GIFTS WITH A SPINE WITH THE RIGHT BOOK IN HAND, EVEN THE MOST UNLIKELY TURN OUT TO BE READERS.Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor While growing up, I never saw my father read a book. He had gone off to serve in World War II right from high school, so I knew then that dodging bombs was a top priority. Later, while running his own business and raising a family, he seemed to have little time for anything else. So I assumed that he wasn't interested in books. But years later, when I had a family of my own, my parents would visit from the East, and I would often see my father reading a book. It's something he still enjoys doing today, well into his 70s. I never asked what caused the change. Obviously, I had misjudged him. So before you dismiss giving a book as a gift for someone - think again. It could spark a change. Reading or even the act of paging through a book is both an intellectual and sensual experience. It's something that can be done almost anywhere, and what other type of entertainment can we say that about today? The books listed below are mostly of the coffee-table variety, but I would be remiss re·miss adj. 1. Lax in attending to duty; negligent. 2. Exhibiting carelessness or slackness. See Synonyms at negligent. in not mentioning two literary works. The first is ``Don Quixote'' by Miguel de Cervantes, in a new translation by Edith Grossman, with an introduction by Harold Bloom ''' Harold Bloom (born July 11, 1930) is an American professor and prominent literary and cultural critic. Bloom defended 19th-century Romantic poets at a time when their reputations stood at a low ebb, has constructed controversial theories of poetic influence, and (Ecco; $29.95), the first real novel and still perhaps the greatest. This new translation relates the story of the man of La Mancha La Man·cha A region of south-central Spain. The high, mostly barren plateau is famous as the setting for Cervantes's Don Quixote. and his vivid imagination in a way that is more in tune with a 21st-century reader. The second is ``The Poetry of Pablo Neruda Noun 1. Pablo Neruda - Chilean poet (1904-1973) Neftali Ricardo Reyes, Neruda, Reyes ,'' edited by Ilan Stavans Ilan Stavans (born Ilan Stavchansky on April 7, 1961, in Mexico City) is an American intellectual, essayist, lexicographer, cultural commentator, translator, short-story author, TV personality, teacher, and man of letters known for his insights into American, Hispanic, and Jewish (Farrar Straus & Giroux; $40). To quote no less an authority than Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gar·cí·a Már·quez , Gabriel Born 1928. Colombian-born writer known especially for his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967). He won the 1982 Nobel Prize for literature. , this is ``the most comprehensive English-language collection of work ever by 'the greatest poet of the 20th century' in any language.'' The Nobel Prize-winning Chilean, who died in 1973, wrote poetry that was accessible both to the heart and the intellect. My son - who while growing up preferred sports and only read enough to get through a good university - grabbed Neruda's book for himself. (He has in the last couple of years become a voracious reader. Obviously, I was wrong about him, too.) Now I've been forced to buy another. That leads to one other thing. While there are lots of chain booksellers, there are also smaller independent stores. Take a look at those stores - the results can be surprising. NATURE/SCIENCE ``Earth'' by staff members of the Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Institution, research and education center, at Washington, D.C.; founded 1846 under terms of the will of James Smithson of London, who in 1829 bequeathed his fortune to the United States to create an establishment for the "increase and diffusion of (DK; $50). Unless there's a fire or earthquake, we vain humans forget about the ground we stand on or the water we sail on or fly over. This breathtaking book, filled with numerous color photos and easy-to-understand information, puts us in our place. ``The Illustrated Theory of Everything'' by Stephen Hawking Noun 1. Stephen Hawking - English theoretical physicist (born in 1942) Hawking, Stephen William Hawking (New Millennium; $29.95). This version of the brilliant physicist's explanation of the universe uses pictures and illustrations. Based on his seven lectures, Hawking admits that if we could understand everything, ``We would know the mind of God.'' (Released officially Jan. 1.) ``A Short History of Nearly Everything'' by Bill Bryson (Broadway; $27.50). In what is not a coffee-table book cof·fee-ta·ble book n. An oversize book of elaborate design that may be used for display, as on a coffee table. coffee-table book Noun a large expensive illustrated book Noun 1. but a transporting experience, Bryson takes the reader from the beginning of time to a view of the future in an immensely literate and entertaining way. Through the journey, the