City On A Grid: How New York Became New York
I am starting off 2019 with my book-a-month goal again. I slacked off the last year and I found myself really missing the time I had set aside to just read. So to start 2019, I am reading a book that has been on my list for a very long time.
City On A Grid by Gerard Koeppel.
Read with me!
Japanese Steel: Classic Bicycle Design From Japan
I’m a bit of a sucker for beautiful bicycles and Rizzoli has recently published a brand new book called Japanese Steel that specifically highlights some of the best Japanese bicycle companies currently operating.
The book by William Bevington, does a wonderful balance of bringing together historical details of Japanese bicycle culture and design with the intricate details — from build, to components, and color — of each company’s unique perspective on the market.
The photographs by Scott Ryder featured in this book are all privately owned bicycles donated for the purpose of this project. The result is just a big volume of gorgeous imagery that really shows how these Japanese bicycles have held up over time. No bicycle in the book is straight off the production floor so don’t expect ultra-clean and shiny bikes (although a lot of them look that way). Instead, just be sure to note the patina on the metals and the worn-in yet lasting leather bound components.
A bicycle’s purpose is for getting from one place to another in an efficient manner. But after looking at this book, you might just reconsider the bike as an object of art rather than a strict utilitarian tool.
Pick up Japanese Steel over at Amazon today. It is currently $30 and makes a perfect holiday gift!
American Originals by William Abranowicz
Brand new book out now from amazing photographer William Abranowicz called American Originals. It features the lovely abodes of American cultural icons and celebrities. It’s a book you’ll want front and center in your collection of art.
FEAR: TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE by Bob Woodward
Oh my. If anything about the world has changed me this year, it's the fact that I now enjoy reading books about this stupid man. Here's audio of this stupid man talking to Bob Woodward.
The Colby Poster Printing Company
The Colby Poster Printing Company is one of my greatest visual inspirations. Back in 2013, I purchased In The Good Name of the Company which cataloged some of the Colby Poster Printing Company's work through history.
More recently, Peter Coffin has published two volumes of imaginary concert posters inspired by the look of the posters made by Colby Printing. You can purchase this amazing book set here: Volume 1 and Volume 2.
