NYLON - January 2008 - (Page 129) READING FESTIVAL It’s cold out, and chances are, you don’t want to leave the house anyway. Here, more good reasons to stay on the couch. PUNK HOUSE: INTERIORS IN ANARCHY Photography by Abby Banks, Edited by Thurston Moore (Harry N. Abrams) From the Firebreathing Kangaroo in Seattle to Robot House in Milwaukee, a glimpse into the eccentric interiors of communal-living punk houses across the country. 30,000 YEARS OF ART (Phaidon) Assembled by leading academics, this art history tome encompasses decades from 28,000 B.C. to today, and puts predecessors to shame. And at 1,072 pages, 13 pounds, and a mere $49.95, it’s the best bang for your buck out there. CREEM: AMERICA’S ONLY ROCK ’N’ ROLL MAGAZINE by Robert Matheu and Brian J. Bowe There is only one magazine that can claim it coined the term “punk rock,” and that is Creem. This anthology gathers original articles and photographs, from the Clash to the Cash. Johnny, that is. EULOGY FOR MARISSA COOPER by Nathan Nedorostek (Mathmagic Press) Remember when Marissa passed out in Tijuana? When she ran away and all those times she and Ryan broke up? What about when she shot Trey? Or when she hooked up with Olivia Wilde? Well, we do. TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY by Joshua Glenn and Carol Hayes (Princeton Architectural Press) Everyone has at least one object that holds a lot of significance, and Taking Things Seriously tells 75 tales of people and the things they cannot part with. The stories range from sad, such as a box of bobby pins left behind by a married lover, to droll, like a marble kept in a jacket pocket for years just because, to raunchy, like a camera with a plastic penis popping out of the lens. The books is a touching read, proving that mundane objects, like lives, often have surprising stories to tell. ICONIC AMERICA by Tommy Hilfiger with George Lois (Universe) What do Heinz ketchup, the Nike swoosh, Easy Rider, apple pie, Avon calling, and kitschy lawn ornamnents have in common? They were all born in the U.S.A., of course, and all are entries in this eccentric, visually enthralling encyclopedia of Americana from a designer who’s an American classic himself. CREATURE by Andrew Zuckerman (Chronicle) What, we ask, could be better than a book of animal pictures? Um, pretty much nothing. Photographer and filmmaker Andrew Zuckerman captures baby leopards, parrots, monkeys, and bears in strikingly detailed in-studio shots. Leaving just one question: How do we get his job? MIAMI BEACH: BLUEPRINT OF AN EDEN by Michele Oka Doner and Mitchell Wolfson Jr. (Harper Collins) Home to unique architecture, the best Cuban food, a vast array of flora and fauna, and the hottest nightspots, Miami is a fascinating and vibrant study in contradictions. Here, members of the city’s most famous families share their historical perspective. DOGS Collected by Catherine Johnson, Words by William Wegman (Phaidon) A peek into Catherine Johnson’s massive collection of dog snapshots (she is one of the world’s top collectors), from the turn of the century to the 1950s. The gorgeous book is proof that dog has long been man’s, and woman’s, best friend. BORN IN THE BRONX: A VISUAL RECORD OF THE EARLY DAYS OF HIP HOP Edited by Johan Kugelberg (Rizzoli) Hip hop today wouldn’t exist without the groundbreaking efforts of Bronx pioneers like LA Sunshine and Afrika Bambaataa. This explosive visual history, which collects everything from rare photos to flyers, is a music geek must-have.
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.