author highlights some of the most brilliant ideas - and the dumbest ones, too. ``Magnificent Mars'' by Ken Croswell Ken Croswell is an astronomer and author living in Berkeley, California. His first degree mixed science and wider interests, majoring in physics and minoring in English literature. He also got a PhD in astronomy for studying the Milky Way's halo. (The Free Press; $60). With a number of probes closing in on the red planet soon, Croswell provides a layman's guide to one of our nearby neighbors. There are plenty of photos and illustrations to help. ``Amazonia: The Land, the Wildlife, the River, the People'' by Afonso Capelas Jr. (Firefly Books; $35). Not text-heavy, but there is enough information to go along with the eye-opening pictures to make anyone realize the dire consequences that deforestation deforestation Process of clearing forests. Rates of deforestation are particularly high in the tropics, where the poor quality of the soil has led to the practice of routine clear-cutting to make new soil available for agricultural use. will have for the region and the world. ``Hubble: The Mirror on the Universe'' by Robin Kerrod (Firefly; $35). It's a big universe out there, but these pictures (many taken by the famed telescope) - along with the text - give us a helpful perspective of the vast realm astronomers are dealing with. ``Smithsonian Mammal'' (DK Publishing; $30). A well-designed, easy- to-use, nicely illustrated reference book that explains the rise and the current status of the species that broke away from our reptilian ancestors 200 million years ago. Well, at least some of us. ``Ideas That Changed the World'' by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto (DK; $30). From the concept of logic to monetary theory, this illustrated reference helps you - in a fun way - remember a lot of things you've forgotten, or learn things that you never knew. POP CULTURE ``According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Rolling Stones'' by the Rolling Stones Rolling Stones, English rock music group that rose to prominence in the mid-1960s and continues to exert great influence. Members have included singer Mick Jagger (Michael Phillip Jagger), 1943–; guitarists Brian Jones (Chronicle Books; $40). Amid the many photographs than span the band's 40-plus-year career, the remaining band members discuss how they kept rolling. ``Nobody stops growing, otherwise there's no point in doing the trip in the first place,'' says guitarist Keith Richards. `Once There Was a Way ... Photographs of the Beatles'' by Harry Benson Harry Benson, born in Glasgow, Scotland, is an internationally renowned photographer. His pictures have appeared in many publications including Life, Vanity Fair, People and The New Yorker. (Abrams; $29.95). Benson visited Paris with the Fab Four in 1964. He then accompanied them to a few other spots, including New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Miami. Along the way, he captured the craziness of the phenomenon, but the most interesting photos are those of the band working on its music. ``Playboy: 50 Years: The Photographs'' (Chronicle Books; $50). While most people associate Playboy photography with its centerfolds or naked actresses - such as Kim Basinger and Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett (born February 2 1947) is an American actress. She became a noted pop culture figure and sex symbol of the 1970s and into the 1980s, shaping the landscape of fashion and pop culture. - who have posed for the magazine - other shots in this book are of personalities interviewed over the years, from Bob Dylan to Clint Eastwood and Salvador Dali. There are also photos capturing the Playboy lifestyle, as well as some labeled, ``The Art of Erotica erotica - pornography .'' Such well-known photographers as Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts are among the contributors. ``Audrey Hepburn An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers'' by Sean Hepburn Ferrer (Atria Atria The heart has four chambers. The right and left atria are at the top of the heart and receive returning blood from the veins. The right and left ventricles are at the bottom of the heart and act as the body's main pumps. Books; $29.95). Perhaps the most graceful and stylish star of the silver screen - Princess Anne in ``Roman Holiday,'' Eliza Doolittle in ``My Fair Lady'' - this is a loving portrait of an extraordinary lady. Hepburn, who died in 1993, used her last years to help UNICEF UNICEF (y  `nĭsĕf'), the United Nations Children's Fund, an affiliated agency of the United Nations. , even after being diagnosed with cancer. ``The Complete Far Side'' by Gary Larson (Andrews McMeel; $135). The hardest thing for all of us to do is rethink what we think we know. Every day, cartoonist Gary Larson would surprise his readers with his oddball, funny drawings of chickens, cows and mad scientists in his feature called ``The Far Side.'' What made Larson's cartoons so smart