Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: Texas A&M University Press - September 1st, 2011
Jesse Jones was once considered the most powerful man in America - after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, of course. The former Houston businessman became head of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and worked closely with FDR to bolster the United States’ crippled economy after the Great Depression. Fenberg provides a fair and balanced biography of this important figure in American history while focusing on his Houston roots and legacy.
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Published: Texas A&M University Press - March 22nd, 2010
A stunning full-color journey through Houston’s oldest cemetery, Glenwood, which was founded in 1871. The book discusses the place itself and many of the Houston luminaries who were buried there. An idiosyncratic peek into Houston’s history, brought to life by local master photographer Paul Hester.
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Published: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - May 19th, 2011
This sumptuous leather-bound book is just as fun to flip through as it is to read from cover to cover. Theroux’s book is part memoir and part miscellany, providing inspiration to anyone who loves to travel.
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Published: J. Paul Getty Museum - October 11th, 2011
A lavishly illustrated history of the written word, from papyrus to iPad. Landmarks in literary history are discussed, as well as the evolution of books as objects. A must-have for any true bibliophile.
A handsome and carefully selected volume of the 20th century’s finest poetry, curated by the incomparable Rita Dove. An excellent sampling of the century’s best appropriate for dilettantes and connoisseurs alike.
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Published: Schiffer Publishing - October 17th, 2011
This beautiful limited edition book was lovingly written and illustrated by Johnston in the 1840s and 50s. She then gave the book to her husband as a birthday gift, but he was subsequently killed in the battle of Shiloh. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas got possession of this remarkable book in 1894, but only now is it available to the public. Stunning hand-drawn pictures and a remarkable leather cover make this book a true keepsake.
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Published: Knopf - September 20th, 2011
This fascinating biography follows Hemingway from roughly 1935-1961, during the years when he fell from his exalted position as the finest American writer of his generation. Hemingway had one constant in his life during this time: his boat, Pilar. Using the boat as a centerpiece, Hendrickson presents Hemingway’s softer side, giving a reverent but fair treatment that he has rarely received in recent biographies.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Hyperion - September 14th, 2011
This deluxe book and DVD set presents, in their original form, a series of interviews that Jackie Kennedy gave about her husband’s life and career after his untimely death. Kennedy commissioned these interviews for posterity and then chose not to speak publicly about JFK afterward. These interviews were just released for the first time by Jackie’s daughter Caroline.
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Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux - September 13th, 2011
A charming collection of fragments and miscellany perfect for fans of Mitford’s more narrative biography, Wait for Me! and for new Mitford devotees alike. Mitford reflects on her life, her family, the famous people she has known, and, of course, her chickens.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Knopf - October 25th, 2011
The long-awaited magnum opus from the Japanese sensation Murakami, based loosely on Orwell’s 1984. This wild, weird novel must be experienced to be believed.
A beautiful, stuffed-full evocation of this decade’s styles and trends from the creator of the popular Sartorialist blog. Schuman celebrates the style of everyday people on the streets of their cities instead of the stylized fashion seen on runways and in fashion magazines.
A luxurious haute couture guide to style à la Parisienne from one of France’s most famous models. Contains tips on incorporating French style into your wardrobe and your home, along with gorgeous fashion photography and chic, insouciant line drawings.
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Published: Interlink Books - May 1st, 2010
A travel guide unlike any other, this book uncovers all of the Big Apple’s greatest hidden treasures. Perfect for first time visitors who love adventure or for those of us who have seen the tourist spots a thousand times and are ready to see the city as its natives do.
Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: Sandow Media - November 8th, 2011
Beautiful design is celebrated in this anthology, with honors divided into more than 70 categories reflecting different facets of interior design - residential, retail, business, and more.
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Published: Knopf - August 16th, 2011
This biography of Coco Chanel examines her life during World War II, a chapter of her life that was, until now, shrouded in mystery. Vaughan reveals the full extent of Chanel’s Nazi collaboration during the war.
This novel, written by a young German woman as the Weimar-era answer to Loos’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, was a runaway German bestseller and was considered a masterwork upon its release in 1931. When Hitler came to power, he had every copy of it burned, and thus it was nearly completely forgotten. Published for the first time in America just this year, this novel reads as if it were written yesterday.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: University of Chicago Press - October 15th, 2011
A lovely translation of Françoise Sagan’s oft-forgotten second novel. Sagan is perhaps best remembered as the young French author of controversial classic Bonjour Tristesse, but many critics preferred A Certain Smile.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Metropolitan Museum of Art - May 31st, 2011
This is the catalogue for the groundbreaking Museum of Modern Art show looking back on Alexander McQueen’s life and work. The book traces McQueen’s entire career, and includes a variety of essays discussing his influence on world fashion. Features a sweet lenticular skull cover!
Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: Amy Einhorn Books - October 27th, 2011
If ever a book could be called a blockbuster hit, it’s book-club favorite The Help. This edition, for the true Stockett fan, is indeed deluxe; it features a ribbon bookmark, printed end papers, two-color printing, and sumptuous cloth binding.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Little, Brown and Company - September 7th, 2011
A campus novel with sports fan appeal, The Art of Fielding follows baseball star Henry Skrimshander and a vivid cast of characters who touch his life through one fateful season at Westish College.
Not your typical zombie novel - intelligent, hilarious, and brilliantly subversive. The narrator - named, strangely, Mark Spitz - is charged with clearing undesirable infected citizens called “skels” from the desirable Manhattan real estate they inhabit.
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Published: Crown - September 20th, 2011
Perfect for fans of In the Garden of Beasts - King’s history revisits a serial murder case that rocked Paris during the Nazi Occupation. Swimming in atmosphere, insightful, and engrossing.
A reverent but honest look at JFK from the host of Hardball, this biography examines John F. Kennedy as a flesh-and-blood man riddled with contradictions and complications. A great companion volume to Jacqueline Kennedy’s interviews about her husband, recently released by her daughter Caroline and available for purchase this Christmas at Brazos.
Penguin Threads are colorful, girl-friendly editions of some of literature’s most enduring classics. A perfect way to introduce young readers to great literature in its original, unabridged form.
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - October 4th, 2011
This imaginative and beautifully illustrated adventure tale follows two young boys in 1950s London who are in search of a missing apothecary who has left them a mysterious book. Sure to please Harry Potter fans of all ages.
Published: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers - October 25th, 2011
This quirky classic is now repackaged in a deluxe edition in honor of its 50th anniversary. The full text of the original is accompanied by essays by Philip Pullman, Mo Willems, Maurice Sendak, and more.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - September 6th, 2011
This book, the first in Joyce’s new Guardians of Childhood series, is a steampunk fantasia revolving around the elusive Man in the Moon, a mythic figure whose mission it is to calm children’s nighttime fears.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Vintage - January 12th, 2010
What happens when we die? It’s an age old question with no scientific answers, but Eagleman, a star Houston neuroscientist who studied creative writing at Rice, offers myriad beautiful hypotheses in his genre-bending book of very short tales.
Lawson investigates a small town in Italy where the inhabitants are blessed with extremely long life and extremely good health. Lawson examines the villagers’ diets, lifestyles, and attitudes in hopes of discovering their secrets of longevity.
The perfect “travel” book to browse when you really need to get away (or at least fantasize about it). Schalansky highlights the last places on earth that are truly off the beaten path - islands that modernity has not yet reached.
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Published: Thames & Hudson - October 17th, 2011
This beautiful book brings medical history to life, illuminating key turning points in our understanding of the body and its processes. The perfect gift for a new doctor or doctor-to-be, this book contains timelines, paintings, photographs, and more.
Published: Simon & Schuster - September 27th, 2011
Your favorite lifesaver will undoubtedly love reading about America’s favorite lifesaver: the fabled canine movie star Rin Tin Tin. Orlean brings Rinty’s era to life, exploring both the lives of the dogs who played the part and their troubled master, Lee Duncan.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Penguin Press - March 3rd, 2011
This quirky and hilarious exploration of memory follows Foer as he reports on, and eventually joins, the strange and amazing world of competitive memorizers.
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Published: Viking Adult - July 21st, 2011
This jaw-dropping book explores the way that scientific explanations of our universe can change history. Deutsch applies his encyclopedic knowledge of science and his quest for better and better explanations of these complex concepts to a variety of real world problems, offering new perspectives on our contemporary world.
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Published: ONEWorld Publications - October 3rd, 2011
A thoughtful examination of the future of genomics. Frank has her genome mapped and examines the psychological, philosophical, and existential issues that are raised by the wealth of “information” with which her test results provide her. A passionate and concerned look at scientific progress.
Published: Palgrave MacMillan - September 27th, 2011
An expert on the US-Mexico border warns that the violence and anarchy that has accompanied the drug war in Mexico is beginning to spill into the Southwestern United States. A troubling and bold account of Mexican drug violence that should be required reading for lawmakers and health professionals in South Texas.
