COOL HUNTING® - Books + Music + Film

John Derian Picture Book II

Evan Orensten — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:13:48 +0000

John Derian’s second Images book features a selection of colorful favorites from his world-class collection, Whether you’re seeking inspiration or beauty you’ll find beautiful illustrations of typography, nature, animals, sailboats and more.

nwm ONE

Josh Rubin — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:57:13 +0000

The nwm ONE headphones have an open-air design to blend premium sound quality with environmental awareness. Equipped with two-way drivers and NTT’s dual sound enhancement technology, they deliver rich, immersive sound yet are nearly inaudible for people nearby. The lightweight, ergonomic design ensures all-day comfort and advanced features like 360 Reality Audio and Bluetooth LE Audio/Auracast enhance versatility. Perfect for music lovers who want to also hear their surroundings, these headphones offer a seamless fusion of sound and comfort, redefining the auditory experience. They’re available in dark or light gray and the USB-C rechargeable battery delivers 20 hours of use.

The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI

Evan Orensten — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:23:44 +0000

For nineteen year’s Kurzweil’s The Singularity Is Near has been the standard bearer of the future of technology. Most of what he predicted then is now part of our daily lives. The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI is an entirely new book with the same objective. While we’re always up for a fun, light summer read, this has captured our attention as we think about the rapid advancements in AI and how it’s impacting, or soon will be, nearly every aspect of our lives. He shares his views on biotechnology, after life technology, nanotechnology, AI, 3D printing and more. It’s not light or fun, but it’s certain to inform your understanding of the near future.

Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell

Evan Orensten — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:21:51 +0000

A new biography of Joni Mitchell by NPR music critic Ann Powers seeks to share what makes Joni such a beloved, enduring artist. Through her childhood, music, collaborations and musings this “kaleidoscopic in scope, and intimate in its detail” book is number one on our summer reading list.

Everything Is Illuminated

Evan Orensten — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:15:28 +0000

When The Other Collection creates an edition of a book you know you are getting one of the most considered, artistic and deeply design nerd experiences in print. For this edition of Jonathan Safran Foer’s multiple award winning “Everything Is Illuminated,” first released in 2002 when he was 25 years old, TOC called upon Paul Smith to create the book’s jacket. A single drawing was turned into a pattern by Susanna Dulkinys, which looks amazing in letterpress. Type designer René Bieder’s “Vitruv” font was selected to complement Safron’s centuries-spanning story. Their editions are set digitally and their lasersetter then generates letterpress plates which are then run on their 1954 Original Heidelberg Cylinder press. Then there’s the 90 gsm paper by Schleipen Werkdruk & Gmund, a linen wrapped cover and the author’s signature on each of the 998 books in the edition. For you or anyone on your gift list who cares about great books printed in the most thoughtful manner, it’s a considered addition to any library.

VISITORS

Evan Orensten — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:22:16 +0000

Adam Abdalla, a friend of CH, loves wrestling, and his latest book project documents a “death match” wrestling show at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall in October 2023, the first show created by an American independent wrestling company (Game Changer Wrestling). It featured 20 wrestlers and referees from the US and Mexico. Adam felt there wasn’t enough storytelling in previous efforts, so he recruited his photographer friend Nick Karp to document the event. This limited-edition book of 1,000 copies features 200 pages with images both behind-the-scenes as well as in the ring, and is being shown during NY Art week (28 April – 5 May 2024). The photographs capture, in graphic detail and with a sense of primal and theatrical expression, this subculture of wrestling. Now available for pre-orders.

All photographs by Nick Karp (they have been cropped for our square format)

Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World

Evan Orensten — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:36:23 +0000

Dr. Todd Boyd’s thorough history of hip hop starts in the 1970s and shares how it has become central to music and American history, impacting nearly every aspect of pop culture since then. For both the informed and those who love today’s hip hop but lack some of the genre’s history, Boyd breaks it down into its key players, defining moments, and sprawling influence.

As We Rise: Sounds from the Black Atlantic (LP)

Evan Orensten — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:38:24 +0000

Aperture, the photography-focused not-for-profit gallery and publisher, has released its first album, an accompaniment to the phonebook As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic (2021), featuring images from The Wedge Collection. The LP features both classic and current Black music, featuring tracks from Tenor Saw, Jeff Parker, Cymande, Miriam Makeba and others. It’s compiled by Dr. Kenneth Montague and its liner notes are by Liz Ikiriko

Image Credits:
Front cover: Samuel Fosso, ’70s Lifestyle, 1975–78, © Samuel Fosso, Courtesy of the artist and JM Patras, Paris

Interior gatefold: Paul Anthony Smith, Junction 3, 2019, Unique picotage on inkjet print, spray paint, mounted on museum board, 40 x 60 inches, © Paul Anthony Smith, Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Back cover: Jorian Charlton, Untitled (Sydné & Keverine), 2021 (detail), © Jorian Charlton, Courtesy of the artist and Cooper Cole Gallery, Toronto

Made Here: Recipes & Reflections From NYC’s Asian Communities

Katie Olsen — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 22:40:02 +0000

More than a recipe book, Made Here: Recipes & Reflections From NYC’s Asian Communities is a love letter to the chefs, bakers and food vendors that make food in 43 Asian eateries across NYC. Packed with essays that give context to dishes, interviews, illustrations and more, the cookbook spans cuisines and regions. Learn how to make Thai Diner’s som tum, Pecking House’s dirty fried rice, Awang Kitchen’s tahu gejrot, Kuih Cafe’s pulut inti Kuih Cafe, and more. Best of all, 100% of net proceeds go to Send Chinatown Love’s community-focused projects.

Piero Lissoni Environments

Evan Orensten — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 22:24:06 +0000

Finally, a complete view of Piero Lissoni’s decades of work across architecture, interior design, furniture, furnishings, graphics, landscape and more. This substantial book, edited by Stefano Casciani, presents the Lissoni & Partners studio work in a well-organized and easy to peruse manner, from The Middle House hotel—our go-to in Shanghai, to the chic Sanlorenzo Yachts SP110 plus working, retail and living environments, there are beautiful images and inspiriting designs to inspire.