Holiday Gift Guide: 8 titles for the book lover

For the fashion follower

This travel glossy takes you behind the curtain of Kate Spade’s design house and allows you to tag along on the voyages that inspire her creative team. Hit up Marrakesh and Tokyo alongside Spade’s crew as they sip chai at sunrise and mix mini-bar cocktails late at night. Dine with a cheetah, take a dip in the ocean or read in a field of lavender — all for the sake of sparking creativity. Also included are recipes, packing tips, insider shopping lists and local must-dos.

— Kate Gertner

Kate Spade New York: Places to Go, People to See, $45.

For the wisdom seeker

During a 1998 interview,  Gene Siskel asked Oprah Winfrey a simple question: “What do you know for sure?” She was stumped. So every month for the past 14 years, Oprah has devoted a column in her magazine to answering that question as a way of taking stock of her life. In this book, Oprah organizes her revelations and snippets of wisdom into themes like joy, resilience and gratitude. “If I know nothing else for sure,” she writes, “I know that the big miracles we’re waiting on are happening right in front of us.”

— Lora Grady 

For the busy home cook

Ina Garten is back with a new collection of recipes called Make It Ahead, drawing from her 20 years of experience running a specialty-food store. Here, Garten shares her secrets for making the best dishes you can prep, assemble or cook in advance, from crowd-pleasers like roasted vegetable lasagna and make-ahead roast turkey to simpler fare like quinoa tabbouleh with feta. And, yes, there’s plenty of butter and “good” olive oil — Garten’s staples — in there too.

— Irene Ngo

Make It Ahead, Ina Garten, $41.

For the animal lover

In March 2013, Brittni Vega introduced her dogs to the world via Instagram (@harlowandsage), and over 300,000 followers watched as her wise old dachshund, Sage, taught a young Weimaraner named Harlow all about movies, snuggling and the art of relaxation. After Sage’s passing in September 2013, Vega brought home Indiana, a dachshund puppy now being schooled by Harlow. This heartfelt book of photos is a touching story of love, loss and new beginnings.

— Laura Brown

Harlow & Sage (And Indiana): A True Story About Best Friends, Brittni Vega, $26.

For the one who loves the window seatPeek through the window of the International Space Station and see Earth from an astronaut’s perspective. Commander Chris Hadfield took 45,000 photos during his five-month space mission — a fraction of which we’ve seen on his Twitter feed — and they will transform your perception of our planet. Take in his geological and meteorological insights along with each gorgeous image, from arid, sun-baked deserts to lush azure coastlines.

— Diana Duong 

You Are Here: Around the World In 92 Minutes, Chris Hadfield, $30.

For the one who loves the window seat

For the pop culture junkie

In the introduction to these essays, Lena Dunham says there’s nothing gutsier than a woman who announces that her story deserves to be told. The 28-year-old Girls creator then bares all, including sexual encounters, awkward moments, a tour of her uterus and an annotated food log. While she marvels at her sister, Grace, who is opaque and mysterious, Dunham lives “in a world that is almost compulsively free of secrets.” All the over-sharing can be disconcerting, but she does it with wit, humour and guts.

— Shanda Deziel 

Not That Kind of Girl, Lena Dunham, $32. 

For the thrill-seeker

In 1977, 27-year-old Robyn Davidson set off on a nine-month trek across the Australian outback, with only four camels and one dog for company. This year, Tracks brought her journey to the big screen, with Mia Wasikowska as Robyn and Adam Driver as Rick Smolan, the National Geographic photographer who periodically documented the 2,700-km trip. Now, Inside Tracks pairs more than 200 of Smolan’s stunning shots with those from the film and includes essays from Davidson and Smolan.

— Dominique Lamberton

Inside Tracks, Rick Smolan, $50.

For the couture dreamer

This book will transport you straight to the red carpet of Vogue’s themed Met Galas from 2001 all the way to 2014. Rub shoulders with Nicole Kidman (in glittering Tom Ford), Beyoncé (in Givenchy haute couture) and the inimitable (and slightly terrifying) Anna Wintour, without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. This cultural almanac is the perfect coffee-table read for every Vogue devotee.

— Lora Grady

Vogue and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute: Parties, Exhibitions, People, Hamish Bowles, $58.