1001 Whiskies You Must Taste Before You Die

We don't recommend trying them all at once — or even over the course of a month — but should you make it through all the varied selections in 1001 Whiskies You Must Taste Before You Die ($25), you'll no doubt be a more well-rounded drinker. This nearly 1000-page book contains tasting notes, histories, and temperature recommendations for all of its suggestions, which range from high-quality but mass-produced brands to specialty drinks from micro-distilleries, and a little bit of everything in between.
[Scouted by Blaine]

Kinect Star Wars

Waving your limbs around wildly while virtually dancing to Justin Bieber: Embarrassing. Doing the same thing while virtually hacking away at a Sith Lord: Pretty damn cool. Such is the contradiction presented by Kinect Star Wars ($50; Dec. 2012). This motion-controlled adventure lets you live the life of a Jedi, crossing the galaxy to keep the Dark Side at bay. Is it wholly original? Probably not, but if you've ever tried to force choke anyone in real life only to come away disappointed, you probably won't care.

Steve McQueen: The Actor and His Films

While Steve McQueen is one of the most talked- and written-about stars of all time, no prior tome on the man has gone as deep Steve McQueen: The Actor and His Films ($45). Weighing in at nearly 500 pages, this hefty book tracks his journey from his delinquent beginnings through to his late career, including accounts of every film he made, as well as plenty of insights into his techniques and behind-the-scenes stories from filming. A great way to fill the time vacuum left by the impending end of the NFL season.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Tired of WoW? Die-hard Star Wars fan? Looking for new ways to alienate friends and family? Grab up a copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic ($60). This new MMORPG lets you explore the Star Wars universe as one of eight character roles, while your decisions take you further down the path to the light or — more likely — the Dark side of the force. If you're really into it, spring for the Collector's Edition ($150), which includes a Darth Malgus statue, a full hardcover book, a music CD, a custom security authentication key, and a host of exclusive digital items. May the Force be with you, and may it keep you from becoming morbidly obese due to marathon Cheetos-and-Mountain-Dew-fueled gaming sessions.

Behold the awesome old school goodness of these vintage-printed, buttery-soft Homage T-Shirts. They turn back the clock with shout outs to eclectic moments and personalities in sports, music, politics and popular culture. From Bruce Lee to Larry Bird, the tees tell stories of triumph, individualism and hustle. Pay Homage.

Boardwalk Empire

Fresh off the shocking end of its sophomore season, the first season of Boardwalk Empire ($40) is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. Loosely based on the true-life happenings in and around Atlantic City at the start of prohibition, it's full of sex, booze, violence, and standout performances from well-known actors — Steve Buscemi is particularly great — and newcomers alike. One viewing of the Scorsese-directed pilot will have you hooked.

Transformers Trilogy

They're certainly not the most intelligent movies of the last decade, but when it comes to giving your home theater an audio/visual workout, there's little fare better than the Transformers Trilogy ($90). This seven-disc set includes all three of Michael Bay's robot-on-robot battles, including Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, all packaged in a trophy display along with a movie plaque signed by the infamous director himself.

Godzilla

Immerse yourself in the HD awesomeness of Ishiro Honda's 1954 classic Godzilla ($20). Presented here in definitive Criterion form, this legendary flick features Japanese audio, English subtitles, new interviews with actor Akira Takarada and Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and original theatrical trailers. Gojira!

Bond 50

Sure, he's kind of an asshole, but you still love him. And you need all of him. To celebrate the golden anniversary of his secret agentness, MGM and Fox are releasing Bond 50 ($200), a gigantic collection that includes all 22 Bond films (and 6 James Bonds) along with over 130 hours of bonus features, all in Blu-ray quality.

What the F*ck Should I Make for Dinner?

Unless you're in the middle of a lengthy fast or live a lifestyle that allows you to eat out for each and every meal, odds are you ask yourself this question at least a few times a week. What the F*ck Should I Make for Dinner? ($10) is derived from the website of the same name, and offers up 50 different recipes in a choose-your-own-meal style format, along with entertaining prose that helps guide you to a tasty decision. Obviously NSFW.

Contagion

"Nothing spreads like fear" — a fitting tagline for both the GOP presidential primary and for Contagion ($23). Directed by all-around badass Steven Soderbergh and featuring an all-star cast that includes Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Lawrence Fishburne, and Gwenyth Paltrow, it rises above the typical disease outbreak fare to achieve a Traffic-like blend of suspense and intrigue, which isn't surprising considering Soderbergh was behind the camera for that one as well.

Glock: The Rise of America's Gun

You've seen it in TV shows, movies, the holsters of local law enforcement, and maybe even in a shady back alley somewhere — but how and when did the Glock become so prevalent? Glock: The Rise of America's Gun ($16) tells that story from its early 1980's origins in Austria through its rise as the preferred handgun of a huge number of rappers and Americans.

Mid-Century Ads

Celebrate a golden age of consumerism with Mid-Century Ads: Advertising from the Mad Men Era ($60). Arriving in a slipcase, this two-volume set contains over 700 pages of advertisements from the '50s and '60s, including full-color ads and interesting insights from authors Jim Heimann and Steven Heller. Arriving in February 2012, or just in time to brighten up the middle of a dreary winter. [Scouted by Jimmy]