Gift Guides 2022

20 Books to Gift This Holiday Season

November 20, 2020

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In the market for a big, beautiful book (or several) this holiday season? As ever, you’re spoiled for choice: Tomes spanning the worlds of art, fashion, history, interior design, and food abound for every person on your list—and at every possible price point. Creative types will appreciate Open Studio: Do-It-Yourself Art Projects by Contemporary Artists, an appealingly hands-on book from Phaidon, while would-be sushi chefs are sure to be inspired by Sushi Shokunin: Japan’s Culinary Masters from Assouline. Speaking to the worlds of cosmetics and business, Leonard A. Lauder recalls his storied career at the Estée Lauder Companies in The Company I Keep: My Life in Beauty; and fans of Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Phantom Thread will adore Adam Nayman’s Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks. Your nearest, dearest art history buff should also hold onto her hat: An extraordinary new project from Nicholas Callaway, the Vatican Museums, and the Italian art publisher Scripta Maneant assembles thousands of ultra-high-resolution photographs of the Sistine Chapel into three magisterial volumes. Yes, the set is roughly the price of a luxury used car, but think of the books as an investment in scholarship and cultural preservation. (Also, the shipping is free!)

Below, more new and recent books for all your gifting needs.

1/20
Alex Katz
$101
AMAZON
The new monograph, written by art historian Carter Ratcliff and edited by Vincent Katz, the artist’s son, compiles reproductions of more than 250 paintings, making it the most comprehensive book on Alex Katz, now 93, to date.
2/20
Anni and Josef Albers: Equal and Unequal
$150
AMAZON
Nicholas Fox Weber, longtime executive director of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, presents a new joint biography of the artist couple, following them from the Bauhaus through their lively careers in the United States.

3/20
Pietro Cicognani: Architecture Design
$54
AMAZON
Featuring a foreword by Isabella Rossellini and photographs by Francesco Lagnese, Karen Bruno’s new book on Pietro Cicognani considers some of the Italian-born architect’s most sumptuous projects, from lavish apartments to charming pool houses.
4/20
Il Buco: Stories Recipes
$28
AMAZON
To celebrate Il Buco’s 25th anniversary, owner Donna Lennard joined with author Joshua David Stein to revisit the restaurant’s storied past—and share more than 80 essential recipes.
5/20
Open Studio: Do-It-Yourself Art Projects by Contemporary Artists
$63
AMAZON
Curated by Sharon Coplan Hurowitz and Amanda Benchley, the contributors to Open Studio—which include the likes of Marina Abramovic, George Condo, John Currin, Kaws, Maya Lin, and Mickalene Thomas—discuss their work and their inspirations before providing step-by-step instructions for special art projects to try at home.