Look no further if you need a last minute gift for your loved ones. Our staff members recommend Yale books that are perfect gifts for the holiday season.
December Staff Pick: The Story of the Country House
Acquisitions Editor, Art and Architecture, Sophie Neve recommends The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet and How to Enjoy Art by Ben Street
My first pick for Gifts this year is Clive Aslet’s The Story of the Country House. Perfect for anyone interested in British history, architecture or who simply enjoys a day out visiting country houses. Clive Aslet charts the changing fortunes of country houses and their owners with great wit and it’s packed with fascinating stories and cast of characters.
I would also recommend Ben Street’s How to Enjoy Art, which really is a guide for everyone, no matter if you are already an art enthusiast or have never been to an art gallery before. It’s entirely free of art historical jargon and is simply a thought-provoking read. So, an ideal gift for anyone – including younger readers – who is interested in art and looking for a fun and engaging introduction.
Publisher & Managing Director, Heather McCallum recommends How to Enjoy Art by Ben Street and 100 Poets by John Carey
I am gifting to friends and family How to Enjoy Art by Ben Street and 100 Poets by John Carey. The former is a fresh and lively introduction to the appreciation of Art which manages somehow to be both challenging and accessible. 100 Poets is both inspiring and restful – it’s a wonderful holiday read on a quiet morning with a mince pie, as well as being a `round – the – year’ dip in to. I love the personal approach of Carey to poets familiar to us all (Milton and so on) but at the same time he presents recent talents in a way that makes you want to dive for the rest of their works.
Marketing Campaigns Executive, Maria Zygogianni recommends Fandom Unbound: Otaku Culture in a Connected World by Mizuko Ito, Daisuke Okabe, Izumi Tsuji
‘Geek’ culture is no longer on the margins but how did it come to be the way it is? Fandom Unbound is an interesting framing of questions about otaku culture and its relation to bigger Japanese political and cultural topics, such as nationalism, Japan’s relationship with the West etc. These are big questions that have been considered in Japan for years, but here they are framed for a western audience. It covers everything: from anime music videos and cosplay to train otakus and the Akihabara electronics district.
Featured Image: Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