and wonderful was the way he would unexpectedly turn something upside down. Puns, phrases and ideas often became humorously literal. When Larson hung up his pen in 1994, it was a sad day. But rejoice: This huge anthology, in two volumes, has more than 4,000 cartoons from ``The Far Side,'' and they never grow old. ``Keith Moon: A Personal Portrait'' by Dougal Butler (Full Moon Books; $149). For all the Who fans in Whoville, the year delivered a treat: Dougal Butler's signed, limited-edition coffee-table book about the late, great drummer. The long-suffering Butler, Moon's personal assistant from 1967-77, provides wry, affectionate commentary along with many photos and letters culled from a decade as caretaker to rock 'n' roll's ultimate court jester. There's even something for Beatles completists - reportedly the last photo ever taken of John Lennon and Paul McCartney together, with Moon between them, from 1974. Find the book at www.keithmoonportrait.com. ``Author Photo: Portraits, 1983-2002'' by Marion Ettlinger (Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. ; $35). For more than 20 years, Ettlinger has been taking photographs of people who - known for their words - do not necessarily have camera-friendly faces. Yet she captured what makes them interesting: intelligence and a sense of themselves. Just look at the shot of Patricia Highsmith. ''The Pythons: Autobiography'' by the Pythons (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's; $60). No idle thoughts went into making this a fun whatever-it-is, except Eric's, of course. Lots of craziness and off-the- wall bits and pieces to go along the remembrances and photographs, which show that throughout the years the Pythons have always lived up to the line, ``And now for something completely different.'' ``The Sandman Sandman induces sleep by sprinkling sand in children’s eyes. [Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 966] See : Sleep Sandman - The DoD requirements that led to APSE. : The King of Dreams'' by Alisa Kwitney with an introduction by Neil Gaiman (Chronicle Books; $35). This is a look at the history of the strange, haunting and award-winning comic-book series by Gaiman. It also examines the visually eye-catching illustrations. PHOTOGRAPHY ``America 24/7'' by David Elliot Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. and Rick Smolan (DK; $50). During the week of May 12-18, 2003, some 25,000 people throughout America took photographs, which were eventually edited down for this book. It also contains essays by such notable writers as Charles Johnson and Robert Olen Butler Robert Olen Butler Jr. (b. January 20, 1945) is an American fiction writer. His short-story collection A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (1992) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1993. in an attempt to capture the spirit of the country. If it doesn't succeed, it comes close. Shooting Under Fire: The World of the War Photographer by Peter Howe (Artisan; $35). Ten war photographers - with works from the past 40 years - describe how they shot their photos, which range from incredible acts of brutality to moments of kindness. As a reminder of the dangers of war journalism, James Nachtwey, a photographer whose work appears in the book, was reportedly wounded by shrapnel Wednesday in Iraq while on patrol with U.S. soldiers. A reporter, Michael Weisskopf, lost his hand in the incident while trying to throw a grenade away that had been tossed into the Humvee in which they were riding. ``Horses,'' photographs by Michael Eastman, with an introduction by Jane Smiley and William H. Gass William H. Gass (born July 30, 1924) is an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, critic, and former philosophy professor. Early life Gass was born in Fargo, North Dakota. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Warren, Ohio, where he attended local schools. (Knopf; $45). There are more than 100 shots of equines by this celebrated photographer in a sepia-toned book that captures the majesty of these animals. Even non-horse lovers will be persuaded. ``Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs'' (National Geographic Books; $30). This 504-page book has 250 of the magazine's best images of the last 100 years. It's impossible to argue that any of these aren't great; each is fascinating. ``Photography: No Particular Order'' by Gilles Bensimon (Filpacchi; $75). Fans of fashion photography will enjoy this collection from the director and head photographer for Elle magazine. Beside famed models such as Christy Turlington and Heidi Klum, Bensimon has captured such stars as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Charlize Theron in all their glamour. CHILDREN ``Brundibar'' by Tony Kushner, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak (MDC (1) (Mobile Daughter Card) See riser card. (2) See Meta Data Coalition. Books/Hyperion, $19.95). This book is based on a Czech opera that was performed by children in