Tracing the roots of the prefabricated house all the way back to England in the 1830s, PreFab Houses ($45) celebrates this easily-constructed wonder of life with huge, detailed pictures and a flair for the modern. Extra bonus points for including the Monsanto House of the Future.... [More]

Counting down the days until the Mad Men season four premiere? Pass the time by perusing the 250+ pages of Mad Men Unbuttoned ($12). Penned by Natasha Vargas-Cooper of Public School Intelligentsia fame, this unique quasi-history book looks at both the show and the era in which it's set, covering... [More]

How can you tell a real astronaut apart from a deranged, Sigourney Weaver in Alien-obsessed wannabe? The suit, of course. Spacesuits ($20) is a short but art-worthy look at the history of the spacesuit, featuring interesting history mixed in with professional photos of spacesuits ranging from the earliest manned space... [More]

Believe it or not, there really is a manual. How to Booze: Exquisite Cocktails & Unsound Advice ($10) is a two hundred-plus page guide to choosing the right drink at the right moment, written by two long-time NYC bartenders who offer up expert-level information on each drink and its characteristics,... [More]

Like to brew your own beer, but long for the taste of Saison Dupont, Sierra Nevada, or even that most interesting of Mexican brews, Dos Equis? Pick up a copy of Clone Brews ($12). This commercial beer-obsessed home brewer's bible contains 200 recipes for beers around the world, so you... [More]

You can put as many solar panels on your roof or hoist as many windmills as you want, but one of the most affordable, most green changes you can make to your home is utilizing your yard for food production. While it's not exactly a how-to book, Edible Estates ($17)... [More]

Seeking sensei-like advice on how to maximize your grilling season? Who better to ask than the minds behind the awe-inspiring Bacon Explosion? BBQ Makes Everything Better ($20) covers equipment, cooking techniques, and, of course, recipes for foods from the standard ribs and brisket to international barbecue and desserts. Grill, baby,... [More]

No matter how rude or nasty you might think they are, everyone farts, and that means everyone in history farted, as well. From the same man who brought you such flatulence files as Who Cut the Cheese? and Blame It on the Dog, Did Somebody Step on a Duck?: A... [More]

Need a little reading material while you wait for AT&T and Apple to get their shit together so you can finally order your shiny new iPhone 4? You could do a lot worse than The Porsche Book ($80). Paying homage to the brand's impressive design DNA that can be seen... [More]

Everyone loves a comeback story, and Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose ($13) by Zappos founder and CEO Tony Hsieh delivers. Going from selling off LinkExchange for $265 million to having to fund Zappos out of his own pocket, Hsieh offers insight into the beliefs and business... [More]

Surely you didn't think that the series finale would mark the end of Lost posts on Uncrate? The Lost Encyclopedia ($27) is a must-have companion for anyone planning to re-watch the series, preferably via that fancy new Blu-ray box set. Clocking in at over 400 pages and sporting more than... [More]

Previously covered on Uncrate in prohibitively expensive, limited edition form, The Godfather Family Album ($45) is back and this time it's priced for the masses. Still found inside are featured selections from photographer Steve Schapiro's archives chronicling the making of The Godfather trilogy, some iconic, some little-seen, but all showing... [More]

Sometimes taking it easy is the best advice: just ask Josh Karp, the author of Straight Down the Middle ($17). This half-comedy, half-road trip of a book follows Karp on his personal journey across the U.S. and parts of Europe, as he seeks non-traditional golf instruction to fix his swing.... [More]

Have a youngling — or younglings — to whom you'd like to impart a bit of your geeky ways? Let Geek Dad ($12) be your guide. Written by Ken Denmead, engineer and editor of Wired's GeekDad blog, this 240-page tome is a collection of geeky projects and activities you can... [More]

Okay, maybe they won't literally cause unexpected bowel movements, but "Facts that Will Greatly Disturb You" just didn't have the same ring to it. 1,001 Facts that Will Scare the Sh*t Out of You ($10) is a 300+ page collection of random facts about bugs, disease, animals, and more, each... [More]

Ever been rejected, dumped, or otherwise failed miserably? Plenty of others have too, and Other People's Rejection Letters ($15) is proof. Compiled from letters, emails, texts and other communiqués — even some written to the later-to-become-famous — by LIFE.com Editor-In-Chief Bill Shaprio, this 192-page hardbound tome is sure-fire gold for... [More]

One of the most common complaints you'll hear from the execs of the dying print magazine business is the time it takes to get an issue pulled together. Well, the crazy collaborators behind 48 Hour Magazine ($10) said "to hell with that." Issue Zero of the new magazine was written,... [More]

No, this isn't some disgusting sequel to the infamous video-that-must-not-be-named. Written by Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of the hot Hollywood catering company Caramelized Productions, Two Dudes, One Pan ($17) is a minimalistic, man-focused cookbook offering up over 100 tasty recipes — ranging from desserts to full-on meals — that... [More]

Unless you belong to a highly trained, photogenic family — the Kennedys, for instance — you've probably been featured in more than one of these yourself. Awkward Family Photos ($9) is a coffee table edition of the hilarious blog, featuring over two hundred new intimate family moments that will have... [More]

Whether you're already sporting Grizzly Adams-worthy facial hair or just considering growing a 'stache of your own, you can benefit from the wisdom to be found in The Bearded Gentleman: The Style Guide to Shaving Face ($10). This lighthearted 144-page guide offers history, cultural, and maintenance info on fifty facial... [More]

