The Perfect Gift (According to Jim)

It’s tough finding the right book for the right person. But here are some suggestions for that person who has everything, or you are in a quandary about what to buy. There are dozens of new books being released in as many particular topics, so this is by no means a complete list. These are some of my “the-gift for someone who has everything” shopping list. They’re all now at the store or can be ordered. Staff may be able to match a book with an interest.

For families and art lovers: Life in Color, a beautiful tour of the world of color, by the National Geographic Society.

History: The American Bible by renowned author Stephen Prothero, brings together many of the documents, books, speeches and music that to have defined us as a nation. Commentary from different time periods enhances this rich collection.

Design: Design of the 20th Century by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, is a robust collection of this diverse and fascinating subject, complete with short bios of the designers.

Wine: The New York Times Book of Wine: More Than 30 Years of Vintage Writing.

Medicine: The Medical Book: From Witch Doctors to Robot Surgeons, 250 Milestones in the History of Medicine by Clifford Pickover is a fascinating survey of medical practices around the world and during different times.

Photography: A History of Photography-From 1839 to the Present, by Therese Mulligan and David Wooters is a Taschen Publishing masterpiece.

Humor: You can’t miss with The Onion Book of Known Knowledge: A Definitive Encyclopaedia Of Existing Information, a hilarious spoof of just about everything, set in an encyclopedic format emphasizing fictitious and occasionally ribald entries.

Film: Movie Box by Paolo Mereghetti is a treasure trove of photos and descriptions about making of many famous and popular movies. Candid pics of actors and back-lot shots from famous movies provides an entirely new way to experience film.

Autos: The Car: The Evolution of the Beautiful Machine is packed with pictures, descriptions, and bios of every stage in the auto’s history. Folders throughout are packed with dozens of facsimiles, from the first patent to Ferrari posters.

Food: The Cookbook Library: Four Centuries of the Cooks, Writers, and Recipes that Made the Modern Cookbook would be an excellent addition to chefs amateur and professional.

Kids of all ages: Guinness Book of Records 2013 is a hardcover photo compendium of the incredible and creative world records.