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Published: Ecco - September 27th, 2011
This collection of some of the best science journalism of the past year makes a great stocking stuffer for anyone who wants to stay up-to-date on scientific controversies and breakthroughs while enjoying truly great reads.
Published: Farrar Straus Giroux - October 11th, 2011
A fascinating memoir from one of the best connected women in history Some of My Lives explores Bernier’s rich and legendary life as a cultural gadfly. On every page, one encounters another famous name from literature, art, music, or fashion. A spirited highbrow voyage through the 20th century art world.
Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: Grand Central Publishing - November 22nd, 2011
Love her or hate her, Gaga has reintroduced avant-garde fashion and art to a pop music scene recently bereft of substance and ambition. Her collaboration with photographer Terry Richardson is the perfect gift for all the Little Monsters on your list, but it also provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of an eccentric superstar that has broad artistic appeal.
Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - September 12th, 2011
Caravaggio’s passionate masterpieces and you know: he was the ultimate Renaissance bad boy. Graham-Dixon examines original Italian texts to uncover new and fascinating information about Caravaggio’s prodigious criminal history, his sexual picadillos, and his premature death, as well as his development into one of the most vital and important artists in European history.
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Published: Four Corners Books - August 31st, 2011
Occupy Wall Street has us in mind of earlier, more poetic revolutions, which makes this new catalogue of the poster art of May 1968 timely and vital. The Atelier Populaire was a collective of French print shops dedicated to encouraging revolutionaries to keep up the fight. Their work is collected comprehensively here.
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Published: Reaktion Books - October 1st, 2011
A thoughtful and remarkably complete examination of de Kooning’s oeuvre that focuses primarily on his technique and on his complicated reception in the art world.
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Published: Thames & Hudson - October 24th, 2011
These long conversations between critic Martin Gayford and celebrated artist David Hockney explore the magic of art, both for the artist and for the enthusiast.
The art of Robert Rauchenberg is examined in an international context here, charting his travels in four cities: Paris, Venice, Stockholm, and Tokyo. Ikegami explores Rauchenberg’s hand in the rise of American art as global art, and thus places him in a wider conversation.
Availability: Out of Print - Not Available for Order
Published: Hirmer Verlag GmbH - August 15th, 2011
This gorgeous book presents nearly 100 J.M.W. Turner masterworks from the Tate Gallery in London, examined through the lens of Turner’s interest in and exploration of the natural sciences.
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Published: Berkley - June 7th, 2005
Brier’s book is one of the best and most exciting accounts of the life and death of King Tut. A perfect historical and archaeological companion to the King Tut exhibit now showing at the MFAH.
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Published: Art Institute of Chicago - July 26th, 2011
This fascinating catalogue looks at six artists of the modernist movement who brought the sensibilities and aesthetics of avant-garde art into the public sphere for ordinary people to enjoy and ponder. A beguiling look at an age when it seemed possible that high art could change the world as we know it.
This brilliant Booker Prize winning novel follows a man who is uninterested in his own past - until it comes back to haunt him. Harrowing and suspenseful, this novel can be read in just one sitting or savored over and over again.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Knopf - November 1st, 2011
This hilarious sequel to Birnbauch’s iconic The Official Preppy Handbook examines how prep culture has adapted to our contemporary world. Sure to illicit a knowing giggle from a blue-blood you know and love.
From the author of the smash hit 1491 comes this fascinating, paradigm-shifting examination of the Columbian Exchange - an unprecedented movement of biological species, power, and wealth between the New World and the Old that Mann posits was the most important biological event since the extinction of the dinosaurs.
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Published: Oxford University Press, USA - November 1st, 2011
Likely the most beautiful and complete world atlas you will ever see. What the Oxford English Dictionary is for words, this unbelievable atlas is for places. A must-have for any serious scholar or lover of maps.
By far the most comprehensive study available of Wright’s unparalleled drawings, plans, designs and sketches,. Beautiful and engaging enough for the casual enthusiast and detailed enough for the most serious scholar of architecture and design.
A fascinating and eclectic collection of Schama’s essays, with topics ranging from personal history to cultural history, from pop culture to high culture.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Library of America - September 29th, 2011
Roth should be required reading for all Americans, especially for all American academics. Urbane, keenly observant, and beautifully written, these three novels present Roth at the height of his powers.
Published: Library of America - October 27th, 2011
This long-awaited compilation of Kael’s most memorable film reviews is an idiosyncratic and fascinating peek into the cinema of the 1970s and 1980s - a must-have for any serious film enthusiast.
