Transport yourself to a garden in Paris.
Books make a timeless gift. Our top bookshelf picks from 2017 include a coffee table book on drone photography, a cookbook capturing India’s best street food, and children’s literature about treasure hunting. They will all look great wrapped and stacked under a tree.
A deep and earthy look at surviving in the woods, with practical information on cabin building, honey gathering from wild beehives, and mountain bike trailmaking. The photographs will make you crave a stroll amid the trees. ($41)
For the tech-lovers and the globally curious alike, a peek into the new imaging technology of the time, made in collaboration with Dronestagram, the leading drone photography community. A how-to section answers questions about making similarly unforgettable photographs. ($27)
Surveying 50 of the world's top potters, this book beautifully documents the hunger for handmade goods and all of their unique characteristics and imperfections. ($27)
For a pop of stunning beauty in your home, open up a book of botanicals all year long. Georgianna Lane began the elegant mission of capturing France as it blooms. Her tips on the best flower markets and spring flower viewings can be put into use for years to come. ($15)
Old-fashioned journalistic inquisitiveness led to this delightful study of people and their habits. Polly Devlin photographs the homes of artists, designers, and influencers in New York City like fashion editor Hamish Bowles, jeweler Kenneth Jay Lane, and gallerist Susan Sheehan. ($24)
Alain Mabanckou's own experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo inform his vivid and accurate coming of age tale of life under the Marxist-Leninist revolutions of the 1970s. The protagonist grows up in an orphanage during a time of political turmoil and escapes with fellow friends to Pointe-Noire. Their adventures are comedic, passionate, and tragic. ($16)
Zinzi Clemmons captures the struggle of people who teeter between two cultures. A quick and poignant read, the female protagonist loses her mother, her only link to half of her heritage, and is left on her own to process grief, identity, romance, and surprises. The novel reflects the author's own experiences with death, making for an intimate and moving read. ($17)
A thrilling adventure sprinkled with good laughs and true historical details. New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille’s newest character, a combat veteran, is gets pages turning on this high-stakes adventure. ($9)
Saudi Arabian Manal al-Sharif was raised in Mecca as a religious radical, a devoutness she held until oppression in her early twenties became too much to excuse. Her bold memoir depicts her change of mindset and how she became an accidental activist. The inspiring book shows the importance of education, critical thinking, and standing up for a cause against impossible odds. ($18)
Irreverently hilarious, Geraldine DeRuiter documents her emboldened, greenhorn immersion into travel after getting laid off from the job which took up most of her time. Traveling alongside her husband, she shares stories of getting lost in strange places, processing her mother's illness from afar, and learning about marriage, adding tender advice along with laughs. ($18)
Doug Mack explores questions which he was shocked to discover he did not already know — why does the U.S. own territories outside of the United States? He sets out to seek answers. A whopping 30,000 miles later, Mack shares both his amusing stories and fascinating insights into the little-known history of U.S. territories. ($17)
While grieving the loss of his mother, Sherman Alexie processed his memories through his pen. He was raised on a reservation, with dirt-poor parents who spent what little money they had on alcohol. Yet he loved them. He captures the complexities of devotion through a child's eyes, channels loyalty through hurt, and a explores the fascinating representation of life on federally managed land. ($17)
New York Times best-selling author Mark Kurlansky writes about a place he knows well: Cuba. With more than 30 years' experience exploring the island’s nooks and crannies, he delves into its rich history, including literature about the country, its past as a U.S. protectorate, and Castro's revolution. Along these details are cultural recipes, personal photographs, and poems that bring Cuba alive in the reader's imagination. ($14)
Chetna Makan focuses on the street food of India's four major cities in her second cookbook. Many recipes are reminiscent of meals she grew up eating, and love and warmth shine through each dish. ($20)
Bonnie Frumkin Morales, the popular chef behind Portland restaurant Kachka, shares her favorite Russian recipes — from cloud-like dumplings to vodka infusions — alongside narratives about the traditions that influence the meals. ($22)
Capturing three generations of one family's traditional cooking techniques, Reem Kassis promises easy, fail-proof recipes. The cultural anecdotes make for a wider appreciation of Middle Eastern culinary history. The book looks beautiful on the counter alongside homemade meals from its pages. ($25)
Matt Moore maintains his Southern dignity: The butts he refers to are those of pigs. Learn how to recreate old-fashioned Southern BBQ in a light-hearted cookbook that also includes fascinating commentary on how cooking meat varies across cultures based on climate and wood type. ($18)
A comprehensive celebration of America’s melting-pot cuisine. With recipes from notable culinary figures in all 50 states, you can spend a year cooking your way across the country. ($31)
Beloved chef Yotam Ottolenghi goes back to his pastry origins. Alongside protégé Helen Goh, sweet treats are showcased through delectable ingredients such as rose petal, saffron, star anise, and pistachio. ($21)
Adults and children alike can learn from the stories of treasure hunters across the world, with real, historical details about treasures discovered and still awaiting excavation. Young minds will be excited to learn more about the world’s diverse history while flipping through each engaging page. ($25)
Flavorful, sharable "drinking food" is a relatively unknown cultural trend in Thailand. Andy Ricker documents these snacks, using recipes like the fiery Drunkard's stir fry, and Thai fried chicken. His amusing stories about the chefs who taught him these recipes lend a lighthearted happy-hour vibe. ($21)
Highlighting children from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia. A great way for kids to learn to appreciate the unique qualities of other cultures, seeing the differences but also understanding the world they share. ($13)
We have so many more ideas for 8 new fall must-reads for Travelers, gifts that give back, ideas for globetrotting foodies, essentials for frequent flyers, gadgets and inspiration for adventure travelers, and unique finds for armchair travelers.
We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.