Move the musings of everyone's favorite 74-year-old senior from the computer to the coffee table with Sh*t My Dad Says ($11). Filled with the best quotes from author Justin Halpern's dad Sam and more F-bombs than a Tarantino film, it's a sure-fire way to keep your guests entertained when your... [More]

Coat hangers. Sliced bread. Bottled water. These simple yet successful inventions are among the 101 chronicled in Anthony Rubino Jr.'s cleverly funny Why Didn't I Think of That? ($10). This 224-page book looks at the complexity behind these common goods, while offering up tons of questionably useful trivia and imparting... [More]

You don't need to pour money into professional landscapers, exotic plants, and marble lawn gnomes to make your yard look tacky great: all you really need is a lawnmower. At least, that's what Lawnscapes ($10) will tell you. By following the 20 different cutting patterns and other tips found within... [More]

Like many of our readers, the Uncrate staff at one point had an insatiable thirst for card collecting, snatching up rookie cards of our favorite — or the most valuable — players while continuing to buy pack after pack like a chain smoker on an endless bender. Mint Condition ($17)... [More]

Working from home is all well and great, but it can be hard to keep a proper work/life balance when your office is just a few steps down the hallway — or worse yet, across the floor — from your bed. Shedworking ($21) takes you inside the alternative workspace movement... [More]

Bourbon — we enjoy this manliest of drinks by the shot, over ice with a splash of water, or even straight from the bottle (sometimes). Bourbon: 50 Rousing Recipes for a Classic American Spirit ($11) goes beyond these borders with classic drink recipes, fruity concoctions, and party mixes that are... [More]

Need to know when and when not to name a building after yourself, or have trouble telling your ascots from your Astors? True Prep ($14) can offer assistance. Co-written by the author of the seminal The Official Preppy Handbook and a devoted fan, Prep is dedicated to helping the well-off... [More]

You know the phrase "whole hog?" Well, London-based chef Fergus Henderson takes it literally. Author of The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating ($15), Henderson believes in using virtually every part of a plant or animal in your cooking to reduce waste, resulting in such tasty yet repulsive-sounding dishes as... [More]

Sized for travel and filled with the type of information usually reserved for travel and birdwatching guides, Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: Compendium Monstrum ($10) is your pocketable encyclopedia of baddies. Spanning 160+ pages, this helpful guide includes sections on the aforementioned monsters, including a special section dedicated to travel within Transylvania,... [More]

A host of fashion inspiration awaits in the pages of Take Ivy ($25). Originally published in Japan in 1965, this unique tome offers up 145 full-color and black-and-white candid photographs of Ivy league students going about their daily lives. As Vampire Weekend can attest, Ivy style is seeing new levels... [More]

Do you care, at all, about your work? Then pick up a copy of Rework ($13). Penned by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson of 37signals, makers of Backpack — which we use every day to help write Uncrate — and other fine software products, Rework is filled with to-the-point... [More]

In case you missed it, Nintendo wasn't in the best shape market share-wise when it announced the Wii: the PS2 was the undisputed king of consoles, the Xbox 360 had already launched with a well-received, if expensive online service, and Nintendo's prior console, the GameCube, was more or less a... [More]

While not as revered or celebrated as they once were — both in the movies and in pop culture *cough* Marlboro man *cough* —there is still a place for the classic western cowboy in modern society, and Cowboy: The Ultimate Guide to Living Like a Great American Icon ($10) is... [More]

Our 16th president didn't just have to face down a split nation -- he also had to face down the very real threat of... vampires. At least, that's how the story goes in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ($13), the latest work from Pride and Predjudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith.... [More]

We all know how to take down a horde of the undead with a trusty sawed-off shotgun, but what do you do when you run out of ammo? The Zombie Combat Manual ($10) can tell you. Penned by Roger Ma, the man behind hand-to-hand combat group the Zombie Combat Club,... [More]

As many long-time Uncrate readers already know, we have an affinity for sharp-looking automotive photography — and Curves of Steel ($50) is full of it. This 192-page hardbound tome features stunning images of some of the world's most streamlined autos, all painstakingly made by photographer Michael Furman. A total of... [More]

Whether you're a long time wresting fan or simply liked Nacho Libre, odds are you'll enjoy Lucha Loco ($37). This 270+ page hardcover explores the world of the luchadores through simple, direct yet powerful photography, exposing both the human and stage sides of the Latin American heros.... [More]

If you're anything like us, chances are you have at least a couple extra holiday pounds you need to shed, and running is one of the most effective ways to do so. The Runner's Rule Book ($13) can help you along your way, with more than 100 rules that will... [More]

Entering its 21st season on Fox, The Simpsons isn't just a cartoon about a dysfunctional family — it's the longest-running prime time series in American television history. The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History ($18) tells the show's surprising tale from its humble beginnings on The Tracy Ullman Show through modern... [More]

Long before he ate green eggs and ham, Dr. Seuss — also known as Theodor Geisel — was a talented political cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM. Dr. Seuss Goes to War ($14) is a 272-page tribute to his two-year stint at the paper, featuring reproductions of roughly half... [More]

From the menus of David Chang's white-hot NYC restaurants Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, and the ultra-intimate Momofuku Ko comes Momofuku ($27). Co-authored by Chang and NYT writer Peter Meehan, this hardcover cookbook contains over 300 pages of highly-detailed recipes — we're not talking 30 minute meals here —... [More]

