Hamptons Holiday Gifts: Best Nonfiction Books of the Year

The book lovers on your Hamptons holiday gift list just got very lucky—our our friends at Books & Books in Westhampton Beach are here to share their picks for the best nonfiction books of the year!

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

Winner of the 2012 National Book Award for Nonfiction, Boo’s first book follows the life of a group of youngsters in a slum called Annawadi, near Mumbai’s Sahar airport. In danger from corrupt policemen, their livelihoods, and often their parents, these children are prey. Boo gets into the children’s minds, where these awful circumstances are ordinary, and introduces the reader to the individuals, not the statistics. Behind the Beautiful Forevers reaches beyond journalism to a deep psychological understanding of the lives of these children.

 The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw

Celebrated historian David Nasaw tells the full story of Joseph P. Kennedy, founder of the twentieth century’s most famous political dynasty, in this pioneering biography. As the only biographer granted unrestricted access to the Joseph P. Kennedy papers in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Nasaw looks beyond the popular icon to answer questions about his life, times and legacy that haunt the historical record. A must read for historical biography lovers.

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston is back with a vivid account of an extraordinary man and his times. Thomas Jefferson: the Art of Power brings the reader into the life of the politician and president, as well as the complex human being behind the genius and philosophies. Jefferson’s story continues to resonate today because it embodies the eternal drama – the struggle for leadership in a difficult world.

20^th Century World Architecture: the Phaidon Atlas by the Editors of Phaidon

This masterpiece is an overview of the finest built architecture from around the world, completed between 1900 and 1999, in a collection of 750 key buildings. The start of the atlas includes specially designed graphics that explore the changing economic and political contexts of architectural production throughout the century. Divided into six world regions and 29 sub-regions, the atlas represents over 80 countries.

Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller

This collection is a dazzling array of American and French baked goods, from Keller’s take on American classics such as Oreo’s and Ho Ho’s to French classics like baguettes and macaroons. Co-author Sebastien Rouxel is an executive pastry chef for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. The stunning photographs and recipes from the famed Bouchon Bakery make this a must have for any baking fiend.

Building Stories by Chris Ware

This new graphic novel is truly original – a protagonist wondering if she’ll ever move from the rented close quarters of lonely young adulthood to the mortgaged expanse of love and marriage. A pictographic listing of all 14 items contained appears on the back, with suggestions for appropriate places to set them down in the average home. Building Stories is perfect for all those who feel lonely, and it will sympathize with time wasted and opportunities missed.

Visit Books & Books at 130 Main Street in Westhampton Beach or online at booksandbookswhb.com.