Bespoke Mascots, Automotive Jewelry, Vol. Two

by Nicholas Dawes, Michael Furman

If the type of car you drive doesn’t already say enough about you, add a hood ornament of your own choosing or even design and make a “statement.”

Maserati, A Century of History

by Cancellieri, Dal Monte, De Agostini, Ramaciotti

An excellent book with superb photos is a nice way to celebrate a big, round birthday. A three-day parade in Italy brought together 200 cars and 500 enthusiasts—if you weren’t there, console yourself with this book!

The Story of Music, From Babylon to The Beatles

by Howard Goodall

Humans communicate—music is communication. But it’s also much more than that. Some 40,000+ years of musical ideas, forms, and trends in the Western world are discussed here to make sense of it all.

Messerschmitt Me 262 A Schwalbe

by Robert Peczkowski

This is a rather specialized book about one of several variants of this German WWII aircraft, famous for being the world’s first jet—and infamous for being too little too late

You Have Been Warned! A Complete Guide to the Road

by Donald McCullough & Fougasse

First published in 1935 and re-issued many times since, this popular compilation of “humorous advice for perplexed motorists” takes a light-hearted look at things a budding motorist and innocent bystanders ought to know about each other.

Porsche 356 Defined, A Pictorial Guide

by Brett Johnson

The 356 is one of the quintessential sports cars, a segment of the market it came to define. If you have or want one—or are a concours judge—this book will school your eye.

Francis Howe, Motor Racing Man Par Excellence

by Tim May with Adam Ferrington

The “Gentleman Racer”  earned this nickname for a reason—and not just because he was an aristocrat. And Earl Howe did a lot more than race well; some of his ideas have had a lasting impact even until today.

The Car-dependent Society, A European Perspective

by Hans Jeekel

Doesn’t sound like a very sexy read but just ask yourself: are our modern lifestyles possible without cars? We know the environmental price of growing car use—but do we care?

Catwoman, The Life and Times of a Feline Fatale

by Suzan Colón

A fun pictorial tribute. If this book were about The Batman, it’d be called sexist. Can good graphic design trump mediocre content? Don’t reject this book out of hand—but don’t break the kitty for it either.

Great Aviation Collections of Britain

by Ken Ellis

Britain is at the forefront of the worldwide aviation heritage movement and this book introduces some its foremost collections and explains what makes their key holdings important and how they were acquired.

The Rolls-Royce 25/30 & Wraith

by Bernard L. King

A complete listing of every car built in those two series, complete with technical specs, basic history, and photos. Lots of photos. Hundreds of photos. Don’t even think of buying a car without checking this book first!

The American Clipper Ship, 1845–1920

by Glenn A. Knoblock

“All the tea in China”—that’s a main reason the world needed express ships favoring speed over cargo volume to cross the seas at a “good clip.” The narrow, yacht-like sailing ships and a cutthroat business full of human drama are covered here in engaging form.