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Man Crafts

Kind of a disappointment! Lots of things to do with logs, though.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma
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Ways of Seeing

Two diverse and game-changing books (along with On Photography) about art and photography. 

Missing Vinny Senguttuvan for art
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The Emperor of Scent

If you don't feel like reading Luca Turin's book about scent you might as well read Chandler Burr's book about him.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma
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The Woodbook

Pictures of wood. Radial, horizontal, and vertical cuts of wood. That's about it.

It might sound weird, but if you raise your eyebrows, I will say to you: it is stunning.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma
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Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Douglas Hofstadter's classic take on mathematics, art, and knowledge. The publisher says it's "in the spirit of Lewis Carroll" and I'm one to agree.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for history and science
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The Age of Wonder

"How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science" was such a good subtitle I bought this one in hardcover.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for history and science
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Punch: The Delights (And Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl

David Wondrich has returned to fill us all in on the most social of drinks. After reading it you'll demand your friends come over for a bowl or two.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for food and alcohol
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The River Cottage Meat Book

Everything ever about meat. This book is a blessing for the carnivore inside of you.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for meat and food
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The Best of 2600 [A Hacker Odyssey]

It's a great retrospective on the past 30 years of hacking, sure, but the fun part is all of the now-archaic technology. 2400 baud modems! Payphones!

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma
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Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

This book taught me how to synthesize methyl salicylate from aspirin, which I then used to make a slightly poisonous wintergreen flavoring.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for science
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Fix the Pumps

A great social history of the soda fountain.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma
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Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes: Containing Over 6400 Receipts

Do you want to make 20 gallons of Stoughton bitters? Purify nitric acid? Cure liver problems? This 1872 guide has you covered.

78a7e62a tiny Jonathan Soma for history and science

Call Me Daddy: Babes and Bathos in Edward West Browning's Jazz-Age New York

A nice history on one of NYC's most interesting characters. 

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Grammar: A Pocket Guide

I wrote this book as a Grammar for Smart Grownups....clear language, busting some grammar myths, clear examples.

F424b004 tiny Susan Behrens for writing and grammar

Out of the Pits: Traders and Technology from Chicago to London

The transition to digital technology on the trading floor. A great modern day ethnography (thanks to Rachel for the tip!)

A69143a5 tiny Jen Messier