If you're a big Muhammad Ali fan — and we mean BIG — then you'll no doubt be itching to get your hands on a copy of GOAT: Champ's Edition ($15,000). Limited to just 1,000 individually numbered copies, GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is the definitive Ali collection, with images... [More]

Celebrate 20 years of crackerjack reporting with The Onion: Our Front Pages ($19). Featuring a host of classic headlines such as "Clever bumper Stickers Resolve Abortion Issue" and "Last Literate Person On Earth Is Dead At 98," Front Pages collects the best covers from the satirical stalwart's first 20 years... [More]

Clocking in at nearly 1,000 pages, George Lucas's Blockbusting ($20) is part reference, part history, and all movies. This unique book takes a look back at the movie industry decade by decade, examining all aspects — including revenues, costs, production and distribution, salary histories, photography days required, and more —... [More]

Think you know all there is to know about Star Wars' central hero-villain? Ryder Windham and Peter Vilmur, authors of Star Wars: The Complete Vader ($60) might disagree. This 192-page hardcover explores all things Vader, from his history and downward spiral into the Sith, to his costume, related merchandise, and... [More]

Rarely do we post collections of academic essays, but rarely are they about The Dude. The Year's Work in Lebowski Studies ($17/Paperback; $53/Hardcover) is a collection of the best essays and papers submitted to the underground academic symposium held alongside the 5th Annual Lebowski Fest in Louisville, KY, each filled... [More]

We've covered complete periodical collections before, but never one that arrives on its own dedicated hard drive. The Complete National Geographic ($200) includes digital reproductions of every Nat Geo issue from 1888 - 2008, including all the classic maps, photographs, and articles, all searchable from within an advanced custom interface.... [More]

It's one thing to love eating meat, and quite another to love learning about it. If you fall into the latter category, consider picking up Lobel's Meat Bible ($27). Written by the Lobel family of master butchers, this 320-page epicurean excursion includes extensive information on beef, pork, lamb, rabbit, poultry,... [More]

The rise of the martini has seen a slow decline in interesting "dark" drink offerings -- at least at the taverns, restaurants, and various dives we visit. Dark Spirits ($16) is a way to fight back against this trend at your home bar. Featuring 200 drink recipes based on bourbon,... [More]

If you love beer as much as life itself, make sure to put The Naked Pint: An Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer ($14) on your wintertime reading list. Written by beer sommeliers Hallie Beaune and Christina Perozzi, this 300+ page book takes a humorous yet no-nonsense look at beer, exploring... [More]

One of the best things about being a Star Wars fan is the seemingly endless array of Lucas-licensed merchandise. Written by Lucasfilm employee and master collector Stephen Sansweet, Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles: Memorabilia and Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away ($24) draws on Sansweet's 75,000+ item collection — housed... [More]

Pass the dreary winter days by perusing a copy of Mafia: The Government's Secret File on Organized Crime ($13). An exact copy of the old Federal Bureau of Narcotics reference on hundreds of gangsters from coast to coast — from the early 1960s — Mafia is a fascinating read for... [More]

Cue old TV show intro: "In 1953, the Central Intelligence Agency contracted illusionist John Mulholland to create a secret dossier of stealth and misdirection to be used by operatives in the field. All copies of the document were believed to have been destroyed in 1973, but a single copy remained...."... [More]

Step back into the England of Jane Austen's novels — with an undead twist — in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls ($11). Written by well-versed novelist Steve Hockensmith, this latest addition to the Quirk Classic line serves as a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,... [More]

Get yourself ready for another NBA season with The Book of Basketball ($17). Written by ESPN's "The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons, this 700-page tome takes an irreverent, entertaining, and yet informed look at the NBA from the view of a fan, and is filled with interesting anecdotes, tributes to great... [More]

While we wouldn't recommend picking up the torch of any of the noble hellraisers mentioned within, Outlaws!: Adventures of Pirates, Scoundrels, and Other Rebels ($30) might certainly tempt you to do so. This 240-page ode to the outsider chronicles the adventures — and motives — of such famed and feared... [More]

Drunkenness is next to godliness. The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World ($17) tells the story of Arthur Guinness and the Guinness family, from the founding of the brewery and the first Guinness poured through to modern times, focusing on the family's... [More]

If you're a long-time Uncrate reader, you know that we were sold on this book by the title alone — but it's not exactly what you'd think. Instead of focusing solely on The Big Lebowski, Cathleen Falsani's The Dude Abides ($10) is an exploration intro to the existential questions raised... [More]

Think you've seen or read all the great books and films there are to digest? Think again. City Secrets Books & Movies ($14 each) are your guide to gems of cinema and literature that are mostly overlooked, compiled from recommendations given by some of the world's most well-respected minds on... [More]

Whether or not you like his sometimes overly enthusiastic approach to cooking, there's no doubting Jamie Oliver's culinary talent. His new book, Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals ($27) aims to help you with your cooking by breaking down a large number of common meals... [More]

Make your Halloween infinitely more interesting with a copy of the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places ($14). Compiled by ghost-hunting guru Jeff Belanger, this 360-page guide lists points of interest around the globe, from inns and restaurants to graveyards and libraries, each complete with names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web addresses,... [More]

