An ode to the quiet joy of collecting more books than we could ever possibly read - and loving them all the same...

Drawing on the evocative Japanese term tsundoku - first coined in the Meiji era to describe the growing stacks of unread books that accumulate around devoted readers - this insightful and warmly humorous book reframes what some might see as clutter or guilt as a deeply meaningful way of living.

From the tactile pleasure of flipping through pages to the quiet ritual of rearranging overflowing shelves, Tsundoku explores the psychology, culture, and poetry behind the irresistible urge to collect and cherish books. It offers meditations on the joy of choosing and buying books, the rebellion against reading lists, creative ways to organise your shelves, foolproof excuses for sneaking in yet another new title, techniques for remembering what you've read, and the guilty - but glorious - pleasure of re-reading.

Above all, this philosophy reminds us that we do not necessarily have to have read all the books we own to love them unconditionally. Feelings of guilt, be gone! Unread books can be even more fascinating because they take us on wonderful journeys, and speak to us regardless, whether we open them or keep them closed. We know that books are a cure for the soul: just touching one, smelling one, or leafing through one makes us feel better immediately.

This is the book-lover's countdown to Christmas. Twenty-four miniature hardback books, each containing a classic festive story, are arranged in a beautiful slipcase that will last forever. Bring literary Christmas joy to your home throughout advent with beautifully produced little books to read, display and cherish! A delightful new tradition for readers of every kind.

Features:

• A beautifully designed slipcase holds twenty-four numbered miniature books
• Christmas stories by Charles Dickens, E Nesbit, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen and many more
• Each book has a gold loop, allowing it to be hung on your tree
• Treasure these books as unique Christmas decorations for years to come

This sumptuous double volume provides a connoisseurial roundup of the world’s ultimate watches, from early aviators’ timepieces by the likes of Longines to legendary vintage chronographs by, among others, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet to state-of-the-art contemporary pieces. Also included are horological masterworks by the legendary George Daniels and his prodigy, Roger W. Smith, as well as other celebrated independent watchmakers, including Philippe Dufour, François-Paul Journe, Kari Voutilainen, and Rexhep Rexhepi.

The one hundred astonishingly valuable wristwatches showcased in this meticulously curated and beautifully illustrated book provide a rare insight into the sublime artistry and complex engineering of haute horlogerie. This title also gives an unparalleled historical overview of luxury watchmaking, from its pocket-watch origins to today’s revival of interest in bespoke, handcrafted timepieces.

Featuring 100 magnificent “grail” wristwatches, their fascinating design-and-development backstories are expertly recounted, alongside page-after-page of sublime imagery specially generated by the world’s leading watch photographers. Also included are rare archival treasures, from design sketches and technical drawings to superb period advertisements and photographs. Plus in-depth interviews with leading authorities from the watchmaking and collecting worlds, including Patrick Getreide (OAK Collection), Alexandre Ghotbi (Phillips), Ben Clymer (Hodinkee), Roger W. Smith (watchmaker), Auro Montanari (renowned collector), and Silas Walton (A Collected Man).

“Reading Understanding Comics blew my teenage mind, and gave me a toolbox full of ideas that I still use today.” —Raina Telgemeier

The bestselling international classic on storytelling and visual communication.

Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the panels, through the lines, and within the hidden symbols of a powerful but misunderstood art form.