The books that we choose to keep -- let alone read -- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In My Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.

“Jewelry isn’t ordinarily a tool of political persuasion, but in this beautiful book, Madeleine Albright, American ambassador to the United Nations and then the nation’s first female secretary of state, tells the compelling story of how these small objects became part of her ‘personal diplomatic arsenal.’” — The Chicago Tribune From New York Times bestselling author and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, Read My Pins is a story and celebration of how one woman’s jewelry collection was used to make diplomatic history. Part illustrated memoir, part social history, Read My Pins provides an intimate look at Albright's life through the brooches she wore. Her collection is both international and democratic—dime-store pins share pride of place with designer creations and family heirlooms. Included are the antique eagle purchased to celebrate Albright's appointment as secretary of state, the zebra pin she wore when meeting Nelson Mandela, and the Valentine's Day heart forged by Albright's five-year-old daughter. Read My Pins features more than 200 photographs, along with compelling and often humorous stories about jewelry, global politics, and the life of one of America's most accomplished and fascinating diplomats.

DIVA visual history about how feminist artists have appropriated and incorporated the signification of the pin-up genre within their own work./div

Pin-ups are a classic American art form that have enthralled several generations since first gaining widespread popularity in the 1920s. Today, internationally acclaimed photographer Celeste Giuliano has developed a style of photography that masterfully pays homage to the sweet and sexy look of the classic pin-up girl illustrations from WWII America. With a focus on details, authenticity, lighting, studio techniques, and poses, she has made a career of transforming everyday women into pin-up queens and making both men and women alike fall in love with their classic beauty all over again. In this, her first definitive collection, Celeste reminds us why men "pinned up" these lovely ladies and why their timeless beauty is still as sexy as ever. Each of the 130 portraits takes you back to the time when a flirtatious smile or a peek at a garter was what made the girl next door the ultimate bombshell.