If your life begins and ends with the last glorious 17 weeks of the year, then The Football Fan's Manifesto ($11) is for you. Written by Kissing Suzy Kolber co-founder Micheal Tunison, this 336-page tome is an irreverent, hilarious look at football culture in the U.S., from the obsessive and... [More]

Read up on your undead history with The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks ($10). Unlike Brooks' prior Zombie Survival Guide, Recorded Attacks takes a look back to study past zombie attacks throughout history. In addition to the hilarious text, the book features outstanding illustrations by Ibraim Roberson... [More]

Back in the days before photography went digital on a large scale, publications like Sports Illustrated had to keep slides of past photos around for reference and re-use, carefully labeling each one for posterity. Sports Illustrated Slide Show ($20) is a 176-page hardcover tribute to these relics of a not-so-distant... [More]

Some of the funniest one- and two-liners we've heard over the last couple years have come from Twitter, so it's no surprise someone finally compiled a bundle of them for easy digestion. Twitter Wit ($10) is a 176-page index of some of the most noteworthy, hilarious tweets posted to the... [More]

Everyone over does it every once in a while, and when you do, Hangover Cures ($10) will be there to help. Weighing in at a short but sweet 62 pages, written by veteran bartender Ben Reed, this guide to the morning after is filled with reviving recipes — including the... [More]

Go inside the world of history's most notorious, powerful, and secret organizations with Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies ($11). From well-known groups like the Skulls, Illuminati, and Freemasons to little-known clubs like Oulipo, a group of literary intellectuals who devised unique formulas for creating written masterpieces, this 384-page investigation looks... [More]

If they have to make another Star Wars movie, we hope they base it on this. Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber ($16; October 13) eschews the Jedi heroics the series is known for, instead inserting another great class of beings: zombies. After an Imperial prison barge breaks down,... [More]

Looking for some backyard adventures to close out your summer? Grab yourself a copy of Absinthe & Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously ($12), and get to work. Featuring everything from instructions on how to make your own black powder, flamethrower, rockets — even absinthe —... [More]

Nothing like an argument over beer pong rules to drag down a party atmosphere, so settle your disputes with authority using The Book of Beer Pong: The Official Guide to the Sport of Champions ($12). This 160-page hardcover features information on everything from basic pong etiquette and ball grips to... [More]

Love your facial hair, or just like to marvel at the growth of others? Then check out Sweet 'Stache: 50 Badass Mustaches and the Faces Who Sport Them ($9). A veritable 'stache celebration, this 208-page paperback looks at fifty of the most famous upper lip coverings in history, as well... [More]

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters ($10; 9/09) is the next Jane Austen classic to get gore'd up. The follow-up to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the re-imagined book is upgraded with "all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities." Awesome.... [More]

Attention Beatles fans: it looks like you'll have more than just The Beatles: Rock Band to throw down on over the next couple of months. The Beatles Box of Vision ($80; late August 2009) is a collectible storage box for your Fab Four collection, including a 200-page, LP-sized book containing... [More]

Find out what you need to know, when/where you need to know it with Pocket Ref by Thomas J. Glover ($10). This shirt pocket-sized, 768-page tome is filled with conversions, tables, maps, formulas, and other miscellaneous data for on-the-go reference. Plus, it's an actual book, so it's not limited to... [More]

Tired of grilling up the same ol' burger week after week? Expand your ground chuck horizons with Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries, and Shakes ($17). Filled with tremendously tasty burger recipes, this common man's cookbook moves beyond the burnt meat to include instructions on how to prepare a wide variety of... [More]

Whether you're an aficionado of rock posters or simply want to decorate a music-themed room on the cheap, you owe it to yourself to pick up Gig Posters Volume 1: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century ($27). Culled from the archives of gigposters.com, this oversized (14"x11") paperback features over... [More]

If you're ready to get the most out of your grill this summer, pick up a copy of America's Best BBQ: 100 Recipes from America's Best Smokehouses, Pits, Shacks, Rib Joints, Roadhouses, and Restaurants ($14). Written by barbeque experts Ardie A. Davis and Chef Paul Kirk, this 240-page paperback is... [More]

Steve McQueen was a cinematic icon, truly a legend in his own time, known for his racing passions as much as his passionate style. He brought this excitement into his movie and television career, often performing his own stunts, unheard of at the time. Steve McQueen: A Life in Pictures... [More]

If you enjoy experimenting with dangerous science at home (like building a thermic lance using bacon and an air hose that's capable of cutting through sheet metal) then Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home - But Probably Shouldn't ($17) is the book for you. Gray, a... [More]

Go inside the head of Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Who Is Mark Twain? ($14). This 240-page hardbound collection features 25 newly-published papers written by Twain prior to his death in 1910, hand-picked by general editor of the Mark Twain Project at UC Berkeley, Robert Hirst. Informative, interesting, and funny, it's... [More]

From casseroles to cookies, the spiral-bound Back of the Box Cooking ($14) has over 500 recipes straight from your favorite brand-name snack companies, like Frito-Lay, Hershey, and Nature's Path. Now there's no need to wait for Thanksgiving to use off-the-shelf ingredients to make your favorite foods.... [More]

We could probably all use some financial advice these days, which is why we're reading the simple process offered up in I Will Teach You To Be Rich ($8). Written by Ramit Sethi, who also runs an excellent accompanying blog, this 266-page next-generation financial handbook will get you on your... [More]

Prepare yourself for the worst case scenario with Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life by Neil Strauss ($10). The result of three years' worth of research, Emergency is filled with potentially life-saving tips that will have you fully prepared to go off the grid if/when the shit really hits... [More]