a Nazi concentration camp. Retold re·told v. Past tense and past participle of retell. by award-winning playwright Kushner with pictures by the great children's book illustrator Sendak, ``Brundibar'' is stranger than the usual fare for children, but it has a happy ending that any young reader will enjoy. ``Alice in Wonderland'' by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Ralph Steadman (Firefly; $29.95). You know the story, and if anyone is the perfect illustrator, it's Steadman, known for his trippy drawings in Rolling Stone magazine. ``Faraway Childhood'' photographs of Kevin Kling (Octopus; $34.95). Not a children's book per se, but these photos of kids and how they live in Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East offer a look into the world, something that many of our youths never see amid the onslaught of pop-media images. HISTORY ``Defining a Nation: Our America and the Source of Its Strength'' edited by David Halberstam (National Geographic; $40). This is no flag-waving pap. Halberstam invited more than 30 writers - from Janet Maslin on Hollywood to Richard Reeves on the GI bill - to help describe what makes our country great. ``D-Day: The Greatest Invasion - A People's History'' by Dan van der Vat Dan van der Vat is a journalist and historian of military, primarily naval history. Van der Vat grew up in Nazi-German occupied Holland. He has worked for The Times and The Guardian, both as a political and defence writer and as a foreign correspondent. . Introduction by John S.D. Eisenhower (Bloomsbury; $40). Most of the pictures of this monumental battle are in black and white, which makes them no less vivid or poignant. The book give a straightforward account of D-Day through the common soldier's eyes. Besides numerous photos, it also has illustrations that help readers understand the battle. ``Medal of Honor Medal of Honor highest American military decoration for wartime gallantry. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Bravery : Portraits of Valor valor a rodenticide no longer marketed because of toxicity in horses causing dehydration, abdominal pain, hindlimb weakness, inappetence, fishy smell in urine. Called also N-3-pyridyl methyl N1-p-nitrophenyl urea. Beyond the Call of Duty'' by Peter Collier with photographs by Nick Del Calzo (Artisan; $40). A look at 116 men who won the nation's highest military honor. While their stories are compelling, the reminder here is that the face of a hero, far more often than not, is very ordinary. ``The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age'' by Tom D. Crouch and Peter L. Jakab (National Geographic; $35). On Dec. 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers changed the world with a 59-second, 852-foot flight. It took a while before its significance was felt - but less than 15 years later, man was using the new invention for war. This book doesn't address that but is instead a readable history of a day that held promise. (With numerous historical pictures.) ``Horatio's Drive'' by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns (Knopf; $24.95). The same year the Wright Brothers made history, a Vermont doctor, Horatio Nelson Jackson Horatio Nelson Jackson (1872 - January 14, 1955) was the first person to drive an automobile across the United States, an early example of rallying (albeit with just two other competitors). , made history by becoming the first man to drive across the country - despite there being only some 150 miles of paved roads. This illustrated book is a companion to Burns' PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, special. From the Front: the Story of War'' by Michael S. Sweeney, with a forward by David Halberstam (National Geographic; $40). This tome marks the changes in covering war from early battlefield drawings to television. Numerous famous images are included. ``World War I'' by H.P. Willmott (DK; $40). As we have learned, the aftermath of the first world war had its effects on the map of the Middle East, which in turn can be traced to 9-11 and the war in Iraq. WWI WWI abbr. World War I WWI World War One was incredibly bloody and stupid. Besides basically being fought as a clash of national ambitions among European powers, it also featured 20th-century killing machines along with 19th-century tactics, resulting in massive slaughter. This oversize o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. Adj. 1. , illustrated book chronicles the complex history of the war in an easy-to-digest manner. Included is a section on the war's aftermath and the redrawing of the map in the Middle. East. CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) Christopher Morris, left and James Nachtwey, center, are among the 10 photographers whose work appears in ``Shooting Under Fire: The World of the War Photographer.'' Nachtwey reportedly was wounded last week while on assignment in Iraq. (2 -- 5) no caption (book covers) |
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