Adventures in fashion, food, nudism and travel
Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
The Penguin Press, $28.95
Comedian Ansari and sociologist Klinenberg team for a humorous look about why dating seems to be so much more difficult in the contemporary era. (June)
Walking With Abel
Journeys With the Nomads of the African Savannah
Anna Badkhen
Riverhead, $27.95
The author-journalist joins cattle-herding nomads in the intensely hot Mali grasslands as they cross the savannah. (August)
Always Pack a Party Dress
And Other Lessons Learned From a (Half) Life in Fashion
Amanda Brooks
Blue Rider, $30
The socialite and fashion maven combines reflections on the evolution of her style with advice for the would-be fashionista — and, of course, there are photographs. (Out now)
The Beetlebung Farm Cookbook
A Year of Cooking on Martha’s Vineyard Chris Fischer with Catherine Young, photographs by Gabriela Herman
Little, Brown, $35
A farmer and chef writes about the food of his beloved New England and presents recipes showcasing his take on the island’s cuisine. (June)
The World on a Plate
40 Cuisines, 100 Recipes, and the Stories Behind Them
Mina Holland
Penguin, $20 paper
Any recipe book can tell you how to cook; this one offers a much deeper look at the history and anthropology behind some of the world’s most iconic cuisines. (Out now)
Pirate Hunters
Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
Robert Kurson
Random House, $28
It’s a new kind of quest for the Golden Fleece. Kurson chronicles two archaeologists as they search for the mythologically named pirate ship off the Dominican Republic. (June)
In a French Kitchen
Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking
in France
Susan Herrmann Loomis
Gotham, $26.95
An American in Paris (well, near Paris) explains the simple elegance of classic French cuisine, through anecdotes, lists of ingredients and equipment, and recipes. (June)
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Laura O’Neill, Ben Van Leeuwen and Pete Van Leeuwen with Olga Massov
Ecco, $29.99 Beat the summer heat with recipes from one of Brooklyn’s favorite ice cream retailers, known for unusual flavors and all-natural ingredients. (June)
The Shepherd’s Life
Modern Dispatches From an Ancient Landscape
James Rebanks
Flatiron, $25.99
Already a bestseller in the Britain, this is the story of a shepherd in England’s Lake District whose family has been in the business for generations. (Out now)
Naked at Lunch
A Reluctant Nudist’s Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World
Mark Haskell Smith
Grove, $25
L.A. author Smith puts on his reporter’s hat and takes off everything else as he explores the history and sociology of nudism. (June)