Cheetos Boredom BustersReady to quit your day job at Applebee's? Then spend your last 10 bucks on this book. The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician ($10) is a modern, web-centric guide to help budding artists kick-start their careers. Written by Chertkow and Feehan of... [More]

A Man, a Can, a Plan: 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make ($11) is a real cookbook for real guys. Presented by Men's Health magazine, the easy-to-follow cookbook features recipes for 50 quick, simple, inexpensive, and mostly healthy meals that can be made from canned, boxed or readily... [More]

Sometime around Jan. 1, your girl blamed you for her dwindling wardrobe of clothes that fit and signed up for the latest dieting fad (it involves cayenne or something). Now it's time to exact some vengeance. You're not big or fat. You're just busy; busy with man stuff. Clearly you... [More]

If all the ocean portions of Planet Earth did was whet your appetite for more water-related info, pick up a copy of Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas ($41). This 350+ page National Geographic tome is filled with information on our seas, including points of interest, little known facts, new full-spread maps... [More]

Now this is what we call an upgrade. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ($10) includes the original text of Jane Austen's novel, spiced up with new portions featuring viloent, flesh-hungry zombie hordes. To compliment the new gore, the updated book also has 20 illustrations in the style of C. E.... [More]

Forget the airbrushed perfection of most modern female nudes — for honest sexuality, we'll take a real woman every time. SuicideGirls: Beauty Redefined ($32; possibly NSFW) is a 396 page hardcover tribute to the openly real girls of the groundbreaking website, celebrating the female form and spirit in its most... [More]

From the minds behind Method cleaning products comes the ultimate guide to detoxing your home. Squeaky Green ($12) is filled with facts and helpful tips to help you keep your house sparkling clean, while removing the nasty toxic chemicals found in many common household cleaning agents.... [More]

DIY projects are pretty much always fun — but when you mix DIY projects with food, it's both fun and tasty. The Hungry Scientist Handbook ($12) is packed with twenty projects created by a mix of programmers, geeks, and professors, including edible origami, glowing lollipops, a pumpkin pinhole camera, integrated... [More]

With these handy pocket guides, you'll never be at a loss for words. The Lines for All Occasions Bundle ($27) includes four essential books for getting you through life, the quick-witted way. The bundle includes Breakups & Rejections for All Occasions, Excuses & Lies for All Occasions, Insults & Comebacks... [More]

"Before I Die" lists are a fairly common thing — some of us want to travel to space, others to climb Everest — but there's nothing wrong with a more attainable list. 300 Beers to Try Before You Die ($17) offers a pre-made listing of the world's best beers in... [More]

Take a cathartic break from the traditional family niceties with Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid by Denis Leary ($17). Filled with the sarcastic, laser-sharp wit that Leary is famous for, this 320-page tome is filled with insightful, hilarious, and scathing commentary... [More]

Enjoy the classic art of MAD Magazine in an all-new format with the MAD Poster Book ($20). This unique postcard book-style release packs 15 posters, each printed on hard stock paper with the print on one side and editors' notes about the poster on the other. Including illustrations like Spy... [More]

Take a look inside the world of adult telephone operators in Phonesex by Phillip Toledano ($32). This hardcover coffee table wonder is filled with photos of nearly 30 phonesex operators in the intimacy of their own homes, offering a glimpse of life on the side of the phone that normally... [More]

Take a trip to an era before blogging blockers and multi-million dollar contracts with Remember the AFL: The Ultimate Fan's Guide to the American Football League ($20). This extensive 448-page book takes you through the history of this early NFL rival from 1960 to 1969, season-by-season, team-by-team. Filled with fantastic... [More]

Weighing in at 10 pounds and updated for the first time in ten years, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia ($75) is the closest you'll come to the Jedi Temple's Holocron. This fully illustrated, three-volume hardcover set features detailed information and minutia that even the most dedicated Star Wars fan would... [More]

Need a swift kick to the vocabulary? Pick up 100 Words To Make You Sound Smart ($6) by the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary. This smallish paperback is filled with interesting words to help you communicate more effectively. It might be the most perspicacious book you read all year.... [More]

Whether you get your smoke through a legal prescription or other, shadier channels, there's always the question of what to do once you've enjoyed a puff or two. The Official High Times Pot Smokers Handbook ($18) is here to help with a list of 420 (ha!) things to do when... [More]

Take a trip back to the dawn of the NFL as we know it in The Golden Age of American Football by Neil Leifer ($490). Snagging his first immortal shot at the young age of 16, Leifer's legendary football photography from 1958 to Superbowl XII is the feature attraction in... [More]

Get an inside look at one of the greatest film series of all time with The Godfather Family Album ($690). This unique book features selections from photographer Steve Schapiro's archives chronicling the making of The Godfather trilogy. Limited to just 1,000 copies, each book is numbered and signed by Schapiro... [More]

Start your own Warhol-esque print factory with help from Print Liberation: The Screen Printing Primer ($17). This nifty 144-page guide gives you comprehensive tips and instructions on how to make your own prints, and on printing to various surfaces such as tees, cylinders, wallpaper, and more, along with some sample... [More]

One of Uncrate's favorite pop-culture authors is back with — surprise! — a tale of fiction. Downtown Owl: A Novel by Chuck Klosterman ($17) is the best-selling author's first novel, set in a fictional North Dakota town during the early Eighties. Mid-westerners will no doubt connect with the book's characters,... [More]

