you didn’t need to have been born and bred a wasp to look and dress like one.

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.

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Sometimes a book comes along that just knocks your socks off. I just bought a copy of Modern Americana: Studio Furniture from High Craft to High Glam from Rizzoli and it has changed everything that I thought of as Americana. Get rid of those notions of Colonial style rooms, 50′s mass market, and other cliches of American style.

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

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I am big collector of books about fashion – from biographies, to history, to all types of fashion photography. No book that I’ve ever picked up about men’s style has impressed me as much as this one – 100 Years of Menswear by Cally Blackman.

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.

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Winners of the prestigious James Beard award in 2007, the Lee Brothers – Matt and Ted, have written a brand new bestseller as a follow up to their already classic “Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook“. The new hardcover is titled “Simple Fresh Southern” and its a really great addition to your kitchen bookshelf. I have to admit that even though I’m already a fan, this book seems like its a bit easier to follow with its glossier pages and bigger & better photos than the first.

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.

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Looking for a great Holiday gift? Besides one of our shirts of course, you might want to check this new coffee table book titled Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera. If you are a loyal follower of this blog you may have noticed that I am a huge fan of his work; I like to post his illustrations on various holidays. I’ve always been very curious about how he created his memorable pictures, the photo-realistic images were just too delicately composed to just come from his imagination.

As it turns out, Mr. Rockwell worked with a slew of photographers, all the while acting as a director arranging props, models, and scenery. I also loved finding out that many of his most famous subjects were actually portraits of his local friends and neighbors. This title is available at every major online bookseller, but be sure and try to support your local independent bookstore. You can even become a fan of Norman Rockwell Museum on facebook, and if you happen to find yourself in Stockbridge, MA you can check out the exhibition that goes along with this fascinating new book for yourself.

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Inspired by the live oaks of Austin’s Zilker Park, Texan artist Jennifer Deutrom has created a series of intricate drawings based on the trees amazing gnarled trunks and branches. This show at Domy Books titled “Twisted Growth” celebrates these noble trees ability to survive in Austins harsh climate. Opening this Saturday, December 5th from 7-9pm, this show also includes the artists take on things that worry her and make her anxious. Images of tumors, cells and organisms mirror the twisted tree branches suggesting the similarities between the inside and outside worlds.

Domy Books, 1709 Westheimer, Houston, Tx. ph. 713.523.3669

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Purchased in the sixties for just $50 this Olivetti Lettera 32 Typewriter was the tool used to create some of the best Texas fiction of all time. Used by author Cormac McCarthy, this simple typewriter was what he used to write a dozen novels, screenplays, plays, short stories and more. The legendary author of such novels as “No Country For Old Men”, “The Road”, and “All the Pretty Horses” has decided to replace this well worn model with an identical one in better condition.

Mr McCarthy is auctioning off this original to benefit the Santa Fe Institute, a interdisciplinary scientific research organization that he is affiliated with. The auction is being handled by the esteemed auction house Christie’s on Friday, December 4th with the estimate set at $15,000-$20,000. View the listing HERE

UPDATE: The typewriter finally sold for $254,500.00 (!)

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The Wallpaper City Guides are a really fantastic, very well edited set of guidebooks to almost 80 cities around the world. Focusing on all the places that a design conscious traveler would be interested in, the latest city guide to be added to the series is Houston. These books are all worth checking out- not only for help in planning a trip, but sometimes seeing your familiar hometown though outsiders eyes helps you see your city in a whole new way. The Houston guidebook lists local highlights by categories such as city landmarks, hotels, architecture, shopping, sports, and local getaways. Places are scrutinized with a certain editorial eye, so not all notable sites are included. Full disclosure…Hamilton Shirts made the grade!

For more information on the series, and to order the books click HERE.

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