BillyKnowsBest

The Best Atlas: National Geographic Atlas of the World

Thanks to my friend David at UprightAndStowed for this tip.  He says "Hands down the greatest hard-bound world atlas there is. My dad gave me an earlier version when I was 18, and I still use it. Hands down the greatest hard-bound world atlas there is. My dad gave me an earlier version when I was 18, and I still use it. Holidays are coming. You will make someone very VERY happy if you give them this."  And maybe someone should get David a new one.  The world's a very different place than it was back in the Middle Ages when he was 18.  Buy it for $93.56 at Buy.com .

Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes

My friend Kinney's book came out today.  Now I've seen Kinney in silly and compromising situations (and vice-versa: we were in Mixed Company together), but she is one of the most intelligent, insightful and well-reasoned people I know, not to mention compassionate, well-rounded and occasionally funny, usually intentionally.  The book is Microtrends, and while Mark Penn is the public face of it, Kinney is the hard work behind it. I ordered mine today, and I'm sure it'll be a good read. Buy yours for $17.15 at amazon.com.

Bondage and Barbara Streisand

 

One of the most interesting aspects of online shopping is the ability to see what other people are buying, and the shopping suggestions divined from your shopping and browsing history.  Given how many things I look at daily on Amazon.com, their personalized suggestions for me run a pretty wide gamut.  One of today's suggestions, nestled between a  Pyrex measuring cup and Giuliano Hazan's Every Night Italian was Male Bondage: Art Deserves a Witness.  I'm used to that kind of juxtaposition, but what really surprised me this time, was that 9% of the people who view items like Male Bondage ultimately buy Streisand: Live in Concert. I'm not sure what the psychographic connection is between bondage and Barbra, but you've got to hand it to Amazon for shedding light on the phenomenon.

The Best Italian Cookbook: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

Once again I have my friends Ron & Steve to thank for a delicious dinner, and for today's recommendation.  Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking is a combined and updated version of Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cook Book and More Classic Italian  Cooking. There is no finer source for classic Italian recipes, and this volume is an essential kitchen handbook for cooks of all skill levels.   $19.20 at amazon.com.

The Best Guide to Disney World: The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World

My friend Sara asked me for some insider travel information for Walt Disney World.  Once upon a time when I was managing New Haven Travel/American Express, I had lots of specific recommendations, but now I have only two.  The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is filled with tips, advice, ratings and reviews for every aspect of a Disney trip, including tested, patented touring plans that allow you to beat the crowds and shorten your wait times.  Buy it for $11.96 at amazon.com.  Find additional information at their web home, touringplans.com. 

Death In The Open: an essay by Lewis Thoma

My friend Eyrk's brother died suddenly in April.  Although I've experienced my share of death, including the sudden, untimely kind, I have never been able to form words of comfort that didn't feel trite. But I've always loved Lewis Thomas' essay "Death in the Open." I first read it in his book Lives of A Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher, a collection of 29 essays, when I was in college. And to this day, I re-read it anytime someone close to me dies. I hope Eryk finds the same sense of comfort in it.

The Reflexology Deck

I'm in DC this weekend with my closest college friends. We sang together in a singing group called Mixed Company, and are bonded for life in a way that allows us to pick these intimate friendships right back up, even though we sometimes don't see each other for years. It just feels like home when we're together. But I digress. The Reflexology Deck was written by one of these friends, Katy Dreyfuss. It's a really clever guide to the principles and practice of reflexology. The deck features 50 easy-to-follow, beautifully illustrated cards that teach you the basics of this ancient system for balancing the flow of energy through the body, clearing nerve pathways and encouraging muscles to relax.  I really like its portability.  Unlike a book, the individual cards allow you to lay out and organize the instructions to suit your particular goals, and easily travel with instructions for the particular ailments and concerns. Buy it for $10.17 from Amazon.com, and while you're there, check out Katy's Massage Deck.

Who Do You Love: Stories by Jean Thompson

We saw David Sedaris live at UCLA last night. If you like reading his work, don't miss an opportunity to hear him in person. He's simply hilarious, and truly entertaining.  He recommended a book by another author:  Jean Thompson's Who do You Love: Stories, which no one at the sold-out show had read. I just ordered it today, so I can't recommend it personally, but if David's endorsement isn't enough, it was also a National Book Award finalist. $10.01 from Amazon.com.

The Secret Language of Birthdays

I've never been a big believer in astrology, but when my new friend Juan asked me my sign yesterday, it reminded me about The Secret Language of Birthdays. Combining astrology, numerology, and psychic intuition, this book provides a stunningly accurate view of one's strengths, weaknesses, and issues while providing practical advice and spiritual guidance. Reading it aloud is a whole evening's entertainment for a group of friends or dinner party.  The follow-up volume, The Secret Language of Relationshipsis equally omniscient. And for those of you who, like Juan, are dying to know,  I'm a Capricorn, born January 18th.

The Best Relationship Books

I had lunch last week with a friend going through some relationship drama.  Having been in a relationship for 11 years, I know how much work it takes to keep one healthy, but I'm always amazed by how ill-prepared most of us are to do it.  I mean really, where and how do we learn to make a relationship work? These three books a great place to start.

The Dance of Connection
All You Need Is Love and Other Lies About Marriage
Getting The Love You Want