Celebrate 40 years of Penthouse with this limited-issue Penthouse 40th Anniversary Book ($350). At 128 cotton paper pages, the book is filled with the absolute best, most iconic photography from the mag's 40 years, along with a preface by renowned pop writer Glenn O'Brien, and beautiful packaging for discrete display.... [More]

If you're a fan of the NBA, you'll be a fan of The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac ($16). This 224-page tour de force examines the intricacies of the game's most charismatic players with a slightly dry sense of humor and gallery-worthy illustrations. Simply awesome.... [More]

Forget mindless memorization and monotone teachers — history can be fun, as evident in The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp through Civilization's Best Bits ($17). This 432-page tome is filled with terrific, mostly-true anecdotes and tales from the beginnings of human civilization to modern times. [via]... [More]

Celebrate a half-century of everyone's favorite building toy with 50 Years of the LEGO Brick ($45). This 63-page book chronicles the history of the LEGO brick, from its early beginnings in Denmark to present day. It includes a copy of the 1958 LEGO brick patent, historic photos, removable reprints of... [More]

Let's see... a Star Wars trivia book, with an integrated scoring module for keeping tabs on how we do with 2,500 original questions challenging our knowledge of all things Force-related? Yes, Please. Obsessed with Star Wars ($20) is exactly that, filled to the brim with little known facts, entertaining quotes,... [More]

While we're far from monks, the Uncrate staff tends to believe that simplicity is the key to a happy life. Whether that simplicity comes from a gadget or something else is largely irrelevant, the importance is that it makes our life easier. In this case the ease comes from the... [More]

The DC Vault ($33) features a slew of anthologized information on the multitude of DC universes. Many classic books are reprinted within the vault as well as other, more encyclopedic information.... [More]

From Andrew Zuckerman, the genius photographer behind the stunning Creature, comes Wisdom ($32), a similar hard bound book featuring knowledge and photos of 50 of the world's great writers, actors, artists, designers, politicians, musicians, religious figures, and business leaders of our time. The book comes with an accompanying documentary DVD.... [More]

Living in a large city can be overwhelming — people can often feel lost amongst so many, and this feeling is perfectly conveyed in the brilliant photography of Little People in the City ($18). This hardcover tome represents a collection of photographs from street artist Slinkachu, who for the last... [More]

Relive the golden era of Cuba's premiere city in Havana Before Castro by Peter Moruzzi ($20). The book is packed with full descriptions, hundreds of vintage photographs, postcards, brochures, and more from the era of The Godfather Part II-style casinos, nightclubs, and shady deals. It's like a trip back into... [More]

Presented by Ask a Ninja, it should come as no surprise that The Ninja Handbook ($10) most definitely looks forward to killing you soon. Packed with over 335 pages, the book explains in gory detail such quandaries as when to slash and when to stab and how to create and... [More]

If you're among those who like to wonder about their own life and death, you shouldn't miss Cause of Death: A Perfect Little Guide to What Kills Us ($12). This delightfully morbid tome discusses all sorts of data related to death, including tons of real-world stats from major organizations to... [More]

It's no secret that we're die hard fans of The Wire, so when we heard that Wire creator David Simon was developing an HBO mini-series based on Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer ($11), we were intrigued. The book offers a tightly woven, historically precise tale of what happened... [More]

Creature ($38) is spectacular in its simplicity. This excellent book from Andrew Zuckerman includes astonishing photos of 175 wild animals, all taken in front of a stark white background. The simple idea spurs one of the greatest coffee table books we've ever seen.... [More]

Peruse the first decade of Playboy in 21st century style. With Playboy Cover to Cover: The 50's ($60), you get every issue and every page in one searchable digital archive. The included Bondi Reader software (Mac/PC) lets you easily browse, search, and save the collection, which includes photos of Marilyn... [More]

Referenced frequently throughout the series, The Tales of Beedle the Bard ($8) collects all five of the mythical Harry Potter fables in one place, complete with Rowling's illustrations and commentary from Dumbledore himself. For true wizarding enthusiasts, the Collector's Edition ($100) adds Rowling's handwritten introduction, more illustrations, and craftsmanship worthy... [More]

The Good Doctor has been dead for a few years now, but thanks to a new biography by Jann Wenner and Corey Seymour, you can relive his glory days from the comfort of your own living room. Gonzo: The Life Hunter S. Thompson ($20) follows the life of this amazing... [More]

Explore and study the origin of the geek in American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent ($14). This unique tome takes a look at the history of the nerd throughout society and pop culture, examining their tastes (like online gaming and sci-fi clubs), unfortunate stereotypes, and everything... [More]

If you're constantly thinking that your everyday aches and pains are caused by some awful, little-known disease, then we have the book for you. The Complete Manual of Things That Might Kill You: A Guide to Self-diagnosis for Hypochondriacs ($14) is a 192-page tome of the terrible, organized by symptom... [More]

If you haven't recently made a trip to Mexico, you might not realize that stencil art has become a part of the country's urban culture, with popular stencils being used for both non-political and protest purposes. Mexico: Stencil ($14) is the result of 10 years worth of research on the... [More]

Live better, the Japanese way, with Urawaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan ($10). The book contains more than 100 tricks and solutions — stuff like using a piece of bread to pick up broken glass, and using mouthwash to clean your toilet — that will have you amazing... [More]