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Published: Hudson Hills Press - September 1st, 2011
Jack Parson’s landscape photography presents New Mexico as you’ve never seen it before: epic in scope and dazzling in execution. Here are scenes that seem lifted from the imaginations of Cormac McCarthy, which is apt when you consider that Parson’s son Alex is a McCarthy scholar and member of the creative writing faculty at the University of Houston.
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Published: Dutton Adult - June 30th, 2011
This fascinating travelogue with a twist examines the famed discovery of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham III in 1911. Adams retraces Bingham’s journey step-for-step across Peru in hopes of discovering whether Bingham smuggled artifacts from the ancient site or lied about the particulars of his discovery of it.
Published: Simon & Schuster - September 13th, 2011
From the author of A Beautiful Mind comes the story of modern economics, told with an eye toward its most celebrated and brilliant minds. Examining characters as diverse as Dickens and Sen, Marx and Keynes, Nasar transforms a subject sometimes considered dry into a vivid, vital romp through history.
Published: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - August 30th, 2011
This perfect gem of a book by debut author Torres examines the rough-and-tumble childhoods of three brothers growing up in a tumultuous mixed-race family in Brooklyn. Written with incredible skill and grace.
The ultimate gift for an aspiring graphic novelist or comics aficianado, this book and DVD set explores the making of Maus, one of the most influential graphic novels of all time.
Published: University of Texas Press - July 15th, 2011
Evan’s magnificent, iconic, full color pictures of the Big Bend region of Texas are accompanied by a forward from Rebecca Solnit, one of the country’s most engaging essayists.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Tin House Books - October 11th, 2011
This stunning and wildly ambitious book is the culmination of Kish’s two-year quest to illustrate every single page of Moby Dick. Kish, a self-taught tour-de-force of an artist, uses a variety of techniques to bring the classic to life.
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Published: Vintage - August 9th, 2011
Probably the hippest, most experimental and inventive book written about the Great War. Dyer presents his thoughts on the war in a unique and seductive hybrid of meditation, travelogue, history and memoir.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Hawthorne Books - April 12th, 2011
One of the finest memoirs of our new century, but certainly not for the faint of heart. A harrowing adventure through sex, violence, death, motherhood, perversion, and redemption, all written in visceral, haunting prose.
This beautiful bilingual version of Rimbaud’s most famous work is graced with its original New Directions cover art and an insightful, reverent introduction by Patti Smith.
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Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux - October 11th, 2011
The New York Times Bestseller by the author of The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex examines the post-college lives of three Brown undergraduates in the 1980s.
Jeopardy guru Ken Jennings guides us through his long-time love affair with maps. Jennings interviews other obsessive map devotees and explores the cultural history of maps and mapmaking, and the ways in which they have changed the course of history, over and over again.
This stunning and brilliant graphic biography highlights the lives of Pierre and Marie Curie and examines how their love story led to a wide variety of contemporary issues surrounding nuclear power, weaponry, and medicine.
Noted Houston neuroscientist and Rice graduate Eagleman explores the subconscious mind - everything your brain is doing without your conscious knowledge.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Bloomsbury USA - October 5th, 2009
A graphic novel for the intellectual heavyweight, Logicomix explores the life and philosophy of Bertrand Russell, who sought to find a logical underpinning for all of mathematics.
Availability: Not On Our Shelves. Usually arrives in 7-10 Days due to Covid-19 shipping delays.
Published: Dalkey Archive Press - November 8th, 2011
This yearly sampling of the best fiction from each country in Europe provides a fascinating introduction to contemporary literature in translation as well as to the varied cultures that give each story life.
Eight Great Reasons to Shop at Locally-Owned Businesses
Significantly more money re-circulates in your community when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned businesses. Locally owned businesses help keep more money in your community because local business owners spend more of the profits of their business where they live and locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses.
Most new jobs are provided by locally owned businesses: Small, local businesses are the largest employer nationally.
Local business owners invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live locally and are more invested in your community's future.
Customer service is better: Local businesses often hire people with more specific expertise for better customer service.
Reduced environmental impact: Shopping at locally owned businesses is more energy efficient. Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, thus reducing their transportation costs (and environmental impact).
Public benefits far outweigh public costs: Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
Encourages investment in your community: A growing body of economic research shows that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
Non-profits receive greater support: Non-profit organizations receive an average of 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
Brazos LOVES this article about "Keeping It Local"
