REIGNING MEN
Compiled by Victoria Chase
Australian artist Samuel Leighton-Dore puts forth 150 resolutely tongue-in-cheek illustrations that explore the myriad identities of a modern man and elicit conversation about how ideas of manhood affect the way men think and act.
Samuel Leighton-Dore— How to Be a Big Strong Man: A Modern Guide to Masculinity— hardcover, 144 pages, Smith Street Books
Ernest Hemingway's cats are legendary, and the author wasn't alone in his fervor for felines. This illustrated book is full of charming quotes from a broad range of notable "cat men."
Sam Kalda—Of Cats and Men: Profiles of History's Great Cat-Loving Artists, Writers, Thinkers and Statesmen— hardcover, 112 pages, Ten Speed Press
Daniel R. Day overcame a hardscrabble childhood to gain notoriety in the 1980s for his take on high-end streetwear that remixed luxury-brand logos with his own designs. Basking in the limelight once again, this memoir chronicles a life and career marked with undulating ups and downs.
Daniel R. Day—Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem—hardcover, 304 pages, Random House
The storied and romanticized gauchos of Argentina have come to symbolize absolute freedom in wide-open, unspoiled landscapes. Fulfilling a promise made to Juan José Güiraldes, founding president of the Argentine Gaucho Confederation, Argentine photographer Aldo Sessa spent months taking 50,000 images in total. The highlights compiled in this gorgeous tome eternalize the gaucho spirit.
Aldo Sessa—Gauchos: Icons of Argentina— hardcover, 190 pages, Assouline
When you can't choose between a man or man's best friend, opt for this collection of 100 clever and comical photographs that pair handsome men with comely canines.
Alice Chaygneaud-Dupuy and Marie-Eva Chopin—Men & Dogs—hardcover, 112 pages, TarcherPerigee
During Prohibition, Cincinnatian George Remus, a former pharmacist and criminal defense attorney, is said to have accumulated more wealth than notorious bootlegging gangster Al Capone. Author Bob Batchelor outlines the fascinating rise and fall of the hoodlum bon vivant, who built an empire on hooch.
Bob Batchelor—The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius—hardcover, 336 pages, Diversion Books
Photographer Rose Callahan and writer Nathaniel “Natty” Adams document the well-kept lives of 57 contemporary, cultivated gentlemen that hail from varying countries, cultures and social circles.
Nathanial Adams & Rose Callahan—I an Dandy: The Return of the Elegant Gentleman— hardcover, 288 pages, Gestalten
Part history lesson and part lifestyle guide, this witty book chronicles the roots of the English gentleman and traces them to present day.
Gustav Temple—How to be Chap: The surprisingly sophisticated habits, drinks and clothes of the modern gentleman—hardcover, 272 pages, Gestalten