Ever wonder exactly what kind of technological wonders the CIA has cooked up over the years? Then you need to read Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to al-Qaeda ($20). Co-written by a former director the CIA’s Office of Technical Service — an ultra-secret group that... [More]

Legendary sports photographer Walter Iooss has been snapping masterpieces since he got his first Sports Illustrated assignment in 1961, at the age of 16. Now, for the first time, you can own more than 150 of his stunning photos in Athlete ($23), a 14-inch hardcover featuring portrait-quality photographs of stars... [More]

Gary Vaynerchuk is our kind of guy. If you've ever watched Gary's Wine Library TV, then you know how hardcore he is about wine, life, and the Jets (possibly not in that order). His in-your-face style and real man's knowledge of the vino has finally been gathered into a helpful... [More]

Aviation enthusiasts and technophiles alike will find enjoyment in AirCraft: The Jet as Art ($20). The 104-page book is full of beautiful photography of some of the most sophisticated machines in the world, taken by photographer, architect, graphic designer, and private pilot Jeffrey Milstein. Each fantastic photo is accompanied by... [More]

You don't need to be a designer to appreciate Materials Monthly ($35/issue; $300 sub.) from the Princeton Architectural Press. This unique publication, designed as a system for shelving and cataloging, brings with it at least five state-of-the-art material samples and spec sheets each issue, along with important technical information. Sure,... [More]

It's the book Heath Ledger used to learn the true insanity of Gotham's darkest villain. Batman: The Killing Joke ($13) is considered to be the most well written and illustrated Batman comic ever. It's also the most controversial — where else will you find the Joker shooting Commissioner Gordon's daughter... [More]

Regardless of you're skills in mixology, you're bound to find something to like in The Ultimate Bar Book ($14). This tome of tantalizing refreshment includes more than 1,000 drink recipes, with drinks using traditional liquors, wine, sake and beer, and even a few nonalcoholic options. There are also recommendations for... [More]

Get more done and do it faster with the helpful hints, tricks, and hacks found in Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, Better ($20). The second edition of Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day, this revised tome features more than 50 new and updated... [More]

Have more money than you know what to do with? Here's the guide you've been waiting for. The Official Filthy Rich Handbook ($12) is a sometimes tongue-in-cheek, always straight-forward guide to living the good life. From how to properly name a house to a list of rehab centers, it'll make... [More]

From the mind of designer and illustrator Stefan Bucher (proprietor of the wonderful DailyMonster.com) comes 100 Days of Monsters ($14). The book is the result of a series of videos, which he posted online, showing Bucher drawing a different ink-blot monster every day. Along with all the monsters, it also... [More]

Let's face it: your time is too valuable to be taken up reading nonsense. Good Magazine ($20) is a breath of fresh air in the print magazine world, offering insight, articles, and product reviews for those of us that have become disenchanted with mainstream media. The magazine backs up its... [More]

Take a fascinating look at the lives of the world's richest people in All the Money in the World: How the Forbes 400 Make — and Spend — Their Fortunes ($18). Written by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan, this 432-page tome is filled with interesting stories, observations, and research... [More]

If you've ever been on a commercial flight, you've no doubt seen the subjects of this amazing collection of photographs. Flight Attendants by Brian Finke ($23) shows these maids of the skies in and out of uniform, on the job, at school and at home, before, during, and after trips.... [More]

Unless you stay away from the pork, you probably enjoy bacon in many forms: on burgers and salads, with breakfast, as the centerpiece of a fresh BLT. The Bacon Cookbook by James Villas ($23) will have you looking at the hog in a whole new light. Aside from descriptions of... [More]

Just because you're President doesn't mean you don't scrawl on anything you can find when you're on the phone. Presidential Doodles: Two Centuries of Scribbles, Scratches, Squiggles & Scrawls from the Oval Office ($18) is exactly what it says: a collection of drawings from some of the most powerful men... [More]

The mastermind of JPG Magazine is back with a new project, this time with smart, community-submitted stories based around a common theme. Fray ($15 each; $45 yearly) is a quarterly paperback book that's simply filled with excellent and true first-person stories from ordinary folks. The first book's theme is Busted!... [More]

No, it's not a storage solution for all your Star Wars-related junk. The Star Wars Vault: Thirty Years of Treasures from the Lucasfilm Archives ($55) is an inside look at the development and marketing of all six movies, including the large cultural impact of the series. Absolutely packed full of... [More]

Filled with down-home goodness, White Trash Etiquette: The Definitive Guide to Upscale Trailer Park Manners ($10) is a humorous book to have on hand for general backwoods knowledge. You get gems such as how to make a redneck hot tub in the back of a pick-up truck, and answers to... [More]

This Valentine's Day, move the action out of the bedroom and into the garage with Carma Sutra: The Auto-Erotic Handbook ($10). This paperback tome is full of in-car sex positions to spice up your backseat action, complete with illustrations and helpful model-specific advice. Just remember to set the parking brake.... [More]

Fuck This Book ($10) collects photos of public signs that have been enhanced with the queen-mother of dirty words. Stuff like "Please don't [fuck] the pigeons" or "Employees must [fuck] hands before returning to work." Simple but affective. You can also order Fuck These Postcards ($10) and share the profaneness... [More]

