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]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]

The Cult of Lego

Sure, they might have taken the title from a similar book about Macs and the people who love them, but that doesn't make The Cult of Lego ($27) any less awesome. Weighing in at over 300 pages, this interesting tome looks at the Lego community and its creations, from a tiny Yankee stadium to a remote-controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, all lovingly photographed and presented in high-quality, full-color images. It's the next best thing to buying yourself a 1,000+ piece model.

Apple Design

Share your love for the fruits of Jony Ive's magical bunker workshop with all your holiday guests by giving Apple Design ($40) a prominent spot on your coffee table. This 320-page hardcover tome mixes photos of over 200 Apple products produced since Ive took the design reigns at the company with stories of the products' development and explanations of the production methods and materials applied. Also makes a perfect gift for the design- and Apple-obsessed.

Nano House

Explore the small interiors of space-limited homes in the pages of Nano House ($20). Prime coffee table fodder, this 224-page tribute to the tiny takes a look at forty shining examples of interesting, innovative living spaces 650 square feet and under. It's almost enough to make you rethink your current living arrangement, until the realization that you'd need to jettison your LEGO collection snaps you back to reality.

All Access

What do you do when you're given total access to the most recognizable stars of the music business over the course of forty years? Well, you take pictures, of course! At least that's what Ken Regan did. All Access ($50) chronicles Regan's best work, from his early shots of Dylan and the Rolling Stones to later photos of Bruce Springsteen, Sting, James Taylor, U2, The Who, Madonna, and others, accompanied by backstage stories that are often as entertaining as the photos themselves.

Serious Eats

We're big fans of the seriously stupendous blog Serious Eats, so when we found out they were bringing out a book, we quickly hopped on the pre-order wagon. Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are ($20) sidesteps traditional cookbooks by offering up not only recipes — and there are plenty here — but also tips on where to go for the most mouth-watering morsels in town, from Ft. Lauderdale to Fargo.

Malcolm Gladwell: Collected

Winter is a great time to catch up on some reading, and you'll be hard-pressed to find more interesting writing than the three tomes of Malcolm Gladwell: Collected ($50). This hardcover set includes Gladwell's groundbreaking books The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, repackaged and redesigned, complete with all-new illustrations from Brian Rea.

Whole Beast Butchery

Talk up your local organic grocer all you want, but if you're looking to get the most wholesome, freshest meats possible, there's no better way than to cut them yourself. Whole Beast Butchery ($25) is a step-by-step guide on how to procure, prepare, and utilize whole animals, illustrated with 500 photographs, and penned by self-taught meat guru Ryan Farr. As an added bonus, should society collapse around you, you'll be able to have a useful new profession.