A Story Lately Told by Angelica Huston
In this first of two installments, Hollywood royalty Huston reveals what it was like growing up in seemingly idyllic circumstances with director father John Huston in Ireland, her turbulent romance with a much-older man, as well as her career as a young actress and model. (We have to wait for the next book for her romance with Jack Nicholson.)
Mother. Wife. Sister. by Rob Delaney
The funniest man on Twitter attempts to go longer than 140 characters and the results are hilarious and surprisingly moving. Unlike some books by comics, Delaney's volume offers a rich, deeply considered (and yes, funny) look at his life, from jumping off a bridge to crashing a car while drunk to getting and staying sober while other friends died trying. A great read by any standard, but even more so for including stories about needing (and failing) to find a bathroom while jogging.
Mo' Meta Blues by Ahmir-Khalib Thompson and Ben Greenman
The Roots drummer, Jimmy Fallon bandleader and epic tweeter tells the story of growing up in a musical family that later found religion, and how he coped with the world through episodes of Soul Train, secret Prince recordings and finding his partner in rhyme, rapper Black Thought. With fun cameos, thoughtful asides and clever input from others, it's smart, moving and keeps perfect time.
The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoll Seitz
This whimsical, jam-packed book is just like a Wes Anderson film, which is kind of the point. Using photographs, screenshots, interviews, inspirations and other interesting background on the Rushmore filmmaker, the book has everything (including word counts) that you want to know about the director, the characters and his films, as well as an intro by our favorite novelist Michael Chabon.
Star Wars Frames by George Lucas, Guillermo Del Toro and J.W. Rinzler
Want a weighty tome? Books don't get much heavier than this hulking boxed double set, which features 1,416 George Lucas-selected frames from the entire Star Wars saga isolated as beautiful stand-alone images. If you didn't already think the Star Wars films were art, you will now.
All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release by Phillippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon
The 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first album has been a great year for books about the band, with our favorites being Mark Lewisohn's brilliant Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years Vol. 1 about the group's early years and this, an exhaustive look at each song's origins, recording and lore—with an introduction by legend Patti Smith.
Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
The simple, heartwarming Facebook phenomenon—a guy takes pictures and asks questions of people he sees—spawned a book, and we couldn't be happier. Regardless of where you live, the photos and comments that photographer Stanton gets from his subjects are almost always wise, wonderful and moving.
Morrissey by Morrissey
Celebrity biographies are almost by design exercises in self-regard, right? So who better to join the fray and start sounding off than the outspoken former Smiths frontman and current solo artist/animal rights activist. We're surprised it took so long for him to getting around to writing it.
Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman
Self-help from Ron Swanson? Count us in. The Parks and Recreation character's real-life alter ego gives us a look at how to live life, and it's a fascinating mix of woodworking, manners, manliness, anecdotes and ethical lessons. And breakdancing. Best enjoyed with a steak.
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
From her blog of the same name, Brosh offers stories and deliberately child-like pictures documenting her various life struggles, from trying to find motivation to responding to a letter she wrote to her future self when she was just 10 years old.
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