UFC fighters have finally gotten a book that's as hardcore as they are. Weighing in at over 50 lbs. and measuring 20 x 26 inches, Octagon ($2,500-$7,500) is a monster of a book containing over 800 photos of UFC glory from artist Kevin Lynch. The Collector's Edition of the book... [More]

We all know that the best part of being a spy is the gadgets. The Incredible World Of Spy-Fi: Wild and Crazy Spy Gadgets, Props, and Artifacts from TV and the Movies ($8) offers a look at the best of author Danny Biederman's collection of more than 4000 props and... [More]

They're going for upwards of two grand on eBay, but you can get an exact, Marilyn-rific reproduction for a lot less. The Playboy December 1953 Reprint ($25) lets you own the first issue of Playboy ever, with every article, advertisement and photograph — including Ms. Monroe as the centerfold —... [More]

We all know about common male mistakes, and we're all guilty of making them from time to time. Mistakes Men Make ($11) is a guide to avoiding these chick-flick cliches, packed with tips and do's and don'ts, covering everything from home decor to personal hygiene in a hilarious fashion. Written... [More]

We'd like to think that Uncrate can provide you with plenty of inspiration for creating your own man-area, but a little help never hurts. ManSpace: A Primal Guide to Marking Your Territory ($17) is filled with multiple examples from five categories, such as "Collecting" and "Entertaining," which show you how... [More]

Despite many guys' love of sports, invariably some go misunderstood as we bask in the glories of our professional sports heroes. The Sports Book ($24) names itself "The definitive guide to every sport," and it doesn't disappoint. Containing rules and game-winning strategies for more than 200 sports, it will help... [More]

You're never too old to give your buddies a scare or to impress a young lady with a killer trick. Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends ($10) includes 50 "rude, sick, and mind-blowing stunts" that will surely get you some attention. The book provides step-by-step directions to show you how... [More]

Bring the master of custom-made bikes to your coffee table with Jesse James & His Beautiful Machines ($47). Along with the West Coast Choppers kingpin and his gorgeous bikes, this hardcover features photo after photo of the motorcycle making process with portraits of the lucky souls who build and ride... [More]

The king of all mob movies gets the royal treatment in The Annotated Godfather: The Complete Screenplay ($20). A fully authorized, annotated, and illustrated edition of the complete screenplay, this tome includes more than 200 pictures from the film, along with anecdotes and tales from the set, and plenty of... [More]

Because you never bought it "just for the articles," you can now page through more than 600 beauties inside Playboy: The Complete Centerfolds ($315). Starting with Marilyn herself, this huge collector's edition book has every centerfold from every issue, presented exactly as they appeared in the magazines. The book comes... [More]

If you just can't get enough of Duct Tape-based projects, check out Ductigami: The Art of the Tape by Joe Wilson ($10). It contains 18 highly-detailed projects, all of which can be made almost entirely out of the ubiquitous sticky stuff, explained in a way that is both easy to... [More]

Those of you out there who'd like to know more about the amazing story of Pixar would do well to check out To Infinity and Beyond: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios ($47; pre-order). Primarily written by Karen Paik, this hardbound 320-page tome tells the complete tale of how this... [More]

Look sharp with the help of the editors from Details magazine. The Details Men's Style Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Making Your Clothes Work for You ($20) provides tons of expert tips on how to dress and why it works. In addition to explaining the right look, fit and style... [More]

While we know where we can find some great tech writing — *cough* — we're also sure that you'll enjoy the collection of essays found in The Best of Technology Writing 2007 ($12). Contributions from Jeff Howe, Lori Gottlieb, Uncrate fav John Gruber, and many other talented writers make this... [More]

Unfortunately, most Halloween costumes have become a bit stale — that's why we're getting this year's ideas from The Original Duct Tape Halloween Book ($9). Equal parts hilarious and inventive, you'll find plenty of costume ideas, like "Shaving Accident Guy," "Floor of a Movie Theater" and "Batty-Chia Pet," all of... [More]

Everyone's favorite televiski journalist is back with a new a new hardcover travel book that will show you how to live it up in Kazakhstan. Entitled Borat: Touristic Guidings to Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan ($17), the guide "showcase of all that is great of Kazakhstan–marvel at the statistic of Nurek... [More]

While most of us wouldn't consider Kevin Smith's life boring, it's nevertheless in the title of My Boring Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith ($10; $15 signed copy). In it the director/actor/writer details aspects of his life both large and small, from watching TiVo with his wife... [More]

Documenting beat icon Jack Kerouac's 1940s meanderings across the US and Central America, On the Road ($16) now stands as a seminal piece of American literature. Although it was famously typed on a scroll in Kerouac's trademark spontaneous prose, the piece was initially released in book form. Available now in... [More]

Our own drinking expertise aside, we're sure even sober Uncraters will enjoy The Modern Drunkard: A Handbook for Drinking in the 21st Century by Frank Kelly Rich ($12). Rich, as the founder of Modern Drunkard Magazine, has an extensive knowledge of boozing etiquette and lore, which he recaptures here in... [More]

"That what I don't know, I don't think I know." - Socrates Prepare to learn that you "don't know" a lot more than you think, thanks to The Book of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson and John Lloyd ($14). This tome of the trivial throws plenty of common conventions under... [More]

If you've ever felt like using your LEGOs for more than just building static objects, this is the book for you. Forbidden LEGO: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against ($17) is an unauthorized book full of awesome LEGO projects, such as a toy gun that shoots LEGO plates,... [More]